Truck drivers from mountainous states often have more experience navigating steep grades. Drivers from California, Colorado, Montana, and West Virginia have a significant edge over those from flat states. Unfortunately for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a Texas-based truck driver, his experience navigating the steep grade on the stretch of highway between the Eisenhower Tunnel and Lakewood, Colorado proved lethal.

While the investigation is ongoing, statements from the driver and the history of the trucking company he worked for offer several details that could explain the accident:

  1. The driver worked for Castellano 03 Trucking LLC based out of Houston, Texas. Since the fall of 2017, the company racked up 30 maintenance violations. One-third of those violations related to brakes.
  2. After the accident, the driver told police that his brakes failed while navigating the steep hill.
  3. As a Texas driver, Aguilera-Mederos had no access to hands-on training for mountain driving and had to rely on theoretical knowledge from manuals. As a result, he was unfamiliar with the purpose of runaway ramps or how to utilize them. He drove past one such ramp shortly before the crash occurred.

Most drivers only learn the concepts behind ascending and descending hills, but theory isn’t worth much if a driver selects the wrong gear for getting down a hill. Learning how to choose the right gear, navigate sharp curves, and anticipating grade changes is vital for managing hilly or mountainous terrain.

Of course, proper maintenance is also critical for driver safety while navigating steep grades. The stretch of highway from Eisenhower Tunnel to Lakeside, Colorado is around 50 miles and decreases 5000 feet over that stretch. Some areas are steeper than others are and brakes that aren’t in good condition will struggle. They can overheat and lose efficiency, creating a dangerous situation.

Preventative maintenance is an effective means of keeping all systems and parts on commercial vehicles in good working order. However, staying on top of service schedules can be difficult without a process in place. DriverCheck offers telematics GPS monitoring services that will issue maintenance alerts to fleets as well as provide other safety feedback regarding driver behavior. Contact us to learn more about how we can help improve your fleet’s safety.