Hurricane Harvey’s Aftermath Creates a Major Challenge for Truckers in Houston, TX

Anticipating hurricane force winds is one thing; dealing with rising water is turning out to be a whole other matter in the Houston, Texas area.

Hurricane Harvey was a category four storm when it slammed ashore on Friday, August 25th, packing 130 mph winds. That seems less important now as the storm has become a record setting rainmaker by dumping massive amounts of rain on the area around Houston, Texas.

It’s a nightmare for Houston homeowners who found themselves trapped by rising water and people trying to make their way around a city that has turned into a series of islands.

Those who refuse to stay off the roads are being cautioned about potentially deadly conditions.

One driver found himself in serious trouble on Sunday, August 27, and in dire need of help.

KHOU-TV reporter Brandi Smith and her photographer Mario Sandoval were broadcasting live from North Houston’s beltway when she spotted a tractor-trailer surrounded by water. The cab was filling with water and a rescue of the driver was needed right away.

Smith and Sandoval spotted a Harris County Sheriff’s Truck towing a boat and got the deputies to stop. Shortly afterward, the deputies pulled the driver, identified only as Robert, from his passenger window as the contents of his cab swirled around him.

Robert told Smith it felt “wonderful” to be back on dry land. He said he was thinking “Lord help me get out of here safe” as the flood water rose around his stalled rig.

The Sheriff’s Deputies told Smith that a truck driver had drowned after getting stuck in high water in the same area about a year before. When Robert learned about that he said, “Thank God you guys were here to get me and put me on land safely.”

It’s sure to be a lesson for all drivers about how difficult it is to know just how deep rising water is as they try to make their way through the soggy aftermath of Harvey or other storms in the future.

Bay & Bay Transportation is a Minnesota-based company that prides itself on safety and reliability. Our dispatchers are doing their best to help navigate the changing conditions for our drivers in the Houston area.

Bay & Bay features late model trucks and offers several hauling options for short and long range drivers in Houston and elsewhere. You’ll want to check our competitive pay and benefit plans for local and longer route drivers across the U.S.

It’s why Bay & Bay is known as a quality driven tradition on roads around Houston, and on countless miles of highway nationwide. Call (888) 801-3026, or visit our web page for more details and information about how you can join our growing team.