How much mechanics should you know

To drive a truck.
How much mechanics do you have to know?

or just the basics of checking tires, fluids etc. is all that is only needed?

Thanks

 

Just the basics. As a company driver, many of us are forbidden to do any repairs, and frankly, I like it like that. I am NOT being paid to work on THEIR trucks. As long as I have my cell phone, a garage is only a phone call away.

Now, if I were to be an owner-operator, then I might want to know how to change the oil and all the filters, to cut down on my over all cost of doing business.

But the lowly company driver, needing to carry tools, spare parts??

NO.

We ain't being paid double wages to drive and to repair, then to ACCEPT responsibility if we do not make the repair properly and something falls off the truck and kills someone.

 

Depends on the kind of work you're doing and how much you want to get paid.

 

It's a good idea to carry and know how to replace any exterior lights and light mounting hardware as well as gladhand hardware at a minimum. Sitting around for hours at a scalehouse waiting on a service truck to come replace a lightbulb is not profitable.
Having a spare fuel filter is a good idea as well.

 

Yes, actually I do agree with changing light bulbs. My posting was geared up more for not doing things like replacing fan belts, greasing the truck, changing tires. (I should have been more specific).

Simple stuff, like changing the glad hand rubber grommet, yes, fuel filters.??? I don't know about that, you need to fill them up, and how you gonna do that?? Stick them into the fuel tank?? Fuses (if so equipped), maybe also replacing wiper blades. Other than the most easiest things, I don't do them, nor recommend anyone else doing them, except for an o/o maybe.

 

There's a little more to it than just checking tires. Before you can get your CDL you will need to learn how to do a pre-trip inspection.

Learn what that entails here:
http://www.trainingtotruckdriving.com/2012/02/pre-trip-inspection.html

 

If you are a company driver, you ought to have enough knowledge about the truck, components on the truck, and how the different systems on the truck operate so that you can properly diagnose any problem you may be having on the side of the road and relay the cause of the problem to the road service department at your company so that they can send the right part out with the service truck the first time. This will save you a lot of time and the company a lot of money. There is nothing worse than a driver who calls up and says "The truck broke" and expects the guy in the breakdown department to know what's wrong with it from 1000 miles away.

If you are an owner operator, that working knowledge of the truck will help you figure out a way to patch things together enough to limp yourself to a shop and save a little money.

 

I know about 5 mechanics,is that enough?

 

as much as you are comfortable with.

I can / could do my own brake and annual inspections, but I won't just because of the issues that could be seen signing off on my own stuff.

If you are an O/O, the more the merrier. Company? talk with the mechanics if you can and see what you can pick up.

 

You simply go with the knowledge you have.
You might even pick up more in time.

Good observational and communication skills are better than strict mechanical knowledge.
If you can describe the problem accurately it goes a long way to solving the problem in the least amount of time.

On-road people will ask you questions and walk you through quite a bit.
But it your own communication skills, both giving and receiving, that are most important.

Just yesterday I had to call on-road for a problem.
I observed an oil leak under my truck while doing my pre-trip.
I could see where it was dripping, so I looked directly above to see if I could determine the cause.
It seemed to be coming from the oil filter. (So, a basic knowledge of the basic engine components is in order)

I did not try to fix the problem myself, even though I knew it was probably only a loose filter and I could have gotten under there and tightened it up. I called and had a repair truck sent.
As someone already has mentioned, it is not my job to repair the truck.
Not to mention, if I do it incorrectly it is me that is responsible.
And if I got hurt while doing it, who knows what additional problems that might have caused - for both me and the company.

My assessment was correct, and the entire ordeal took just over an hour.
I observed, reported, and waited.
On-road sent a repair truck, the mechanic fixed it in about 5 minutes and I was diving again.


That is speaking from a company drivers perspective.
If I was a L/O or O/O it would be different, because I would be paying for the repairs out of my own pocket.
If that were the case I would have done the repair myself, since I do have a fair knowledge of such things.