Profile For Phoenix

Thank you for sharing! Even though I check and double check, I'm always nervous pulling away after hooking to a trailer. I really, really like that I don't have to switch trailers anymore. This one stays with me.

If you've ever looked at a king pin close, you've probably noticed that there's an indentation where the bar, or jaws lock across. Always make certain the king pin is seated so that bar, or jaws actually fit into that indent, because otherwise it's not hooked correctly, ... even though it may look like it is,. .and one good pothole can pop it out, and the trailer separates from the tractor while you're rolling down the highway.

My guess is that because of how that trailer was situated, you didn't get a snug fit, even though it seemed to be locked in. I agree with asking a hostler to pull a trailer out when it's sitting so poorly. But then, I'm not big on risks lol.

So glad it wasn't worse. Great hook procedure!

Awesome job, Bucket Head!!

I've yet to rip a seat cover, or even crease one, lol, but yes, most definitely!! For those really low ones, I'll slow down just in case. I've even put my flashers on, stopped, and gotten out and looked, just to be sure.

Unless I need some snow scraped off the top of the trailer. Kidding!!

I agree with Rainy on this. Also, the police cruiser was in Terry's lane at the beginning of the video, before swerving to the right and swerving again to get the truck to slow down. Not knowing the full circumstance, but it seems to me that officer was going side to side in his attempt to slow traffic down across all lanes.

I too would want to know what, why, how many, where, and where do I need to be to get out of their way. My flashers would be on, off throttle on brake, engine brake if necessary... and i (hopefully) would have seen those flashers loooong before getting that close to them.

I may have missed it, but again agreeing with Rainy, I don't remember seeing Terry even try to move to the left... actually, I believe he was surprised by the hit, which would mean he wasn't even aware that cruiser was coming at him.

Think I'm going to take another look..

Ouch!!

I get really dehydrated, especially in winter, because I love coffee and don't drink near enough clear fluids.

One day, when exiting my truck from the passenger side, both hands slipped off the hand rails because they were so dry... and down I went... in a fuel aisle no less.

I was showing my student what NOT to do. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I now use hand cream lol

Okay, so my first attempt to post a link didn't work as planned lol...

Subject should have read... Stolen Police Car Swerves Into Semi Travelling In Opposite Direction

Stay Alert! My husband passed this stretch an hour before it happened; I, (thankfully), decided to park at the FJ instead of continuing a couple more miles to the Simonson. I could have been that semi had I not pulled off when I did!

That's a rather sobering thought, and begs the question... would I have been able to successfully control my vehicle in such a situation? I'd certainly like to believe so, but in all honesty, I really don't know... and pray I never find out!

Thankfully, the truck driver was said to sustain no serious injuries.

Forgive me, but, don't the seats raise up? I'm 5'3" and I drive a kw now. I don't even like the seat high, as it takes my little stumps off the floor.

So cool guys, thanks for the smile!!

Don't you have a spotter for that, Tractor Man?

OS and TM, thank you for responding... I do realize the engine brake requires higher rpms...I should have clarified that. Normally, 15-1700 is how high they go, at 18-1900 I start slowing it back down. However, occasionally it'll be humming along at about 1500rpms, then all of a sudden jump to 18+. Owners manual says they should never go beyond 2100 or engine damage may occur. This makes me worry that 1900 or 2000rpms is too high.

And what about starting up? Am I doing something wrong there?

As for the brake lights staying on, it was back in the old days.. like three years ago, lol, when I first began this career, that I recall wondering why some brake lights never went off down hills and were they riding their brakes? It was my trainer that told me some stayed on. I think it was freightliner that did it but I don't remember. I certainly could have been misinformed, in which case those drivers were in fact riding their brakes dangerously lol.

When the engine brake is activated in some trucks the brake lights come on and stay on.. they're easily spotted though, because they don't have smoke rolling off their tires lol.

Anywho, there's something I have trouble with on the hills when my engine brake id engaged... for the most part, I'm good with the engine brake, but occasionally... too often lately cuz I'm learning a new truck.. my engine shoots up to 1800-2000rpms while I'm going down a hill. It's not just when I'm heavy going down a steep grade. Why does it do this? There doesn't seem to be an isolated situation, rather it seems random, and it's very frustrating. I switch to manual and go up a gear and then need to get my speed down cuz now I'm going faster than my safe speed.

Is it my driving skill, or could it maybe the tranny? It does this when upshifting from a dead stop all the way into 7th, then only goes to 1450 for 8th and up. I've tried barely touching the throttle, flooring it, and every inch in between. It's making me feel like I don't know how to drive... and I drive an auto for heaven's sake lol.

Welcome, Chris!

Don't rush it! Gobble up all you can here, ask your questions, go through the High Road Training Program, and involve your family every way you can.

I love trucking, and wish I'd thought to get into it decades ago, but it's been a grueling journey, especially for my youngest daughter lol.

Know that you won't be steered wrong here... steered lol... this site, and these drivers, are your absolute best start in the business of trucking.

Best of luck!

If you were low in hours in your 70, it was very likely a conscious decision lol.

Wonderful account, Turtle! I commend your training style, and enjoy reading about your student's success, and your interest in his success. Awesome job, Boss!

side note: Susan, thank you for being an active trainer!

TT Wiki - DOT Hearing Test

Anne, square your shoulders, hon, and let's see if we can all find a way through...

Did you fail the forced whisper test? Was an audiometry done? Did the doc explain why tone deafness disqualifies you?

As far as I understand it, congenital amusia, or tone deafness, means that although a person hears sounds, some of those sounds have no variance in pitch because their brain does not communicate the variance. Some are, some aren't. In your case, I'm assuming many aren't. A hearing aid may not help with this, because you'll hear sounds, just not the correct sound, or actual sound. However, I fail to understand why this would disqualify a driver... you'll hear sirens and horns, they just might sound differently to you.

Sometimes exceptions are given... perhaps you could apply for one? Iimagine you would need to prove that your ailment would not affect your ability to drive safely, or put others in harm's way.

I'm baffled. Need more input!

I certainly don't belong to any million mile clubs, but I was very proud of having three accident/ incident of any kind years... until the roundabout where my tandems went over a curb and I broke a slack adjuster.

Those three years were mostly due to Grammy style caution, and a boat load of luck lol.

"You can go down a mountain too slow as many times as you need or want to, but you can only go down too fast once. "

I also try to avoid the need to use my service brakes descending hills, alternating levels of my engine brake to slow down or speed up when required... with the exclusion of slippery conditions. However, I disagree a little about ignoring those fools who race down the hills... I pay attention to what's coming behind me too, because I don't want to be in their way if they lose control.

My husband actually had a driver go off the road, crash over the guard rail, and lay his truck over a railroad track under a fallen tree, right behind us. One second he was in the left lane two seconds later he had a tree on top of him.

So yeah, I pay attention to everything I can. I don't let the super truckers alter my driving, but I'll stay out of their way and let them get to the scene of the accident first.

Pulled a few loads out of AB in Fort Collins, CO. They, too, tend to load heavy and require multiple reworks.