Put OOS after level 1 inspection!

Average trailer use to be ten years. My current company holds them about 6 years.
A big company, it's easy for a trailer not to see a company yard for 6 months or more.

There's alot of drivers that will have a hard time adapting to the new way. Still many will try to slip through the cracks rather than spend time in a shop. A hidden chaffed line that's still functional? I highly doubt anyone would of had it fixed even if they did see it.

 

It sounds like these guys unload their own trailer or are present when it is unloaded most of the time. Was wondering if they normally hang on to their empty and get it loaded or do they exchange the empty for another preloaded trailer. And generally speaking industry wide, do the tractors or the trailers tend to get zinged more by Dot or is fairly even?

 

It all depends...sometimes you drop and hook other times you live load and unload...when I was with Celadon the longest I ever hung on to one trailer was about a week. With the smaller companies you normally keep the same trailer all the time

 

Some of your guys were addressing concerns on the trailers on one of the W/S threads a day or too ago. You must of missed it Walstib. I'm not picking on W/S.

 

I do a regional swapping run with another driver between the LA area and Phoenix. I see 2 different trailers for 5 days a week, and 1 day a week I could see 4 or more as I do a lot of drop/hooks on Mondays that I drive local. I don't hesitate to get a trailer fixed if the slightest thing is wrong with them. I'll replace lights myself unless it's one of the upper marker lights, but other things they go to the shop. My biggest problem is that I pick up my trailers usually between midnight and 3 am and our shops are closed, so I have to call the maintenance head and he has to get someone out there middle of the night....if it's not an OOS problem I'll get it to the closest truck stop and have it fixed there. Just last week I picked up a trailer with 2 of the tires flat spotted all the way to the steel belts! I can't blame it on a driver tho as the person who drives the yard dog at the place I picked it up at isn't the easiest on trailers....but now I had to deal with it....gets tiresome sometimes.

 

I hate to say it but I am entirely to busy to watch what other are doing (pretrip wise).. I run from either yard to yard.. or yard to store to pick up back to yard (or to the truckstop for break). I have enough trouble making sure I do crap to worry how others do it. I understand your frustration.. But the Bobby didn't do it defense doesn't work.. Next thing you know the judge will be asking you if Bobby jumped off a cliff would you?

 

Many find it better to be asked if Bobby jumped off a cliff would you? , then being asked why you PUSHED BOBBY off the cliff.

 

I don't think I've had the same trailer for more than one trip.