how mechanically savvy should u be ?

I would believe as long as you know how to check fuses change light bulbs do a proper walk around on the truck and be able to see things as well as being able to go to the shop before something goes bad change air and fuel filters. i dont think you need much more than that. There is some really dumb ##### out there so you'll be just fine with knowing a few things. A driver that used to be a mechanic from my point of view most of the time for me it's a hastle cuz they try to diagnose for me and in 75% of the cases it ends up costing them more money than if i diagnose myself .

 

You learn as you go.Take it one step at a time.Once you get the exp you'll probably know quite a bit about the trk.But for now focus on getting your cdl and exp.

 

I started driving and got my first car back in the days of the backyard mechanic, before everything was all computerized...

These new trucks have so many computers on them.. and there is a lot you use to be able to do with a few tools, now you need tools, and a computer that hooks up to which of the many computers malfunctions.. and go figure, it isn't just one computer analyses you need, cause you need this one for that computer in the truck and another for a different computer, unless you fork out many thousands for a shop one that can analyze all the computers... at least for a year or two when it won't read the newest computer components of a truck..

But, you still should know some basic stuff like pointed out in earlier posts.

 

You've had a lot of good information here. The best, absolute GOLDEN information was:

And

Get a few years and several hundred thousand miles behind somebody else's truck, before doing much more than thinking about being an O/O. During this time period, you should be able to pick up a lot of information that will help you. Talk to O/O drivers that you run across. Ask all kinds of questions.
If you have no business experience yourself, it wouldn't hurt to take some on line courses on running a business, while you are preparing to go out on your own.

 

I'm a company driver. Have been my entire career (a day or two).

And I make it a point to learn as much about my truck in general and the engine in particular as possible. The more information I can give the mad mechanical types in the shop, the better I can diagnose a problem, and the faster I can detect a problem...the easier it is to fix and the less time I spend down awaiting repairs. Plus, the mechanics who deal with me friggin LOVE me! I make their jobs easier.

Especially when I catch a minor issue before the computer does!

 

Right on. Down time costs money, whether you're an O/O or company driver.

 

The key word there is (diagnose) << remember that word I will come back to that in a minute. When a driver is on the side of the road they should NOT be trying to tell roadside how to fix the issue. Case in point. I learned a long time ago with some engines that if you see air bubbling up from the bottom of the tank that is a possible sign of an injector going bad. I saved my company a service call because of this once and they sent my tractor out to get 2 bad injectors replaced. As a driver and you have just had a loss of power event it is not improper to have enough knowledge to go look in that tank and see if you can (diagnose) (wow there is that word again) that issue. The thing is there are truck drivers that are aholes just like mechanics. I learned a long time ago to report what I know to roadside and stay out of the mechanics way. A better word then diagnose is communicate. It takes 2 to do this. If one comes into a situation knowing it all and has closed their mind then there is no communication. Yes I am a retired Truck Driver, and yes it has been my experience that some of the best people that it has been my pleasure to know were mechanics and body men in various places in my travels. Unfortunately some of the worst aholes were those same people.

 

Great post. It ought to be required reading for all these starry-eyed wannabe truck owners.
If they're going to be an OO they need to be able to do everything possible to the truck themselves. That means a lot of weekends when they'd rather be taking it easy they'll be underneath the truck doing PM work.
Trucking is a very low profit margin business and every bit of mechanical work that you do yourself keeps money in your pocket. If you're an OO you'll find that out soon enough.

 

Depends on your mechanic..

Mine can buy oil and parts for less than I can and he doesn't believe in making money by marking up the parts, he rather people pay for the labor and knowledge... for me a simple oil change would save me maybe $50.... I just pay. Found one that isn't a crook lol

 

Those are few and far between! When you find one, treat him like the friend that he is! That is IF you can ever find one...