O.S.H.A. and Truck Repaires

My opinion is that if you are unable to (or don't want to) do the little nessacary maintenance then you should not be allowed to have a CDL. As was stated earlier we have way to many steering wheel holders on the road any more. If a person doesn't have a idea (or care) on how the basic systems (electrical, air brakes, fuel, simple motor parts) work then they would not be employeed by me at all. The last thing I would want is a idiot driver taking the truck into a shop (or even worse, a road call) for a simple repair like the air or electrical cords.

 

I worked for a company that only allowed the very minor repairs like lights and fluids. If the driver did anything else without the approval of the mechanical department, he would be looking for a new line of work. They would blast the DAC with truck damages.

 

This thread makes me sick! As an old school driver, I'm totally amazed at the laziness, inefficiency, pettiness, and prima-donna attitude of some drivers.
While I understand that the days of replacing brake boosters is over due to the insurance companies, but if you call yourself a trucker and can't even change a filter or a lightbulb, you're sadly mistaken.
Tinman told me the other day that they aren't allowed to even plug and air up a tire. Well fine then. Just SIT there on the side of the road like a cowpie when you could be making you and your company money.
Fact is, trucks are built tougher than cars for a reason. They do the miles and take the bumps cars do not. They break. Bulbs pop. Things wear out. Things clog up. To expect your company to be on the road with you holding your hand to keep you moving is ludicrous.
Tinman mentioned that they aren't allowed to plug and air a tire because it could be a safety issue. I say plug, air, don't tell. I've plugged 20 tires in my time (I go into dumps a lot) and never had a problem with one, and if I did, how would that be worse than NOT fixing it???
As for you candybutt PrimaDonnas who can't get your hands dirty: I've seen female drivers doing the same maintenance I have, got just as greasy, and probably made more than you, since she'd be moving again and you wouldn't.
Stay castrated if you like, but I'll ALWAYS have plenty of tools on board, car, truck, or whatever.

 

The same way you change one in a shop, except your on the side of the road.

 

True enough that the big companies are that way. PAM didn't want anyone doing work on their trucks and/or trailers other than mechanics. At least that was their official stance. I'm not sure about dinging one's DAC, but they probably would if a guy messed something up. It made sense to me at the time. I mean, who would want a newbie working on a brand new (or like new) truck that's still under warranty? Even PAM's own mechanics couldn't do major repairs on trucks still under warranty.

However, there's still plenty of small companies out there that wouldn't mind a bit if a guy/gal could save them some money by doing a smaller repair on the side of the road. The company I'm with now is one such company.

 

My point is that to fire someone because they want or mention OSHA is the reason OSHA came to be in the first place.

Many companies will do anything to save a buck and the cost will be to the employee as an injury or health or death.

If there is a valid concern, OSHA doesn't need to step in. The mere mention of OSHA means that the driver is unable to find any employer that will meet his/her demands. No reasonable safety precaution requires an OSHA mandate.

 

This is not what you claimed before.

Employee safety issues are not marxist.

Hmmm...

Where did I claim that people quit? And we are not talking about Driver Safety. We are talking about OSHA mandates. Yes, OSHA believes that resources are a "right" of the employee. That is a key kog in the Communist Manifesto; the belief that if something material exists, it should be owned by no one and shared by all. OSHA reinforces that standard by requiring companies that have access to clean water to share that water with its employees. As a "right," clean water is taken for granted until it runs out. But drivers do not have clean water because of government order, drivers have clean water because of the magic of the marketplace.

OSHA puts a real damper on that market, by allowing a politically motivated minority dictate the rules for everyone else. This puts the power of choice back in the hands of government agencies, with one less decision for the sheeple to make on their own.

Clean water, like mechanical work, is not free. The cost is taken out of the driver's paycheck. Whether OSHA madates that your boss provide clean water or mechanical work, or if he provides this service because it is good business, is a matter better left between employees and employers. Each employee will have different types of standards that need to be met. To allow a one-size-fits-all mentality dominate the political spectrum might sound good to you because you don't want to get hurt from performing mechincal work, but it will only sound good if that standard fits with your individual needs. You won't be as happy once someone else's stnadards take precedence over your higher paycheck.

 

How do you get a compressor powered? APU?