Watkins shepard

Well I did stupid today.... while moving trailers around I had a red tag in the lot that needed to be moved, I hooked checked it out and started moving. got it pulled from the loaded line over to the empty side, and I didnt see it but the farthest rear axle on the passenger side the brakes were froze, I dragged that pair of tires all the way around the lot and when I stopped one of them popped. But both tires are hosed, the tires had bald spots on them already, but still it was preventable and I didnt catch it. As it sits now the mechanics know about it (they had to remove all tention from the slack adjusters and them beat on them for a good 10 minutes) and I called it in to Mark after I got the # from them.

Its a strong lesson learned today, anytime your picking up a trailer that seems like its been there a while, try to pull forward and then go look again to see if they are froze or not. I looked at the trailer before I pulled away but I never looked at it after moving it a few feet. I didnt see the drag marks in my mirror because it was on my passenger rear and i was turning left the whole time around the yard until I stopped.

I feel like an idiot now and really I am just worried about whats going to happen monday, I hope they dont boot me from the program because of this. I know Mark also reads the forum from time to time, but I still had to let this out. Its eating at me just thinking about how something so stupid could happen. Lesson learned.

Cross those fingers guys, I have another day to dwell on what happened. On the good side I got to hook and unhook up to almost 40 trailers today, so technique is definitely learned. I know the procedure that they want us to use easily now.

 

Mark and Macon are probably two of the better people W/S have working for them. They're both understanding and forgiving especially seeing that you learned a lesson in this that didn't result in pulling the hoods off a row of trucks. Hopefully things will work out for you and it'll be something to keep an eye out for before dragging something like that onto the open highway.

No matter who you're working for later in life, you're going to continue learning things you've never thought of in this business. Sometimes the hard way, sometime easy. They say when a driver think they're done learning, that's when the trouble really starts.

 

Ohh lesson definitely learned and I have heard what you said about when you stop learning many times and I am in a firm believer in that also. Thank you for the positive note.

I am expecting to get roughed up for this though still. The tire guy (mechanic) talked a bit to me about it already, hes a nice guy, and he also gave me some good info on how to check and how to try to get them unlocked by myself for next time I encounter this.

 

Just playing Devils advocate here. Knowing you guys are new, should you have been warned by the safety director of the possibility of the trailer brakes being frozen after standing during the winter, or are you expected to know that already as its on your permit test?

 

We were tasked by the saftey director to do this and he didn't say anything about it. And I'm from ca. Our permit tests never once mentioned frozen brakes. He'll in class we haven't talked about that even.

 

Deserted, when you start to pull any time out of a parking spot as well do a easy right turn and look in the mirror to see if the wheels are turning and repeat with a left turn. When you are making turns on the road or parking lot always check to see if they are rolling in the mirror. Also you can put the truck in neutral just after starting the move and see if there is any unwanted braking. But nothing beats G.O.A.L. Good luck.

 

yeah... i cant wait to see how much he has to do his second time around....
i guess its hard to get sleep in a day cab....
funny tho... im wondering... how the hell can someone bad mouth a company soooo hard and sooo bad and then in the end up decide he wants to come back..
if memory searves correctly i think he said he would never come back and work here again... i could be wrong... but it was something like that...

 

Your right, I am thinking of some tests our permit instructor gave us to challenge us a bit.

Good news is that is something you will never do again, and at least you are in orientation in the company yard

 

Anyone in Missoula right now? We are just chilling up stairs watching some tv... bored.

 

So is this an playdate forum. Hell, I'll bring over monopoly.

On another not s2b I would never come back I'm happy with what I have now. Furthermore, I have a life besides laptops man; U should try it.

Last but not least taking pics in a hub thats the reason I hate the long haul. Your sanity is slowing fading my man.

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