Have a big control problem

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TruckerGonnaBe, Aug 27, 2014.

  1. TruckerGonnaBe

    TruckerGonnaBe Light Load Member

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    May 27, 2014
    Western WA
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    Thanks SlowPoke. That's how I learned in school but he has me crank it up to get the pressure off then pull forward.

    They are suppose to be training me. This is the first time I've driven a truck besides school. They knew that when I came in and gave me this great speal about their training and how I would only drive so much every day increasing every week as I'm comfortable. With at least 1 hour backing practice per week or more if there was time plus being involved in every coupling/uncoupling, learning to use the map and pre/post trip so I would be ready to run solo by the end of the 8 weeks.

    I fell for it. I still like the company and my trainer I just expected a lot more learning so I could be better prepared to be on my own when I was done training.

    I can straight back but have no clue how to do a 90, blind side-etc. I have no clue where things are located on this truck engine to do a pre-trip. And I have to sneak a pre/post trip in when he's not here because that's the only time we aren't running.

    On a good note he says I'm a very good driver so in just 2 weeks driving he's comfortable going into the sleeper and sleeping while I'm driving even when I'm going up and down the grapevine in California or over the Shasta pass between Oregon and California.

    And it was a fuse that was out and causing the Jake to stop working going down hill. He had been putting up with it since he got the truck but I was insistent that he needed to get it checked out.

    I'm going to try doing a pre-trip. We are leaving tonight for Riverside to unload there. I just finished my 34 hour reset most of it while he was driving last night then tonight I'll have to drive to get his 34 in.

    I think what I'm most frustrated with is that I'm only making $500 a week for running as a team while he gets all this money. He keeps telling me "Look I got this much for this run". If it weren't for me doing half the work he couldn't get that much. When I questioned him about it he said "oh after you are running solo you will be making layover/detention/etc too". He earned over $1000 extra just off our team runs and the extra training pay (week 1) while I got $500 total.

    I'm going to give this 100% no matter what because this is something I want to do and even with the lies I can still do very well here once I'm on my own. I'll learn everything I can then pray that I can get help with the rest of it when I'm on my own.

    I just have to pass their test after training is done which is only 6 weeks away. Sadly that involves 90 degree, blind side backs, pre-trips, post-trips, etc. All the stuff I haven't even started learning. Oh well that's the way of life out here right?!
     
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  3. 12 ga

    12 ga THE VIEW FROM MY OFFICE

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    You are supposed to do a 90 degree alley dock and a blind side parallel park among other things on you range skills test to get your CDL. Didn't you do those things.
     
  4. TruckerGonnaBe

    TruckerGonnaBe Light Load Member

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    May 27, 2014
    Western WA
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    That was all a big joke. We only had to do a straight back, offset back, and a 90 alley. The school taught us with a 28' trailer. They taught us to use marks on the concrete and marks on the trailers (ie the rivets, the landing pads compared to the tires) to do those moves. We never backed the big trailer up nor used any real life situations with the little one. They only taught us what we needed to pass the test. The rest we have to learn on our own.
     
  5. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    And this is why there should be a law that the trainer needs to be in the jump seat, NOT sleeping.

    I pray no trainee ever hits me while the trainer is sleeping in the bunk......
     
  6. 12 ga

    12 ga THE VIEW FROM MY OFFICE

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    If you used a tandem axle tractor and a 28 ft. trailer that is harder than a 53 footer. Single axle tractor is easier but 28 footers are a pain. Sounds like it was not a very good school.
     
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  7. SlowPoke44magnum

    SlowPoke44magnum Medium Load Member

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    I agree that it sounds like a crappy school. I'm a firm believer that while in TRAINING, it should NEVER but ran as a team operation. I know that's how the majority of carriers do it, but that doesn't make it right & in fact was the way I was "trained" back in 1997. If we as an industry want better drivers on the roads we all share, I believe changing the way companies train would be a really good start.
     
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  8. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    We have 4 older trucks in our local fleet (3 Petes and an old International) that ride on tall 11R24.5 rubber. So it's not uncommon to have to crank the landing gear down if one of those trucks dropped the trailer. :)
     
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  9. SlowPoke44magnum

    SlowPoke44magnum Medium Load Member

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    Walbridge,Ohio
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    I do understand that Pack Rat as I encounter this situation every night at Fed Ex ground because we are ALL contractors with different trucks and specs, but the larger company fleets usually have everything spec'd the same so there really isn't any excuse for dropping trailers that high.. I don't understand why someone would want to do the extra work associated with cranking the trailers so darn high to begin with ;)
     
  10. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    high plains colorado
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    Lot of factors here. Tall 5th wheels, low ones, someone with malfunctioning air ride ( don't laugh, I've seen trucks with air bags fully inflated) and of course, tire size. When I pulled RR cans, there were many times these yard jockeys never got out and dropped the wagons so low, they'd be equal to my tail lights. I couldn't even get the frame under them to raise it with my air ride. Boy, I sure miss those days,,,, NOT!!!
     
  11. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    It might also depend on the yard and spot that the trailer is dropped. Especially in dirt lots or yards with bubble gum for asphalt there can be some huge undulations and potholes, and you end up having to crank the landing gear farther down just to be able to get out from under it. Other situations I've seen is dropping in a position where the trailer is going up an incline and the tractor is still on flat ground, or having the trailer dropped in a flat nice position with the landing gear in the appropriate position but then it gets spotted in a location with a raised concrete strip.
     
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