Tips for new drivers (things to do)

I can't take the credit for it. That came from the guy who road tested me at PAM.

 

the biggest difference that i have found when it come to using the clutch is that you gotta be a fair bit faster at shifting. other than that, practice makes perfect.

 

Look! Big Ben, Parliament...

 

Keep your mirrors clean and act like a professional . Oh yeah try to shower at least every other day.

 

I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea of a gear every tem miles per hour. If you have a taller or shorter rear end, that will change.
Point is, any truck you drive, you should mentally familiarize yourself with the spread and feel. One thing I've always done is first to check the play in the stick, so I know how much slop I'm dealing with.
After driving about ten different tranny's, it starts getting easy to become grindlessly proficient in only a run or two thru the gears.
Just stop telling yourself it's hard, and feel it out, remember what you felt, and relax.
Mostly relax. Rushing a gear is usually a grinder, cruncher, or the deadly bang.

 

I've found there are a couple other uses for washer fluid.......
1. When it's really cold out and there is snow on the 5th wheel, carefully clean off the snow and splash some washer fluid around the "fingers". Living here in New England, I have experienced many times the 5th wheel not locking.

2. I have only tried this once, and only once, I was backing into a dock in Allenstown PA, loaded with water. It had been raining during the day and then during the evening it froze. I could just touch the dock's rubber bumpers but couldn't get a good "squish" on them. I didn't have salt or cat litter. I tried some washer fluid. It worked. I was able to dock the truck. When I was unloaded, I had to backup a little to get the dock lock to release, I had slid while the forklift was unloading.

I am not sure if the second one would work again, I'll have to do some more testing, the first one has worked without fail for the last 7 years.

 

Don't waste time but never rush.

Allow extra time, Murphy is out there.

Know where you're going. The shipper or consignee will usually give you good directions as well as let you know if you can park there the night before.

Never be afraid to ask for help. If approached the right way most people are more than happy to help you out.