Tricks of the trade.....

Ten tips for new drivers. All are tried and true.
Tip 1. When attempting to adjust your trailer tandem on a heavy load line up the mud flaps (for tandems with mudflaps attached) with the last pallet on the trailer. This will get you legal so long as it is a uniform load meaning the same product is staged from front to back. For trailers with the mudflaps attached to the rear bumper, line up the rear trailer axle with the last pallet on the trailer (pallet should be directly above rear axle).

Tip 2. Purchase a spring draw bar tool from the truck stop. Many older trailers will have binding issues when attempting to pull the draw bar on a trailer slide. With this tool in place a single driver can clamp the tool to the side of the trailer, then hook the chain around the draw bar, and pull the handle at the end of the chain which is attached to a coil spring all the way out then look the chain into the "draw position." once the tool is set then you will get back into the truck, release the tractor brake and rock the truck forward and then backward taking the pressure off of the locking pins. Set the tractor brake, exit the truck and remove your slider tool. The spring loaded tool should have pulled the tandem slider draw bar out far enough for you to lock the tandem draw bar into the open or slide position. From that point you may then slide the tandem forward or backward as needed to get your axle weights legal. Each hole you slide will be about 250 lbs.

Tip 3. When a shipper asks a new driver "how do you want the trailer loaded?" reply "load it like a 48'" For heavy loads this is the correct response. Reason being is once you go past the 48 foot mark in the trailer with a heavy load you will have too much weight on the rear of the trailer and will be "overlength" in regard to your bridge length law if you attempt to comply with the axle weight limits (12000, 34000, 34000). Bridge laws vary from state to state but as long as you are no more than 41' from the kingpin to the centerline of the rearmost axle you should be ok.

Tip 4. For drivers that get stuck on ice in a truckstop with a manual transmission. If this happens to you dont panic and dont attempt to "burn your way thru the ice" simply lock in your inter axle differential, put the truck in 5th or 6th gear, then slowly bring the clutch up to the friction point. You will gently float the clutch at this friction point until the truck moves. This will work and has saved me from having to get a tow many times.

Tip 5. For snow covered parking lots and or truckstops. After backing into your parking slot roll backward and forward several times to pack the snow down and to cool your tires off. If you park on fresh snow with hot tires they will melt a hollow into the snowpack and actually freeze in place.

Tip 6. Carry a 5000 lb rated chain approximately 60 feet in length. This chain can be used for pulling heavy pallets to the rear of a trailer for customers without a dock or pallet jack (requires a tow motor/forklift at the customer). Can also be used for jump starting trucks in the event a drivers batteries have died. Can also be used for towing other trucks to a fuel bay and pulling others out of jams such as an icy parking lot or a motorist out of a ditch. Must have s hooks on both ends of the chain to use it though.

Tip 7. Buy a 50 foot air hose with tire chuck and glad hand adapter. Also purchase a heavy duty truck tire guage. In the event you discover a tire that is low on air you can use these tools to inflate the tire to 100 lbs of pressure again and continue to a tire repair shop rather than blow the tire and leave chunks all over the road and then have to sit on the side of the road waiting for a service truck to come to you.

Tip 8. Carry duct tape, bungee cords, flashlight, extra fuses and bulbs, a basic tool kit with screw drivers, pliers, vice grips, basic wrenches, etc. The duct tape can be used for patching holes in a trailer and wrapping airlines that may have chafed and are leaking. Bungee cords will be used for securing trailer airlines in the event the spring holding them off the ground breaks (has happened to me several times). Flashlight for inspecting trailers in the dark. Extra fuses and bulbs for blown marker lights, headlights, etc. The more prepared you are on the road the greater the likelihood you will not be pulled over by police or put out of service by dot. Time is money and if you can "fix" a problem even temporarily you will be ahead of the game.

Tip 9. For winter time. Carry a shovel and either rock salt or a couple of bags of kitty litter. You may find yourself snowed in after you have your 10 hr break. At least you can dig yourself out and use the litter for added traction on icy patches to get going again.

Tip 10. Buy work gloves and a rubber coated pair of gloves for fueling. The rubber coating will prevent diesle fuel from soaking into the fabric and making your hands smell.

 

That list is so complete that I can't think of anything worthwhile to add.
I would like to ask though, what in the world is a "noobie" and why do you call it that?
rx

 

I'm sorry to seem disagreeable, but isn't a newbie someone who is a new user of internet chatrooms? Shouldn't a novice driver be more correctly referred to as a rookie? I've been driving quite a few years and this forum is the only place I've ever seen or heard the term used in reference to drivers.
rx

 

Newbie/Rookie its all semantics. As long as we understand what the terms refer to, I dont think it makes much difference. Like American English vs British English, we understand each other, although the terminology isnt quite the same.

 

About the only things I can add to the above post is that I always carried a gas jug with 5 gallons of water in it in my truck. I have seen water levels get low and the truck power down or shut off, and no water to be found for miles.

Also, if driving in freezing slush, or any type of water that will get your brakes wet on a night when freezing temperatures are expected to occur after you shutdown, I will always apply my tractor brakes only.

I have seen many drivers dragging trailer tires down the road trying to break the shoes loose. If the tractor brakes are the only ones applied they will freeze also, but you can lock in the differential and gently rock them loose, especially if you have a hammer with you to smack the drums with.

 

Well heck, they're green, inexperienced, and don't even know what they're supposed to be called, and it's our job to show 'em the ropes, including the proper terminology.
rx