Comments By Chuck S.

It comes down to the bottom line every time. Maximizing every load is going to be every shippers goal. Some shippers will have scales, and some don't. Some shippers have smart people loading trucks, and some don't. It's always going to come down to the driver to make sure he or she is at legal weight. For over 10+ years I pulled about every trailer ever made, and had 1 overweight ticket. So it can be done.

Backing up a big truck without a doubt.

this will sound like a big fish story, but it is true I just don't have video to back this up but,

I don't recommend anyone do this at anytime in their career as a truck drive

one day years ago as a rookie driver I was sitting in a dock getting unloaded when a trucker pulled up in his rig ( a nice rig at that ) and proceeded to back into the dock next to me and what happened next left me speechless .

After he put in reverse and let out the clutch his door flew open, he jumped out on the top step, facing backwards while standing on the step he guided the truck into the dock all while he had his left hand on the steering wheel and his right hand holding the phone up to his ear.... only to jump in at the last min. to stop the truck ... no bs

I never missed a beat all through the mess of 2008 and 2009. maybe if you only haul car or high end furniture... otherwise the groceries still need to move

Depending on the company you choose, some have you walk a short distance with 2 or 3 different sets of weight. the most I was ever required to carry was 75 lbs. and had to walk with it 10 steps. then I was required to lift that same weight from a low shelf to a shelf that was about shoulder height to me.

again different companies do different test.

the only real world test I ever got on a dock was a company I delivered to would only give me a hand jack to unload 1 pallet. Well it just so happened that 1 pallet weighed 2000 lbs. I couldn't move it with my little 240 lbs frame, but I got lucky and Tiny walked by (another driver that had to weight every bit of 500 lbs) oh yea ... we got it out...

He needs to ask for a new trainer.

You will find a wide variety of opinions when talking about chains on this site. I can say from all my years on the road running mostly the western states, that it's really hit or miss. some years i chained up more then others, but an average of maybe 7 to 10 times what i learned though ... if you time it right and hit those chain up areas about noon-ish sometimes you could catch a break on the chain laws

just sayin

When I started training new drivers years ago I had a list of rules for the truck. It started out with a couple of pages (hand written) nothing formal. over the course of a couple of years it ended up getting much shorter, and it became one rule.

You need to listen. When you quit listening, I am done training you.

Just listen

Need to stay on this with the shop. I had an exhaust leak that my company shop never found. finally the dealership fixed it, but I payed a price. I didn't feel good for about a year. These types of problems can end a career.

A 47 year veteran truck driver told me the best advise early in my career that kept me out of trouble.... learn to stay in the right lane out of everybody's way

There are only a couple of reasons you would train someone with experience either they didn't pass the drive test with a new employer, or have been out of the business for a period of time and needs a refresher course

either way I have several years of training under my own person belt, and it was much easier for me to work with someone starting out new with no experience. problems with training someone who claims to have experience, or actually can drive a big truck. anyone can claim to have experience, but the truth becomes known quickly once they get behind the wheel.

Have my first trainee and was curious on others opinions. What has been easier for you to train? A new driver coming out of school that you can mold to finish how you know it should be or an experienced driver that may "know" what they're doing?