Ideas that help drivers out new and old.

brake line anti-freeze in the winter, a little bit in both lines helps keep trailer airlines from freezing

 

Dont fall out of your truck using the three point system in fron of your boss makes you look retarted... LOL dont ask !!

 

I kept a squeegee in my side pocket to clean my Freightliner mirror after the windshield washer fluid covered it up. Got a clean mirror every time I washed the windshield. It's a stupid design, the Volvos do it as well but my 387 Pete doesn't.

 

If your Company utilizes the Transflo Procedure for your delivered BOLS, GET YOUR BUTT out and buy a mealy costing accordian file. Back up your proof that YOU delivered it if your check dont add up right. When your Company gets your original paperwork....heehee....you still got copies to back yourself up. Its amazing how paperwork gets lost.

 

In deep freezing weather, on a level surface, down for 10 hours, ONLY set your cab brakes. Its no fun takin a hammer and banging on your trailer drums when your fingers turn out harder than your hammer.

After the before mentioned and your ready to go, rock mildly back and forth to crack and break any remaining ice thats stubborn to loosen up. Not caring if you set all your brakes and you wake up to an iceberg of Tractor-Trailer and have to call Road Service will NOT make your Dispatcher happy, and you sure wont look professional.

 

If it all possible, get a powerful inverter and brew your own coffee. And don't drink soda from the fountains. Get it in a can or bottle.

 

After sitting all night in the cold roll your truck half a wheels length so the top is on the bottom and the bottom on the top and sit for half an hour or so. Radials develop flat spots on the bottom when they sit for extended periods in the cold.

 

I read it elsewhere here on the forum, but it bears repeating because it was incredibly helpful to me. If you're a solo driver like me and you need to slide your tandems- if you pull the release handle and it won't lock in position, clamp a pair of locking pliers onto the handle to hold it out.

Advice I got in school regarding not freezing your brakes. When you get into a truck stop, make a few laps with light pressure on your brakes. This will heat them up and dry them out. Also, when you park on snow or ice, wait a half hour or so and then back up another foot. Your tires are warm when you first stop and will melt any snow under you which will then refreeze around your tires.

Advice from a mechanic. If your get a trailer with a loose pigtail connection causing your trailer lights to flicker or go out, try using a screwdriver to gently push the prongs outward a little bit. This will make for a tighter connection.

 

Freightliner windshield wipers: I use a hand sweeping brush to bang the wipers when they get iced up. You can reach out from the window when its down and hook the plastic brush under the arm to lift it a little, thus breaking off the ice.
I always keep Heat windshield de icer with me in wintertime, I have free'd off brakes, unfrozen padlocks, cleaned ice from lights etc etc etc with it. Works great and takes up very little room. Can be had from wally world in the same isle as the windshield washer fluid.
A spare glad hand in the side box, along with 2 pairs of vice grips next to it if the need arises. That way if you break a glad hand while turning sharp, you arent hunting for the new one and the tools to change it. Ahh the joys of oversize
I keep my gloves under the passenger side floor vent to keep them nice and toasty in winter time, on top of the boots I keep there to keep my pinkies nice n warm.
Thats all for now folks....
Martin