Frozen Fries, Steep Slopes, and Heavy Lifting
Some recoveries come with a twist. Literally. When a tractor trailer carrying 78,000 pounds of frozen curly fries overturned in the median of Interstate 81 southbound at mile marker 2 in White Pine, TN, the scene was as tangled as its cargo. A vehicle had been run upon, the rig had rolled onto a 15% downhill grade, and gravity was working against us from the moment we arrived. This was no ordinary job. The scene called for our White Pine rotator service and every bit of teamwork we could muster.
Securing the Scene Before Anything Else
A tractor trailer on a grade like that doesn’t just sit still. It wants to move, and gravity was pulling hard. We rolled out with a 75-ton rotator, a 50-ton rotator, two roll-off trucks loaded with three dumpsters, and our CAT 289 skid steer. Thirteen members of our team hit the ground running. First order of business: use the 50-ton rotator to hold the trailer steady so it wouldn’t slide further while we worked. With Tennessee Highway Patrol, White Pine Police, and TDOT on-site, safety was top priority.
Cargo Unload on a Hill Is No Quick Task
We had to unload 25-pound boxes of curly fries by hand into our roll-off dumpsters. Sounds simple enough—until you add in a steep slope, heavy freight, and the fact that everything was frozen solid. Each box had to be carried and stacked into the dumpsters without losing our footing. The cargo offload took the bulk of our time, with three roll-off dumpsters filled and hauled away for disposal.
The Heavy Lifting Begins
Once the trailer was empty, it was time for the rotators to do their thing. We used the 50-ton rotator to hook to the tractor and the 75-ton to the back of the trailer. Working in sync, we slowly brought the truck upright. Then came the tricky part: pulling the tractor backward while the 50-ton held the trailer, spinning the entire rig into the correct direction for towing. It was a precise, methodical process that left no room for error.
- Equipment Deployed:
- 75-ton rotator
- 50-ton rotator
- 2 roll-off trucks with 3 dumpsters
- CAT 289 skid steer
- Crew Members on Scene: 13
- Time on Scene: 4 hours
Ready for Transport
Once the truck and trailer were facing the right way, we hooked up and towed them away as one unit. The trailer was a total loss, so it went straight to our lot for storage. No part of the vehicle was drivable, but our White Pine rotator service had gotten it safely out of the median, upright, and off the highway.
A Job to Remember
We’ve handled plenty of overturned trucks, but few come with a combination of a steep grade, a massive frozen load, and that much coordination between rotators, roll-off trucks, and manpower. It was the kind of White Pine rotator service job that proves the value of having the right equipment and the right team ready to respond. Four hours later, the road was clear, the cargo was properly disposed of, and traffic could move again.
Casper’s Wrecker Service: The White Pine Rotator Service You Can Count On
At Casper’s Wrecker Service, recoveries like this are where our training, experience, and teamwork shine. Our White Pine rotator service is built for the toughest jobs, whether it’s stabilizing a loaded trailer on a slope or coordinating with law enforcement for a safe, quick clearance. We’re proud of our White Pine rotator service crew for turning a dangerous situation into a controlled recovery. That day, our White Pine rotator service kept I-81 moving and the scene safe from start to finish.