A Rookie Truck Driver's First Week

They do have a scale on site so that helps.

Unless you know they get it calibrated regularly, don't trust those scales. If you're hauling 30,000 pounds or more it's always best to scale it at the truck stop to be sure, especially when you're new out there. As you get some experience you'll learn how to make sure they load the cargo the right way or you'll be able to look at a load and know if it's balanced well or not. In the beginning, always play it safe.

And remember, if you get an overweight ticket that may be just the beginning. Because they'll more than likely do an inspection on the truck while they have you there. It's going to potentially cost you a lot of time and money getting a ticket for being overweight so don't make assumptions or hope for luck. Stop at the truck stop and scale it.

Well we finally got on the road late last night after the shipper had to weld my mud flap back on.

There was a Love's right next door so I scaled the load after sliding my tandems. I was dead on! All my axles were perfect.

We drove on little Kansas back roads for what seemed like forever! My gps got me all turned around in a residential area which was scary. Luckily it was the middle of the night so I was able to get turned around at a 4 way stop.

We made it through Topeka, but barely. We stopped at a service plaza on the toll road just outside of Topeka. I've gotta say that this place is awesome! Lots to eat and super clean. If they had showers it would be perfect!

We are relaying this load in Burbank OH with another driver and taking his load that is going to Arkansas so we can be home on time.

We drove on little Kansas back roads for what seemed like forever! My gps got me all turned around in a residential area which was scary. Luckily it was the middle of the night so I was able to get turned around at a 4 way stop.

I am glad I'm not the only one the GPS did this too lol. I was looking for a truck stop to take a nap at one night and the way the exit signs made it look was that I needed to take a right so I followed the signs and ended up turning around in a school parking lot. I needed to go straight at the first stop sign and then take the next right to get to the truck stop.

We finally made it to our pickup, no thanks to the gps. It kept trying to take us down dirt roads!

Is this your own personal GPS or a Company provided one on your Qualcomm (or equivalent). If it is yours, is it a Trucker Specific or a Garmin or Tom Tom type used for everyday navigation?

They do have a scale on site so that helps.

And remember, if you get an overweight ticket that may be just the beginning. Because they'll more than likely do an inspection on the truck while they have you there. It's going to potentially cost you a lot of time and money getting a ticket for being overweight so don't make assumptions or hope for luck. Stop at the truck stop and scale it.

Exactly what happened to me. WAY overweight on my rears and they pulled me in for a level 2 which I failed due to the overweight axels.....

We finally made it to our pickup, no thanks to the gps. It kept trying to take us down dirt roads!

Is this your own personal GPS or a Company provided one on your Qualcomm (or equivalent). If it is yours, is it a Trucker Specific or a Garmin or Tom Tom type used for everyday navigation?

It's the company gps. I haven't saved up enough to buy my own yet. I could see the shipper I just wasn't sure how to get into it. I was going to stop at a love's to ask but when I made the turn off the highway my gps figured out where it was and took me the right way in.

Right now we are taking a 30 in Illinois. I'm going to try to make into Indiana tonight so I won't have too far to drive to get to the relay spot. I might take any extra time to have and use it to practice backing at the truck stop!

I'm actually pretty proud of my backing yesterday. I had to back into the shop at the shipper so they could fix my mud flap. The yard was crazy busy and the door was so tight I only had about a foot of space on each side. But I got it with very little problems and only one freak out!

Chickie, Wow you sure have had your share of mechanical issues. OUCH! It sounds like you are taking it in stride. I think several more trips to the shop and Theodore will have all new parts! Keep up the good work!

TM

It looks like Teddy will be making another short trip to the shop. Apparently these Kenworths have problems with the float in the fuel tank causing the gauge to bob from empty to the actual level. It scared the crap out of me when I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden I went from half full to empty!

We stopped at a Love's and I called road assist who told me what was going on. I had already checked to make sure I wasn't leaking and both the caps were on. So after home time Teddy will be going back to Kenworth.

Sigh... What am I gonna do with this boy?!?

I've never driven a Kenworth, but in my freight liner that issue was caused by the wiring in the dash.

Pop off the panel behind the steering wheel and resecure the connection, and no more crazy fuel gauge.

I had a '68 Baja Bug that used to do that. It was all decked out for off road racing and one of the previous owner(s) had put a 22 gallon fuel cell where the back seat used to be. I bought it from a kid down the street from my house and my two boys and I completely rebuilt the engine, transmission and all the running gear. New alternator / electrical system, brakes, bearings, bushings, suspension, you name it. The fuel gauge usually worked but some times it only worked after it fell just below a half tank. I just used it like a reserve. I figured I could drive wherever I wanted and as soon as the gauge started working I would head back to camp and re-fuel. LOL!

When gas prices first went over $2.50 a gallon or so I started driving it to work and around town, instead of my Chevy crew cab dually. It was actually one of the most dependable cars I have ever owned.

JJ