Trucks

I've been driving an '07 Freightshaker Century Classic for the last year with a better than basic seat. I haven't used the Magic Gel cushion in this truck at all.

Couple words of wisdom here, based on my experience. First, the MOMENT you start developing ANY kind of pain DEAL WITH IT RIGHT AWAY. Don't wait until you can barely walk or climb down from the cab. Invest in a Magic Gel cushion and modify it.

Second, adjust your seat correctly even if you aren't yet having pain. Forget having the seat way back so your arms are straight and DON'T tilt the seat back! Your back should be upright, your seat should be far enough forward to allow your arms to hang with a 90° bend at the elbows, and the seat should be tilted FORWARD to give your legs plenty of circulation and room to press that clutch ALL the way to the floor without putting pressure on your leg. You will be more comfortable and able to drive longer, and you will have much better feel and control of the steering wheel.

Here's what the Magic Gel cushion looks like after I modified it with a pair of scissors.

 

In an R-model Mack, sure. Most trucks nowadays use the same seat on both sides.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's what the customer orders.

 

Man those bolted down chairs are the worst. Anytime I have to ride passenger for a shift, it tries to put me to sleep. There's no give. The vibrations of the road just make me drift off. That's embarrassing when someone is trying to train you.

 

One company I worked for had those jump seats on the passenger side. They decided to have a dispatcher ride with each driver for one day and evaluate the driver. Yeh, right! I used Pledge spray furniture polish and really waxed that jump seat until it was slick & slippery. The dispatcher that was supposed to ride with me didn't make it to the guard shack exit gate when he said, "OK, you pass; let me out of here."
Even with the seat belt he was hanging on with both hands trying to keep from sliding. Dispatchers just think drivers are dumb.

 

He never did figure out the problem. He did say,"I don't know how you guys can ride in these things all day."

 

Was he a better dispatcher after that???

 

@dngrous_dime
Not really; typical know-it-all.
One time my truck was in the shop, so he put me in another one just for the day. It was a turn with a milk load I could do in one day. The next day he asked me if I slid the 5th wheel. I said , yes moved it a couple of holes. He raised "you know what" and told me to always return the 5th wheel to the same place where it was. I asked why and he said, well the driver that truck is assigned to said he had it pre set for his loads and you messed him up. I ignored him because that was so ridiculous. The driver the truck was assigned to was one of those whiny office pets always sucking up to the suits and backstabbing the other drivers.