Indian River

Good luck and stay safe, Nashville!

 

So it looks like I'll be joining Bynum, if you guys knows about them, let me know so I can run while I still have a chance lol, but what are the Dos and Don'ts of Tanker? I already know the: No hard break, Slow down on curve and turns and stuff, my biggest fear right now is snow and ice, plus I heard the wind is crazy up north. They do all 48, although I'm OTR where I am, I haven't really drive through the Westcoast, Midwest yet: California, Nevada, Oregon, those types. I did run into some snow in New York when I did that Maine load, but road was already clear when I went out. I run into some near the line between Alabama and Tennessee near Bridgeport, it was also clear but there were some left on the side and man it felt weird running on those, no traction whatsoever.... So that's were I am right now.

 

Good review, balanced and informative. Let us know how the new job is going, okay?

 

as far as driving out west right now you’re coming into the spring summer season so you should get your feet wet while it’s dry no winter weather that is… going over the mountains just do what you’re comfortable just have it in the proper gear and put your engine brakes on it

 

Last I heard loves had some of the best bonuses in the biz.

 

Lower viscosity liquids you will feel less than heavier viscositys. And in it turn can push the whole truck forward at a stop/hard brake. That goes for as well when your getting up on the cat walk, be aware just hooking up to a loaded trailer or just jumping out of the truck because it could be enough movement for you to fall off. Momentum is the name of the game so before heading up a grade I would lock it in 11th manually. Doing so will do a couple of things. The truck will pull better at the higher rpms, unless it's a very steep hill, you won't have to change gears resulting in surge that will feel like a sling shot brake. You have a range of roughly 55-71mph in 11th.be aware that the surge has that same slingshot effect on down grades except everything goes a whole lot quicker. DONT stay locked in gear on a downgrade and just let the engine brake do all the work.
I run my 5th almost all the way back for a couple of reasons. On a really low trailer it won't hit the crossbar on the frame rail and I could pretty much pick up any trailer that was dropped really low and depressing the airbags if needed. As well I would have to have to have my truck ridiculously jackknifed to come close to bending a cab extender.
After training and helping other drivers goofy as it may sound I ran into it often of driver trying to unhook from and trailer not realizing the were putting too much tension on the release and kingpin. Keep the trailer brakes set, back up a little and release the tension and hop out repull the release and pull out.
Do your tug tests
When you trip plan look for the silos on the property you'll probably be unloading or loading close by as most directions you read will be for dryvan or reefer.
Often if you don't see a scale on the property at a shipper you will need a empty and heavy weight from a cat scale. They may or may not tell you that ahead of time. But can be extremely frustrating if not.
Weather&radar has been my favorite app while being out all over the US.
Don't take things for granted the road can be unforgiving pulling a moving load. Just respect it. Always be in the frame of mind to make it home, you don't always have to be right out on the road to make the right decision, Protect your CDL and your ego. And have fun man.

Some may differ so take any of this with a grain of salt or what works for you. Things at bynum may or may not apply, I don't know all of their equipment or policies.

 

Whoah!! Thanks a lot bro, so we always weigh the trailers before getting loaded in the Tanker world? I'll take these advice to heart cause Bynum doesn't do any training, after orientation, you got your truck then you hit the road, I have a feeling I'm gonna hate the mountains even more in Tanker, hopefully I don't roll over them LMFAO!! Don't you get overweight when you put your 5th wheel all the way to the back? Also! I'm coming from Freightliner and going to Perterbilt 579, Freightliner have enough room to put your own fridge, and I have a big one, but the Perterbilt have a small one, and the thing is Bynum's truck doesn't have fridge... I was looking at some options online and man they are expensive... So I don't know if you guys know any other options for me, maybe there's enough space for me to put my fridge in the middle, or something or will I have to eat that cost, buy it, then have the shop install it for me. That's one thing I will miss about Freightliner, you can put a big *ss fridge in there lol.

 

Wished it stayed summer forever, would be nice.

 

At that price just get a domestic , iceco .

 

Look at BougeRV. I have 3 of them. 2 have thousands of hours on them. Combo freezer/fridge. They are tough. Lots of hours off roading.