The trucking business

Black900, No disrespect, but come on!! That is like saying buy low sell high! There is alot more to it than just buying a truck at a great price.

BTW........please share how you adjust your own brakes, I for one am very interested.

If you professionals don't teach us, I truly think trucking will end up in the business office.

 

Adjusting brakes isnt too terrible, I think everyone should be taught that in they're proper pre-trip. Next time I know ill be doing it at work Ill take my camera and take some pics.

 

I was taught that in the pre-trip, a hard break at about 5 miles per hour. Funny the state wouldn't have you do that as part of their brake test, hmmmm wonder why?

I want to learn how to adjust them after the "test" doesn't work. I also want to learn from the best or get as much free info i can from the best of the best!

Logan that is why we are both on this thread. I want what they don't teach you, I want the been there done it for years and tell you how to save your life type advice!

 

Here's my thing, when the CDL school taught people to do a pre-trip they didnt even look under the #### thing hardly, don't be afraid to get a little dirty and crawl around underneath that rig of yours, it surely wont hurt you any. I roll around in the dirt all the time working on these old crapola's that we drive.

Adjusting the brakes is something real simple:
- Chock the wheels
- Release the brakes
- crawl underneath the truck
- use a box end wrench
ther
- There is a protective guard around the adjustment nut push down on it to get the wrench over the head of it, you may need a small ball peen hammer to tap on the wrench (use the box end)
- Tighten the nut up until the brake shoes are tight against the drum
- Back the nut off 1/3 to 1/4 of a turn
- adjust all brakes accordingly
- take the truck for a low speed test drive to make sure no shoes are dragging and make sure your windows are down and radio is off to listen for any odd noises.
- wala your done, feel accomplished.

 

Once again more words of wisdom from Southern Pride!!!
How's it going there driver?

 

Thank you again SP. Your words are awesome and they will help people if they were only smart enough to read it and comprehend it.

 

Some of us are smart enough, and we are able to comprehend it, but there is no many things going against us.

This does in no way negate the fact that, Southern Pride is a true gem! I said before and will say it again.........let's clone him!

If I read his message/advice correct he is saying.....go do it, which I love that advice. What happens when they make us new drivers an "example", of the new trucking?

 

Manual,,,course thread's........

 

I have a question about running older trucks? Last I did my research most companies would not let you lease on with anything older than 4yrs. Is this still the case or are you sourcing your own loads and not leased?

I personally think the Age limit on the trucks is BS. I work in Aviation and understand very well the need of and longevity that good maintenance brings.

As was stated it is actually cheaper and helps your bottom line to buy an older truck BUT not one that is ragged out.

I been looking at Trucks and Prices lately. (Just killing time at my current job.)

Seems anything newer than 2003 and less than 400k your paying $50k+ for. Same years over 500K and you can usually get for $20-30k.

What makes any of those trucks any better than the few I have found that were 1990's models with 180-320k miles on them and had been kept up and clean, for $7500-15000???

In aviation we never retire an Aircraft due to age. Most are retired because of lack of parts or straight up damaged.

Engines can be replaced or overhauled, tranmissions(Helicopters) can be replaced or over hauled, Interior can be rplaced and upgraded, Gauges and electronic samething.

We can actually Zero Time an Aircraft, with an indepth inspection and replacing some key components.

Another question I have is upgrading to newer engines and transmissions in older trucks. I know a lot of the engine have not changed the base engine very much over the years. Was wondering if newer engines would bolt up in place of the old??? That could be a more feasible option.

My side hobby is Drag Racing and Cars/Truck in General.

I just see too many old trcuks being thrown away when they still have some life in them. On the flip side I see some younger trucks that have been neglected that need some major overhauling or put to rest.

Being a Car/Truck guy outside of the Trucking world I treat my vehicles like family.

I do all my own maintenance that I can. (Except oil changes: I pay WalMart $2 more than it would cost me and they deal with the disposal)

LOL!! "It's all nuts and bolts!!" We use that quite often here in Aviation as well.

Another good one I like is, If you don't know it's in the book!!

My own personal belief is that if your going to operate something you had better know how to do the basic maintenence on it. It's in the BOOK!!

I myself go a step further and know how and why, what I operate works and how to repair it if need be. I will even go as far as getting the Manuals for it. Shop Manuals, Not the owners manual.