Tricks of the trade.....

since we are busy when it rains, i keep a good coat of rain-x on my mirrors. alot of the mist and grime run off enough to see.

keep extra key in your wallet. if you get locked out you won't be standing there trying to look cool while you sweat those bullets.

 

Depends what types of climate you are in for sure.
Up north if there is powder snow it gets in everywhere. Then, when you stop, your brake drums are still warm, the snow melts, and eventually turns to ice. If you have your brakes on, they will freeze to the drums and at -50 C (-58F) and in the morning you will have to get in with a blow torch to melt the ice. The recommended procedure up north is to park, set the tractor brakes. Chock all the wheels. Then release the tractor brake again. That way in the morning at least you can get the rig going again.
However, in less severe conditions, this extreme procedure is probably not necessary!

 

Good one Poppy, yes I also have a spare key in my pocket at all times!

 

thanks for the tips ,alot of times I like to ask for help but do'nt for fear of looking bad

 

I hear you red dog... being a female sometimes makes me think twice about it too... but I have one or two trusted trucker friends who dont belittle me when I need to ask a question. Its great to have a mini support network. Hope you find someone like that to ask when you are in need!

 

I carry 2 gallons of washer fluid, 2 gallons of oil, 2 gallons of antifreeze, and 2 gallons of water. I always restock at the terminal so I neednt buy any supplis on the road. I also carry half a dozen rubber grommets for airlines, misc fuses ranging from 5 amp to 30 amp (about 6 each) spare bulbs and headlights, ducttape, bungee cords, extra batteries, etc. The more prepared you are the greater the likelihood of staying moving and making money.

 

another good thing to have is spare winshield wiper blade. if one goes south, either you just can't see or there goes the winshield when it starts cutting. and i guess i need one too.

 

Speaking of wipers

Keep a pair of winter blades in the truck (they have a rubber sheath on them to prevent ice buildup)


most southern folk don't know this, but when the temprature drops below about 0 deg F, DON'T USE YOUR DEFROSTER WHEN IT'S SNOWING!!! It will never keep your windshield warm enough to keep the snow liquid long enough for your wipers to work. 10 miles down the road and you won't see shiznit except the 30 lbs of ice you've created

Just keep the heat on the floor, let the glass get as cold as it is outside before you drive, and the snow will just bounce off your windshield, most times you won't even need your wipers.

Keep in mind that only works when it's bitter cold outside....like Elk Mountain in 2 months.

 

Well I just finished training with Schneider last week, waiting on final testing on Tuesday. One of the instructors pointed out a trick for sliding the trailer tandems back and forth.

Buy a crowbar and use it to hook into the tandem holes. For example, lets say you have the tandems set as far back as possible, and you want to move them up into the fifth spot. Simply unlock the tandem pins, put the crowbar in the fourth hole and slowly push the trailer back until it hits the crowbar...then you know you are there; instead of constantly getting in and out of the truck trying to line it up.

For moving the tandems back, same thing. If you are in the fifth hole and want to move to the sixth, just put the crowbar in the second hole behind the rear locking pins...this will allow the tandems to move one spot back.

Also...I got confused on an earlier reply so maybe this is a repeat:
Schneider has multi-tools which double for pulling the release arm for the fifth wheel as well as a chain for the tandem bar. There is a rubber pad at one end of the bar and that is used when you play with the tandems. Hook up the chain hook to the tandem pull bar. Use the rubber pad and put it against the trailer side (should be a support collum (sp) or something). Pull up on the multi tool (now acting like a pivot) and the locking bar will pull out, releasing all the pins. then push it down into the open position.

 

the only problem with that trick is that you can damage the tandem rails.

they are made of a much softer metal than the crowbar and you will leave a pretty good gouge in the the hole (oblonging it) if you bump it very hard.


bent rails then are very very hard to slide gently and will hesitate then jerk back or forth in big chunks

I always get the tandems "about" where I need them - THEN release the pins (either air actuated or spring loaded) THEN slide either forward or backward until they pop in place.

it is not really a trick - but good practive on a 53' common axle (joint tandems) - to keep them set at 40' (3' kingpin from nose - 10' from rear of trlr to center of rear axle) - this way you are length legal in all 48 states and you then never have an incident in california (happens 50 times a day) where you were legal all the way from new york - then you get to the cali scales - you need to slide one more hole and ***POOF*** you are over axle weight by 300 lbs. (issue a ticket in your name).