Just Get Out And Help
Topic 7002 | Page 1
This is a great topic and a great credo to live by....
Methinks that more often that not... Many drivers who could use a hand are more than happy to receive help when offered, but are either afraid to ask for it or are too proud to ask.
Many drivers want to help their fellows but are afraid to offer for various reasons like peer pressure and criticism from others. Some are just too busy to bother, some are too lazy....
I like to think that most are good people and just want to help and be helped and get the job done quick & safe.
On that same note, this leads me to remember back to my early days as a newbie. I was always scared off from asking for help and was taught to view somebody who offered to help with suspicion.... maybe I had paranoid trainers, but they always told me that there are drivers out there who will offer to help and then sabotage you by not telling you your about to hit something. You get the preventable on your record, they feel a bit more job security because they are working on eliminating their future competition. I know that's a pretty screwed up situation, have to wonder if there's really much truth to it. I hope not.
Years ago, when I was in trucking school - I used to sit at one of the toughest shippers in town to bump a dock at, to watch the drivers back. I learned a lot - and frequently jumped out to spot for them. Nightmarish place to do a 90* dock - no room to spin the tractor around.
I DID learn how to "power slide" there though. Driver unlocked his tandems used the trolly brake to set them all the way to the rear (no overhang) and once he got it started into the spot, used the brake again to slide forward (pushing the box into the hole).
I found this method SO AMAZING, and told him so - and he was kind enough to DO IT AGAIN - in slo-mo, explaining the technique as he went.
Karma can be a female-dog - but GOOD KARMA always pays off in the end.
Rick
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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".
I had folks get out and spot for me when I started and really appreciated it. I have done the same for a few newbs too. I guess after a while we get stuck in our little box and really do not pay attention to other drivers who may be having issues. I think most truckers are willing to help, just, sometimes we need to have our box taken away.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer! 
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer!
Yep
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer!
That is awesome to hear (read) and I find it encouraging to know that help is readily available when needed. I fully agree that it's best to ask, was just stating some of the reasons why I think a lot of guys wont ask and why some are hesitant to offer help.
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer!
When you pull the arm out - use a pair of VICE-GRIPS. Lock them over the arm, right up against the bracket - and it will hold the arm out, while you do your slide.
tandem
Rick
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer!
When you pull the arm out - use a pair of VICE-GRIPS. Lock them over the arm, right up against the bracket - and it will hold the arm out, while you do your slide.
Rick
Thanks for the photo Rick! Someone mentioned it to me but I wasn't really sure where to put the darn things! Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words!
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I guess I don't have any pride at all, because if I need help I ask for it! My biggest issue had been sliding my tandems , because some of our trailers are old and I just can't get the arms to stay in place. I have never had anyone say they wouldn't help me when I've asked, and even had one older gentleman offer to help me the first time I pulled a reefer (I am a dry van driver normally). I would rather swallow my pride than hit something or take an hour to drop and hook a trailer!
When you pull the arm out - use a pair of VICE-GRIPS. Lock them over the arm, right up against the bracket - and it will hold the arm out, while you do your slide.
Rick
i have vice grips just for this as LOTS of SWIFT trailers need this method to slide the tandems. Hell when it got below 20 here the past few weeks my 5th wheel relese would not lock open and i had to use the vice grips to unhook from a trailer.
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".
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
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This is how truck driving should be.
I was sitting in my cab writing a message to dispatch, when the truck next to me started to back out of the spot. This is rarely a good thing, but he had set himself up for failure by how he had pulled in originally. So he was worried about hitting a truck across the way that he couldn't see since he was having to angle his way out.
I feel pity, and you never want to see a driver hit someone else's truck...that's like the Golden Rule, "Thou shalt not strike another drivers rig".
So I get out and ask if he'd like a spotter, he gladly accepted. Lo and behold, after I set the example other drivers get out to lend a hand. It isn't hard to be a nice guy out here, some people just need to be reminded.