What things are the driver responsible for replacing/fixing?

So you're out on your first week on the job. Being a rookie, you have to pay your dues. You get the oldest truck in the fleet, you do your pre-trip and everything looks fine, but you get to your first truck stop and notice a few things need some attention.

Obviously big ticket items like tires and engine trouble needs to go in to the shop or a phone call for mobile help at the least... I'm talking about things you can probably fix with some tools and elbow grease. What items on the truck are you, the driver, responsible for fixing? Mudflaps? Malfunctioning signal lights? Reflectors?

Or would fixing such things yourself be a liability issue for the company?

And who usually shoulders the cost? The driver or the company? Or does that depend on who you work for?

 

Don't take this wrong but you want to be a slave?

Of course not so read the following carefully and take it seriously.

First and the most important is PROTECT your CDL over the company. This means it is you who is in charge, it is you who will be pulled over and inspected and it is you who will face problems with getting another job in the future if the company craps on you. SO DOCUMENT EVERY PROBLEM WHEN IT IS DISCOVERED, AND KEEP A RECORD OF THE PROBLEMS AND WHEN THEY ARE FIXED WHILE PUTTING THINGS ON THE MVIR AND BRINGING IT UP TO THE NEXT PERSON IN THE COMMAND CHAIN OR ONE WHO WILL GET THE PROBLEM FIXED.

SECOND thing is if you have no financial interest in the truck, it is ALL ON THE OWNER/COMPANY.

Third, there are some trivial issues like mud flaps and there are serious issues like brake shoes missing peices, one thing that makes the difference between a steering wheel holder (READ - SLAVE) and a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER is the professional driver is proactive in learning what it means to be unsafe and what it means to be a case of repair as soon as possible but not stop work for it.

Remember you control that truck, if it is unsafe, then you are on the hook for it, and if you get into an accident, you will be crapped all over by the company because it is eaiser to get a new driver than to support you and your need to drive safe.

 

You don’t really fix much yourself driving company truck. Mudflaps are big not so easy to replace. They’re not hard to replace if you don’t mind getting on the ground. Company drivers don’t normally do that because you have buy them plus you might have to bend or straighten out the bracket and you might need more tools for that.

Lots of trucks have LED lights and they don’t burn out. When they do they are not cheap to replace. The company shop replaced LED headlight on my truck. They only sell the whole assembly and company shop said it was $700 for them to buy it. Back when trucks had regular headlights you would buy them and replace them yourself at truck stop. The headlights were like $25 or something

 

When a company driver, consult with the owner/maintenance/safety dept. what you are responsible for while on the road, and what the reimbursement policy of the company is.
Stuff does happen while away from the yard.

 

Most companies also have an account at truck stops. My company truck had low coolant warning and I unplugged the sensor and company shop said ok and keep going. Since it was still full of coolant. It was also -5F that week. 1 day later the air dryer was freezing up. I plugged coolant sensors back in everything was working again. I called company they said keep going plus I was going home so I was ok with that.

Here is the funny part I think, at home I was getting low coolant warning and truck was shutting off again. Not sure it it was just good timing or bad luck for the company. The truck did parked regen when it was still like 5F. The engine goes to 220F for regen and the heat or bad luck cracked the plastic radiator. It cost the company $4800 for new radiator and coolant sensor at truck stop.

 

A company driver truly isn't responsible for fixing anything on the truck, but it doesn't hurt to learn simple repairs. If you do basic things to stay on top of your maintenance, you'll minimize downtime at the shop. It don't hurt to learn how to change a fuel filter, lights, or mudflaps. If you have issues and can make to your main terminal, yard, etc, do that. If you can't make it there, don't delay....call your company.

 

Short answer: As a company driver, you don't have to fix anything.
Practical answer: How long are you willing to wait for service?

When I worked for a mega carrier, I always carried a spare headlight bulb, a few spare trailer light assemblies (we had the kind which just pressed in to a rubber seal), a few bulbs, about a dozen gladhand rubbers, and a selection of hose clamps and a roll of good duct tape (all of which the shop gladly let me take). I also carried a toolbox to handle simple mechanical and electrical repairs.

More than once I had to repair a leaky air hose with duct tape and hose clamps. Once I had to re-wire an electrical pigtail connector to replace one which was broken. Sure beat waiting for hours for somebody else to do it. Yeah, I did a few small repairs for free, rather than missing out on about $25 each hour sitting with my thumb up my ###....

 

In the interest of saving myself time. There have been many small items I have fixed on company equipment. However, rarely have I been compensated even with receipts, they say I could have just put the parts on my own truck.
So it's a toss up.

 

Of course in the old days drivers would do entire engine overhauls in an afternoon on the shoulder with the assistance of whoever happened to stop to help. I know this because I remember hearing the stories from my girlfriend's daddy when I was a teenager. But times have changed and now we have cell phones so no one does this any more.