mistakes that let everyone know youre a rookie

skip shifting going up a hill with a total weight of about 69,000lbs in a ###### old century. whoops.

 

Sitting down at the counter at Iron Skillet, ordering the salad bar and a diet coke, and pulling out the new book you just bought and start reading it.....the book is titled "National Truckstop Directory 2013"

 

Entry into the I55 truckstop in Bolingbrook IL free...

Staying for more than the three free hours and trying to get out while refusing to pay, or unable to pay, the whopping $10 fee? Priceless for those watching the your visit from the local PD!

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Mikeeee

 

WooHooooo!
Decided on a lease-purchase with Prime!!!

 

This is my favorite thread. I've had my share. I pulled into a weigh station in KY when they tried to waive me on, and I pulled straight into the inspection pit. "We tried to waive you on, but since you are, let's take a look." Luckily I was good, but I wasted an hour and some adrenaline.

 

Speaking of shifting uphill...I did a gruelling 3 hour road test fresh out of school for Watkins-Shepard in a grossed-out brand new Cascadia through the mountains in Eastern PA in January. There were three of us, and I went first. I did ok, white knuckles and all, and then we stopped for lunch in Mountain Top, PA. After we slosshed through the snow back to the truck, it was time for guy #2. He started up the pass, but missed a gear got flustered. He came to a complete stop, and put it into 1st- except he didn't flip the switch, and it was in 6th. He dumped the clutch with 79,000 lbs on a hill and BAM! The little "Eaton Fuller" gear shift cover rocketed to the back of the sleeper where we were sitting. The truck would not move. He managed to drop BOTH drive shafts. Needless to say after an impressive tow up the mountain he was given a Greyhound ticket back home. I felt bad for the guy. He was a really great guy. I think he went to work for Werner after that.

 

Sounds scary as hell

 

I hate to tell you this but you are not describing rookie errors. The major oil companies have done studies on cross-dumping and they figured even experienced drivers will cross-dump about once in every 5 years. No matter how many years they have doing that job day in and day out. It's contributed to complicacy. Rest assured, we've all made moves like that. Now if you went on and kicked the front tire then we would have raised an eyebrow.

 

This could also be a sign that someone relieved you of some of your fuel, and sometimes it is truckers themselves who do it. Good idea to check your fuel caps anytime you have been stopped.

 

Your post made me laugh.... and laughter is always a good thing. I've been in your shoes, and in the shoes that came up behind you- it's all good and all part of trucking