Tips for new drivers (things to do)

A little tip I just remembered. When I went to buy some new floor mats one brand was advertising them as multi purpose, when you get stuck on ice/snow stick them under the tire.

I didn't buy those ones but remembered it when I couldn't get moving. It worked like a charm.

 

Just a little tip from experience.

I unhooked one time and I used to drop the gear, pull the pin and unhook the air lines in that order every time. One time I did this and as soon as I pulled the pin the trailer slid off the fifth wheel and started sliding down a slight hill on the gear. It pulled the lines loose and stopped.

When I set the brakes, the E-line valve messed up so it was still supplying the trailer with air so the brakes weren't set, even though the knob was pulled on the inside. NOT COOL!!!!!

Now the pin is the LAST thing I do every time.

Be careful,

Dave

 

We still have 2 trailers without spring brakes, and are in good working order. An old tri-axle dozer trailer and a 45' flatbed. As said, you MUST apply air to the tank and pull the trailer lever before hooking.

I ALWAYS hook the air up on loaded trailers, and pull the trailer lever in case the trailer brakes aren't adjusted properly. If the adjustment has too big of a gap, the springs can't apply enough pressure to hold, while you push back under.

A good thing to do with loaded trailers, is adjust the landing gear (assuming it is a jack, and not just legs with pins in the holes) so that when you back under, you will pick the trailer up about 1/2" or so. That way, if you don't catch the king pin perfectly, and the nose slides to the side either way, you won't damage the landing gear. Being it is just a tiny bit, even if the trailer were to slide back on you, the trailer won't just drop very far and damage something.

If the trailer just has legs with pins, you sometimes need some wood blocks under the drive tires to pick the nose up enough to pull the pins. If the trailer has air ride, and will be pulling the same trailer again with the same truck (or one with the same fifth wheel height), I dump the bags (if you have a dump valve, some don't) before dropping the legs. That way, if for some odd reason the truck is sitting just a little different and enough lower to not allow you to pull the pins (which does happen off and on), you can back under far enough to be ahead of the kingpin and hole in the plate on the tractor, inflate the bags, then back all the way til it latches. This will in turn usually raise the trailer enough to latch the trailer when you back under (and not high hook a trailer), and allow you to raise the legs.

ALWAYS look to see if there is a gap between the hitch on the truck and trailer (especially if someone else hooked up for you, like my boss does sometimes). High hooking a trailer means the jaws are carrying the weight, as well as pulling it. They aren't designed for that, then they will break, and you just lost your trailer. A tug test won't tell you if you are high hooked. The jaws will pull a trailer like that til it breaks loose.

 

You taught an old dog a new trick, even tho I never pulled a wagon with pins in the gear. Woodblocking the wheels would be a bit of a hassle, but still way better than the alternative.

 

I pull a bullrack, so a screwjack isn't standard equipment. You can order a trailer that has them, though. The ones I've pulled never have had them. Blocks are a PITA, especially when it is muddy.

 

NEVER plan your trip on paid miles.
always use your atlas or laptop to figure the REAL miles
always plan on being an hour early

 

In winter I like to use diesel on my fifth wheel slide and the locks. Cleans and lubricates without freezing. I got that tip from my dad. I wash my truck right before I go on my days off. When I park I grab a little container of diesel that is in the shop and I put a little on the slide and where my locking pins are.

Make sure you are clean cut when loading or unloading. Be friendly even if the people at the loading docks are jerks (sometimes really hard). It does affect your company image. I found out that my company actually gets paid a little bit more to do some of our regular runs than other companies because of our image with them. They would rather pay a bit extra to secure one of our trucks. That comes from clean, well maintained equipment, and clean drivers. During the week I find it helps to look a little thuggish to limit the number of panhandlers bugging you for change. haha.

Flatbedders......take the time to do a good tarp job. Keep it tight, and clean. Nothing looks more stupid than a ballooned up tarp rolling down the road. It makes it look like you don't care about what you are doing and you are part of a rolling circus show of hacks. Its the only exercise we get during the week anyways. Take the extra time to do it right. Run a tight ship and the DOT often goes easier on you, or just passes you by alltogether. It is because they see you actually care about what you are doing.

A 6 cell maglight is a good inspection and enforcement tool that will cross borders just fine.

Pack a tool bag with at least the following: multimeter or test light, Tire pressure gauge, hammer, various screwdrivers (or bare minimum a screwdriver with interchangeable bits), measuring tape, two crescent wrenches (I have this in addition to a bunch of combination wrenches), a utility knife, electrical tape, electrical connectors, wire strippers, socket set. I also have a couple small prybars as well as a huge demolition bar that is slightly overkill but makes me chuckle when I pull nails out of my trailer with one hand.

If you are mechanically inclined to do your own small roadside repairs get the following: spare fan belt(s), spare headlight, spare bulbs for your dash and exterior lights, JB quick weld (I have done temporary coolant leak repairs with this stuff). Get the quick weld because the regular stuff takes too long to set. I also have a spare elbow for my turbo duct (the rubber boot) and spare clamps.

Tire pressures!!....keep an eye on them. Get a good tire pressure gauge that can check the inside wheel of your duals too. When you fill up, check your tire pressures, clean your mirrors and windows. Make that a ritual.

If you are backing up and have a bunch of light glare from different places off your side windows...ROLL THEM DOWN. Who cares if its cold outside. It beats backing into something. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, even if it means setting the brakes and getting out to look.

Keep your logbook neat and presentable. Use a ruler. I was a draftsman so my logbooks look like they were done by someone with OCD. haha. However, I have had my logbooks looked over several times now and never gotten a ticket, even though there have been times where they could've done so. Their exact words were "your logbooks are some of the neatest we have ever seen and it looks like you spend a lot of care with them so we will let this slide....but next time you should do this..."

Always have nothing to hide. When the scale tells you to park and bring in papers, make sure they are all upto par. Its not that hard to keep your logbook current. I bring in every bit of information I have and literally bomb them with it when I get to the counter. I give them my drivers license, trailer papers, my truck binder with registration, IFTA, permits, my logbook. I lay it out for them and then go read their posters and informational material. Shows I have nothing to hide, and my scale stops are usually very brief....not even long enough to mark down a 15 minute stop on the logbook.

 

Good call. I used to tug twice, like I was taught, and roll...Until I saw my friend, trucker of many years, drop his trailer about 1500' from where he started. He tugged, and thought it was sufficient..Since then, I tug, get out, crouch under the trailer and shine my flashlight on the locking jaws to make sure they have locked all the way around the kingpin...(like they taught in school) Also, look at your 5th wheel handle, to ensure it is all the way in..Better safe than sorry.

 

Keep your truck presentable. It doesn't have to be shiny clean, but get the crap off your dash, keep the trash out of the truck, try to keep your windows and mirrors clean.
When going into a scale, at least get the cigarette/cigar out of your mouth, have papers etc where you don't have to hunt for them, and turn the CB down, if not off.
Try to treat others as you would want to be treated. When you see someone trying to back, TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF, yep, I meant to shout.
Don't crowd other drivers when they're trying to manuver.
When you come to a stalemate with another driver, TURN THAT CB ON AND TALK!! Intentional shouting again.
Don't be "Billy Big Rig"and blast thru truckstops with your jakes and straight pipes blasting, you only make yourself look like a rookie.
Use those fourways when manuverring, especially when backing. And keep an eye out when others have them on. Most of us when we have fourways or turn signals on, we really mean it.
On the same token tho, when you're done using them, turn them off.

I know alot of newer drivers are told not to have the CB on when trying to back into a hole at a truckstop. Let's think about that for a second. Wouldn't it be better to just blank out the BS, and hope that guy with the chicken truck you're backing into would let you know you're about to buy him a new fender mirror or worse?
Don't be afraid to help another driver regardless of the name on the door. Sooner or later you're going to need a hand yourself.

 

Another is to make sure the trailer is just slightly lower than the plate on your tractor. You should actually pickup the weight on the trailer as you back under it. I dont know who strated this thing of leaving trailers jack to the sky, but if you ever back in and pass your 5th wheel you will hate life. I stop right before I get under it to inspect the trailer, if there is damage I report it before I hook it.