You seem to be doing pretty good, don't let the little things change your whole aspect of the job.it does happen and probably will again. Just keep your head up and the wheels turning, when you can,lol
Swift trailers stay out (from terminals) for a long long time. I've come across several that were over due for their annual inspections, lights not working, questionable tires, leaking hubs, stuck tandem pins, etc. Not to mention a high percentage of the trailers are scraped up down the sides when a driver drags it against another trailer pulling out. Sometimes a driver will send a message about the trailer faults after their load is done so it becomes the next driver's problem, oftentimes I will hook up to a trailer and the qualcomm will tell me 'illegal trailer' or 'bring trailer to nearest shop asap'. If the drivers collectively would take care of the trailers we all could make more money out here. Unfortunately it's like 'if I take every fouled up trailer in for repairs I won't make any money' attitude. So they leave it for the next driver. If you go to a place like Walmart, their trailers are virtually brand new looking in comparison. Deep tread tire, brand new brakes and lights, shiny trailers with no scrapes down the sides. That's a result of having the best of the best drivers pulling them.
amen on the highlighted portion. how much longer does it take, once you drop a trailer at a shipper (loaded or MT) to walk around real quick, notice a flat tire, or a loose mudflap or a 7-way that is questionable, and call in an on-road repair on it? I often will walk from my truck to the terminal/truck stop looking at the ground. why? cause i'm looking for nuts, bolts, anything that could cut down a tire. Cause if i can pick up something that will keep a driver from losing time for a flat, or even worse, blow a tire on the road and maybe even having a wreck....then whats the harm in spending the extra 5 seconds to stop, bend over and pick up something. that is the problem anymore, too many drivers who dont want be professional. its all about 'me me me' anymore. if something dont benifit them, they could care less. and that is sad.
so am i to assume, if you pull a trailer with lights that are not 100% working and functional, it should be okay to use a "it was broke when i picked it up" excuse? i'm just asking, cause that is the way it sounds. You're the driver, you're the professional, YOU are and should be held to higher standards than your common 4-wheel friends. KNOWINGLY running a trailer that has lights that arent working? a tire that is "flat"? (been told anything less than 85psi is considered 'flat') or a door seal that dont really seal? How about a loose mudflap? i could go on and on....but if you knowingly take a trailer with any problems, and you're put out of service, you DESERVE to be put OOS.
Unless you're lease or owner, why do you care whether your miles are empty or loaded? I'm just askin'.
no no...talking about the trailer. and said trailer being dropped at a shipper...whether it is loaded or MT. also, you should be pre-tripin' 2 trailers on every drop and hook. well one pre and one post. (not YOU 'you', injun......the perverbial 'you')
Didn't mean to cause confusion. I was speaking to post # 49 complaining about 3300 miles of deadhead.
i gotcha. figure you were talking about my most, since you've been on my az most every other time. but as far as THAT post...yeah, i agree. but really dont matter even if you're lease op...since the mileage you gain per gallon when you're MT makes up for the diff. in pay. so its basicly about the same....(to me anyway)
