List

1 out of the way, and be ready to wake up and move your ### out of the way. Just don't do it.

2 depends on how you're loaded. I try to keep it at the limit or 5 to 10 under if a curve is coming.

3 if you're doing the speed limit plan a few miles under it. Cali speed limit is 55 so trip plan at 50 or so. Depends on your driving style though, maybe more maybe less.

4 no idea

5 I turn mine on at 45 or when I know I'm going to need to down shift

6. That's called dog legging, the trailer is warped from doing tight u turns in lots while loaded.

7 can't answer. Don't know the time table of how your dispatched.

 

Everything you asked, you will learn your own way after time. We can only give our own opinion and it may or may not work for you. My advice is as follows:

1. Independent truck stops will be your best bet for finding parking in the evening like you already do. If you do have to use a full lot, park out of the way of the scale, fuel islands, dumpsters, end of the rows Fire lanes and entrance/exit ways. Wake up about 5 or 6 and see if any spots are free and grab it.
2. Go down as you feel comfortable. F what everyone else and myself (maybe) is blabbering about your slow truck going down hill. If you feel safe at 30 in the rain, so be it. You can go down a hill a million times slow, but only once too fast. Throw on your hazards if you are going to go slower than the posts speed limit.

3. I don't go there.

4. I generally will put em on at 45 depending on conditions. Some states don't allow hazards for going up hills slow. I do it anyway. I'm a hazard to other vehicles. It's my job to keep myself and others around me aware of the dangers I may be imposing. Usually 15-20 under is a good idea to put them on.
5. I don't know the purpose of back braces while driving. Maybe hold their guts in? Seats could be worn out?

6. See above, and the axles may be out of alignment on the trailer causing a dog effect, tires worn on one side more than the other.

7. Myself personally, if I averaged say 25-3000 miles a week, I'm going to run the dog #### out this truck. I'll take the reset at the end of the 70 if I need to or run my recap. Other drivers will have better advice as far as number 7 goes. My longest week is only 2000 miles and that was from Sunday morning to Thursday evening. So I have room to play. You being otr will have different results an you just have to play with it. See where you get the most hours.

 

Your doing the second drawing with only the black dotted line I presume?

Try the pink dotted line. Go past the spot you want till your tandems are slightly past said spot. Do a smooth jack knife following the trailer into the hole. May have to pull up a time or two but it works.

Or

Follow the Orange dots and pull past spot with trailer on maybe a 45 degree angle to spot and tractor more on a 90 degree angle to the spot. Drop her in the hole and take a nap. Sorry if I don't explain it well enough. It's easier to show than to type.

 

If you need to. Pull up as many times as you need to and or reset yourself. People may be sitting around laughing because your new and trying to put it in the hole but I'd rather have that than paying for some drivers fender or mirror. If you get rushed or overwhelmed, stop, take a breather, smoke a cig, do whatever and reset. At the end of the day you still put it in the dock and didn't hit anything. It will become easier as you do it.

P.s. If you need, ask for a spotter. But be wary and don't put all your confidence in them. Use your head and judgement still.

 

90 degree back is for when you have limited room. That is what you want to focus on learning how to do. Once you get that down backing becomes much much easier.

 

No problem driver,

Do what your comfortable with and everything will get easier. Get one technique down, try another way. As long as you don't hit anything your doing it right. Be safe. I'm going home to bed. Later!

 

Your questions have been answered but I just wanted to add; if I knock on your door to move so I can get out, be quick and nice about it and I'll hold the spot until you can circle around. Be a jerk, and it's ffa. If another truck is circling, you can bet your ### I'll make sure he gets it before you do.

 

The 90. Life saver.