How many have tried to help other O/O when broke down

Maybe he just had something else going on besides,the trailer...Maybe something personal or waiting for somethinG ELSE JUST BESIDES THE TRAILER....EVERY OP RUNS THERE BUSINESS HOW THEY CHOOSE TO...if any thing you shud have JUST KEPT MOVING AFTER HE DECLINED YOUR HELP..DONT TAKE STUFF PERSONAL ..with all Due respect if you are a O/O you never know what we have on our minds...IJS

 

I know, but my mind doesn't bend that way... Every co. I've worked for gives pay after first hour or two waiting at a discounted rate, mine is $10/hr.<--- In that period of time I've wasted 3hrs for $10 pay, Now I need a 10hr reset and the recvr is not open when I arrive for another 6hrs... that is = 9hrs for 10$ or $1.11/hr. That idiocy is mind blowing to me.

BTW you "not my job'ers" that mechanic's bill will cross your dispatchers desk... Meaning "Not my job" = not dispatch priority = $24,001 vs. $75,000+

 

I helped a young owner-operator with an old truck, back in about 1975. He was removing the radiator. His loads were "grey area" without proper authority involving bolts of cloth from the south to garment manufacturers in the north. We took a break for coffee and started walking to the restaurant when he had to go back to the truck to retrieve his long-barrel revolver. He didn't want it stolen from his tractor although the cab was tilted. He tucked the weapon into his jeans, but it was still obvious under his shirt. During coffee break, he bragged about the money he was making and showed photos of his horses. I was not favorably impressed with his situation, but had to admit that he was saving money by walking the radiator into the repair shop.

 

lol..been there too. I will help if I can or if I'm asked if I can help.

 

It's not his trailer. He doesn't have any idea if you have any idea of what you're talking about, and if you don't it's his behind. Some companies don't want/forbid drivers "working on" their equipment.

 

Last summer one time I loaded up beside another flatbedder in western Co. On our way east going up Monarch Pass we both had overheating problems but we manage to make it to the top. We both pulled over at the top to take a little brake when the other driver "company driver" discovered that he had blown out the clamps holding his exhaust together, I helped what little I could to repair that then he discovered that he had a massive airleak, so bad that the compressor couldn't keep up, somewhere he found a part to fix that then we found another airleak above the tranny, by that time it was getting dark and we also had no cell signal. About that time 2 local trash haulers showed and one of them had a quick connect that quickly took care of the problem. It took 3 different drivers to help this guy out but we managed. My point is in my 3 years out on the road I have met many people that could care less but I have also met many drivers, "and still in contact with them" that have bent over backwards to help me out.

 

I have stopped and offered help to plenty of O/O and have split responses...Some of them accept your help, some reject your help, and some just expect you to do the work and they talk on the phone. I don't mind helping a fellow driver at anytime, but I feel that if or when you step out here to assume the responsibility of being an O/O then you should know a lil something about your truck and willing to learn something every single day that you are in your current position. I came across a 5 year O/O at a Pilot in TX and he was complaining about his truck costing him so much money and he made more when he was a company driver. I asked him did he work on his own truck or did he always have to have someone called out to fix everything. He said I have to call out road service. Then he says thats who I am trying to get a hold of now. I asked whats wrong with your truck? He says its making a roaring sound coming from under the truck, when I press the foot feed it roars and bounces a lot.......So I said show me your truck....As soon as we walked up to the truck I could see the mud flaps touching the ground, trailer underside nearly touching the drives. I say hey your bags are deflated and thats why you hear that roaring sound under your truck because the drive line pitch is off. I looked under the truck and the rod for the leveler valve had came out of the lil rubber bushing that is bolted to the air bag lower support bar......thus causing the bags to deflate and changing the pitch on the drive line.....So I went ahead and fixed it for him and sent him on his way......sad part is he didn't say "thank you" "appreciate it" or "kiss my @&&"......nothing. But I still offer my help regardless.

 

A driver was on cell phone with dispatch at a truck stop trying to describe this funny noise. I told him lift the hood. Sure enough he blew a turbo boot clamp off. Sold him one for $10.

Truck parked on Hwy 17 near Espanola in northern ON on a dark winter night. Yelled at him on the radio to see if he had help coming and he did not. Got his dispatch tel number and woke them up. I said you have a broken down truck west of Espanola and the guy needs help...no cell signal.

 

Lot of COLD and lonely spots along HWY 17 in Northern Ontario

 

I have offered help and accepted help several times. I carry about every thing a guy needs minus a piece or two from time to time. I thought that is what we were supposed to do is help one another. There isn't much I haven't done to a truck at one point or another but if a guy offers to help or just kinda hang loose to make sure I got it under control I really appreciate it. Some times its the little stuff that sneaks up and kicks your butt. As said earlier its a changed world its become not my job.