what can a driver do if his boss says drive a truck that will not pass a dot inspection

These days, I'd have reservations about fixing ANYTHING for ANYBODY. Years ago, trucking attracted a different group of people, many farmers, or people that helped out on a farm, made great truck drivers. Knew full well what to do,( or not to do) or they didn't do it, or you learned pretty quick. Well, you know where the "family farm" went, and there's just not a call for that anymore. And trucks were so simple. The worst was the throttle rod came off. Tell a newer driver today, if they have a charging problem with a BC Cummins, switch the pump to manual. I bet they wouldn't even know where to look.

 

I agree but it's hard to turn down somebody with a problem. Especially if they're decent about asking and willing to learn.
If they're loud and abusive and start making demands I'll toss them the phone book and tell them to pick out a shop or a road-call outfit 'cause we won't be working on their truck. Ever.
Like I said, our mechanic has a lot more patience than I do. We can't do the work ourselves because of insurance but we've been known to loan a tool now and then.
You're right about the ranch kids, too. Most of our own drivers come from an agriculture or logging background. They know how to get things done.

And that little knurled knob back behind the pump could be a bugger to turn if it was freezing and your finger tips started going numb. If I remember right there was a slot in the knob that a stubby screwdriver could fit in but you had to work by grope. Great fun at night in the snow. There are parts of the "good old days" that I don't miss at all.

 

I think the day of the gruffy mouthed truck driver has past ( since I retired) but you're right, if people come to you, they're probably desperate for help. It can be pretty scary, I'll admit. A while back, coming back from NY, my pickup broke down on the Ohio Pike, and I got it going,( because I had my tools) but it was pretty tense for a while. I'd help as much as I could too, and did, but today, you hear about someone helping someone, something happens, and wham,,,lawsuit, that's gratitude for ya'. Besides, mechanics HAVE to have patience,,that's why they're mechanics. It was always good to have a good relationship with the mechanic. Some donuts could go a long way!

 

Are you really complaining that us newer guys don't know how to fix a problem with an engine that we've never driven or seen? That's like complaining that old school farmers are stupid because they can't solve the most basic computer problems, since they never worked with computers.

I'm fairly good at picking up on mechanical stuff. I don't normally have to be shown stuff on trucks more than once, but everyone has to learn things somewhere.

 

Is all this communication through the qualcomm? If so take a picture of all the messages telling you to just run it. But i think these guys know to say it verbally because they know recording phone conversations is illegal in most states without both parties consenting.

 

Sorry, that's exactly what we're saying. You clearly are the exception to the norm today, and that's great, but most really are just steering wheel turners. Not much more is asked of them, so that's what you get. The industry can't turn them away because they don't know about mechanics. Years ago, we were on our own, we HAD to do something. Today, a push of a button, and somebody will be out to fix it. It's just the way it is today.

 

Believe me I get that far too many drivers these days are pretty useless. I just take issue with the way some older drivers dump on the younger guys because we can't drive a transmission we've never seen in person, or fix mechanical issues with a motor or transmission we've never seen before. Having experienced older technology does not make a person a better driver with newer technology, there are plenty of us who would be able to run that older equipment just fine, if we had the chance to experience it.

 

I'm just getting in this game and I'm no young buck turning 40 soon but I'm very mechanically inclined. I rather fix the #### myself then wait all day to have it fixed. I would even change a tire on these trucks if I had a spare and was allowed. Cordless battery impact and go to town. I've been working on cars and trucks for about 20 years now but not heavy duty trucks or tractor trailers but it's all basically the same just much larger parts.