Trans Am Still

I got mine back on the 5th wheel using the air bags and a couple of steel beams from warehouse racks that I found in the yard where my mishap occurred. Cranked the landing gear as far as I could get it, dropped the air bags, placed a steel beam between the rails and trailer, inflate air bags, repeat until high enough to jam the 5th wheel under.

I saw a guy drop a trailer to the ground at a WalMart DC. He just plain did not lower the landing gear before he drove off. I was just across the isle not really paying attention to what he was doing but the crashing sound got my attention. Just watching his mistake helped me to remember, the landing gear crank handle is always the first thing I touch, when I get out of the truck, when dropping a trailer.

 

It really does not matter, in what order you do things, what DOES matter is...... that you do the same thing each time in the same way. Me, I do air lines, crank, pull pin...... EACH AND EVERY TIME.

 

I have been thinking about that. I do not want to encourage any new driver to lease so I might just avoid it as it will be mostly people who have never driven before so maybe they won't ask but if it does come up I have not thought of a good response. I do not want to feel like a snake oil salesman, when I came out of the Navy I did the whole Wall Street thing but it was being a snake oil salesman. I was young and dumb then and let the money others made blind me. Don't ever want to feel like that again. So if it turns out that is all they want I won't do it. I was just prepared to go along the lines that this is a good place to start your career, we have great equipement. Dispatch here won't push you to drive in bad conditions. Don't really drive the real bad hills, yes we do drive hills but none of the ones out in the northwest. If it doesn't work out I do ok driving solo. Will get my qualification for training but will only do it for friends or anyone on here that request me but will not be stuck with just anyone like before because some guys drove me nuts

 

When I was in training at Schneider some driver with 15 years experience dropped a trailer in the yard. He kept saying how he did the tug test. They fired him within the hour. From that moment on I always check to make sure the locking jaw is engaged. I thought to myself if a driver who had driven 15 years and had that million mile safety could do that I better make sure I do everything I can to make sure that it doesn't happen to me.

 

That was a pretty smart way to recover that trailer. I would have never thought of that

 

You're right! What ever works for you so that if you are out of step, it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand and remind you to do it! I like crank handle first as I am a bit slow and if I am out of order on that step, it gives me the most time to come to my senses.

 

Am pretty stinking mad about now. My appt was at 0400 and now it's 0630 and I still haven't been touched. Have another appt at 0900 and it's 2 hrs away. Evidently the warehouse is full, the floor is full, and they have no place to put it.I aabsolutely HATE places like this and hopefully will never come back again.


Am at UNFI in Iowa City, IA JIC any of ya'll is unlucky enough to.come here.

 

George had a day like that yestetday, panhandle, at Norcross, GA. According to DM directives his load was due at 12:30 pm. He got there at noon, parked and waited, and waited.... Other trucks rolled in and were unloaded before him repeatedly. His load was actually due the day before (guy he swapped with had a 2 stop & that was the last stop). We aren't sure what happened that the load was late, but it was apparently already late when the swap was made. George was there until 4:30!! He figures they had to work him in since it was a day late.

 

My load going to South Florida got swapped out in Northern Florida yesterday afternoon, turned around headed back to Texas. Both loads where on time so probably getting the swap driver to his home time. No loss in miles so fine by me.