Brake failure nearly cost my life: the thrilling moments experienced by an experienced driver

In the transportation industry, many veteran drivers spend most of their days on the road, from sunrise to sunset, and even late into the night. Along the way, they've encountered all sorts of problems, experienced the full range of life's flavors, and gone through some scary moments that still make them shiver when they think back.

Today, let's listen to veteran drivers talk about the thrilling moments they've experienced in their transportation careers. These stories come from the drivers themselves or forums like Truck Home and Truckers' Circles. Of course, don't just treat them as stories—the most important thing is to avoid these risks in our daily work, because safety is what really matters.

Uncle Lao Wang from Chuan B: I've been driving for so many years, mostly around Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. A radiator is absolutely essential. There was only one time I was lazy and didn't check the radiator before hitting the road. It was a long downhill stretch all the way, and after frequent braking, the brakes failed. At that moment, I thought I was done for! I broke out in a cold sweat instantly. Speeds on the highway are pretty fast, so I quickly moved to the emergency lane and put it in neutral.  

Seeing another long downhill ahead and realizing I couldn't stop the truck full of cargo, I felt utterly hopeless. Then I saw the escape ramp—it was truly a lifesaver! I didn’t care about anything, just rushed onto it, almost reaching the end. Luckily, the load that time wasn't too heavy, otherwise even the escape ramp might not have stopped me. Since then, I always make sure to top up the radiator before driving.

kayouFE06: Only us truck drivers truly understand the hardships of driving trucks! Back in the day, when I was young, all I cared about was driving non-stop. One time, I didn’t notice the ice on the road, and when I got to a slope, the ice caused my truck to tip over on the side of the road. I felt so awful! Luckily, I wasn’t seriously hurt.

A guy from Qingzhou, a village called Paor: When I first started helping my dad haul fertilizer and feed with our farm tricycle, I personally experienced how tough it was to unload 40 tons a day. 20 bags make a ton, and the transport plus unloading fee for a ton was 40 yuan. After deducting fuel, I was making about 1.7 yuan per bag.  

Later, I let my dad just haul and not unload, and I bought two 6.2-meter flatbeds to handle both hauling and unloading myself. The toughest times were seven or eight days in a row, unloading 50 tons every single day. Carrying the bags, I was jogging along, not daring to stop for a break—if I did, I couldn’t get back up. I had to carry three packs of cigarettes with me; otherwise, I just couldn’t tough it out.  

Once, after finishing unloading the truck, I was so exhausted I fell asleep while walking back. I was snoring while driving, and somehow drove straight for five or six hundred meters. The cigarette in my mouth burned me awake. Luckily, the truck stayed straight and I didn’t crash—otherwise, that night would have been like going back to square one.

Zigong Ma Martin: Riding a heavy bike down a mountain road, I was about to take a sharp turn, but the road was too slippery, the brakes couldn’t hold, and I ended up hitting the guardrail.  

Only, Zhang: In 2018, on G310 National Road (Tianchuan first-class road, Boyang town section), the brake pads were seriously worn out and failed. I turned on the hazard lights and braved shifting gears, finally stopping at the last water stop. Thinking about it now still gives me chills!

Xiao Liu from Guiyang: Pulling an assembled excavator along rough mountain roads to deliver it to a construction site is really not an easy task. Once, there was a total distance of just 12 kilometers, but it took from daytime to nighttime. The mountain roads are extremely narrow; it's manageable when encountering a small car going the other way, but it's really tough when meeting a bus or a truck. Plus, there are 18 curves in the mountain road, and one wrong move could cause an accident. When passing one of the curves, the bumper nearly hit the road block in front, and the rear tires almost went off the road. The scariest part is that this is the normal situation every time we transport equipment!

Xiao Wang from Shaanxi (plate K): Once I drove the Sichuan-Tibet line during the rainy season. There were a lot of landslides and mudslides, and I encountered several along the way. I was constantly careful and cautious, with my mind on high alert the entire time. While driving a section of cliffside road, I heard stones falling under the car with a loud rumble. I thought: “Oh no, this time I might be doomed.” I pressed the accelerator hard to speed past, and just as I got through, a large rock mixed with debris fell down. My legs went weak. The small car waiting ahead even told me I was really lucky. Since then, I’ve cherished every single day of life even more.

Brother Pig drives a truck: The new truck is just a week old, and the water tank hose got worn through by the trailer. On the highway, the engine temperature alarm went off. After going uphill, about 1 km later, the road changes from 2 lanes to 4 lanes. Near the top of the hill, the high temperature limited the torque, so I had no choice but to stop on the emergency lane of the 2-lane section. Cars whizzed past, which was scary. I called after-sales, and they told me to figure out a way to handle it and drive it back. I found the leak and wrapped it with electrical tape around my waist, and after the main radiator cooled, I added a bottle of mineral water. I filled up the water 3 km before the service area, avoiding opening the radiator cap in case of pressure. I then drove 70 km like that to after-sales for repairs.

Daka888: One year I was driving on the highway and ran into a heavy rainstorm, really a torrential downpour. The wipers just weren’t enough, so I could only slow down and turn on the fog lights and hazard lights. But I didn’t dare to stop, because, after all, it’s the highway and you never know what’s going on in front or behind. I drove like that for over ten minutes until I saw a rest area and quickly pulled over. When I got out of the car, my palms were all sweaty.

Trucking Across the World: What's scarier than running through mountainous roads in Tibet and hitting a snow-covered pass? The most important thing is the freezing temperatures—diesel fuel froze. My partner and I spent the whole night wrapping ourselves in every piece of clothing and bedding we could get our hands on, and we didn’t even dare to sleep. Somehow, we made it until dawn and were rescued. That night was definitely the coldest, hardest, and scariest night of my life.  

▎Editor's Note:  

The money earned from trucking is hard-earned and never easy. Every trip comes with reminders and worries from family. Many truckers encounter various problems on the road but only share the good news with their families to avoid worrying them. I hope everyone stays safe when driving, drives carefully, and never has to go through such terrifying moments. When problems happen, it's okay to share them with your family so you can shoulder them together.  

Also, it’s important to manage your risks. Make sure to buy necessary insurance so that in case of accidents, you won’t bear excessive losses yourself. This helps avoid a total setback. Wishing everyone smooth journeys, safety, and good health.