No Air Bag Dump On My New Freightliner
Topic 24524 | Page 2
I love the king pin release. All those years before fight the release handle I had the shop build me a release handle out of an old release handle. I don't think I have had to use the air bag dump yet.
I have a system for hooking and dropping trailers. Everything in the same order every time. That includes pulling the king pin release handle manually. It works for me. Never dropped a trailer, never ripped the plumbing and electrical off of the cab, never drug the landing gear down the street.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Good job there Tractor, you build muscle memory that way... One day you will get side tracked though, things happen... I have a air release king pin and I’m not sure if it works, I never use it either. It’s just easier for me too pull the handle. Last month safety gave me a pull bar. Cute thing, but I don’t use that either..
The trailer I just picked at Tractor Supply in Waverly, NE. Backed up to it real slow, looks kind of low....bounced off it with the tires! Had to lower the airbags AND crank it up about 3 inches. 12 degrees, windy and snowing sideways. Yard jockeys.....Grrrrr!
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Good job there Tractor, you build muscle memory that way... One day you will get side tracked though, things happen... I have a air release king pin and I’m not sure if it works, I never use it either. It’s just easier for me too pull the handle. Last month safety gave me a pull bar. Cute thing, but I don’t use that either..
I love my puller. Part of the routine. The first tractor I was issued with Swift a couple of years ago had one. Previous driver left it, or forgot it.
I went through PSD in a 2014 FL with the air bags. My instructor had me use the air bag dump every time, then put it in 3rd gear and pull out.
My TNT was in a 2012 without the dump. I asked if there was a difference and the trainer said no...without asking me what i was taught. I dropped the trailer, put it in 3rd and pulled out but the truck kinda jerked and banged...nothing like the ease of using the air bags. She started screaming i could ruin her drive shaft and asked why i wasnt using 1st gear. Uh..cause she didnt tell.me too.
In my FL the crank to the ground then one crank doesnt work. You can still drop it on your tires or frame. We crank until we hear the "sssss" of the airbags then you are good. On this international, that is too high.
My first TnT did the "to the ground" then turn thing and the trailer fell on my tires. Dumping the air bags and throwing the differentials didnt help. 😭 Counted as an incident on her record.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Are you sure you don't have a button to drop the suspension on your tractor?
Mines the fourth button to the right..
I had a 2015 FL one time when I was at Crete, and I don't remember it having the dump switch.
That's not yard jockeys, lol, that is just the previous driver being in a hurry or just lazy, lol. I used to see it all the time when I use to jockey, between that and never even doing a tug test, you see it all doing that job.
The trailer I just picked at Tractor Supply in Waverly, NE. Backed up to it real slow, looks kind of low....bounced off it with the tires! Had to lower the airbags AND crank it up about 3 inches. 12 degrees, windy and snowing sideways. Yard jockeys.....Grrrrr!
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I don't have one on my truck either, it could have been useful a few times. I've had to crank up a few trailers because the previous driver dropped it to low for me to hook up to it, the common issue is the trailer being to high for me. About a week or two ago I was picking up a load from procter and gamble, and the yard dog who got my trailer out the dock, put it in the wrong spot, then on top of that he didn't put it on the landing pad... And it snowed bad that week, so it sank into the ground but only on one side... It took me a good 40 minutes to get it high enough for me to actually hook up to it, and where it was located there was ice and water where my drive tires were at... So I kept spinning out for a bit, but once I got under it; I got the idea to lower the landing gear a bit to put more weight on my drive tires and that helped out a lot.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Advice For New Truck Drivers Driver Responsibilities Trailers Truck Equipment
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Im with you. Lets start a new Protest AIR DUMPS MATTER.