Tips, Tricks, And Techniques For Rookie Drivers
Topic 16099 | Page 12
This. Any marker easily visible to measure out the distance from the side of your cab. Works like a charm.
The easiest way to move the tandems to a specific hole is to use a marker on the ground, either in front of or behind the edge of the step on the driver’s side of the cab. I use extra load seals, the fluorescent orange ones Walmart seals outbound store loads with.
If you need to slide the tandems (for instance) 1 foot, or two holes (standard spacing), to move about 800 pounds off the drive axles and onto the tandems, place your marker on the ground 1 foot behind the edge of the step. Move in reverse until the edge if the step is aligned with the mark. Stop, reset the pin and then pull up so the tandems are relocked.
I typically move tandems 3-4 times in a given shift, depending on the work assignment. Dealing with nuts, bolts, bar and other things is time consuming. What I described is the quickest, easiest way to improve accuracy when adjusting the tandems.
Marc this is something your trainer will cover with you and should have you practice and execute in real-time situations.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Always keep a good back scratcher within arms reach.
Lol. That is one of the items on my packing list
Marc replies:
Yeah... in approx. 400 hrs. (OK... 380ish...) I think we spent about 7 min. on sliding tandems!
That is 7 minutes more than most drivers have coming out of school.
LOL.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Marc replies:
Yeah... in approx. 400 hrs. (OK... 380ish...) I think we spent about 7 min. on sliding tandems!
That is 7 minutes more than most drivers have coming out of school.
LOL.
LOL Indeed!
(NOTE TO ALL: HE said it... not me!)
Guess that's something.
Can't wait to REALLY start my education!
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Marc replies:
That is 7 minutes more than most drivers have coming out of school.
LOL.
We spent a few minutes in class. One instructor said they would have us hook and unhook, hopefully we can slide tandems. Though unless they regularly do it, those trailers are so old they might never move.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I didnt see this one so here it is carry multiple different size blocks of wood with you so if a loaded trailer is to low to get under you can save your back Drop your bags back your frame under the trailer set the biggest blocks you can fit on your frame rails raise your bags and jack your trailer you can repeat this till you can get under the trailer Obviously pay attention and use common sense but if youve ever jacked up a 45,000#er than you know its a nightmare specially if its old with crappy cranking gear
That's a really good idea Jeremy. I have a Petebilt in which the fifth wheel sits higher than the average truck so I come across this issue often. But normally i am able to track down the spotter. But in the event this is a great idea.
Sidewalk Chalk and Dry Erase Markers...steal some from your kids.
Chalk- Great for marking holes on your tandem rails and the ground so you can gauge how far to roll. Nice thing about this is the marks are easily removed to avoid confusion the next time you slide. I always mark my starting point with a > and my target with an X. Also good for marking tire problems temporarily (get a good tire marker or paint pen for a more permanent mark), leaving notes for dock workers, marking locations for freight on the inside of your trailer or customer names for split loads, and other things your imagination can dream up.
Dry Erase Marker- great for leaving a wipe off note on your window, or windshield. Sometimes I'll put exit numbers or route numbers on the upper left side of my windshield for quick reference, or reminders that I'm chocked, or something like that.
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Thinking Wet Erase even better than Dry.
Comes off with water or cleaning solution but less likely to accidentally come off or smudge.
WOW! This is such a great thread! Rainy do you think in color as well? LOL. And some say to stay away from Rainy's dungeon. What do they know that us noobs don't?
Here's one that I used to use when I did AG Hauling: Line the drives up with the landing gear when backing under the trailer.
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Thanks Rainy!
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".