Trouble in Transit: Army Must Reduce Vehicle Mishaps
Brig. Gen. Andrew Hilmes
Thursday, April 22, 2021
A battalion was conducting a field training exercise in preparation for a combat training center rotation. The unit trained on tasks including brigade support area defense, displacement and reestablishment. The battalion commander ended the exercise on the sixth day, and the unit prepared to redeploy to the cantonment area.
The commander directed four M1120A4 trucks to make two convoy movements, both led by the transportation platoon leader. Without a convoy or movement briefing, the convoy made the first 90-minute movement to the cantonment area, dropped its cargo and returned to the brigade support area.
As the convoy made the second trip, using the same crews and vehicles, the third truck blew a tire. The driver slowed and pulled to the side of the road, but, due to limited visibility from heavy dust, the operator of the fourth truck did not see the vehicle in time to stop. Despite steering hard to the left, the fourth truck ran into the rear of the disabled vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries to the commander of the fourth vehicle.
https://www.ausa.org/articles/trouble-transit-army-must-reduce-vehicle-mishaps
