Am I wrong for being this angry?

A LOT of adds for OTR truck drivers REALLY EMPHASIZE "Drop & Hook" loads to recruit drivers.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

So what did the service department find wrong?

You are the one who got the opportunity to make it right, perhaps they should fine the other guy for not tagging it out of service .

 

I'm sure driver thought about it...in this way…

i dont have time to deal with, the heck with i'll leave it for the next driver...

i think the best way to get these fools attn is this...pay the driver who is having to wait at shop to have it repaired and whatever $$ is paid to that driver, deduct that $$ from the clown who dropped that trl like that…they'll either go broke and figure out how to do their job.

 

i once worked a local job. small company. 3 drivers and 1 transport driver. don't ask me how one driver swung it. but when they ordered a brand new pete. he got it. the trailers had manual adjusters. so once a week he was calling the shop that he couldn't stop. when the tire got low on air. and people would tell him. his excuse. it only looks that way when its loaded. once it popped he would call the shop. every day he was broke down for some stupid thing. IN A BRAND NEW TRUCK. and if he was needed past 330. he had an excuse to go home. need him on saturday. he had plans. throw him in the junk end dump. he was sick.

pay them by the hour and they milk the clock in repairs. pay them by the mile and nothing gets fixed.

no one cares about their job. they just want 8 hours without working for it. and to go home.

 

Your point is well founded but also coupled with the culture is safety always comes first, safety for your team your equipment and yourself and everyone around you..
In the scenario mentioned by Joseph, he drove the trailer, saying it was low, when I first read that I though he meant heavy, Not that the tire were flat. In which case the cultured vet would blow the tires up (C4 Anyone). As to no brakes I agree you adjust them before going anywhere, however before you know they don't work you have to hook up and drive to try them....

 

Hey Joseph,

I have seen many of your posts on TTR and respect your opinion...

I need to ask a few questions...

Is it possible to speak with the driver who dropped it(without getting too angry)... maybe he did report it and dispatch dropped the ball...(this happens frequently). As frustrated as you are maybe you could help train the guy who dropped and explain that he needs to post trip and make sure its ready for the next driver...

When you say the trailer was low, was it the rear of the trailer? the front? did you have trouble getting under it? This would explain if it was a newbie..

When you say you had little to no brakes did you tug the trailer prior to leaving? if so wouldn't you be able to tell there were no brakes?

You drove the trailer with no brakes... after you realized it had no brakes why did you continue?

Also getting angry is a normal reaction but really keeping calm is best in these situations (I know you know this) dispatch has a way of punishing drivers for complaining... My usual response to them is I am not complaining I am just explaining...

If the trailer had a flat would you have blamed the previous driver? as it could have happened after he dropped it...

I guess what I am trying to say is don't let other drivers dictate your job... brakes, flats, or whatever is part of the job... it sucks but it is...

 

Exactly that's what my company is starting to do. It's only been about a month and a half, but judging from all the whining going on it beginning to make an impact. Heard a guy threaten to both quit and sue if they didn't give him his $$$ back, can't wait to see how this goes....

 

Hey Joe- You should be upset. Friday, went to a local bar with wife, and across the street there is lot that lets drivers park. Trucks, gradalls, ect. As we were parking I hear this driver really upset. Told my wife to go in bar and save me a seat, maybe this guy needs a ride, or make phone call. Go over and he told me connot un-hook. I told him I drive for a living, can I help. Young guy. Trailer looked a little better than junk, tractor looked well cared for. Did you take pressure off pin? No. Got in truck, and did so. I could not move lever at all. Then we both tried, nadda. I went under truck with spot light, there wasn't any signs of grease ANYWHERE, not even greasey fingerprints. Touched locking bar, and that was dry. Asked the o/o is this your doing? Is this your truck? Ya, been under pressure and lost my touch. I let it go. We relaxed the truck, and I took two full turns on L gear. No luck. Called my boys, and told them to bring my some line down, 1 inch so we can grab on to it. I tried up, down, free, and still no luck. Started over. Took pressure off pin, and 4 of us pulled on lever with line. Nothing. I told driver I have never, ever seen somthing like this. So I called my friend "Hauler" he's a 50 year vet O/O retaired and teaches new drivers from start to finish. Told me get coffee I will be right there with a recruit. This will be great. When he came he did everything I did and and was pissed.I told him ease up on this guy till this is done. O K, you get in the tractor, keep trailer brakes on. Turn truck 20 degrees to the right. If this dosen't work we will go left. The cute little recruit was holding the line. Now take pressure of pin. So I backed, and shut down. The cute recruit pulled, and the lever released. Landed the box and pulled away. Hauler gave this kid an a-s chewing big time. Pin was distorted, and he yellow tagged it and told driver to report this before we leave. Wheel seemed alrtight. Hauler checked to see if wheel was warped. The recruit lubed the wheel. The hauler told driver if you don't report rhis to th co I will. You can use both our names. How could anybody not properly see this. They are out there!

 

If I ran into a problem similar to Josephs I would have pulled over called my company and wait for rd brkdown.I don't care if the load was only 5 miles away,you see something wrong wait till it gets fixed.Thats the purpose of pre trips although most consider that a suggestion law.You're driving for a starter company so you're bound to have more things go wrong and the newbies either didn't notice it or just don't care.I wonder what Gordon said to Joseph after him calling them,I doubt much and very much doubt Gordo even cares and haven't talked to the moran who left the trailer like that for the next driver to deal with.You did have Petro fix it didn't you Joesph?How can someone pull trailer like this you ask,I have to ask you sir the same question, how can you pull a trailer like the first one after coming off of hometimes?I like you Joe you give excellent professional advice but you aren't any better then the other drivers for even hauling it knowing no brks.Hell with companies,something is wrong park it till it gets fixed.

 

Had a similar Gordon experience off Denver drop yard.

Had to go to Henderson for 3 new tandem tires, caps starting to peel. Then TA west of Denver to have Left Back brake drum replaced and shoes. Plus lube as the landing gear and slider hardly moved. Took most all day before under way to Grand Junction Sam's Club and the trailer had also come about the same, 450 miles, forget where right now to drop in Denver yard. Loaded heavy. No scale ticket so I had to scale, too.

Very unusual for Gordon, where maintenance prevails. Not in this case. Who knows? Maybe the driver went that far and quit. There were tractors there waiting for drivers. No pay for the break down time, scaling.

Since I part-time on current job, usually adjust the drives myself (a quarter turn out from tight on drum) at the yard in Indy so I know what I've got. My Right Rear slack adjuster doesn't click when loosened, so I let the shop know before I left and I'll take another look at it while I'm out, too. I'll write it up when I get back and it'll be gone, replaced by the time I take this truck out again, probably next week.

Right Top Front marker was out on trailer outbound from Rochester, NY yesterday. Star Leasing paid $46 to fix and I'll put in for 30 min. break down time. And I'll get it. $18/hr. Aside from the safety (which is very important), breakdown pay eases the pain. All our breakdown time is paid. All of it. Beautiful scenic drive up here. If it breaks, they'll fix it and I'll get paid.

No problem.

Gordon OTR repair services were outstanding. But you didn't get paid. I think I got breakdown pay once in Pontoon. Only once.

Ouch!!