Comments By Turbo Dan

Haha no.

LOOK out GPS

To test the Brake lights on the Pre/Post trip on the Trailer, you would need some one to watch behind the trailer when you step on the brake peddle,,,,

For my pre-trip, I turn on the running lights and the 4-ways. Gets all the light wiring checked. True, that doesn't get the actual brake light switch, but that failure's like snow in Texas in August.

Problem is the trailer brake light bulbs could be out, they're seperate bulbs from the turn/4 way bulbs so you could have a trailer brake light out even though the 4 ways and turn lights worked

When I was a mechanic, I would get the CSA violation write ups to fix. One time a driver was written up during the day because his Bright Headlights didn't work,,,,,, or they can write you up if your windshield wiper fluid is out on a sunny day,,,,, Go on line to veiw the CSA top 20 violation list. Another gotcha for the DOT is if the Fire extinquisher strap is loose (cam lock gets kicked) same write up as Defective/missing Fire extinquisher.

FYI, the tail, brake, 4 way and turn signal lights on the back of the tractor and back the trailer are wired and work differently. ,,, The back of the tractor is like a car or pick up truck where the same Bulb is used turn, brake and 4 way. ,,, The trailer is wired differently,,, There is a dedicated wire curcuit and bulbs for the brake lights,,,, seperate from the turn signals and 4 ways.

To test the Brake lights on the Pre/Post trip on the Trailer, you would need some one to watch behind the trailer when you step on the brake peddle,,,, or lock the Johnnie Bar down, GOAL,,,, or pump the air preasure down (engine off) (key on) as the low preasure Switch will also turn on the trailer brake lights,,,,GOAL

While at this time, Truck mechanics arn't Liceinsed like an A&P airplane Tech (maybe in the Future), But the Paperwork is just as Legal. If something isn't written up, It may not get fixed and a Truck Tech isn't going to sign off on something he didn't Fix. So like an airplane crash, if a Truck hits a School bus and some one Died, there Will be a Major investigation, CYA

Assuming that you are right- about the investigation- Who would do the investigation- to go through all the paperwork and crash evidence to find out the root cause?

If it's a major Crash,, the the NTSB,, otherwise the DOT, I was a Truck Mechanic for 2 years (with a CDL A) before I started driving a Tanker up to Williston ND. The DVIR is your Pre/Post Trip report, an official DOT Document, which after the mechanic repairs the vehical and signed off, has to be kept on File incase of an accident or the DOT decides to inspect your Motor Carrier for any reason

While at this time, Truck mechanics arn't Liceinsed like an A&P airplane Tech (maybe in the Future), But the Paperwork is just as Legal. If something isn't written up, It may not get fixed and a Truck Tech isn't going to sign off on something he didn't Fix. So like an airplane crash, if a Truck hits a School bus and some one Died, there Will be a Major investigation, CYA

I would recomend to anyone Instructing/teaching or thinking about doing it, to stop in at a Pilot shop at a local Airport and buy the Study book on "The Fundlementals of Instruction" (FOI) maybe $20... It covers the steps in Learning, positive verses negative motivation, explain- show- student- perform ect... It's one of the Skills an FAA Flight/Ground instructor has to pass... The Skills learned from this book can be applied to any type of Learning.

They may measure your neck, if it's 17" or over, you will probably have to get tested or the may give you a Questionare asking questions like do you fall asleep watching a movie, ect, do some research on sleep apnea to learn the right/wrong answers

All this new Science is great at what it does under Ideal conditions, But here's the "Trucking Truth" as I experienced it in North Dakota when it's -35 Below. More than once I was doing my Sleeper Birth in the middle of the night with the Engine running on High Idle so it wouldn't do it's 5 minute shut down thing (thank you California), as the APU couldn't keep up with the cold. The Catalytic converter system would decide it was time for a REGEN,, and start flashing Regen on the dash. Fine if your awake and spot it but if your sleeping and miss the Warning it shuts the engine of after the 5 minutes.

If your lucky you wake up and do a restart, push the Regen button and all is fine, worse case you sleep thru it and the engine has turned into an Icecube and won't start or it starts and the computer has already put it in Limp Mode, trip to the dealer and Big $$$.

One of our other Drivers put his truck in high Idle, locked it up to spend one of the coldest nights of the year in a motel only to come out in the morning to an Icecube Truck. Took 2 or 3 days before some one could tow the truck into a warm garage to thaw and work on several problems with the Emissions/fuel system. All in all it took him a week to get back from Williston to Chicago in a new Feightliner with only 50k on it and then had to fight with the company to pay for his motel bill.

Before these new Emission systems, one could leave the truck idle for a couple days and not freeze up. I can see why some companies are doing these Kit trucks (Sliders ?) with new frames and cabs and garanteed rebuilt older engines to get around this problem.

Remember 2 things, the Goverment's here to help us, and don't run out of DEF

I have a question. I am working for a company that wants to go pick up a box trailer ( with empty containers and pallets and a few containers that have their own tools in it). The say I do not need a BOL and if I think I do to write it out myself. Is this common. This company only hauls it's own items to different job locations. A guy last week got a ticket for not having a BOL in a water truck our companies fire truck. Yet the company says BOL is not needed we are not selling or shipping . We are not a trucking company, but they have 10,000 straight trucks.....

About the Water truck, Tanker, you have to Prove you are not carrying Hazmat. You need paperwork stating Non Regulated, and on the return trip empty, paperwork Stating Residue Last Contained Non Regulated , or a Certified Clean out ticket. Proving non Hazmat is on the Driver

Some things should carry over per the Feds, but each State does what it wants. I've driven combination vehicals so long that when I get into a Straight truck, I get screwed up ,LOL, study here and learn the new Backing skills, you'll do fine