Truckers Report tips that have helped me in my trucking career.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by tarmadilo, Sep 26, 2021.

  1. tarmadilo

    tarmadilo Road Train Member

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    Just want to give a big thanks to this place for passing on real world useful info. Just in the last month I parked a trailer in a very tight spot and thanks to a recent thread, I knew to drop the landing gear down to about a half inch above the pavement before backing it in so that I wouldn’t have to crank it from an uncomfortable position underneath.

    Another tip that has really helped: mix a cleaner like Fabuloso in with the windshield wash liquid, to help dissolve bugs. I’ve tried Dawn dish detergent, but it makes suds. No suds with the Fabuloso! This is the most effective thing I’ve used in 22 years of professional driving.

    And last, I’ve begun pulling my truck forward tight to the kingpin when I park for breaks. It’s true, the kingpin release won’t budge!

    Anyway, thanks and keep the tips coming!

    Oh, and what tips have you gleaned here?
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2021
    Reason for edit: Had a brain fart re: kingpin!
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  3. Shackdaddy

    Shackdaddy Medium Load Member

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    Don’t start vaccine threads.
     
  4. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

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    The practice tests helped me a lot
     
  5. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    I THINK thats backwards, or at least on all the trucks ive driven, its backwards, need tension on the jaws to prevent kingpin release.
     
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  6. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    I read that the same way but I think he means tight to the forward position.
     
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  7. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    I guess i can see that, just strikes me as weird wording for what he meant
     
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  8. tarmadilo

    tarmadilo Road Train Member

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    Yeah, I got it backwards, I’ll fix that now.
     
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  9. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    @tarmadilo, those 3 are all really good ones. When it comes to driving the truck I've picked up a lot but honestly as a fairly new independent O/O I've learned the most from the O/O and broker sections.

    Learning the ins and outs of how this business works, how to make money and not lose money (different things), how to negotiate, tips on taxes, purchasing equipment, watching your costs, etc. Man, I've learned a ton here. I'll try to narrow it down to something specific I can share.
     
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  10. ncmickey

    ncmickey Road Train Member

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    To walk around truck every time I stop. I’ve caught several flat tires or just nails/screws in tires this way
     
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  11. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Yeah, when people say just a few drops that's what they mean.
    A couple of drops is two drops.
    A few drops is three drops.

    Don't go in there squirting the stuff or there will be issues...
    /troll
     
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