Comments By Rob S.

I can add my two cents about the milk hauling. What I do is almost entirely farm pick up of raw milk.

Our trucks are purpose built for this. We have a power-take-off pump and a 30' hose for loading. The trailers are doubles and are built to comply with the bridge laws and carry the maximum legal weight, 105,500 lbs. There is no adjusting of fifth wheels or axles, just fill the front trailer and put 28,500 or so in the rear trailer. There are charts and gauges at every farm to show us how much weight we are picking up. It is possible to overload the rear trailer. The milk can't simply be put back in the farm tank either. It has to be pumped into another trailer. This would take hours to arrange and might have the driver looking for a job at the end of it. I did some math wrong and put an extra 8000 lbs on once. I dodged the scales, made the delivery and apologized/explained myself to my boss before he heard about it from anyone else.

At the farm, the driver is responsible for several things that are minor but closely monitored by the state agricultural inspectors; nothing that can't be learned in a week of training. We have to pick up at the farm within a narrow time frame. The milk tanks have to be washed (usually daily) and that means they need to be emptied. Since they can't turn off the cow, we have to empty the storage tank to make room. Because we have double trailers, we can do a u-turn in a very small space, less than our overall length (about 80'). The farmers know this and expect us to pretty much do it the same way every time. It was a strange feeling the first time I looked out the passenger window at my own tail lights. However, that's the only way it can be done; as long as I'm not making any new ruts in the mud I'm fine.

At the creameries it's a similar situation. Each is unique as to their own procedures but those procedures rarely change. So what I did last year at Creamery X is the same thing I'll do next week and next year at Creamery X. Just as at the farm, there is a narrow time frame for delivery. Most plants will have us unloaded within an hour. If we are washing the tanks that's another hour.

With two trailers, the surge isn't as bad as a long single trailer. When loaded to 105,000 lbs the front trailer is full (no surge) and the rear trailer is about 2/3 full. So while it is sloshing around, the full front trailer dampens the effect quite a bit.

Something I haven't seen mentioned is transmissions. We have mostly 10 speeds. I think that because of the surge we could never have automatics as they would be constantly shifting back and forth. I'm not sure about this though. Does anyone with a smooth bore tank have an automatic? I know that baffled fuel tankers can use automatics.

Why was the trailer frame cut? That part above the tire isn't optional. That entire piece and all the rivets are important. It needs to be intact, not carved up with a smoke wrench. Although they did do a nice job of it.

I am pretty sure it's the good buddy part that is offensive. I would explain, but this is a family show.

If you know any Ex-Marines, ask them for the definition of a buddy. :)

The term Ex-Marine is what I find offensive. Lee Harvey Oswald is the only Ex-Marine. The rest of us are Marines. Although some of us are older, slower and fatter.

When there's a chance of freezing brakes at night, stop using the engine brake several miles before your shutdown spot. This means you'll use your service brakes more and heat them up. It's kinda like driving in the truck stop but when I see a space I can get into at the truck stop I'm grabbing it right now instead of driving around further. Also, backing up will sometimes loosen the brakes, we used this trick a lot when hostling at the DC.

Another tip, if the receiver is around, ask them how other drivers backed in. These folks work there and get to see every driver's technique.

I agree about hating thieves. As for the brush, a few bucks at a Walmart for a household brush, then some zipties to hold it on. It's not thief-proof but it doesn't cost mush either. Also, if it looks like it's only worth two dollars nobody would steal it.

That seat adjustment is called the pendulum. I'm not a fan of them unless I am using cruise control on a long stretch of dry pavement. Don't be afraid to ask the instructor how to correct it. One of the first things we were taught was how to adjust the seats. Having a properly adjusted seat may seem trivial but when you get to the CDL exam with the state tester you're going to need everything as right as you can get it. You're going to be nervous enough. With a swinging seat you're trying to work the throttle to match rpm's and double clutch too. My back hurts just thinking about it.

About the diary; keep one even if it's just for you. I used an app on my phone. It's pretty cool to read through it and think, "Wow, I really did that!"

Oooh I HATE you!!

Just kidding of course. I'm jealous. I talked with a guy doing that and it sounded like a blast. I only had a few months experience so I wasn't qualified anyway. Nowadays I'm home and my family likes that.

One of the things I dislike about my current gig is that we slipseat daily. I haven't seen an odometer reading with fewer digits than a phone number in two years.

If I send you a Mason jar will you fill it with New Truck Air for me?

One of these days I'll find some straps to throw over my tanker/take a picture and finally post in this thread.😁

Yes Sir, four wing nuts on the dome lid, 10 seals on all the openings and that load is secured. Tarps? Straps? Chains? I'll have to google these terms...

I did a few Walmart loads for Swift in Colorado. I used a Swift trailer with swinging doors. I'm not contradicting Gtown, just suggesting that your load might have some variables. The vast majority of Walmart folks I dealt with as a driver were very helpful too. Enjoy your day.