As I pulled into my spot to go grab a shower, I see this young guy wrestling with his slide lock, hammer in hand, vise grips on the ground at his feet. I hear him banging pins that are obviously not free, so I go back to help.
Now I was a sight I'm sure, well covered in salt dust and road grime after loading my cars; but this kid looked at me like I was from Mars when I told him to go "shake the trailer, I'll pull the handle for you."
It was obvious no one had taught him how rock the trailer to free the pins, but I'm not sure it mattered. When I crouched and looked, I couldn't believe the shape of the slide rails. There more bows in those rails than there are the Philharmonic! Plenty of high-speed u-turns, I imagine.
I think it a good thing I offered to help, because it took three tries to get the pins all the way out. With those rails so screwed up, I don't think it was possible to get all four free at once. I was literally pulling so hard with my shouder against the trailer (and us carhaulers aren't wimpy,) that the bottom edge of the rail was hurtin' my arm. (I've got a sore spot, today.)
Which brings me to the point of this post, a couple questions for you Swifties:
Is this pretty common on your trailers? Mind you this was an older wagon without the spring in the handle (or do ya'll even have those?), but that poor kid would have been there half the day trying to do it himself. The pins were grooved so bad that there wasn't going to be any hammering the pins in, either.
Next thing, the way he reacted when I offered to help. Is it really that unusual for someone to help nowadays? (I'm not in truck stops much...) I know ya'll catch plenty of sometimes deserved grief, but is it that bad?
And I guess this isn't a real question, more of a rhetorical; but did your trainers explain to you how those really tight u-turns today's trucks can do are hard on equipment? When I see someone needlessly turning so tight the trailer is backing up, I want to get out my bar and do a little 'edumacating' with it. Use to tee me off when I'd see shaggers do with my reefer, and it tees me off to someone else do it as well.
Peace, boys and girls; I'll try not to give you too much grief on the CB!
So I helped out a Swifty...
Discussion in 'Swift' started by Hammer166, Jan 21, 2012.
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Yes some trailers really are that bad and worse! But i have been seeing and pulling alot of newer trailers lately,some of those older trailers are actually really good to pull!
If he was trained to not expect any help then that is why he was surprised by your generous offer to help him,we dont hold anybodies hand here in trucking......
His trainer probably was crap if he didn't know to rock the trl even so vise grips are essential and my #1 tool on the road,but a little tap with a hammer can help too...
I have been there all day trying to slide my tandems,it happens....
I USUALLY do GET SOMEONE TO OFFER TO HELP ME,MORE OFTEN THEN NOT ANOTHER SWIFTY,I THINK WE'RE GOOD THAT WAY.....
I would rather do a tight u turn and go back away I know then head down the road into the unknown,but thats just me.......
It won't do you any good to grief us on the cb because most that i know don't have one,and I really don't want one.........so what?
Anyways thank you for helping that swifty out,he will remember and hopefully pass it along
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It don't show in my pic, Dewey, but 1nonly been vouch for the gray...I've been at this awhile!
Hadn't made it to crotchety, but pretty much old school. -
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And that right there say's it all! If the trainer sucks what makes you think the trainee is gonna be any different? All we can do is try to help and teach the right way ( assumeing I know it!
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Good to know there are still some folks out there with manners and willing to help a fellow human being. Way to go, Hammer
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