Off To Shaffer I Go...
Topic 9715 | Page 3
Looking forward to hearing about your upgrade, what kind of truck you get, and some of your solo loads.
Are you going to Lincoln for orientation after training?
I don't know yet. Could be Lincoln, Wilmer TX, New Kingston PA or back to Lenoir City. Depends on what trucks they have where and what loads going in the direction of one of those terminals.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Well that's not too bad of an outcome. Everyone makes mistakes. The key in trucking is to make sure you never make any big ones. This was obviously a small one and hopefully it will help keep you sharp. Make sure you cover the small details that make all the difference in any procedure.
It definitely was a valuable lesson for me. Since then I've run across a number of other trailers that other drivers have left with the landing gear cranked down too much including one that someone cranked all the way down.
Well that's not too bad of an outcome. Everyone makes mistakes. The key in trucking is to make sure you never make any big ones. This was obviously a small one and hopefully it will help keep you sharp. Make sure you cover the small details that make all the difference in any procedure.
It definitely was a valuable lesson for me. Since then I've run across a number of other trailers that other drivers have left with the landing gear cranked down too much including one that someone cranked all the way down.
Hopefully they were empty trailers!
Hopefully they were empty trailers!
Most were empty but one was loaded and was cranked down far enough to still be 6+ inches too high. There were many things I was not taught at my CDL school but how to crank landing gear down and leave a space was one thing I was taught that apparently many others are not.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
There were many things I was not taught at my CDL school but how to crank landing gear down and leave a space was one thing I was taught that apparently many others are not.
I was also taught this at the community college I attended. I agree it should be something that everyone is taught.
Just a helpful tip for anyone watching...it is always best practice to G.O.A.L just as your trailer touches the 5th wheel on the tractor. You want to make sure that the trailer is at the proper height to connect to the fifth wheel. Doing this will prevent the 5th wheel from jumping the king pin.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Well there will be a slight delay in getting to my orientation due to being sent to Oregon by weekend dispatch and no freight going east out of here. Currently under load and going back to California around LA. Hopefully they should be able to send us east from there but still unsure as to where exactly. I would prefer Lincoln over Wilmer but will take what we can get that makes it happen. Very small chance that it could be New Kingstown or Lenoir City but still a chance. Will be glad to get wherever, get my truck and get dispatched for home time. Hard to schedule any appointments when you don't have a good idea when you have a spot...
There were many things I was not taught at my CDL school but how to crank landing gear down and leave a space was one thing I was taught that apparently many others are not.
I was also taught this at the community college I attended. I agree it should be something that everyone is taught.
Just a helpful tip for anyone watching...it is always best practice to G.O.A.L just as your trailer touches the 5th wheel on the tractor. You want to make sure that the trailer is at the proper height to connect to the fifth wheel. Doing this will prevent the 5th wheel from jumping the king pin.
Yeah you can bet I G.O.A.L. every time now.....lol
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I would prefer Lincoln over Wilmer but will take what we can get that makes it happen.
Lincoln was a great experience when I went to orientation in 2013. They put you in the Holiday Inn in downtown Lincoln. A great breakfast & lunch is served at the corporate cafteria. Dinner was a gift card to the fancy restaurant in the hotel. Got to shake hands with Tonn Ostergard, CEO. After orientation I took a rental car trip to Columbus, OH to pick up my truck. I dropped two other drivers off at Kansas City along the way to pick up their trucks as well.
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Well that's not too bad of an outcome. Everyone makes mistakes. The key in trucking is to make sure you never make any big ones. This was obviously a small one and hopefully it will help keep you sharp. Make sure you cover the small details that make all the difference in any procedure.