Are you an operator or just a driver

I've met and worked with guys that know little (if anything) about the unit they drive. Years ago, we hired a steering wheel holder who had an air line to his seat pop out of the compression fitting. He had absolutely no idea what to do... except call for a service truck. A few hundred dollars later, he was on his way. I stopped by the same shop for a new tire later that week and the mechanic was still laughing about it. He asked me "Where on earth did you find that guy?"

I just can't imagine operating like that... I need to know as much as possible about my equipment. I carry a tool box that has just about every tool I need. I've bypassed frozen air dryers, jumped sensors with a paperclip, changed air lines and hub caps, repaired many leveling valves, rewired numerous tail lights over the years, among other things.

I don't know everything there is to know about my truck.... but I'm not afraid to learn as much as I can about it.

Good topic!

 

Hub caps? Jumping Sensors w/a Paper Clip? That could be a get your 2 checks deal.

 

Somebody was walking around kicking the window out of the caps one day at the Petro in Portage Wi. I had an extra cap and some oil. I replaced it in the lot and was on my way.

My coolant sensor (2000 Volvo) went out on I-74 just west of Indy. It went into shut down mode. I took a paperclip and bypassed the sensor and made it back to our shop some 240 miles away.

It got the job done.

2 checks deal?

 

LOL.. Sounds like that guy should win the "Earnest T. Bass" truckstop award (followed by a good butt whoopin').

 

Well i just watched and tried to help a newer driver slide his fifth wheel. He was loaded but didn't wan't my advice on how to do it when i explained that it works better to dolly down, dump tractor air bags, release the locks and it moves very easy. His response " that's not what my trainer taught me". He didn't have a clue as to what a suspension dump was or could care less. So several of us drivers went back to our trucks and watched him spit the driveshaft out and split the yoke on transmission. Maybe his trainer taught him to do it that way?. His comment after this happened was "oh well the company can fix it". Another driver that just wants the check but don't care about anything else. Me personally i'm tired of trying to mentor or offer advice most of them don't care or want to learn it's just a job like working at a fast food joint. Do the bare minimum and get by with a check. Some will pick your brain and ask questions, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Just my 2 cents worth

 

Didn't know they were called Hub caps. Axle Hub window is the term around here. In a pinch Cardboard will work as well. Jumping the Sensor w/ a Paper Clip could change the Voltage/Resistance on that line causing Electrical damage. But you made it so good on you. When you get run off they say "go get your 2 checks." If you quit,your dragging up.

 

I haven`t weighed them but my guess would be that I`m carrying an extra 750+ lbs of tools and parts.Most of the time they are dead weight, but priceless when needed.I can understand todays company driver not knowing how to work on an engine, and I guess its a sign of the times that a lot don`t even know what engine they have. BUT how in the world can you ride the highway not knowing or caring how to adjust your brakes?? The life you save may be your own.