First day on the job

You already got some good advice for hooking up, your trainer will also help with that.

Also mentioned before, but very much worth a repeat ,, take your time. Don't worry about setting the world on fire, that'll come naturally with time.

You'll get frustrated, but just breath ,, and if you get behind, don't try to 'make up' time to get back on schedule. There's no need for that and if you rush, bad things will probably happen. It WILL get better the more experienced you get.

One final thing, come up with a system for the important things and use it .. ALWAYS. The same way every time. ie, for hook-up I was taught 'PAL' .. P=push 5th wheel release handle and make sure it's all the way in. visually look at kingpin to ensure its hooked. A=air (hook airlines/lights). L=landing gear (raise landing gear). For unhooking, it's SLAP. S=surface (check surface below landing gear), L=landing gear (lower it). A=air lines/lights (unhook them). P=pull 5th wheel release. I was taught that at Schneider Bulk. 4 years later and on my 3rd job, still doing it the same way. If you go thru your system every time, you should never forget anything. I bent my landing gear once. Guess what I didn't do that one time? Lol

Same goes for checking your load and doing paperwork. Open trailer door, visually inspect the visible pallets and make sure they match your paperwork. Come up with a system. Once in a blue moon, something will be wrong and you'll catch it before you leave .. rather than at the store 100 miles from the warehouse.

Good luck!

 

Congratulations on your job. Welcome to trucking. You have received some great advice, use it its free. Like newbus erects said get a plan and work the plan. Same way every time. Good luck

 

got a link to what you say? cuz i ain't ever heard of that "study".

 

Proper hooking up process imo.

Line truck up with trailer, back up until rear axel is under the trailer, get out and make sure 5th wheel is flat or tilted slightly down and trailer is proper height, back under trailer until kingpin lock enguage kingpin, will hear a click, put in 1st tug on trailer to ensure kingpin is secure, get out put up landing gear and connect air lines etc

 

All good advice. Do it the same way EVERY TIME. I would only add..turn on lights & flashers, push tractor protection valve to air trailer up (if needed) then as you work you way back & around, you can check lights.

 

A quick Google search turned up this interesting article :

http://www.readingeagle.com/busines...acations-good-for-business&template=mobileart

I've also read numerous things linking vacations, within reason, to increased productivity.

 

I respectfully disagree. I have heard Schneider teaches this way, and it is also in the CDL manual, but that method is a remnant from another era and is totally unnecessary nowadays. It is safe to say that 99.99% (or more) of all trailers in service today have maxi spring brakes. I have never encountered a trailer without them in 13 years, and I have pulled a lot of very old junk trailers over those years. Now if he were moving 40-year-old storage shed trailers to construction sites, then that method may need to be used. But not for modern equipment.

@Woodys had solid advice. Always be sure the trailer isn't too high, creating a "high hook" situation, and always visually check those jaws (even though you heard that beautiful click sound and did a tug test). Do it the same way every time, and if someone distracts you, verify everything is right before leaving. Sometimes people get out of their rhythm and answer the phone or something and take off without raising the landing gear. Or worse, uncouple without lowering the landing gear and drop the trailer to the ground. For that reason, I always work my way from the landing gear to the truck, rather than starting with the air lines.

Good luck on your new gig, @chrism1367!

 

he said "studies show"....you showed no studies. since HE SAID THAT, he ought to at least provide a link (or more than one), to back up HIS CLAIM. otherwise, all you linked to was some suggestive link (of a survey, clearly NOT a study) to vacation time for the employee's.

when someone such as bro-dave said what he had, he should have been ready to back it up. otherwise, it's hearsay or horse pucky. until the poster bro-dave provides a link, there is/are no such studies.