[Sonny Pruitt]

If you are compelled to help another trucker
Always start out with the phrase:
"you may need a tow truck"

never admit you have jumpers
If you feel you have to jump another truck
they have to provide jumpers
Why?
Very seldom will you actually start the other truck
especially in sub freezing weather
Now you are married to this guy
It can take hours to start a dead truck and you will have to wait
because they have YOUR jumpers

NEVER NEVER NEVER
attach a chain to your truck to pull another
NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a basic.
You can lend a chain but never be the guy pulling.
You are going to run into drivers who have no idea how to jump start
or how to get unstuck
Rule # 1
if the guy is stuck
and the fuel tank is touching the ground
TOWTRUCK

they may not know how to hook up a chain
or where to put the chain
straps will snap

watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo5S3W5KZ7E

If you lend a tool to someone repairing their truck:
assume you will lose that tool
I have lost moretools to fellow truckers.....
I gotta go and they are not finished with job...

Helping people back in......
Lot of discretion here but......

I will not help a guy if there is a driver sitting in his truck
in the dock next to his
He's the one who might get hit....its his call

I won't help if I think its a slam dunk but the driver is inexperienced
no my yob
If it takes 15 tries to a slam dunk back in
maybe next time it will take 14...

If you have a tough time backing in to the dock next to me
not only will I help
but I will drop my trailer in a heartbeat

Out of fuel:
Always carry a siphon and a 5 gallon container.
1 gallon jugs very messy

[rank]

LOL you are right about being married to the guy.

Couple of weeks ago pickup truck spun out at went into the ditch and I was first upon the scene so I stop. It's -20 degrees C, a foot of fresh snow and he has no cell phone. He has CAA so I offer him my phone to call a tow truck. Turns out HE doesn't have CAA, but his mother does. Oh brother here we go.

So he calls his mother. His mother calls CAA and we wait for his mother to call my cell phone back to confirm a tow truck is on the way.

Mercifully a cop arrives and tells me to be on my way because I am a hazard being parked on the slippery road.

[allan5oh]

1 gallon jugs are not messy, pour them sideways, they won't glug that way.

[RostyC]

Good post Sonny, and oh so true. It seems that the colder it gets or the deeper the snow gets it brings out the stoopid in people.

If you notice in that video, all they had to do was shovel the snow from behind the car and then push it out. It's more fun to get the straps out though, so they then proceeded to pull the car in the wrong direction. These boys will one day breed, that's the scary part. I'm usually out in the snow plowing so I could go on and on with the dumb things I see.

You're right it that "no good deed goes unpunished." I lent my tow strap out ONE time and it broke, you know why, the dumba$$ being pulled forgot to take the transmission out of park! (he was in mud) My only involvement was the strap, I was not pulling. Lesson learned.

[jroqueman]

Ok, I guess I do not get it. Why would you not pull start another truck? I have had to have my truck pull started when the starter went out. I was no big deal and I was very glad to get another driver to pull me. I am very hesitant to leave another driver if I feel that I am able to help. I would pull another driver in a minute. I would ask him and confirm that the truck was ready to be pulled. ie - make sure the brake was off.

I will also jump another truck if it is needed. I would do what was needed if the driver was an O/O. I will jump a company truck, but not stay an excessive time. The company can get a service truck. If I know the driver will have to pay for a service call to his truck, I will be willing to go further. The drivers need to be willing to help each other out here.

[Doghouse]

I would help if I could, and have twice so far in the last couple of weeks.
I can understand why not to pull start another truck. Circumstances would have to be ideal, or I wouldn't pull another truck either, There are far too many drivers out there who have no concept on pull starting a truck,(let alone a car), and the damages to my vehicle are not worth the risk.
That goes for jumping as well,..if a truck won't start and the driver killed the batteies mindlessly cranking the starter till they killed the batteries,....I want nothing to do with this. If they left the lights on and simply drained the batteries thats a diff. story.
I have always helped people who are broken down,...and 75% of the time,...I am the one who has suffered while they go on their merry way. I still stop to help,..but with more caution than I used to.

[GMAN]

I would not hesitate to help another driver and have done so on numerous occasions. I have also been helped many times over the years. I have always been very appreciative to those who have taken time to help me. It seems that there are too many people who don't want to be inconvenienced these days. :?

[Sonny Pruitt]

fine with me
Most of the time it is bitter cold and getting started or getting warm
Replaces common sense.
I gave up being mr helper years ago
Will an ISX start with a pull start?
If you pull and plan to go left which side should the chain be on your tractor
What side on his tractor.
Do you realize he has very poor steering?
Does he realize he has very poor steering?
Lots of times you go left and he winds up going straight.
Leaving an unanticipated angle of the chain.
Did you take your mudflap off?
Is the attached chain going to do anything to his bumper if he turns?
Are you willing to jolt your frame rail 2,3, 4 times
Is the guy your pulling going to slam on his breaks if it starts?
The shorter the chain the more likely a panic application
Are you willing to put that jolt on your frame rail?
What gear should the other guy be in?
Did the guy your towing have the key on?
Does his chain have any repair links?
Did he secure chain or is it just the tip of the hook.
Good luck

[wildkat]

Sonny, sorry to say...you would DIE very quickly in the Arctic where I run!!!!

We live & work in extreme isololation & DEADLY cold, if I followed YOUR advice many drivers I consider friends would be dead now!

No thanks! I see ANY truck stopped where he shouldn't be I STOP! It could mean his life.

Deadly advice if you ask me! Do me a favour .... STAY DOWN SOUTH!!

[scooter823]

Amen, to what wildkat said, Sonny what type of rig do you drive, I will make sure if I see you on the side of the road to wave as I pass :shock: