Newbies, do yourself a favor

When I took my refresher course I was impressed with the instructors we had. I knew nothing about doubles but we had a truck with a set there and they made each one of us learn how perform how to properly couple and un couple the rear double and that included taking off the dolly and everything. Also the first thing they made each guy do after he could perform a pre trip was to couple and un couple the trailer then showed the class how to slide the 5th wheel and the tandems on the trailer and explained to the class why each one is done. Like I said I was impressed with the class and most of the teachers we had. It was also very helpful to my friends I was in the class with when they had a question since they would just ask me. LOL I also told them that if they were going to drive a truck that they would eventually have to back in at a truckstop and there is much less room at a truckstop then in the yard where they were learning.

 

I'm a new driver (about 6 months) and I do a walk around every time, make sure I pre trip every day, including crawling under the truck and trailer to make sure everything is as it should be. As the newest guy on the account I'm on, I have to ask this question...why is it I find stuff on equipment that should have been easily spotted by the more experienced guys on the account? I don't profess to know everything and I'm always looking to learn something new every day, but oh my ####, there are people on the roadways...like em or not...and I have a family I want to get home to see.

Sliding tandem was not taught to me at the cdl mill I went to, nor was crawling up under and checking brakes, air lines, cross members, frame, tire inflation, what to do when the tandem are rubbing the bottom of the trailer, etc., etc... I figured out much of that on my own, and from asking experienced drivers. Funny thing is, most of the experienced drivers I asked were more than happy to help, and actually genuinely happy a rookie was asking their advice/help and listening. Yeah, my job is to move stuff from one place to another, but my responsibility is to do it legally and safely. I ain't trying to kill myself or anyone else I share the road with.

 

+1

Good for you, it sounds like you actually give a feces!!

Problem is, it seems like most don't

Really, great attitude, you will do well.

 

I do give a feces...and thank you

 

I once picked up a load of plate glass that was 25000lbs on the bills, but when I scaled on the way out, I was 83500lbs grossed. When I called the night dispatch to tell them that there was no way the load matched the bills she asked me if I had just filled my truck with fuel.....lol. "Why yes, I did just put 30000lbs of fuel in my truck! That explains it!"

 

Thats about 3750 gallons of go juice. You could tell most dispatchers thats how much you put in the tanks and most wouldnt even know if thats enough to fill them or not.

 

I remember my training well... What there was of it!
Been twisting wrenches for this truck outfit for about 6 months, when a driver called in sick. Alvee said "Yer going with us today kid." He took some black tape and taped off all of the tachometer but a small wedge, and said "If you can't see the needle, you need to shift." Seven trucks then headed out for a day of fun. 3 ahead of me, 3 behind me. The CB was never quiet with advise and good natured ridicule. "What the hell kid, can't you keep up?" from those in front. "If you can't drive that ###### thing, pull it over!" from the back. That quote came while on the freeway. The tach needle had long since disappeared into the upper range, I was already in 13th gear, and the speedo only went to 100. The fun came then we got to Hyw 199 on the Smith River canyon. This is not the new and improved canyon road after a couple hundred thousand tons of dynamite widened and straightened it out somewhat, it was cliff on one side and a wall of rock on the other. Going west was rock wall, the mirror inches from it, and drivers inches from my trailer. Fortunate that the guys ahead consistently warned me on any oncoming traffic. Loading veneer in Crescent City, I learned to throw straps, and tarp. The weather was good, but they insisted that I tarp, while they watched and laughed. The trip back was interesting. Cabovers give you an interesting view of the canyon drop-offs, and the churning river below. Having one eye on the drop, and one on the trailer tracking, and one on the tach, left me one eye short.
I slept so well that night!

 

I was pretty fortunate to have gone to a school that also trains the states DOT bears; a state operated community college. Our trucks were well worn but in great mechanical condition. We had a variety of equipment and operated all of it so we could get experience on a good mix of stuff. Some sliding tandems, some not. Volvos, Freightliner, Internationals (1997, 1999). Though, no long nose Petes or KWs. Cummins, Detroits. Nine speeds and ten speeds. 53 and 48 foot trailers. Vans and tankers. School buses; 35 and 37 foot. I drove them all, though they were ALL empty.

We covered the basics of fifth wheel set up and king pin settings. In addition to scaling. However, it was not till I was with my trainer at Swift that I really had the opportunity to scale and set up a trailer as it was the first time a load had been in the box. Weight changes everything.

 

I am a trainer and recently my student asked me if pilot had dry cleaning. Ummm no.

 

Dry cleaning... Obviously for those drivers sporting three piece suits..