New driver with nightmare towing company

It rains at my place. I don’t even pull my car off the driveway. Unless I want to be hooking a chain to it.

 

Because some companies will haul your ### in. And have you watch hours of videos, then listen to some pencil pusher for another hour. And just to complete the icing on your cake. Disqualify you for your quarterly safety bonus that was twice the amount of the tow bill.

Now I’m not condoning complete idiots. I’ve sat on the sides of the road with many of them. Wondering where the hell they learned to drive. But #### happens. This is trucking.

 

About 12 yrs ago, I stopped to help a Driver on I-40 in the gorge. He was an old Man from out west, had an old A model Kenworth, and had been an O/O for years. Broken fan belt, was going to call Service Truck.Unbelievable, I talked him into running down to Knoxville. He bought a belt and I put it on for him.He was however way ahead than most with a Computer. Very Tech savvy. We’re all ignorant, just of different things.

 

Wouldve been a better idea to call ur company first and ask what they wanted to do since its their truck.. But hell we have all been there buddy some of us just didnt get caught, chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on , as long as no damage other than to ur pride then ur good

 

There's been a few times in my career that I have been "stuck in the mud". Fortunately I have been able to extricate myself every time.

The first instance was years ago, when I drove for Swift. I missed the turn into the little postage stamp sized truck stop in Dove Creek, CO and went a few blocks to see a wide open dirt lot to make a turnaround.

It didn't go as planned. Got sucked down in the mud. ####! I broke out the chains, but that wasn't going to work, because the ability to turn the wheels was going to be unpredictable. Then I had a MacGyver moment. I just threw the chains under the drives, applied the power divider, and got enough momentum to power out of it. It took almost half an hour to find my chains buried under the mud, but I managed to extricate myself from a possible tow.

The other times I've come close to calling Momma in the last few years I have always been able to power through it. Use your power divider (aka Interaxle Differential Lock).

Another IMPORTANT consideration is your drive tires. If you are going into mud on a frequent basis, get drive tires that are designed for off road, with DEEP AGGRESSIVE tread. I purchased eight Yokohama drives with 33/32'nds deep tread about 13 months ago. Best decision I've made as an O/O. With Centramatics on each tractor axle I have even wear, can plow through snot slick mud or deep snow running off road, and I think I will have at least another year of wear before I upgrade to Bridgestones.

 

Open shoulder tires are a must if you go off the beaten path regularly. Op remember if you engage the power divider make 100% sure that no wheels are slipping or you'll kiss it good bye. I like to push the clutch in and break power 1st just so you're not second guessing if a wheel might be slipping

 

If your ever in West Texas and need a tow from some trucker friendly guys contact Abilene Towing service. They are the best <a href="Semi-Truck">big rig towing service</a> In the area. They hauled me all the way back from Midland to Abilene when my tranny went out on me.

 

In hindsight he would have been better to have called his boss, however not knowing the wrecker company was totally crooked, not so much of a big deal to try and get it out. In hindsight we aqll have the answers. lol

Why not chain up and drive out, done every day.

 

I know this is an old thread but these things happen. I got stuck in North Houston in the Jersey Village area and a tow truck driver tried to call the police himself to get the tow. I told him I’m from Houston the cops won’t be here for about and hour and a half. You can’t be scared of these people on the road. They have all types of shifty ###ckers. Hope your doing well now and this situation is wayy in the rear view