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Schwab clears up roundabout confusion

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Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/11/2016 - 15:42

Dear Editor,

It seems our oversize equipment navigating through the roundabouts has been the topic of discussion in the Courier Press (Feb. 29 and July 6). I am writing to hopefully clear up some myths about oversize equipment and the roundabouts. 

In the Feb. 29 edition, the Courier published a picture of a drum from our facility passing through a roundabout with ease. In the July 6 story, it was stated that a drum from our facility had issues navigating the roundabouts. I believe that is a little misleading and led to some interesting Facebook posts about the roundabouts. The load did have issues but they were mechanical in nature with the steerable axles on the trailer. Without this mechanical issue, the drum load would have made it through without any issues. 

To be quite honest, we send equipment through the roundabouts on a regular basis and with the steerable trailers it is not a problem at all, making the corner by Kwik Trip heading to Iowa is the only spot that gives our equipment issues. In that particular intersection, the original plan was for two lanes, however it is was changed to one lane by the DOT. 

On this particular day we had quite of few loads heading thru the roundabouts varying in length from 117’ to 165’. None of which made the paper or had an issue. The truth of trucking oversized loads is that the DOT in every state sets the routes for what roads the load has to travel. This route cannot be deviated from.  Our loads have to go through the roundabouts and we do not have a choice. 

In my opinion, it is the safest route heading south out of town. With the right equipment pulling the loads and no mechanical issues heading south should never be a problem. Heading across the bridge to Iowa will become an issue someday due to the one lane by Kwik Trip, but we will solve that problem when we get to it.

Tony Schwab

VP/GM

Dillman Equipment

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