Newbie.... blah blah blah....yadda yadda yadda

I am late to the party on the night driving conversation, been away from the forum for about a month while training.....

My second night I was running some of DFO’s “goat trails” in central Kentucky and I asked my trainer how to turn on the high beams. He said he didn’t know and that he never used them.

What?

He still lives in the city he was born, and says he never used high beams because he didn’t need them. He’s been driving truck for 12years, I was flabbergasted because I am sure he had plenty of opportunity as a “professional driver”. I figured it out on my own.

A week later I ran out of hours and so he took over for the last bit on a two lane state highway. I hated the low beans (2016 or 17 Cascadia) and suggested he try the high beams. After a few minutes he did. Thankfully for the rest of the trip he started using them as they should.

The things you learn....

 

ALWAYS keep learning and improving your skills. One skill set is learning as much as you can about the truck you drive. You can do Google or YouTube searches on a variety of topics, or search this forum. Read ALL the manuals that come with the truck.

That's how I found out about how to aim headlights on a Cascadia. It's dead easy. To raise or lower the headlights you don't even have to open the hood. On the outside of each headlight is a plastic socket that takes a large torque's bit, but you can easily use a pair of needle nose pliers. Park in front of a building or something that gives you an idea of how far the beams are extending. Every factory new truck has the beams aimed low, sometimes so low they barely reach 40' ahead. Raise the beams so they reach out, but not so high you blind low sitting four wheelers. Then test the high beams. Make sure they aren't so high they are aimed up off the ground. After making the adjustment keep your CB on. Ask other drivers if your low beams are comfortable or too bright. Adjust as necessary. It only takes a couple of minutes.

 

Black cows at night are my bain. Last year I was running about 20 mph on a nice, smooth dirt road to an oil rig in the middle of the night. Suddenly a black cow came leaping out of the left side of the road. Then I saw her yearling calf. She ran out in front of me to protect her calf. All is good. I slowed and crept by them as the calf decided to mosey back off the road.

Two hours later, after loading at an oil I came back through that stretch of road. Again, the calf standing defiantly in the middle of the road. Again momma trying to save her stupid son.

Kinda like humans.