How much mechanics should you know

Actually I thought that would have provoked someones ire by now but guess not lol. Yes I do know there are exceptions but lets face it, lots of white knights out there.

 

Moosetek13-
I understand what you're saying, but seriously.....a loose oil filter and you call a service truck? Company driver or not, you should have tightened that yourself if you were able and had the ability to do so. You could have saved your company some money which may have ended up back in your pocket.....in one form or another.

Now if you didn't know how or have a filter wrench or something I understand, but if you did and were just too lazy, shame on you. I suppose that is the attitude of today's company drivers though. I was a company driver for years and always did what I was capable of doing to keep me rolling and save the company money. Today's "company man" is more and more a "steering wheel holder only" but that's just my opinion.

 

I agree. We all need to help "our" companies survive and thrive to the end that we can get paid more!

A med flap was falling off my trailer today. It had only one bolt left holding it on. (It was secure during pre-trip inspection. I always kick them and tug on the hangar bracket. I have found a few ready to fall off.)

Instead of taking it to a trailer repair shop, which would have taken much time out of my day as well as cost the company one or two hours of mechanic pay, I secured it with what I had in the truck and will bring back a few proper bolts tomorrow morning.

Nobody is going to know I did it, I'm not looking for a statue or monument, or reimbursement of the cost of three bolts, washers and nuts...

But I would not refuse a little plaque... Hehehehehe

Mikeeee

Actually, I will mention it to my driver manager if the moment arises. I Love my new shuttle position and if they ever have to cut one of the four drivers that do these runs... I hope they will choose to keep the driver that bought an air hose with his own money to fix low air in tires instead of calling road breakdown, and who and saved the company even a little money by bringing a bolt from home to fix a mudflap.

 

lol It did get my attention and I did utter something to myself that I cannot post

Thanks CC for being the "White Knight" lol

 

I don't know about some of the newer engines but on my 99 mack and 08 mack if you change a fuel filter you can prime prime the fuel system with the little hand pump on the right hand side of the engine. you will have to pump for a while for a pair of canister filters. One could also carefully drain some fuel out of one of your tanks into the filter or a pail.

 

Pretty good answers in most. But to those "I just drive" bunch; do you have any idea of how much it costs to have a road service or (God Forbid) a Heavy Duty Wrecker to come out and fix some silly little thing? Road service is usually a minimum of $100 and a HD wrecker don't turn a wheel for less than $300.

Do you really want to tell your boss you just spent $300 to replace a freakin' fuse? At least have sense enough to ask around before you phone. A senior driver might just be able to tell you what to do (no we won't do it for you).

 

I saw a guy on the shoulder, draining some fuel from his refr tank into a coolant bottle. I assumed he ran out in the main tanks... And that he had the situation under control.

Mikeeee