The no BS story on SNI from the Drivers Seat of Truck # 40767

Let me add this:

In my 11+ years of driving for several different companies, I've had a total of 6 blowouts.

How the hell do you have 39???

Now drivers leaving equipment with bad tires? You bet...I'm sick and tired of it. Picked up a trailer two days ago with a blown-out tire AND a broken slide pin. So I'm fed-up with that.

But the number of blow-outs is either bogus or largely driver error. Thumping with a hammer or mallet will not give you an accurate indication of air pressure. I carry a gauge (no, I don't gauge every tire every time), but based upon my experience, if there is ANY hint a tire is low, I'll gauge it. Can't tell you how many tires I've added air to over the years.

 

I must admit, the only company I've ever had a tire blow on me, has been with SNI, but only 2 in the last year and a half. One on the trailer I knew was going bad. I was heading to Beech Island yard to get it replaced, but it went about 3 miles out, and took the mudflap with it! The other was the #4 drive, I had no indication there was anything wrong with it, really.

 

Never blown a tractor tire....all trailers.

Was at the Charlotte OC getting ready to come off a meal and shower break. Was headed around to the shop to check something out on my trailer, and on my walk-around, discovered the #8 drive going down.

Simple walk-around prevented me from further problems. That's why I'm questioning the 39 blow-outs.

 

Yepper, I tend to agree.

 

i can tell you for sure on at minimum of 20 of the blow outs i questioned the tire when i picked it up it knocked good but, either it was chunked out but not down to the cords, or you could see the edge of the recap starting to separate (which an oc wont replace)

 

I'm no tire expert to be certain. I've seen what I thought were bad tires like the recap separating and said something about it, and was told it was good to go. So far the mechs have always been right on with me on that. May be I've just got better luck. Don't know.

 

it hit or miss with me. ive been lucky enough not to have a blow out in prob 3-4 months now. ive had a couple of tires that were worn out or had a bolt in them that needed to be replaced but they seem to happen in streaks of good or bad.

 

i worked for wingfoot sevicing the tires of SNi trucks for a while and this is how it is atleast with road service and comin to the wingfoot shot no BS no coating thease are SNI policies

- Change Only the tire that has faile ( even if the one next to is has a huge bolt in it or the cap is separating if it holds let it roll)
-ABSOLUTELY NO VALVE STEMS (unless there is NO rubber grommet left.....even if it is the suspected cause of tire failure)

from personal exp, training, etc. i can tell ya that 90% of all run-flats are due to a driver no giving a #### and/or the valve is leaking the rest is road debris..

the caps....well you already kno if its still attached they want it moving it dont matter if you can stick your hand between the tread and the casing and yeas i said hand.....i saw one that i could literally slide my entire hand under and my fingers stick out the other side and they said leave it, it was not the tire i was called about.... im sure that driver was pissed whein it came off probably the next time the tire got good and hot

 

That pretty much sums it up on stupid policy. I hate it when people drop a trailer and dont even mark it TBO on the macro so sni can send a service truck out to fix it. a good 7-8 of the blow outs were trailers i picked up with the blow outs on the trailer already.

 

yep....most of the drivers i came across while doing this had the work "i couldnt care less" attitude and while they were ######## and complaining to me about SNI they were usually saying #### if i wasa lil closer to my drop id just leave it