Question for Vertically Challenged Drivers

I'm 5'10" and open the hood and stand on the tires.

 

Im thinking do what I do open the hood and stand on the front tires to get good down pressure

 

Young man, if you where working for me and stood on my hood you would be looking for another job pronto ! open the hood and climb up on the tire to do it.

 

I'm also 5'4" and don't worry about getting pressure on the handle. In fact with those aluminum handles at T/A you can't put pressure on the handle. Get the windshield nice and wet especially if there is good soapy water in the bucket. If you open the hood it's a lot easier to reach the windshield. If you want the windshield really clean, park the truck grab a roll of paper towels, Windex, and a scrubber sponge. Open the hood, climb up on the engine and go to town.

 

Go to blue beacon. They will charge you $34 to wash your windshield and throw in the rest of the truck for free

 

Get a longer pole like a broom handle and screw that into the one at the t/s. Or just keep your own long pole sqeegee on the truck.

 

I don't bother opening the hood. I just put my toes on the front tires. I don't weigh much, but I'm able to clean the windshield.

Another tip for short people...like me. (5'4" flatfooted)
if you run reefers with bulkheads and /or rollup doors, sometimes the ropes for the hooks are too short or the door strap is too short. Use a 5th-wheel puller with a hook on the end to pull those hooks down. For the door, you can either reach the handle with it, or you can reach the pulley on the side of the door that has the wire holding the doors slats together. I get funny looks when I take that into my deliveries...until they see me use it. It beats looking helplessly at the ceiling of the trailer and waiting for someone taller to come around to help.

 

Trucker? 15 Years

Without being too much of a wise guy, it took you 15 years to try and find a better way?

I stand on the tires also. Sometimes hood open, sometimes closed.