Snap binders.

That's what I say.

You can get it in the shop for $2.79 a jug (washer fluid) or $7.99 a jug at that gas station in Longlac, ON when you run out. The company will usually charge the driver the difference when they don't pick things up where they are supposed to (including fuel). I like that.

 

Mostly that stuff should be provided by the company? Does your shop provide that stuff and you just expect the drivers to actually go get it or are you expecting the drivers to purchase all of that?

 

They can get everything they need from the parts room. Washer fluid, engine oil, brake line antifreeze, window cleaner, paper towels, fuses, 911/antigel, duct tape, wipers... almost anything we stock for parts drivers can take if they can justify a reason for needing it.

It's so much cheaper for the shop to order bulk, that's why they would rather them take than buy.

 

Plus having to bobtail somewhere and find whatever it is you need, and hoping it's in stock, then back to the shippers/work site.

@Zeviander if they put you in a new truck, you should weigh it empty full tanks, then when all your stuff is in there you should reweigh it. I'd bet 500 pounds, easily.

 

A good lick with the bar or hammer will free them up (swivels on snap binders).

 

Then that's just seriously lazy to not have all that stuff on the truck, if the shop keeps it all there for you.

 

Lol, 16 chains and binders is like 800 lbs. All my personal stuff is likely a couple hundred. Tools and whatnot would be 200-300. It's going to be a heavy truck. Especially if they put a blower on it as well.

 

I didn't mean securement, but looks like we're on the same page for weight on the other stuff. Securement adds up fast for weight, that and tarps.

 

Yep, and now you can see why I got out of orientation training. No matter how much I tried, they absorbed 25% of what I told them (at best) or gave them handouts to tell them how to do their job (which they either just throw away, or "lose").

The guy I went with this last week, when we went to fuel, I asked him what he's allowed on his drives (he was just going to fuel right up to the top). He said 37,500 lbs without hesitating.

He got a policy manual with a very convenient sheet listing all the allowed weights and didn't even bother to look at it. I told him to go CAT scale before fueling a couple hours previous, and he was 10,800 and 33,600 on the tractor. I showed him how much full tanks would weigh (he could take almost 140 gals, over 1000 lbs of fuel) and he needed to slide the fifth wheel forward.

I'm glad I could give him an eye-opening experience without him getting nailed at the scale up the road from the truck stop. But, I don't think I want to do any more of this mentor ****. It's frustrating when nobody listens to me, and I'm genuinely trying to help them be better drivers.

 

Our tarps, straps, corners and carpet go with the trailer (which I like, because I know other companies get drivers to untarp/unstrap their load before passing it onto another driver who gets to redo it all), so the weight is midpoint on the trailer. Thankfully. Especially when hauling around 2x 25x26 lumber tarps and a small smoke tarp.