New to driving.. crappy equipment... questions..

If a shop has more work than mechanics available to do it, ANYTHING you can do to help them cut down on the time required to diagnose & fix the problem is usually greatly appreciated. For example, don't just write up "leaks air" on the write-up. Try to find WHERE the leak is coming from and under what conditions...for example does it only leak when you supply air to release the brakes? Or only when the brakes are applied? Or is it constantly there? Can you FEEL the air leaking from somewhere or is it just audible? If it is less than obvious where the leak is, get a spray bottle with some soapy water, then soak the area and look for bubbles. I guarantee if you walk into the shop and say "The brake line going into the front right drive's brake chamber leaks when air is supplied" it will get fixed MUCH quicker than just writing "leaks air" on the write-up.

As for mud flaps, believe it or not there is NO FMCSA regulations dictating how they are hung, their length, or anything else about them other than the reflective tape that is supposed to be at the top of the flaps on the rear of the tractor. Mud flap laws are state by state. IL for example says they have to reach to within 12" of the ground. MO & TX both require they be within 8" of the ground. I haven't looked at all 50 states, but it is entirely possible that a state might not have a law requiring them at all. Check your state law and act accordingly. Even if they are required by your state, it will not carry any CSA points because it isn't an FMCSR item.

Lights are easy enough to change. Get a few bulbs and swap 'em out. It can usually be done with little more than a screwdriver.

Sure, you can sit around complaining about less-than-ideal equipment...maybe even complain about it on an internet forum...but if you want the situation to improve, you've got to step up and DO something...get your hands dirty if necessary...but take an active role in getting the truck fixed. This "it ain't my job" stuff just doesn't cut it. It is YOUR life, YOUR career, YOUR rear end on the line...you'd think it'd be worth taking some initiative in solving the problems instead of just handing them off to some over-worked & under-paid shop mechanic who gets to go home to his wife & kids at the end of his shift whether your truck is a wreck looking for a place to happen or not.

 

#1 rule in trucking " Dont do anything unsafe.Make a call to DOT anonymous . They'll come down and inspect the trucks. Guess what they'll have to fix their clunkers.If you lose a job there,it's better than not being employable somewhere else. This is probably why no one else applies.

 

Good thoughts.

Amazing to me, how the new truck drivers of today will run down us old truck drivers of yesterday years, yet will drive unsafe trucks on our highways, & some of them will advise others to do the same.

At any point in my truck driving career I would have parked an unsafe truck & went home. Its not worth it. And in yesterday years they were not near as hard on us truck drivers as they are today.