BIG TRUCKS
OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Program Content
1.
Big truck anatomy
2.
Arrival, setup procedures and hazard control
3.
Sustained stabilization
4.
Patient access
5.
Overcoming height
6.
Side wall openings
7.
Roof operations
8.
Disentanglement
9.
Patient removal
10. Scene termination considerations
B. Truck Classifications
1.
Straight trucks
a.
b.
Small pickups to single unit delivery vans
2,500 to 40,000 pounds
BIG TRUCKS
2.
Tractor-trailer rigs
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
3.
Specialty trucks
a.
b.
c.
II.
Tractor and separate cargo trailer
Tractor weighs up to 18,000 pounds
Entire unit may weigh up to 140,000 pounds
May be carrying almost any commodity
Tractor without trailer is known as “bobtail”
May be straight or tractor-trailer
Weight is same as conventional units
Separate distinction comes from single purpose
nature
BIG TRUCK ANATOMY
A.
Conventional cab
1.
Driver sits behind the engine
2.
Cab does not tilt
3.
Cab is longer than a cab-over unit
4.
Front of unit is made of fiberglass
5.
Remainder may be made of steel, aluminum, or
some fiberglass panels over a steel framework
BIG TRUCKS
B.
Cab-over
1.
Engine is between the seats, below the driver’s area
2.
Tilt-cab
3.
Steel, aluminum, and fiberglass may all be present
in a single unit
C. Glass
1.
Laminated safety glass for windshield and some rear
windows
2.
Windshield and rear window set in center bead
rubber gasket
3.
Side windows are tempered glass and are thicker
than car windows
D. Doors
1.
Conventional or piano-type hinges
2.
Single-point latch with two-step locking action
3.
Very heavy and much stronger than car doors
BIG TRUCKS
E.
F.
Roof
1.
Usually the lightest metal or fiberglass on the unit
2.
Two or more steel ribs running from front to rear
3.
May be covered with a large fiberglass air spoiler
4.
Air horns and air conditioner unit be on roof
Electrical System
1.
Large battery banks may be wired for 12 or 24 volt
system
2.
24 volt, negative ground most common (four
batteries, 6 volts each, in series)
3.
Battery banks may be in two different locations
on the unit
G. Fuel System
1.
Diesel fuel is less volatile than gasoline, but can still
be heated to the flash point by a hot road or engine
parts
2.
Large external saddle tanks, 50 to 300 gallons
capacity each
3.
Tanks are connected with cross-over lines with a
shut-off valve
BIG TRUCKS
4.
Supply and return lines are usually on the top
of the tanks
H. Brake System
1.
Air brakes are most common
a.
b.
Air pressure keeps the brakes off
If line breaks or is disconnected, the brakes
engage
2.
Air lines connect tractor to trailer
3.
Break-away valve at rear of cab maintains the air
pressure on the tractor’s system in case the trailer
becomes disconnected and pulls the lines
4.
Brake lines should always be secured to the trailer
or the “pogo-stick” or other line securing device
on the tractor
5.
The air canister, located under the axle, has large
compressed springs inside
a.
b.
Never loosen the bolt on the side of the
canister; it can fly out and kill or injure the
rescuer
Stay away from the rear of these canisters
during a vehicle fire, because the spring will
fly out as the canisters melt
BIG TRUCKS
I.
III.
Fifth Wheel
1.
Connects the tractor to the trailer’s king pin
2.
Pulling the handle on the fifth wheel disengages
the locks
3.
Be sure the dolly wheels are down on the trailer
before releasing the fifth wheel locks
4.
The fifth wheel may be adjustable, sliding front to
rear on the tractor
ARRIVAL / SETUP / HAZARD CONTROL
A. Identify The Load
B.
1.
Begin with an initial call for help
2.
Stop at a safe distance and survey the wreck with
binoculars
3.
If hazardous materials are present, call for
information and a haz-mat team
Inner/Outer Circle Surveys
1.
Look for electrical hazards
2.
Establish a charged hoseline (over 100 gpm)
3.
Have foam available
BIG TRUCKS
4.
Make verbal contact with driver
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
C.
Identify the load
Obtain patient survey information
Lock brakes and shut down engine
Determine the amount of fuel on board
Determine how many people are on board
Determine if there are weapons in the cab
Hazard Control
1.
Chock the wheels
2.
Locate shipping papers
3.
Assure integrity of cargo container
4.
Address any fuel spills
5.
Disconnect the electrical system
a.
b.
Master switch
Disconnect the batteries
IV. SUSTAINED STABILIZATION
A.
Vehicle Upright
1.
Truck cab may rest on springs between the cab
and frame
2.
Crib the cab to keep it from rocking
BIG TRUCKS
B.
C.
3.
If the trailer is on another object, drive wedges
between the frame and fifth wheel and lower the
dolly wheels to avoid shifting
4.
Secure the cab to the frame of a cab-over unit
Vehicle On Side
1.
Crib any and all voids
2.
Consider using a heavy wrecker for additional
support
Box Cribs
1.
Each crib should be at least 24-inches long
2.
“Two-by-two”
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
Uses two cribs per layer
24,000 lbs. capacity when using 4” x 4” timbers
60,000 lbs. capacity when using 6” x 6” timbers
All capacity given are for Douglas Fir or
Southern Pine
“Three-by-three”
a.
b.
c.
d.
Uses three cribs per layer
48,000 lbs. capacity when using 4”x 4” timbers
120,000 lbs. capacity when using 6”x 6”timbers
All capacities given are for Douglas Fir or
Southern Pine
BIG TRUCKS
4.
V.
Never place a body part above the height of the crib
PATIENT ACCESS
A. Doors
B.
Windows
1.
Windshield and rear glass are laminated
2.
Front and rear glass are set in rubber gaskets
3.
Side glass is tempered
C. Body Side Walls
1.
Cut opening with air-chisel or reciprocating
saw
2.
Pull away inner skin (may be wood or vinyl)
D. Interior Operations
1.
Assess patient and degree of entrapment
2.
Give commander an accurate report
3.
Locate shipping papers and hand them outside
4.
Look for interior hazards during entire
operation
BIG TRUCKS
VI.
OVERCOMING HEIGHT
A.
B.
C.
VIII.
Cribbing Platforms
1.
Set ladder over two box cribs of sufficient
height; cover ladder with backboard
2.
Use smaller box-cribs as steps
Other Vehicles
1.
Car hauler
2.
Bed of pickup truck (crib pickup to avoid
rocking)
Ladders
1.
Practice standard ladder safety
2.
Try to lean ladder against substantial part of
truck
SIDEWALL OPENINGS
A.
Sleeper
1.
Cut away the outer skin
2.
Be prepared to cut fiberglass, aluminum,
heavy steel and wood, if necessary
BIG TRUCKS
X.
DISENTANGLEMENT
A.
B.
C.
D.
Seats
1.
Pneumatic seats lift when weight shifts
2.
Deflate the seat with the air switch
Pedals
1.
Very heavy steel supports
2.
Try to manipulate the limb from behind the
pedal, if possible
3.
Reciprocating saw is the best choice for cutting
a pedal
Air Conditioning/Heater Coils
1.
Move the coils, if necessary, but don’t cut
the lines
2.
Be careful of compressed gasses or hot
engine coolant
Steering Wheels
1.
Cut spokes, not ring
2.
Reciprocating saw or hydraulic cutter
best choice
BIG TRUCKS
E.
XI.
1.
Try to manipulate the patient’s limb,
if possible
2.
Powered hydraulic cutter or reciprocating
saw best choice for cutting steel shift lever
PATIENT REMOVAL
A.
B.
XII.
Gear Shift Lever
Overcoming Vehicle Height
1.
Stage rescuers on platform
2.
Be careful of footing
3.
Hand the packaged patient down to other
rescuers; do not walk off the platform
holding the patient
Patient Assessment
1.
Quickly reassess the patient
2.
Take the patient to a safe area as quickly
as possible
SCENE TERMINATION
A.
All Safety Rules Are In Effect
B.
Notify Proper Authorities
BIG TRUCKS
XIII.
C.
Protect The Cargo
D.
Re-hydrate Rescuers
E.
Return To “Ready To Respond” Status
SUMMARY
A.
Large Truck Anatomy
B.
Arrival, Setup Procedures and Hazard Control
C.
Sustained Stabilization
D.
Patient Access
E.
Overcoming Height
F.
Side Wall Openings
G.
Roof Operations
H.
Disentanglement
I.
Patient Removal
J.
Scene Termination Consideration