Comments By Jon R.

Indy, I'd venture to say that the answer to your question can be thought of like this. The service line supplies air which is controlled by the foot valve (brake pedal). The emergency line supplies the air needed to maintain a continual air pressure. This air pressure is what holds back the springs that engage those trailer brakes when there is no air pressure. So, both lines supply air for the air brake system, but they each have their own function.

lets also remember that this system also features a DUAL system ( and there P/S or primary /secondary ) so if the primary fails the secondary automatically takes over .. w/ out any action from the driver ...

the service system cannot be checked on the rear trailer unless the trailer ( johnson bar OR trailer air supply is applied and "service valve opened " ) I used to use a bungie cord ) ..some drivers just figured the if the emergency side worked then service side did as well ,,,or applied the trailer test valve ...and tested that way ,unless you had a team driver ( we drove team @ fred Meyers Portland Or. in 1991) tripples from Clackmas(portland ) Or. . to SLC Ut. & back to Clackmas Or )..

I never counted on fail safe ...I wanted to know ..so if DOT was doing inspection in the Gorge scales on I- 84 I wouldnt get busted w/ inoperative service brakes ..

When I ran line haul I made as much OR equavelent to an OTR driver ...when I started to diversify in 1990 ..

there should be no arguements here .. IT should be a matter of the preference of what a person want's to do in this industry . I'm not understanding why it's proceeding to earnings potentials ?

My counsin which was at one time a O/O then a co. driver ..then a co instructor ....now back to OTR driver ...and just cleared$ 51,000 in 2014 ..he just started driving in 1997 ..w/ willis shaw .. (now w/ works for CDN logistics ..

a line driver I know as well just cleared , approx .48,000$ + benefits ...at UPS / YELLOW / USF reddaway "union they make more .." worker w/ them at fred meyers in 1991-93 ..until we were all laid off ...some went back OTR /some stayed line haul ..

so ,, folks were all in this boat together ,, and are here to back each other , and share info.

I've been trying to follow some replies here ..w/ out making folks mad !!

But have done LTL , OTR / line haul . & instructing in past 34 yrs ,, Now just casual In the Northwest area pulling 53's ..

there is something to be said for All facetts for the new guys starting in the industry , with families "young kids" & wanting more home time than you get OTR , when I started in 1980 I was single after 1st divorce and 3 yr hitch in navy and loved the OTR experience before the CDL's ,,,in 87 I got married for 2nd time , so I got a chance to start diversifying ,, some hard core OTR guys wouldn't have it any other way ...Line haul drivers ( fed Ex / yellow / UPS ) same attitude for their choosen field .. many OTR co. wont hire a line haul OR LTL driver ..and VIse/ Versa ...cause of driving habits ... ( this after seeing companies hiring habits @ sage tech svcs, in caldwell Id. ) 2006-2011..did alot of councling w/ students ...

then some older drivers 40+ would work out well in a Line Haul position "coming from OTR " ...drop & hook and are in motel or back home every day ...rarely Breaking sets & OR hooking sets ...but in winter you WILL CHAIN " ALOT " ..I DID ! ""UNLESS ROADS ARE CLOSED ,,THE FREIGHT MUST GO THROUGH ! ""

now I just work 3-4 days a month ,,,health problems ! ......& relieve drivers wanting days off or out of hrs ..from Boise Id. to Seattle Wa. or Portland Or or ?? & back ....slip seat ..

BTW ...."Brett "...this is a GREAT Forum for newbies ..& experienced drivers ....good site !!!!!

I heard at school from my instructor that Millis is transitioning into automatics. I actually didn't get my chosen trainer because they just gave her a new 2015 Kenworth automatic. I personally want to drive manual for a few years but must say I wouldn't mind an automatic after that. We haul mostly beer and from what I hear it doesn't change the ability to haul it like a manual transmission.

there are some trucks that have " trannies " that have "paddle " shifts" ,,,in an essence you pull up the paddle to up shift / and push down to to down shift ,,and they have a clutch ,,and incorporate the clutch when shifting as well ...( trassystems ) sugar beet haulers 'Idaho " and mining " in nevada green trucks " have these trannies ....

in the ultra shifts you can hold the gear in the MANUAL pattern and use toggle button ..to traverse up OR down hills .. & there is a anti roll feature so it wont allow it to roll back when starting on an incline ....

then as I said " many experienced drivers " say you have to get used to the tranny cause it takes a long time to get up to highway speeds ,, over shifting a manual ...or when progressive shifting ..style is used for us old timers ...and the computer uses the 1000 to 1500 power band and shift up @ 1500 ..unless you hold in manual mode ...and wont down shift until 900 rpm sometimes ...

we used to suggest students stay on a manual 9-13 speed for 1 yr. out of school ,,so they wouldn't for get how to shift one ... but to each their own ...and had many come back to Sage to re learn how to shift ,,a year later ...

Hey guys ...

for what it's worth ,,,about any ""restrictions"" On CDL licenses OR about ""automatic transmissions and Manual trans."" ( i asked a few instructors Idaho "these guys are qualified for ORE & Wash. as am I " / skills testers He does Idaho Only .. ) there no restrictions , as of " present "NOT to say the states wont in 2015 ,,, just like some states vary requirements for testing for CDL pretrip /range ( backing skills ) and road test paramaters ) distances ...Oregon Vs Idaho Vs texas ..texas doesn't do a pre trip ...Idaho does .....and they all vary nation wide ...if I went to colorado "though I'm certified to instruct ,, "i'd have to study states parameters / pre trip req's / backing req's etc ...

and the way people learn how to shift gears is going to be different ,,, we were req'd to teach double clutch method w/ Sage . ..to break torque off input shaft and being easier of tranny ....then some co.'s wanted the person to float the gears "mandatory " I can doe either ...

but I double clutch when pulling a hill & down shifting "so I dont miss a gear ' ..."and seldom use a jake in snow & ice going down hill "...seen it lock the drives & slide ...but will go down in same gear went up in ...

Hey Brett ..

I will definately check into this clause about restriction of the automatic ..I have friends who still train folks presently ,, and am aware that it varies state wide (i'm in idaho ) "but I'm going to verify "... there has been auto's for years ,10 that I know of ..just now as prevelant as they are now ,,

when did this ruling apply ..do you know ?

I know personally the independent tester for the state of idaho ( Jim Smith ) Caldwell Id. area ) ..

One other aspect here for new drivers ,and newbie drivers ,,from a instructors perspective ...

new drivers , when taking the road test have far less to be concerned about with automatic transmissions ( points wise ) normally there is a 29-30 point limit ) fail state of idaho " for manual " trans if you grind too many gear's or lock out out or cannot find a gear while driving in your test the tester can fail you " ,,,and have you repeat ( then you have to repeat the ENTIRE PROCESS ...FROM PRE -TRIP RANGE / TO ROAD TEST ... if you have an auto there is less to worry about ,,and less points allowed to miss as well 25 ..most states .. instead of 30 to fail ....

I instructed @ Sage caldwell Id. for 5 yrs . 2006-2011 ..

many student learned in a manual trans. ( they required double clutching ) then went to drive ultra shifts for 6- mos to 1 yr ...and quit co. then had to come back to sage to RE learn how to shift again cause NEW co. required they floated gears /or RE -LEARN HOW TO DOUBLE CLUTCH cause they failed their road test w/ new co. ...catch "22" ....did ALOT OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING LIKE THAT .... but now many co. will never go to autos ,,,and swear by manuals ,,and Visa / Versa ...and if you go local / line haul / etc ...you have to diversify !

I like the addage I can drive anything I'm put in !!!!

Let me clarify a few things here folks ,,IE ...w/ ULTRA SHIFTS ...JAKE BRAKES ... it was advised to me to run the jake brake in a down hill operation so when you enter the down hill and the COMPUTER will automatically register this fact and engage the jake ....then when you pull the next hill and the COMPUTER registers the need for power it AUTOMATICALLY gives disengages the jake and puts the cruse in again ,,,in a manual trans you DONT use the jake when down shifting ,,,after 34 yrs driving I'm NOT STUPID ...! some guys do this to bring the engine RPMS down faster ..but I DONT ...!

( I went to a orientation w/ volvo ...Freightliner cascadia / ultrashift given @ co. I'm leased to "as a casual driver ") and what the rep told us ...this co. has many autos on the fleet ......the co. I drive for is leased to this bigger co. in idaho ,, hope this clarifies things for ya all ......

after a few comments on this feed bacK some seem to have gotten my comments out of CONTEXT ...so I decided to interject ......

I also said it would gain MPG gain ,,,and some times up to 8.0 MPG ...YES ....NO ARGUEMENT THERE .....!

I'm just a casual driver and only run 3-4 days a month due to a disability ,,,and can adapt to what ever is needed from me ..I like the autos BTW !!after a major rt shoulder surgery back in 2009 I like the no shift deal !!!.....

I read that the industry is moving in that direction. Yet another skill that's going to be replaced by something else because it's "easier." What do you guys think? Will manual transmissions gradually disappear?

I have mixed emotions ....I have been in the industry for 34 yrs ..driven every trans made ,,including 2 stick Browning 4X4 & 5X4 ( 16&20 ) speed ..

then was placed in a road ranger ultra shift w/ a west coast co. Boise id.to Seattle Wa.( pulled hills ok .in man mode but pushed to 1800 rpm for power or it will shift down @ 15000 for economy ) ,,and had the dammed thing lock out while backing to the dock in Seattle Wa....had to wait 20 min. for it to UNlock .. electronically "..."was I embarrassed "

on flat land (mid west ) they'd be ok ....in west coast / massive hills ...not so good !

I can see the good & bad ...I was informed when they fail they fail BIG TIME ..AND THEY HAVE TO BE TOWED IN ..AND COST 3X THE $$ OF A MANUAL TRANS .. but are supposed to save fuel $$ ( up to 8.0 PG) and gain up to 3 cents per Mi. and unless you hold in manual mode for shifting they shift at 1500 and use a power band of 1000 to 1500 and take 50 miles to get to 60 MPH .. but if you set cruse & jake ...they will do both jobs ..and all you have to do is steer ...unless you want to hold manual gear pattern down hill & brake ...

then I'm VERY old school ..and PREFER SHIFTING a 13 or 18 speed w/ DD15 ( I loved the CAT's 3406's w/ the 18 speed ) but cats are gone ..... but will adapt if necessary !

Hello everybody! I know this is mainly an OTR forum, and since I don't think LTL trucking gets enough attention, especially as a potential option for new drivers, I will be posting my experience as a linehaul driver for a major LTL trucking company. To my knowledge, I've seen two other members recently commenting about their LTL jobs. Originally I was planning on going OTR, then an LTL company offered me a linehaul position - very rare for a student driver. Up until yesterday, I was planning on still going OTR. After a recent, very in depth conversation with my wife, we both decided that the linehaul job was too good an offer to pass up on, and that it would be best for our family.

I already took my road test, drug test, and had my interview with the linehaul manager. So, this Monday the 28th, I'll officially be hired and start training. Please, if anybody has any questions or comments along the way, be sure to jump in!

To start, training is 4 weeks long. I'll earn $20.65 an hour, and was told to expect 11-12 hours a day, M-F. I'll go home each day and have Sat & Sun off. Last 3 weeks of training will be all driving. I'll start at .55 cpm after I go solo, should be around the first week of September. It's a Wed-Sun linehaul position, out 5 days, home for two.

More to come...

Hi ...I did OTR initially from 1980 class 1 calif. license ( refer / tank / dry / before CDL OR endorsements were reqd. ) ...so in 1990 so I could be home got daily ,,and got married (2nd time ) as well I diversified to doubles /tripples w/ yellow in boise Id ,,to portland or ...extra board ) then fredmeyers team ( tripples out of nampa id ) to port or to SLC , Ut. for 2 yrs ,,and other co.'s for 8 more yrs ...) got tired of that ( got divorced went back OTR ) then did some flat bed for 10 yrs ... now went back to refer ( temp controlled ) and made $18.65 + bennies .. drop & hook ....since then I've become crane certified ( worked for a power co ) / federally cert. CDL instructor ...you can never learn too or become to qualified to do too much .....NEVER LIMIT YOUR SELF >>>>!!!

it's great to diversify & looks XLNT ON YOUR RESUME ! ....