After 34 yrs, I made a Rookie Mistake

My first rookie mistake a 53' dry van fought and fought to get in a dock was very tight and yes you know where I am going forgot to open the doors talk about hurt pride will never happen again LOL

 

Being a O/O I hope I never do any of that I couldn't afford to. Worst thing I have done so far and you feel so stupid is I jumped my fifth wheel. The pin was actually in front of my fifth wheel that was a nightmare. I kept getting more pieces of wood trying to get the loaded trailer up. It was a 20 foot container, and them will mess you up if your not careful plus I was on high tires, and didn't have a dump either! The only thing that was hurt was my pride lol

 

Do it long enough you'll eventually make all the mistakes at some point. I dropped a loaded 28 one time (oops!) 5th wheel got bound up, somebody came over to help with that and I'd forgot to do that little you-know-what part after I'd gotten myself into a hurry.

 

My company uses those fifth wheel slip disks instead of grease, I can't tell you how many we have folded up swapping trailers because we never seem to notice them sagging.

 

I love Teflon plates--just NEVER heard of anyone usin them who swaps trailers--interesting--cuz I can see all kinds of problems doin this--

 

So I'll tell on my self to. I also was in hurry as to drop & pick up loaded trailers in the same location.

I had to be there or lose the load. Already been delay from every point a long the way.

In which the pick up appt. Time was much earlier than delivery time.

At the time i said I'll do it. The elevator did'nt go all the way to the top floor on this one.

So. I rushed in. dropped trailer. jumped out ran back & I just reach over & pop the airhoses off let them fall. Than fifth wheel, landing gear. pulled out.

I heard a air horn. looked in my mirro to see what?

I see this long red ribben. I looking at it. like where did that come from.

I follow it to the truck tire. Than it hit me. thats my air line.

Backup got out. the glad hand got caught between the two tires and wrapped around the tire.

The shipper saw what happen. wanted to give to another truck.

I said I got it. He said you got 30 min. To be out the gate.

This load got to be there on time. And had just enough time to get there.

So what i did was swap hoses. The blue to the red side. An long with glad hand.

So now i got the blue in place of the red one to release the parking/E-brake.

Took some vise grips & clamped off service side air hose. After installing the red that i just cut out of my tire.

Now trailer moves & roll out the gate. Two exit down pilot bought those red line they sell

Put every thang back in working order. Dropped on time. Roll to t/a replace line with a good one.

I was glad to see that day end.

Roll on.

 

Likewise. I ultimately became a trainer and we had a driver drop one out in the street by our yard. Transport mgr comes to me and said "you gave the ok, what should we do?" to which I responded, "take away his bonus, make him couple/uncouple for 4 hours, give him some time off...do anything you want but if you fire him, you just gave that experience to someone else at our expense. To this day that driver, as well as myself, ALWAYS makes sure that kingpin is latched. Y'all keep up the good work!

 

Besides being tired, and being on the phone, i think being in a hurry is one of the most dangerous things for a driver to do. I personally can get inpatient, and in a hurry and often have to remind myself to back off, and chill out.