How much grease monkey stuff you have to know as a new company driver

As a driver you don't need to know any grease mi key stuff. No if one day you wanna be a owner op you better get good with wrenching

 

Most companies don't want you doing anything to the truck, because most guys aren't even qualified to check the oil, let alone done something that could make matters worse or void the warranty of the truck.

I would recommend carrying tools and watching YouTube videos of common problems of whatever truck you happen to drive. I seem to have done more electrical work than any other darn thing. Carry spare lights fuses, relays, crimps, wire, ext.

But most megas won't hesitate to spend 2 grand on a tow. That is the nice thing about working for them.

 

Here is a few things I personally had repair and I'm no way a mechanic

Fix landing gear
Rewire electric line
Lights/headlights, brake lights etc
Remove mudflap, install mudflap
Add coolant, oil steering fluid.
Unlock doors, repair door locks
Rage on a starter and it magically work
Replace qc computer
Fix air ride chair (leaking air)
Fix air line
Know the tricks to moving stuck tandem
Hammer door and door latch to make it close

Improvise <- best thing you can do to keep rolling

 

In addition I've done The following on the side of the road ( with tools I carry all the time)
Changed altenator ( always carry spare)
Changed tires
Replaced oil seal (keep spares)
Replaced a turbo

You can never be totally prepared, but expect the unexpected and good luck to ya. BTW, put a CB in that truck and don't be afraid to ask for help. There are a few of us listening and willing to help if you holler.

 

None! Most companies do not want you to do a thing. Sure they will give you a little lip service about changing a seal marker or taillamp, but that is it. Many will even reprimand you for doing more.

In fact, unless they are intervention status with the DOT they prefer you don't look too hard on your pre-trip or post-trip; they prefer not to fix anything that costs them money and drivers get to pay for most all tickets anyway.

Most drivers consider themselves more mechanical then they are. Most mechanics consider themselves more mechanical then they are. And it is for more shop time to fix some of the screw-up repairs then it would be to fix stuff right in the first place. That is why most places do not want drivers working on the trucks. On that point, the DOT says you need to keep your hands off the brakes and adjustment unless you have a card certifying your mechanical ability in brakes.

 

I've changed a turbo on the side of the road, but I think that sort of stuff doesn't really happen now a days. Most companies just want the bare minimum.

 

Ive had to rig the broken air leveling valve arm on my truck to reinflate the bags. The Volvo OEM one is flimsy and made of plastic. Breaks after a while. The universal one that the Petro/TA shops use to replace it is better constructed. Go figure.

Though I've had the shops tell me some guys insist on the Volvo OEM one at significant cost compared to the universal one.

 

You guys are funny.

You should know how the thing works, not details but enough to know when asked how much oil is in the sump, you can check it or know when the power steering fluid is low or how to open the hood up.

Many don't get this as much as they don't get the difference between brake shoes and brake pads.

One reason why I am so against the easy tests is because I've interviewed people who can not pre-trip a truck for work, and even some who had trouble with their trucks because they didn't have enough oil. I've been asked to help a guy next to me on how to read a dipstick, he didn't even know where it was - it was the BIG yellow one that said OIL on it but he missed it every time he opened the hood.

 

Never Ever adjust the trailer brakes, if I had a trillion dollars for every trailer I picked up that wasn't inspected for 6 months or more and had fresh wrench marks on the slack adjusters.
I swear I could look at the brake pedal and with an empty trailer the trailer tires would lock up and smoke.

 

Some of our drivers will tell you, "I don't get paid to change headlights!" That is the problem with drivers getting a salary instead of paid per mile. I choose to fix everything I can to keep our customers happy with an On-Time record as opposed to sitting in the TA/Petro for 6 hours to change a fuse.

Mikeeee