Training to escape trucks when trapped underwater

Feb. 13, 2017
It’s one of the more frightening situations truck drivers must contemplate: being trapped in one’s truck when the vehicle falls off a bridge and starts sinking in the cold, dark waters below. This very scenario occurred to truck driver Joseph Chen as he crossed over Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

It’s one of the more frightening situations truck drivers must contemplate: being trapped in one’s truck when the vehicle falls off a bridge and starts sinking in the cold, dark waters below. This very scenario occurred to truck driver Joseph Chen last week as he crossed over Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Though he escaped his water-logged vehicle and avoided drowning, he died while being airlifted to the hospital. Yet his tragic tale brings to mind a question: how DOES one escape from a sinking truck? Believe it or not, the U.S. Marines Corps specifically trains their motor transport personnel to do so. (Photos courtesy of the Department of Defense)

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean reports and comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry -- light and medium duty fleets up through over-the-road truckload, less-than-truckload, and private fleet operations Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

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