Joe Hix hasn’t figured out why anyone would steal a new semi trailer, but he does know they needed a semi tractor to pull off the weekend heist.
He and his wife were at the business at 2333 Seventh Ave. on Sunday cleaning offices when he noticed tracks going across the grass. At first, the thought someone had driven across the lawn.
“Then I realized something was missing,” Hix said. “It was a brand-new trailer.”
The MAC half round trailer, often used to haul gravel, has a rolling tarp top and can lift up at the front to dump its load, he said. It has an estimated value of $42,000 and was stolen sometime between Friday night and 5 p.m. Sunday.
Hix has talked to people at other businesses in the area, and no one noticed someone pulling away with the trailer. He’s also driven around the area looking for the trailer, hoping someone just moved it as a joke.
Semi trailers have serial numbers that can be tracked when they pass through weigh stations or are stopped, Hix said. He doubts anyone would cut the trailer apart and sell it as scrap metal. It was made out of aluminum, but aluminum prices have been dropping.
He will be investing in pin locks for the rest of the trailers on his lot. That will keep thieves from being able to hook the trailers to a semi tractor.
Hix didn’t buy the locks before because he had never heard of anyone stealing a semi trailer. He and his wife have owned the business for about a year.
“Even one of our longtime salesmen said he’s never seen anything like it,” Hix said.
Nov 12, 2008
Semi trailer taken from business
Man Hit and Killed by Semi Truck
A person is dead after being hit by a semi truck on county road 305 in southern St. Johns County.
It happened at Jen-Sar Farms Wednesday afternoon.
According to St. Johns County Sheriff's officers, the victim, 54-year-old Gerald Jones of East Palatka, worked at Jen-Sar and was helping a coworker hook up and move trailers.
During one of the moves, he got caught between the semi and the trailer while the semi was backing up.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
It happened at Jen-Sar Farms Wednesday afternoon.
According to St. Johns County Sheriff's officers, the victim, 54-year-old Gerald Jones of East Palatka, worked at Jen-Sar and was helping a coworker hook up and move trailers.
During one of the moves, he got caught between the semi and the trailer while the semi was backing up.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
Oct 29, 2008
All About Dump Truck
Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are used for transporting loose material such as sand, dirt, and gravel for construction. The typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall out on the ground at the site of delivery.
Dump trucks for sale come in many different configurations with each one specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction chain.
Standard dump truck The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with the dump body mounted onto the frame. The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the truck cab and the dump body.
The standard dump truck also has one front axle, and one or more rear axles which normally has dual wheels on each side. The common configurations for standard dump trucks include the six wheeler and ten wheeler.
Transfer dump truck For the amount of noise made when transferring, the transfer dump truck is easy to recognize. It’s a standard dump truck that pulls a separate trailer which can be loaded with sand, asphalt, gravel, dirt, etc. The B box or aggregate container on the trailer is powered by an electric motor and rides on wheels and rolls off of the trailer and into the main dump box. The biggest advantage with this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without having to sacrifice the maneuverability of the short and nimble dump truck standards.
Semi trailer end dump truck The semi end dump truck is a tractor trailer combination where the trailer itself contains the hydraulic hoist. The average semi end dump truck has a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle semi trailer. The advantage to having a semi end dump truck is rapid unloading.
Semi trailer bottom dump truck A bottom dump truck is a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer. The biggest advantage of a semi bottom dump truck is the ability to lay material in a wind row. This type of truck is also maneuverable in reverse as well, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations.
Double and triple trailer The double and triple bottom dump trucks consist of a 2 axle tractor pulling a semi axle semi trailer and an additional trailer. These types of dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in wind rows without having to leave the cab or stop the truck. The biggest disadvantage is thedifficulty in going in reverse.
Side dump trucks Side dump trucks consist of a 3 axle trailer pulling a 2 axle semi trailer. It offers hydraulic rams that tilt the dump body onto the side, which spills the material to the left or right side of the trailer. The biggest advantages with these types of dump trucks are that they allow rapid unloading and carry more weight than other dump trucks.
In addition to this, side dump trucks are almost impossible to tip over while dumping, unlike the semi end dump trucks which are very prone to being upset or tipped over. The length of these trucks impede maneuverability and limit versatility.
Off road dump trucks Off road trucks resemble heavy construction equipment more than they do highway dump trucks. They are used strictly for off road mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs, such as excavation work. They are very big in size, and perfect for those time when you need to dig out roads and need something to haul the massive amounts of dirt to another location.
Dump trucks for sale come in many different configurations with each one specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction chain.
Standard dump truck The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with the dump body mounted onto the frame. The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the truck cab and the dump body.
The standard dump truck also has one front axle, and one or more rear axles which normally has dual wheels on each side. The common configurations for standard dump trucks include the six wheeler and ten wheeler.
Transfer dump truck For the amount of noise made when transferring, the transfer dump truck is easy to recognize. It’s a standard dump truck that pulls a separate trailer which can be loaded with sand, asphalt, gravel, dirt, etc. The B box or aggregate container on the trailer is powered by an electric motor and rides on wheels and rolls off of the trailer and into the main dump box. The biggest advantage with this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without having to sacrifice the maneuverability of the short and nimble dump truck standards.
Semi trailer end dump truck The semi end dump truck is a tractor trailer combination where the trailer itself contains the hydraulic hoist. The average semi end dump truck has a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle semi trailer. The advantage to having a semi end dump truck is rapid unloading.
Semi trailer bottom dump truck A bottom dump truck is a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer. The biggest advantage of a semi bottom dump truck is the ability to lay material in a wind row. This type of truck is also maneuverable in reverse as well, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations.
Double and triple trailer The double and triple bottom dump trucks consist of a 2 axle tractor pulling a semi axle semi trailer and an additional trailer. These types of dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in wind rows without having to leave the cab or stop the truck. The biggest disadvantage is thedifficulty in going in reverse.
Side dump trucks Side dump trucks consist of a 3 axle trailer pulling a 2 axle semi trailer. It offers hydraulic rams that tilt the dump body onto the side, which spills the material to the left or right side of the trailer. The biggest advantages with these types of dump trucks are that they allow rapid unloading and carry more weight than other dump trucks.
In addition to this, side dump trucks are almost impossible to tip over while dumping, unlike the semi end dump trucks which are very prone to being upset or tipped over. The length of these trucks impede maneuverability and limit versatility.
Off road dump trucks Off road trucks resemble heavy construction equipment more than they do highway dump trucks. They are used strictly for off road mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs, such as excavation work. They are very big in size, and perfect for those time when you need to dig out roads and need something to haul the massive amounts of dirt to another location.
Oct 26, 2008
Buyers pay more for fewer car plates
Car plate prices rose at auction in Shanghai yesterday despite the slump in auto sales, as a reduced number of plates for sale and the release of customized licenses stimulated market demand.
The average price for a car plate rose to 33,224 yuan, up from 31,788 yuan in September, according to auction organizer, Shanghai International Commodity Co Ltd.
The lowest price rose 3,300 yuan to 32,600 yuan in October compared to the previous month.
The price increase was widely anticipated before auction as the government only put 5,000 car plates up for sale, the smallest quota for the year.
From October, auto buyers have been able to select both English letters and numbers to customize their car plate numbers, thus reducing the interest in pre-issued plates.
"Plate prices climbed in the second hand market before the auction with the highest price surging to 35,000 yuan," said a dealer, surnamed Feng, from Shanghai General Motors.
"But the final increase was less than expected, reflecting the overall weak market demand for plates due to slow vehicle sales," she said.
The number of bidders dropped to 11,882, compared to 13,451 in August and 16,783 for July. Passenger car sales dropped 6.4 percent year-on-year in August.
The average price for a car plate rose to 33,224 yuan, up from 31,788 yuan in September, according to auction organizer, Shanghai International Commodity Co Ltd.
The lowest price rose 3,300 yuan to 32,600 yuan in October compared to the previous month.
The price increase was widely anticipated before auction as the government only put 5,000 car plates up for sale, the smallest quota for the year.
From October, auto buyers have been able to select both English letters and numbers to customize their car plate numbers, thus reducing the interest in pre-issued plates.
"Plate prices climbed in the second hand market before the auction with the highest price surging to 35,000 yuan," said a dealer, surnamed Feng, from Shanghai General Motors.
"But the final increase was less than expected, reflecting the overall weak market demand for plates due to slow vehicle sales," she said.
The number of bidders dropped to 11,882, compared to 13,451 in August and 16,783 for July. Passenger car sales dropped 6.4 percent year-on-year in August.
Oct 19, 2008
Go Karts
This article will give an outline of everything about go karts, including - equipment, history, racing, setup styles, specifications, and much more.
Go Karting is a hobby that many of us try when we are young, as it is extremely fun and exhilarating for those under the legal driving age of regular cars. Kart racing is generally the stepping stone for racing other types of cars when a certain level of experience and age has been acquired. The next step after the go kart is things like the V8’s, rally cars and just general race built cars, then the peak is to move into formula 1.
Go karts were originally designed in 1956 in California by a veteran hot rodder Kurtis Kraft, and their popularity quickly spread to other countries around the world and currently has a very large following in Europe.
The engine in go karts is what separates them from their younger cousin, the soapbox car which is what the younger kids generally have a lot of fun with. There are many different sizes and types of engines which can push the go kart to quite incredible speeds for its small size. A 100cc formula A kart with a 2 stroke engine and overall weight of 150kg’s including the driver can reach a dizzying speed of 85mph (140km/h) and can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 4.5 seconds. A 125cc kart can do 0-60 in just a fraction over 3 seconds and reaches top speeds of 115mph (185km/h)!
Components
Chassis
The chassis in a go kart is made of steel tubing and has to be quite flexible because there is no suspension in karts because of the lack of space and weight reduction needs.
Engine
2 Stroke – These engines were originally extracted from motorcycles, but because of the increasing popularity of go karts, specialized manufacturers of kart only engines have emerged, creating even more specific engines to power the karts.
4 Stroke – These engines are usually the same as those used in lawn mowers, with air cooling. They generally provide between 5 and 20 horse power, however there are some specialized 4 stroke engines for karting that create between 15 and 40 horse power and around 11,000rmp.
Tires
The tires on go karts are commonly made of the same materials as the tires on normal race cars, and go karts use different tires for different track conditions, however they are a lot smaller because of the low profile of the kart, and are still quite wide to enhance grip and control on the track at high speeds.
So as you can see, go karts are a very enjoyable hobby, but can also be taken as far as the enthusiast wishes, with racing and modifications. It seems very simple to the unaware spectator, but is actually quite complex when research is taken to a deeper level.
Go Karting is a hobby that many of us try when we are young, as it is extremely fun and exhilarating for those under the legal driving age of regular cars. Kart racing is generally the stepping stone for racing other types of cars when a certain level of experience and age has been acquired. The next step after the go kart is things like the V8’s, rally cars and just general race built cars, then the peak is to move into formula 1.
Go karts were originally designed in 1956 in California by a veteran hot rodder Kurtis Kraft, and their popularity quickly spread to other countries around the world and currently has a very large following in Europe.
The engine in go karts is what separates them from their younger cousin, the soapbox car which is what the younger kids generally have a lot of fun with. There are many different sizes and types of engines which can push the go kart to quite incredible speeds for its small size. A 100cc formula A kart with a 2 stroke engine and overall weight of 150kg’s including the driver can reach a dizzying speed of 85mph (140km/h) and can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 4.5 seconds. A 125cc kart can do 0-60 in just a fraction over 3 seconds and reaches top speeds of 115mph (185km/h)!
Components
Chassis
The chassis in a go kart is made of steel tubing and has to be quite flexible because there is no suspension in karts because of the lack of space and weight reduction needs.
Engine
2 Stroke – These engines were originally extracted from motorcycles, but because of the increasing popularity of go karts, specialized manufacturers of kart only engines have emerged, creating even more specific engines to power the karts.
4 Stroke – These engines are usually the same as those used in lawn mowers, with air cooling. They generally provide between 5 and 20 horse power, however there are some specialized 4 stroke engines for karting that create between 15 and 40 horse power and around 11,000rmp.
Tires
The tires on go karts are commonly made of the same materials as the tires on normal race cars, and go karts use different tires for different track conditions, however they are a lot smaller because of the low profile of the kart, and are still quite wide to enhance grip and control on the track at high speeds.
So as you can see, go karts are a very enjoyable hobby, but can also be taken as far as the enthusiast wishes, with racing and modifications. It seems very simple to the unaware spectator, but is actually quite complex when research is taken to a deeper level.
Oct 13, 2008
Dump Truck News
Dump Truck Flips Over on 290Motorists driving Westbound along the 290 on Saturday afternoon had to deal with some major delays.
A dump truck loaded with hot asphalt flipped over on its side blocking the left and center lanes.
The accident happened around 3:11pm at the Niagara Falls Boulevard exit.
Amherst Police say the driver of the truck went off the road, hit the guard rail and then overcorrected causing the truck to flip.
The driver, 52-year-old Russell Cirino of Cheektowaga, was taken to the ECMC Trauma Center for observation.
A female driving behind the truck reported the windshield was blown out and damage to the hood of her car from the flying debris. She was not hurt.
NITTEC reported delays from the 990 to Niagara Falls Boulevard.
The two far left lanes were blocked for more than two hours as crews worked to clean up the debris.
The cause of the accident is still unknown.
Sep 27, 2008
Abs takes on Go Karting for Sportsround
What's Kart Racing
Tough work
Sonali and I were going to have to race each other at the end of the day, so Callum was very helpful and took us through some of the basics. Braking, accelerating and finding the right 'racing line' - the quickest route around the course.
It was a lot to think about! The best thing we could do was to get out on the track and put what we'd learnt into practice.
The track was massive - even at top speed it took me a whole minute to do one lap.
Skidding
I definitely struggled in and out of the corners too, as my kart was skidding all over the shop.
The main reason for this was that I was carrying too much speed into the turns, so the back end of my cart was sliding out. It's a great sensation and I felt like a stunt man in some sort of action movie. However it is the slowest way to get around the course - and today was all about SPEED!!!
On the straight the karts were super fast. I'd say my top speed was about 25/30 miles per hour. It doesn't sound a lot, but because the kart is so low to the ground it feels like you're doing 100 miles per hour.
It was clear after our practice session that Sonali was having a few problems handling the corners as well, although she was a lot quicker on the straights, because she was a lot lighter than me.
Floodlights
Then Sonali told me that we would actually be racing under floodlights. I've got to say I was really excited about the sound of this and the extra challenge it would provide. It would be just like this year's Singapore Grand Prix!
In the daylight I was following the black rubber marks left on the track by other drivers' wheels. Under the floodlights, these were hardly visible. Still, having adjusted to our new set of conditions, we were ready to rumble.
Race on!
Sonali was on pole position and I started a bit further back, just off her left shoulder. The lights turned from red to green and we were off.
I was hot on Sonali's heels and trying to put as much pressure on her as possible. On hairpin number three she buckled and skidded off onto the grass, I saw my opportunity and hit the accelerator and whizzed past her on the inside.
Being one of the most competitive people in the world I decided to really go for it! I wanted to win big!
My corner taking was way better than in practice and I was absolutely flying around the track.
I ended up crossing the line a solid 43 seconds ahead of Sonali. I've got to say though; Sonali put in a brilliant final few laps. It was only the fact that she had skidded off onto the grass a couple of times that made it such a big gap.
Well chuffed!
Still I was chuffed with my efforts and I totally loved the whole experience. The extra tuition Callum gave me completely changed my style of driving as well as my approach to Go Karting.
After a lengthy victory lap, saluting the massive crowd (six or seven dirty, tired mechanics desperate for their beds, as it was almost 10:30pm!) I was presented with a trophy, which is now sitting pretty on my mantelpiece. I'm actually considering buying a trophy cabinet!
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher and more expensive ranks of motorsports.
Another week, another challenge! This week it was Go Karting, but with a bit of a difference.
I found myself teamed up with fellow Sportsround presenter Sonali.
I'd seen her in action out in Beijing at the Olympics and knew she would be fiercely competitive - perfect! However she wasn't to be my teammate, but my opponent.
Our coach for the day was a young talented driver called Callum. He had huge ambitions of following the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, who both started their careers on the Go Kart track.
I found myself teamed up with fellow Sportsround presenter Sonali.
I'd seen her in action out in Beijing at the Olympics and knew she would be fiercely competitive - perfect! However she wasn't to be my teammate, but my opponent.
Our coach for the day was a young talented driver called Callum. He had huge ambitions of following the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, who both started their careers on the Go Kart track.
Tough work
Sonali and I were going to have to race each other at the end of the day, so Callum was very helpful and took us through some of the basics. Braking, accelerating and finding the right 'racing line' - the quickest route around the course.
It was a lot to think about! The best thing we could do was to get out on the track and put what we'd learnt into practice.
The track was massive - even at top speed it took me a whole minute to do one lap.
Skidding
I definitely struggled in and out of the corners too, as my kart was skidding all over the shop.
The main reason for this was that I was carrying too much speed into the turns, so the back end of my cart was sliding out. It's a great sensation and I felt like a stunt man in some sort of action movie. However it is the slowest way to get around the course - and today was all about SPEED!!!
On the straight the karts were super fast. I'd say my top speed was about 25/30 miles per hour. It doesn't sound a lot, but because the kart is so low to the ground it feels like you're doing 100 miles per hour.
It was clear after our practice session that Sonali was having a few problems handling the corners as well, although she was a lot quicker on the straights, because she was a lot lighter than me.
Floodlights
Then Sonali told me that we would actually be racing under floodlights. I've got to say I was really excited about the sound of this and the extra challenge it would provide. It would be just like this year's Singapore Grand Prix!
In the daylight I was following the black rubber marks left on the track by other drivers' wheels. Under the floodlights, these were hardly visible. Still, having adjusted to our new set of conditions, we were ready to rumble.
Race on!
Sonali was on pole position and I started a bit further back, just off her left shoulder. The lights turned from red to green and we were off.
I was hot on Sonali's heels and trying to put as much pressure on her as possible. On hairpin number three she buckled and skidded off onto the grass, I saw my opportunity and hit the accelerator and whizzed past her on the inside.
Being one of the most competitive people in the world I decided to really go for it! I wanted to win big!
My corner taking was way better than in practice and I was absolutely flying around the track.
I ended up crossing the line a solid 43 seconds ahead of Sonali. I've got to say though; Sonali put in a brilliant final few laps. It was only the fact that she had skidded off onto the grass a couple of times that made it such a big gap.
Well chuffed!
Still I was chuffed with my efforts and I totally loved the whole experience. The extra tuition Callum gave me completely changed my style of driving as well as my approach to Go Karting.
After a lengthy victory lap, saluting the massive crowd (six or seven dirty, tired mechanics desperate for their beds, as it was almost 10:30pm!) I was presented with a trophy, which is now sitting pretty on my mantelpiece. I'm actually considering buying a trophy cabinet!
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