The safest driver I have ever been is the first 12 weeks after I got my cdl. Trainer used to get pissed because I would be doing 60 in an 85 in his 68mph truck. But I just wasn't comfortable going that fast yet while still learning.
Most backing accidents may be new drivers, but I guarantee you that new drivers aren't the ones passing people doing 75+ to hit the offramp less than a mile away. No company that hires new drivers has trucks that do 65. So consider for a moment that if you're being tailgated by Swift, you need to speed up or move the #### over.
Some of the most notable screwups I have seen in recent days were seasoned veterans. For example if you go look on Facebook right now I'm sure you'll see at least 3-5 images of Marten almost clearing the entire runaway truck ramp on Grapevine the other day. I keep having to remind old farts that Marten doesn't hire new drivers. Hell they just rejected me outright because I have 11 months experience. When they didn't know how much experience I had, they were bragging about the consistency of their miles. After they told me no, I casually pointed out that I've run 18,000 more than their top driver this year--and there's still a month to go... and Swift isn't running me for #### this last few months.
Today I had a John Christner driver up my ###. I couldn't even slow down to let him pass because I was certain that it would have killed him. So I moved over into the hammer lane and locked my brakes up so he would go by me. And he proceeds to slow say down and match my speed so I can't get behind him. This went on for 10 miles. On 70. In Kansas... with literally no traffic. You should have heard the line of cattle haulers behind me that thought I was trying to turtle face down 70. Eventually I made my way over and he was even up their ###. One of them finally brakechecked him and let's just say he is now unhireable.
Back in my day...
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by RedRover, Oct 13, 2017.
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gentleroger Thanks this.
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Yes, Jake brakes are nice. I highly recommend using it if you have one. It makes the job easier. But like any technology, it is not wise to be overly dependent on it. -
I tried reading this thread, but most of you aren't worth the effort. A very few are #### entertaining and informative.
For the rest of you, pre-deregulation trucking was a very different industry. Frankly in those days most of you wouldn't have made the cut. The mega carriers racing to the bottom have made most of your careers possible.
Lots of things have gotten better over the years, unfortunately drivers aren't one of those things. -
Dennixx Thanks this.
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I was loaded heavy both ways. I ran this run with that equipment for about 3 years.
Those containers had 20" bias ply tires , Dayton rims , and probably the cheapest brakes available . The truck was mine a 85 freightliner cab over , 300 cummins , direct drive 9 speed and no jake brake .
Traveling eastbound , down mt eagle , I would come out of the brake check area creaping , and let speed slowly build.
By the time I got to the last turn the trailer brakes would be smoking every time , and I would let it go down the strait away , now just because they were smoking doesn't mean I was runaway .
If you hard braked for a sudden stop light they would smoke.Last edited: Oct 15, 2017
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They want governing bodies to set rates and pick winners and losers and say who can go where but they want zero government involvement elsewhere such as in telling us what and how many hours we can operate .... okay8thnote Thanks this. -
Jazz1 Thanks this.
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But in reality the government regulations already pick winners and losers .
Trade treaties, lax immigration and regulations , have made corporations very profitable .
By moving out of the country , and then getting a flood of foreign drivers , both outside this country and through visas and plain open immigration , to keep rates down.
Now it looks like we have a president who will support American jobs and wages , against the will of special interests and lobbyists and if we agree with this we're for government regs .
Is the only way we can be consistent is support no government involvement or no change from the status quo ?
Before nafta when all those factories were still in this country , we were hauling the freight from factory to end user .
And Americans were working in those factories .
So I guess we're all hypocrites if we want to repeal nafta but don't accept every stupid government regulation against truck drivers.
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