Rookies training Rookies

Well... I have yet to see anyone check their brake adjustment on the trailer on their pre-trip (just have never seen it) but hey you'd be the first . I highly doubt my trailer brake was out of adjustment when I took off since it passed the trailer service brake test and brakes functioned normally up until the hill... My truck is governed at 65 and the speed limit is 75. I had a front-loaded trailer with extremely heavy mining tires so the brakes failed on the hill (they were working fine before it), UT-120 has a 12% grade in this area (which I can tell you've never been to). The engine brake is the only reason I'm going 80 and not 130.

Now onto the tandems thing... I don't have trailer brakes... the rails are very rusted... these are air supplied tandems (no handle) and the pins won't fully release. You got the answers, so what did I do to slide them?

I've seen rookie trainers in action, usually at truck stops where I have to spot them in so they don't take off my front bumper... my passenger side mirror knows you guys can "bring it".

 

It's common knowledge to not swerve for an animal. But yes if they are actually hanging out in the street and you have ample warning then slow and steer around in a controlled fashion.

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/wildlife.php

 

Why all the hypothetical questions driver? You can continue to play what if all you want, but your brakes can go out even with light loads... Just ask the swift drivers that run donner every day.... 15000 pound load and smoking brakes.... driver error.... Just as your scenario, company driver, 65 mph truck and probably running spot on the limiter everywhere, rolled over the crest and pick backup to 65... and your brakes fail due to your haste.... and your scenario of "extremely heavy tires".... really? You do realize even if the tires are super heavy you have axle limits correct? Or god forbid do you run od loads? Or do you just not know how to tell the shippers to evenly distribute the load to prevent a frontload.... you my friend are why your brakes failed in your own scenario....

Btw second question, lithium grease and find a curb.... badabing

 

and quoted directly from your article...

"Moose are the lone exception to the do-not-swerve rule. An adult moose can grow to 1,600 pounds. Consequently, colliding with a moose is comparable to colliding with a compact vehicle on stilts, with the likelihood of fatal or long-term injuries to the front-seat occupants of your car. So if the situation allows, swerving for a moose is a defensive option."

Elk are about the same size as a moose... but a bit pointier. Another driver asked this 6-month wonder what he'd do if he was about to hit an elk... but yes, I AGREE with your source... as does my post.

 

Answer 1.) You missed super-trucker (trainer w/ 6 mos. exp) here talking mad-shizzit. Drive axle is 33500, trl axle is 24500- slid all the way forward. These are tires so they aren't palletized and they cannot be evenly distributed. They are being held in with 5 straps, WR 5,000 lbs. I didn't load it... load was sealed when I picked it up. If it was up to me these wouldn't be going out in a box, but its not so... oh well. OD pulls trailers out of the same place I pulled this from. Discussing clients is probably bad practice but suffice to say its from "M" Tire. PM me if you really want verification of that.

I had 12 of these on me... so yeah good luck with that whole weight distribution thing. Its not like tires roll so they have to be secured up front or anything else that might just qualify as common sense. I'll make sure to tell off the shipper next time so I can sit for a few days because you know they care... that's what SWIFT would do.



Answer 2.) Yep, lithium grease (well 2 cans of WD-40) and backed against boulder slowly to knock pins loose (hammer is next to useless on pressurized tandems that won't release, 3 guys tried). There were no curbs so I had to use some thick wooden planks.

Really... other trucks were coming through at the speed limit, which was 75- I was passed going over the hill and I started in at 60, a reasonable speed (or so I thought given I've been through here before)... the roads not exactly covered in ice and its a straight road. I started picking up a lot of speed about a quarter of the way down at which point I was definitely on the brakes (at this point I was going about 70- still under the limit). But yeah, whatever, driver error... cool story bro. Are you sure you're a driver and not some overpaid "safety" guy with a vendetta leaning back in a cushy office chair after tou rolled a truck that Swift kept on staff to avoid paying workers comp? In any case, I got it under control at 45 mph by the end of it- not going any faster with smoking brakes. I guess I'm not perfect. I'm glad that you and Swift are because I know Swift has a fantastic reputation and their drivers NEVER do anything wrong EVER... S.ure W.ish I F.inished T.raining...

If you aren't overtly trying to be a butthole... I apologize... Swift still sucks.

 

depends on the person. their attitude, frame of mind, ability to deal with people, ability to exercise patience and be thorough. their attention to detail and willingness to teach and teach competently

if it someone who doesnt care and is only out for the money....then no.

but I know plenty of drivers with 6-8 months experience that are now trainers and they are mighty fine trainers.

I know drivers with 15-20 years experience with poop for brains, no common sense and no patience that would make horrible trainers (and some that ARE terrible trainers)

one shoe doesnt always fit everyones foot.

theres three kinds of truckers.

those that get it and understand everything involved and do quite well.
those that get most of it and need a little extra work but can hold their own.
those that dont get it and will never get it and should not be allowed within 500 feet of a truck for their own safety and that of those around them.

amen. well said!

 

if you swerve to miss a moose and total out that truck...thats going on your DAC as a preventable. if you hit the moose its not a preventable.

an 80,000 lb truck will take the brunt of hitting a moose. might not be pretty but it will.

 

I suggested pulling toward the shoulder and bringing the truck to a complete stop ASAP (just like the DMV said)... not swerving into oncoming traffic like a jerk off. Hit that elk and you might be dead... so you won't have to worry about your DAC. Even if you have no choice but to take a ditch its still a better option than death. Also, would like to add that DAC is BS anyways... mine is clean, but as long as I have a clean MVR what does it matter. I wouldn't work for any company that uses DAC on principle alone... its just another USIS scam.

You might already be a serial-killer and not even know it... Did you know DAC is totally unaccountable to anyone? DAC utilizes 100% shady and questionable reporting practices completely ungoverned by any laws funded entirely by private interests for the sole-purpose of blackballing employees for profit... only in Amerika. If you work for a company that utilizes DAC (more and more don't) that company can literally put any unsubstantiated crap they want on your report AND then you have to pay a corporation (that has no legal authority) to fight it. Hmm... sounds a lot like extortion... no wonder the megas like it. Anyways, screw DAC... staying alive is more important.

...unless of course you're a Swift driver with a big mouth... in that case focus on your DAC... you'll never be hired by anyone with a bad DAC and your family will starve... or whatever line of BS they're feeding you guys this month, I honestly can't keep up... I would think of death as a slightly kinder fate than driving for Swift anyways

 

4: Adapt to situations, Do the best you can, Don't screw over co-workers, Don't break crap and home time is for your vices and none of your supervisors business.


P.S will hit the elk. Wants to commit suicide, Happy to help out.

P.S will swerve for dogs and children. Knee high and can't resist to mow them over. GTA score is building


POV: I brake for rodents.

 

Scoots, regarding the whole "gotta swerve if you might hit a moose or an elk" thing...

... you realize you are quoting experts that are warning folks that are driving CARS, right?

Of course hitting an elk or moose at highway speed in a passenger vehicle is going to be a serious, injurious, and potentially fatal experience for both parties involved. Hitting a moose in a truck is going to do serious damage to the truck, but the chances that you are going to get killed sitting up that high with 80K lbs momentum on your side is small. You WILL increase the chances of your death if you swerve or apply the "little yellow knob".

Scoots, are you a trainer?