Millis OTR journal

Another new truck? You're going to be good at switching when you're done.
Why are you switching again? I've heard there are 200 empty bobtails, wasn't there a good one for you to change into the first time?

 

After watching some people park in the truck stop tonight I've decided that the fancier lights, paint, CB antennas etc don't help some of them them back up much better than me.

 

Some of the large cars out here are some of the worst drivers.

 

Just throwing this real world close call out here. Trainee has over 12,000 miles. So I’m letting him do as much as he possibly can without overly lurking over his shoulder. Today we were at Nestle in Zanesville.
We dropped mt he backed under the loaded I was on the phone. I didn’t feel or hear the jolt of fifth wheel hitting pin. He hops out, was out there for a couple mins so I hop out he is struggling to crank up the trailer. Well he finally gets legs up, hooks up lines, checks out trailer even looks at the locking mechanism.
We get back in truck I ask him if he is going to do a tug test. He tells me he looked at it and the latch was locked. So I said you really need to do a tug test. Guy looks at me like I’m an idiot. I said it again, it seemed like he was reluctant about it and sure enough the trailer slipped down the fifth wheel. Didn’t hit the ground it stayed on fifth wheel.

 

What was his attitude then?

 

He was pretty shook up for the next 20 mins. We got the trailer hooked up. Then had to sit there for for awhile as he couldn’t do anything. He isn’t lazy but he does like cutting corners and just sitting there doing nothing if given the chance.

 

It was a good learning experience against cutting corners (and rushing). Hopefully he gets it.

 

Complacency kills. Once you think you got it. You really don't. Tell him check then check than check again. Sometimes I pull over 20 miles out to look again. Better safe than sorry.

 

Im the same way, as soon as a moment of doubt creeps into my brain I’m stopping what I’m doing and hopping out and looking doesn’t matter what it is.

 

I also would always double check my 5th wheel and tandem release handle after leaving the truck in a rest area or truck stop. Anywhere really. Even if it is only to run in for 2 minutes to use the bathroom. Too many a-holes out there. Spending 10 extra seconds putting your eyes on something could save you a lot of heartache.