I want to be hands ON, how?

Like you, it's that fear of a tow bill, and the drama that goes with it, that stretches my wallet a little further if the truck is in the shop, at home, to begin with.

 

On KR - I listened religiously as accompany driver - just to learn. I learnt a lot.

The fuel mileage stuff I was interested in, but - as @Old Man pointed out, you're not too concerned with 5cents a mile in fuel if the 14 wide load has to motivate down the highway before curfew at $10/mile. Simply - increase revenue, don't fret too much about MPG.

I use his profit guages accounting for $20/month. I like it, but not as much as my CPA, who wishes all his trucking clients use it.

I also use the free fuel guages - just so I know that if I drop a mile to the gallon, I might have a problem to address. AND - just in case fuel does rise to $5/gallon again, I already have the habits in place.

Take what you need from any advice offered. His advice comes with product endorsements, because he's a business owner too.

Too many guys I meet have absolutely NO idea of their numbers, fuel mileage, profitability, or future. If more of them did, and his efforts helped them to do so, then he's a force for good.

Heck - these days, anybody out here trying to do something positive gets a thumbs up from me.

 

Not hard at all - same principles apply, ask lots of questions, get some training, observe, ask more questions.

This forum was priceless for securement tips.

 

Bah - I'm not the brightest spark out here. There's loads of questions that I'd defer to some brighter more experienced minds on here. Plus, the group learning is more beneficial.

But sure, PM anytime. I recently learned I don't have many hobbies, but get a kick out of helping people that have an open mind.

 

A friend shared me the PDF of the entire N-14 shop manual. If you're a voracious reader, you'll enjoy one for your truck. Total engine breakdown, specs, special tools, the whole lot.

I rebuilt a 1975 Mini from a Haynes manual when I was 15 - with basically a socket set, wrenches and lots of brain picking and tool borrowing from others. I may have put the con-rods in backwards, but after I had dragged the thing down the road trying to jump start it, I figured it out!

As @TripleSix said - Haynes manual, but I'm not sure what the equivalent is for trucks -

I liked your idea of intern for your mechanic. Offer to sweep floors, clean up, run parts, in exchange for supervised work on your own truck or others in his/her shop. May be able to strike a deal. I learn very quickly once shown what to do.

Tools. You'll need some. And Harbor Freight Tools has some inexpensive ones you can buy while you learn what ones really matter.

Cordless grease gun and get to crawling around that truck and looking. Just don't spend so much time on it that your old lady refers to it as "Your other girlfriend parked in the drive".