Repent ! The 72 HR Blitz Is Here .

The driver trainer and myself was in Denver CO on Monday picking up rebar coils at Rocky Mountain Steel . Prior to leaving the truck stop that morning we were in total agreement that two of the trailer tires needed to go .

With the blitz coming he decided to swap trailers instead of stopping to get the tired fixed. It's his truck...I'm just the new guy....but he swapped out a trailer with bad tires for a trailer that throws the abs light . We are no better off . But his over two decades of experience comes with a plan to disconnect the abs light on the trailer , which does nothing for the dash light.

I know his hrs...give or take because we have rolled together for 9 days at this point and qualms is a fickle mistress who never let's you forget .

We stopped at dusk on i25 south and I knew it was coming ...my turn to roll...A mere 4 hrs from potential DOT hell . We punch me in ...pretrip and I put er in gear and release the tractor brake and start to roll away when I notice the valve won't stop breathing . Here we go....9 days on the road and I'm in this situation . I back up and pull tractor protection valve...let it run for 30 seconds and try again . It doesn't stop breathing . (Sigh)

He says.." if it ain't bleeding below 100 psi it's fine...roll " (headscratch)

I try and roll...hoping what he calls a minor non dot air leak will stop . I managed to make it to the top of Raton Pass on I 25 south...get thru the scale and park it .

I said there is no way this thing is legal...I'm not doing it. The truck never got above 105 psi and never reach cut out pressure . I've got a 6% grade down ..an air leak...an need an abs light.

On DOT eve . We try the tractor brake a few more times..it's no use..we are hosed..He is mad... company breakdown staff are mad..telling me I am bat crap crazy for shutting down at a scale house . 7am the next morning comes around and he 11/14 is fresh and he delivers to albaqurque nm himself.

I don't know what else I could/should have done sans call safety and have then Out of Service the tractor.

I would appreciate any opinions here folks... I've had a great 10 days otr with this mentor except for that one bad nighf.

That's the problem with some people. Luckily, you didn't get put Out Of Service, or worse, hurt or killed.

Dave

.telling me I am bat crap crazy for shutting down at a scale house

You are!

Shutting down was definitely the right thing to do. That trainer should have never let the truck move with an air leak that bad. Air leaks usually take very little time to fix and it's entirely too dangerous to drive that way. And to make it worse you had a big mountain grade coming up. Ridiculous. I know there are a lot of gray areas out there and we don't always do things the way they should be done. But in this case, that truck shouldn't have moved until it was fixed.

You did the right thing for sure by shutting down, but it would have been better to pick pretty much anyplace else - truck stop, rest area, Walmart - just not a scale. Remember, even when you disagree with your trainer or breakdown or dispatch or whoever - you're still all part of the same company and you sink or swim together. You want to get the equipment fixed but you don't want to get yourself, your trainer, or your company in any kind of trouble if you can help it. Remember, if they would have done an inspection - you were the one driving it. You would have had that going against your CSA score. Not to mention - if your company and/or your trainer would have gotten in any kind of trouble, like an inspection at the scale you parked at, who's the low man on the totem pole that put them there?

That's right. Even though you were right about not driving the truck, you never want to step on toes if you can help it, especially when you're the low man on the totem pole.

I wrote an article about this type of situation - and a lot of drivers get put in these positions. So you have to make smart, safe decisions but Beware Of Rocking The Boat.

As one who as been over Raton pass numerous times in a four wheeler, there is no way in hell I would go down that with an air leak. You could wind up in downtown if it all goes sideways..... :-(

The triple valve will not lock up the trailer axles get to between 60 and 75 pounds . So they have to lose 50 pounds, that's only a couple of hard pushes on the brake pedal.

Use a lower gear and you engine brake and stay off the brakes as much as possible. It is not uncommon to have a leak on old trailers, if it's not governing between 100 and 120-140 make sure it does not drop under 90 on either gauges. A leak will get worse so wait to make the delivery before calling in unless it is a drop. If it is drop it would be good to service it rather than leave it to the next driver. I get them all the time. You will wake up and all the air will have escaped. The truck I am in if I am on incline , 9 and engine brake is 55 at 1500 rpm , 8 and engine brake is 45 at 1500 and can allow it to climb to 1800 or 1900 as long as the engine brake is on. Lighter pedal is always best. Watch out for the super truckers who fly by, they soon will be dripping fire from their brakes. Try not to brake is my goal wether the cruise is on or slowing. Watch way ahead and use engine brake in town as it starts to thicken. Keep a distance.