Brickman88, I don't blame you for being mad about that one.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Let us follow three simple rules to make our lives easier:

1. If there is a problem with a load, TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT IT so that it doesn't ruin another driver's whole day, like happened to Brickman88.

2. Always make sure your trailer is over half full of reefer fuel before you drop it.

3. If there is a problem with a trailer, such as burned out lights, TELL SOMEBODY about it so it doesn't become another driver's problem.

If will all do this, then our lives will be much easier.

Thats all well & great, but the problem is that nobody cares.

1) The DM I had at the time that I really liked & trusted was pissed when I told him what the deal was with that load, he called me back later & apologized for the whole thing. He said if he had known he would have had a local take it so not to wast the OTR drivers time.

2) I think I can count on one hand how many times I have picked up a trailer that had more then half a tank. They have or had 4 local guys running out of the Stockton yard & not one of them would refill the reefers. 75% of the MT's there are dropped with about 1/4 of a tank, sometimes less.

3) The load I'm under now I re-powered out of Spokane, WA & it has a burned out clearance light on the back. I have ZERO time to waste & can't fix it until I get this load off in PA.

They need to start punishing drivers that do this #### all the time.

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I use to have that issue allot, with trailer problems.
I wasted 3 days one week on 3 trailers. 2 had bad tires (slow leak in 1, totally bald on the other), and one needed a new cross bar for the landing gear. One leg would go up, other would not.
On the landing gear issue, at least I was at a location with yard trucks, I had them raise it up so that I could raise the other leg to the point that my 5th wheel would take it off the ground fully.
Then it was driving all over gods country to find someplace with a cross bar in stock to replace it with.
I had had this issue before, but other time it was just the pins broken, this time the bar itself was bad.

I know that getting a trailer fixed is a pain. In all instances that week I got them unloaded and fixed before I dropped them. I could have been a tool and just dropped, and acted like I did not know, like the last drivers had, but then I would be no better than them.
On each occasion though, the former driver that had the trailer was informed of the issue. I do not know if disciplinary action was taken or not, but I made sure they were tracked down.

There were a few things I learned with time to keep in my truck.
1. 20' jumper cables. To jump you, someone that needs a hand, dead reefer, ect.

2. 50' air hose, they sell at truck stops. Hook right to your glad hands. If you find a trailer you are hooking has a low tire, air it up. It may save you hours waiting for road service.

3. some spare bulbs, most of the trailers have one of 2 styles of lights. It will pay for itself when/ if the DOT find you with a light out. I bought the first few out of pocket, just to have them. When a trailer needed one, I replaced, then bought a new one, and sent in the receipt for the new one. That way I always had some.

4. I kept a siphon. Many will not do this. But just a cheap one they sell anywhere. This way if a reefer is running out fast, you can take some from your truck tank and put it in there. It is illegal to go from reefer tank to truck though (reefer fuel is not taxed). A few gallons will get you to a fuel stop without worrying about it running out and spitting codes in route. Also, it is a pain to prime some of them after they run out.

There are many other little things I keep in the truck, gathered over time. But those are a few that I found helpful on several occasions.

just finished orentation yesterday itall went faster and easier than expected. flew home to atlanta this morning since my trainer won't be in till next wed. so i get some home time till tues and i'll fly back in tues night. a lot of the other students were ticked off but hey thats the way the ball bounces. all the managers at central were cool with it so i took advantage of it seeing as how i'll be out 28 days with no break. hope the rest of you guys do well in the school.

Well i got my computer back but still have a lot of bugs to work out like the fact my text is really black and i can't seem to change it. well atleast i can get on it again. JJRanch

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I Can't Help it... The little voices make me drive ALL NIGHT! TRUCK IT UP!!!

Driver on the scales, park your paperwork and bring your truck in.

Is it just me or am I being followed by the DOT?

CLUCK,CLUCK HERE COMES JJ IN HIS CHICKEN TRUCK!!!!!!

I have my physical to take in the morning and after that the only thing i have left to do is get the truck ready for monday. Tuesday i will do my taxes and wed finally take the trainers course, 1bad glad to see you made it home. JJRanch

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I Can't Help it... The little voices make me drive ALL NIGHT! TRUCK IT UP!!!

Driver on the scales, park your paperwork and bring your truck in.

Is it just me or am I being followed by the DOT?

CLUCK,CLUCK HERE COMES JJ IN HIS CHICKEN TRUCK!!!!!!

Trainer classes at just about n e company, minus company policies are pretty much all the same. Not too exciting good luck. And hope you dont run into n e students that will get you killed. I was blessed with willing and able trainees but i know 2 trainers in one year were killed for dumb reasons i wont get into cuz it makes me too mad. Be safe have fun your grey hairs are about to double ha ha ha

He is already going Grey LOL and don't scare me he will be fine, it could be worse if things had worked out the way JJ hoped I would have been his first student and he really would have gone grey quick

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Bugs the Navigator
Is it left then right? or Right and two lefts? IM CONFUSED!

I got my Physical done this morning and i am good to go for another year. Now i can relax and enjoy my home time with Jess. I even brought her home a latte she really likes. Hope yor home time is going well 1Bad and i guess i will be seeing you Tuesday night. JJRanch.

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I Can't Help it... The little voices make me drive ALL NIGHT! TRUCK IT UP!!!

Driver on the scales, park your paperwork and bring your truck in.

Is it just me or am I being followed by the DOT?

CLUCK,CLUCK HERE COMES JJ IN HIS CHICKEN TRUCK!!!!!!

home time is great illsee you tues and we can roll on wed i still got to get my comdata and flying j fuel cards. they said i would get them when iget to slc. i hope they are not worried about me skipping out on them. but i wouldn't do that.