what are the top 10 rookie mistakes an how to avoid them
#51
03-01-2007, 10:48 AM
Here is what I do when hooking up to a trailer...
1. Make sure I am lined up correctly 2. Slowly get under the trailer, if the trailer doesn't move then I get out and crank the dollies up to lower the trailer. 3. Get back in and get under slowly do when the kingpin hits the 5th wheel it won't crack from the added stress. 4. After I hear the click I do 2 tugs in 1st or 2nd gear then I push back against it again to help straighten those dolly legs. 5. Hook up the electrical cord, then blue line, then red line. 6. Peek under the trailer at the 5th wheel to make sure that it is locked. Bring a flashlight along with ya for this one. 7. Get back out of the cab cause I forgot to crank the dollies up. LOL
#52
03-01-2007, 04:31 PM
Not realizing your trailer does not track the same as your tractor. Always, watch your trailer tires around the turn.
Not doing proper trip planning and getting into streets you should be on. Don't trust your GPS 100%. Giving ETA that are wrong. Always, build in a buffer. Trusting your fuel gage. They are not always correct, invest in a measuring stick to know for sure.
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#53
03-03-2007, 05:47 PM
I did not read this whole thread, but please if your running behind schedule do not try to make up time by doing 40 MPH through the truck stop parking lot.
#54
04-20-2007, 02:39 AM
Re: Confession - Oops!
Originally Posted by Shebear
As a rookie, my biggest grief I GOTTA CONFESS is driving along, slowing my speed, wanting to downshift -- BUT FORGETTING WHAT GEAR I AM IN.
Yes, this is somebody who wishes there were a display on the dash to tell you whether you're driving in 7th, 8th, or 9th. Sure, I should know by the speed. I should know by the SOUND OF THE ENGINE. No, I don't have the experience. NEXT, I GOTTA CONFESS that when I'm downshifting, and I miss the gear, can't find the slot where to put it, I drive OUTTA GEAR and scramble. The whole thing is horrible, and the next time I'm with a trainer I'm afraid I'm going to give him or her a heart attack. Let alone myself. Any advice? By the way, this all doesn't happen ALL the time. I have to keep talking to myself under my breath. "I'm in 8th gear, I'm in 8th gear." Am I nuts? I just got my first used truck and it has 13 speed tranny. A great device to help you with shifting manual gears is a "GearMaster" from www.gearmaster.com It sticks to the top of the dashboard and shows you the gear you are in, your RPM, your road speed, and - most importantly - what gear you're best fit to go in right now. The gadget is not cheap, but I just emailed them and they said they have all types of payment plans available, including installment purchase. I personally want to get this GearMaster in a couple of months. As one of the testimonials on their web site says, "It takes a lot of stress off the shifting."
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#55
04-20-2007, 02:58 AM
Originally Posted by wrangler69
Originally Posted by inmate1577
Letting yourself being intimidated by some "Billy BigRigger"
such as trying to get into a parking space and some "BBR" is giving you crap over the radio. What "BRB" isnt telling you is that it took him 6 pull ups to get into his space but no one saw him do it. Another mistake is not asking a dock foreman what is the best way to get into his dock, what might look right to you might not work in all situations. Driving too fast for conditions to get a load in on time. Nothing you haul and I mean absolutely NOTHING is worth your life or someone elses. The world wont stop if WalMart doesnt get its paper plates. Driving while tired. Caffeine, energy drinks, sugar snacks, etc etc do not stop exhaustion, if you are tired pull off to a safe area and take a nap. Many people dont realize how much energy you can gain back just by taking a 20 min cat nap. Asking for help. If you are lost, dont continue to drive and drive hoping that maybe around the next corner will be your destination. Ask a cab driver, a gas station attendant, a garbageman or a cop and if worse comes to worse pull over, look at your directions get your mapbook and THINK and if you still cant get your bearings, call the local police business line for directions. Cops are pretty helpful in that regard than having to respond to a truck stuck on a dead end street or underneath a bridge. Inspect your equipment, every single day. Just because it all worked yesterday doesnt mean squat for today. Compare the time it takes to make sure your hooked up, checking your lights and doing a tug test opposed to the time it takes to explain why the trailer fell off the tractor. Dont talk on the cellphone when driving. There is absolutely no reason for anyone who is supposed to be a professional driver, hauling 40klbs running down the interstate and yakking on the cell phone. If you have to make a call, pull over and make the call. Read your signs when driving down the interstate, that includes billboards, caution signs, restriction signs, mile markers, ramp speeds etc. Just because the ramp speed is 50mph, doesnt mean you can go 50mph on that ramp. Slow it down on the ramp as much as 10mph below the posted speed and if some jackass gets on your ass for going slow , just ignore it, that driver isnt hauling what your hauling and the ones who tailgate and speed are the ones in a ditch a few miles down the road. Anyone who gives you grief for grinding gears and brags that they dont grind gears is a liar. The day you stop grinding gears is the day after you retire from driving, its a part of life and even an experienced driver will admit that they still do it. Grinding gears is ok, not being in ANY gear is not ok. Dont be pressured to do anything you are not comfortable with either by other drivers or dispatchers. Drive within your limits and your experience. When backing into a space and your not sure what is behind you , GET OUT AND LOOK. If it takes a few pull ups to get into that space then so what? I'd rather do 15 pull ups and get out and look a few times if it avoids hitting something. Its not a sign of weakness, its a sign of professionalism. GREAT ADVICE. :wink: :wink: :wink: I had one load where the Directions had me going into a park, no where close to the reciever. After I got turned around I saw a Cop and waved him down. He told me exactly how to get there. Turned out if the Directions in the first place would been correct, I'll still not been able to make it, LOW BRIDGE from the other direction.
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#56
04-20-2007, 01:14 PM
Here's one I did:
Was at a delivery that had me drive down a winding gravel road that cut through a beautiful grass field. I was delivering a full load of black pipe. Half way down the road, the consignee asked if I could come in backwards as it would be easier to unload me. No problem. I began reversing back the way I came and had my trailer all the way back up onto the road no trouble at all. Then the screw up happened. Without getting out to actually STEP on the grass along side the road to check if it was ok to drive on, I cut my wheel to finish reversing onto the road while bringing my tractor in line with my trailer. This caused my front right wheel to traverse about a foot or two onto the grass. Only problem was while all the grass in that field was perfectly mowed and VERY dense and only about 6 inches high, the grass soon to be under my front wheel was about 4 FEET high and growing up from a drainige ditch/sewer depression. Because the grass was so thick and cut so perfectly, it looked the same as all the other grass until I was looking out my passenger window at the ground and looking out my drivers window and all I could see was sky. I was damned near rolled over on my right side. Luckily I had the truck in 4 wheel drive and my very heavy trailer was already safely level on hard pavement. I hit the accelerator pedal and climbed right on out and up onto the road. I had to check my shorts after that one. Moral of the story? ALWAYS ALWAYS walk the path your wheels will take BEFORE driving there if you are at ALL unsure.
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#57
04-20-2007, 10:46 PM
I think my biggest complaint is so called "professional drivers" who have to tailgate, actually drafting would be a better description.
I was coming down I-65 yesterday and some nutjob in another truck must have passed me doing at least 80mph. Behind me was another truck who was playing NASCAR and riding my butt. The first guy was tailgating and intimidating other drivers out of his way. Well he swerved around a slower vehicle and his trailer started to fishtail, I let off the cruise control expecting to slow down for the impending accident as the trailer wheels left the road and came back and left the road again, and came back on the pavement. The driver behind me because he was so close didnt see what was happening ahead and so now he's pissed off at me! Had he maintained a proper following distance he too would have been able to see what I saw. Some drivers get pissed off because 4 wheelers tailgate them, but have no problem doing the same thing to other truck drivers. Maintain that space, at least 7 seconds following distance. Seems like alot of time but its relatively short when you are trying to stop 80klbs from 65 mph.
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#58
04-21-2007, 08:20 AM
Originally Posted by inmate1577
Letting yourself being intimidated by some "Billy BigRigger"
such as trying to get into a parking space and some "BBR" is giving you crap over the radio. I've got a turnpike pass with the company I drive for locally and I'm sure I get a bunch of BS without having to stop at the tollbooth and pulling in front of some OTR folks with my f'ed up doubles. Just relax fuckers, quit your jawin; I'm set on 65 and you'll be able to pass me in on down the line shortly.
#59
04-21-2007, 10:02 AM
Re: re
Originally Posted by Orangetxguy
Originally Posted by Griff
Forgetting to unhook your air lines when dropping a trailer or not dollying down the legs. Ive seen this all so often in intermodal..
#60
04-21-2007, 10:07 AM
Originally Posted by Jumbo
The one thing I tell any new driver I meet is don't panic. Shebear, if you miss a gear don't panic, give it some throttle, push in the clutch and try a gear you will find one. If you miss your exit don't panic. You may have to go 10-20 minutes down the road but there usually is a place to turn around. People who panic make rash (and mostly wrong) decisions and end up in a worse predicament than when they started. You can get scared but just don't panic.
unless you are headed down a mountain when this happens, then it is time to panic |
