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Finished my training and...

Discussion in 'Swift' started by AZHammer, Jun 4, 2011.

Page 8 of 13
  1. Jul 20, 2011 #71
    Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

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    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
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    It was windy as heck where I was. Had to call it a night before I wanted to.

    Just FYI: If you have to park because of high wind and you are exposed, and only if you have room to do it, park so that your tractor is at an angle to the trailer. This gives a tripod effect, basically adding stability. Especially if you have to park broadside to the wind.
     
    Injun, Jul 20, 2011
    Injun, Jul 20, 2011
    #71
    Kusanagi, inkeper, Nubis13 and 1 other person Thank this.
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  3. Jul 20, 2011 #72
    crzyjarmans

    crzyjarmans Road Train Member

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    congrats. just a heads up, dont know this still continues there at swift, but have meet many of there new drivers in the past, and there where brain washed to believe that you cant have more than 12000 34000 34000, this is not true, you can go heavier than 12, on your steers, get a map book and find the section in the front for weight messures, as long as your under 34 on driver or tandems or both you can go over 12, just not over 80, unless permitted to go over
     
    crzyjarmans, Jul 20, 2011
    crzyjarmans, Jul 20, 2011
    #72
  4. Jul 20, 2011 #73
    Kusanagi

    Kusanagi Light Load Member

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    May 7, 2011
    Phoenix, AZ
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    The actual law states that the weight on any axle cannot exceed the combined sidewall ratings on the tires of those axles. You can get tires rated for 8k lbs, but Swift company trucks use something like 6200 lb rating on their steer tires. The 12000 lb weight on the front is company policy designed to keep you from getting tickets - and keep you safe.
     
    Kusanagi, Jul 20, 2011
    Kusanagi, Jul 20, 2011
    #73
  5. Jul 20, 2011 #74
    Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

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    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
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    Weight rating for Michelin and Bridgestone tires used on company trucks is 6,175 per tire for a combined axle weight of 12,350. That's as high as you can go.

    Oddly enough, this is what I was taught in Swift's Portland academy when it was open. Yeah. Don't even try it. It was closed shortly after Jerry Moyes took the company back because the property was worth more to UPS than the school was to Swift. I believe that little 5-acre parcel sold for almost $2M.

    Just because people don't listen, doesn't mean the information isn't there.
     
    Injun, Jul 20, 2011
    Injun, Jul 20, 2011
    #74
  7. Jul 21, 2011 #75
    AZHammer

    AZHammer Light Load Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Phx, AZ
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    Hey all.. I got back late/EARLY this morning, 4:30am to be exact.. I'm fried, but have so many things to get done I'm lettnig sleep go by the way side for the time being..
    I slammed out a total of 258.75hrs on mentors truck in the past 5-6 weeks, and boy do I feel each n every mile/hour/bump out there.. Not complaining, just making comment.. I love itout there, meeting cool people, learning all types of things, etc..

    Colorado was a fun run, I like it up there, even the long run up the 25 seems not to bother me so much these days.. Ran as I always do, to to Las Vegas NM, then switched out drivers.. Boy was I ready to sleep that night. Jumped into sleeper mode and was out.. I awoke in Aurora, Co to some box truck grinding gears trying to back into sports authority next to us, #### rookies.. lol kidding.. been there, huh..

    Mentor was surprising cool this trip, no attitude or such, very nice.. Hit a few little pocket storms near the New Mex/Colorado border, one such pocket nailed me pretty good.. I thought the wind tunnel in Palm Springs area was bad, HOLY Mother of... Wind hit us pretty hard even scared mentor to the point of him asking if I wanted to pull over.. .Bahh, no way, homie needs to pee, eat and take a break so lets hammer thru.. and we did.. all in all good last run, won $305 at the Route 66 Casino out on the 40, ate a decent dinner, for once, and blasted home.. was cool..

    So now Im heading over to the Phx terminal to talk to whomever I need to and get the ball rolling, take tests, yada yada.. My 11hr wont be up till 3pm, so I seriously doubt Ill get my driving test in, who knows..

    I'll let ya know what happens lil later on this afternoon when I return.. Anyone wanna take bets on truck assignment?? I'm putting my money on 4-7 days, others say 2-4.. we shaaaalll see..... he'll my luck I'll get one of the tanks off the academy range..

    Till next time,

    -=Peace
     
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    #75
  8. Jul 21, 2011 #76
    AZHammer

    AZHammer Light Load Member

    107
    33
    May 13, 2011
    Phx, AZ
    0
    Once again, I'm back...
    Lucked out a lil, mentor was in the office area when I arrived and was talking to the guy that does the driving test, so I got right in a truck and drove.. The backing he didnt like at all, I got er in there, but he wants me to take a backing course tomorrow.. I'll be honest with ya, I probably could use it, as I knew I wasnt having a good day today, whatever... no excuses, huh..
    So Im back to the terminal at 4am for some backing class, how long I dont know.. Some lady scheduled me for some driver safety class on monday at 7am, as they dont hold it on Fridays.. ok.. So the backing set my mood for the rest of the day, pissed, yet the reality of me needing just that much more practice and or someone to show me a better way other than what mentor used to say "I dont know how to explain it, I just do it".. uhhg..

    All in all it's good to get off the truck for the next few days, sucks as I dont think Im getting paid, yet I got the ball rolling to get solo status.. I know my mood will change as the hours wear on, as for now im sorta pissed at myself, but ill get over it.. Hell no truck driving for atleast a week from Im hearing, so I think Ill go have a much deserved beer or two and reflect, relax n chill..

    -=Peace
     
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    #76
  9. Jul 21, 2011 #77
    AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    Sep 30, 2010
    PHX, AZ
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    You will learn good tips in that backing class. I got more out of that then I did in the 5 weeks with my mentor.
     
    AZS, Jul 21, 2011
    AZS, Jul 21, 2011
    #77
    AZHammer Thanks this.
  10. Jul 21, 2011 #78
    AZHammer

    AZHammer Light Load Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Phx, AZ
    0
    Thats cool, makes me feel a lil better hearing that :)
    I mean I did the back, and it wasnt pretty, yet he didnt like it.. No big deal I need a diferent perspective on this, and then gain better judgement on backing procedures..

    -=Peace
     
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    AZHammer, Jul 21, 2011
    #78
  11. Jul 21, 2011 #79
    AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

    2,912
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    Sep 30, 2010
    PHX, AZ
    0
    I hit one of the trailers when I did mine. Haha. Surprised he is making you do the class if you got it backed.
     
    AZS, Jul 21, 2011
    AZS, Jul 21, 2011
    #79
  12. Jul 21, 2011 #80
    neal79

    neal79 Medium Load Member

    368
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    Feb 9, 2011
    Chicago,IL
    0
    When I did mine I think if you got it in you were good to go. It was super easy, spot was almost 2 trailers wide and lots of room out front. Only thing to really watch for was there was a trailer at the back and to get in as far as they wanted you needed to get within a few inches of it, I think that was really the test. They made me do 2 sight side, 2 blind side and 1 parallel park. Never even tried to parallel park before that but not that bad.

    What works for me is to always remember I'm shoving this big trailer around by the nose, it just helps me picture in my mind how it will react to what I'm doing. That and turn towards your problem, meaning if you are going to be to far left turn left, easier than trying to remember left is right and vice versa for me. Backing actually came pretty easy to me, what I found tricky at first is the setup. Do this right and the backing is easy as pie, setup badly and you just made your life a lot harder.
     
    neal79, Jul 21, 2011
    neal79, Jul 21, 2011
    #80
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