Risk Reward Management

You must be hauling tar for asphalt? I thought asphalt was seasonal? It has to be 45 degrees minimum to pave.

 

You've got the idea to check him out. Why not companies check us all the time. I believe the best way you're going to find out how he drives is to talk with other drivers doing the same thing. You've all got to load at the batch plant so try to ask a few drivers if they know him and how does he drive. Believe me if it's anything like what I did we all knew every driver and what has happened to them.

Besides all that is there other hot mix trailers taking the same route and if so there might be something to it. But if he's the only one going that way then there's a good reason and 9 times out of 10 it's not good. Find out why he goes that way. Don't take an answer because it's shorter, try to find the real reason like maybe his truck would never pass an inspection. You've got some homework to do before you make any changes. Good luck.

 

I hate to tell you this but you time at your other job counts as on duty. See FMCSR's §395.2 Definitions- On Duty Time- (9). Performing any compensated work for a person who is not a motor carrier. You have to watch that you do not go over. Protect your CDL.

 

Look at your round convex mirror to watch your trailer in a turn.

 

Try power mirrors, we use em on our tankers. Handy for maneuvering around real tight and wierd corners and right-hand backups. Real neat when the chem plants are doing construction like now. Dang construction workers will leave materials and machinery parked in the damndest places.

 

it means you have to WATCH the hours you work on your other job, then also while you are driving.

 

Try checking out an RV store. They have all kinds of gadgets and such to put on your truck. I am sure they have mirror extenders or something like it. I bought a really cool set of collapsible stairs that went from the ground all the way up to the door. I used them for my great dane so that she could get in and out of the truck. When you folded them up they fit perfectly in my side box. Any way, you can find all sorts of cool stuff for your truck at an RV store.

 

We couldn't live without them. Even heated mirrors are great because even if it's only raining you can turn them on and see a whole lot better.