Must have tools/parts you keep on your truck?

LOL...That's what the guy who originally started this company came up with.
Direct quote..."Let 'em tear up somebody else's machinery learning how to drive. By the time they get here they know what they're doing".
That wasn't always true in every case but I think it helped.

 

Lol a qualified mechanic ?? Thats the dumbest thing a cop has ever said. Its my equipment ill be working on it. They are just trying to make extra revenue because they probably get a cut from giving business to whatever "qualified mechanic" they reccomend

 

A few years ago there was a problem at Truckee concerning what you mentioned. It got covered up pretty quick but it confirmed what a lot of us had always suspected.

 

Binghamton NY town cops and this one garage have a shady deal like that too except cars not trucks. Car died on me this winter, I pushed it off to the side it was completely out of the way with a note saying what garage was picking it up. Got a ride back to the yard so i could drive the truck home. Not even 30 min later I drive back by and my is gone.

5 min later i get a call from the family friend that I had coming for it and it's nowhere to be found. #### #### ####. Spend half the next day calling around to see who has my car. I can't remember the name of the garage or I'd post it. They charged me 500$ fee for having the car less than 24hrs.

Tell me that wasn't some sort of shady kickback going on there. Felt like taking a base ball bat to the owner

 

I have too much on my truck.
Socket wrenches, adjustable wrenches, locking plyers, small pipe wrench, needlenose plyers, various sized screw drivers, allen and torx wrenches, 50ft gladhand air hose, 20 ton pneumatic bottle jack, air impact wrench, cordless screwdriver, extenders and sockets for the impact wrench, breaker bar, 600lb torque wrench, pneumatic grease gun, small and large crowbars, bolt cutters, flat prybar.
3-5 gallons of windshield washer fluid, few gallons of coolant, few gallons of oil, grease, wheel bearing oil.
Hose clamps, screws, bolts/nuts/washers, tape, twine, zipties, silicon, loctite.

Plus the appliances, straps, bars, and up to 30 goals of water in my cab, my empty weight is a bit over 35.5k when full of fuel.

 

I did a month or two ago. Trailer brake blew right when I released the brakes to pull off a dock after getting loaded. Blocked off the airline, caged the brake, and drove to a shop to buy a new one to install. But, it's my truck and trailer. Even got lucky on the trip, got pulled in to a scale and they were going to inspect me. Told them about it and they decided not to inspect me.

Also did it when I worked for a company a few years ago. Blew a can on my drive axle so caged the brake and drove to a shop, then called the company so they could authorize the repair.

 

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You Roll like I do already in my personal van that has been my home away from home.

How come more guys don’t carry a spare tire and tire tool?

Seems like a no brainer.


Finally made it to Michigan. Heading to Leland in the boat right now.

 

Looks like fun, beats changing torsion bar bushings. Biggest problem I have is keeping organized. I’ve got too much stuff on board. It’s gotten rediculous. In the process now, of keeping just the essentials.

 

I have 3 big 50 pound tool bags with me. 1 metric and 1 sae than another full of everything else that is not socket or endwrenches related Than another bag full of C-clamps than another is all electrical

Never fails to not have the tool you need so off to Napa.

 

I do apologize, REO, you make valid points for someone that is actually still trying to make it today. I was born 25 years too late, and still adhere to "old school" reasoning, if any left, and I'd make a terrible boss today, you screw up, you're gone. I'd have nobody driving for me, not that I'd want that anyway. Fact is, the "test drive" would, and usually did, tell all. My 1st trucking job, I filled out a 3x5 index card with some phone numbers, a short 5 minute drive, the boss knew I knew what I was doing, and was hired on the spot without a shred of verifiable training, the boss made that call. I feel bad for you people that are still trying to make it in trucking with the available drivers at hand. You guys have a lot at stake and a tough job and come to think of it, bosses years ago had it made. They didn't have to worry if their truck was coming back or who was driving it. People made money in the trucking MAINLY because of the good drivers they hired. What, you hire 5 drivers today and get one or two good ones? You're business, or the world, for that matter, can operate like that? The only winners today are Flo at Geico Insurance.