Truck Recovery After Abandonment
Topic 24652 | Page 2
I recovered a truck from Jax, FL back to Springfield, MO. I was already in town visiting the folks (my hometown). It was kinda dirty inside but not overly so. Swapped some of my flatbed equipment for the newer stuff on the recovered truck. Scored a windshield curtain too.
They rented me a car to get back to my truck in Jax with, and paid miles both ways. They also paid for hotels and food both ways.
Even if I was to quit, I wouldn't have them recover the truck nor would I leave it a mess... Some people are pigs. 
Ewww. I don't recover trucks. They're typically just too nasty and plauged with mechanical problems from abuse. I hope your recovery goes well.
Good luck, I have heard more stories like these and never have wanted to do that. I like my nice clean truck, and that is all I am planning on driving!!!
Better get a Hazmat suit! I used to drive a haul truck in the mine and guys would chew and then spit all over the cab. Slobs!
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Recovered, truck had layers of garbage, used underwear, and other clothes all around, shipping documents and other work papers were crumpled up and all over the place, the dashboard was full of everything...the front fender was hanging off on one side, the drivers side door was moving(rumbling the entire trip back), and the Qualcomm would not let me log in for the first hour or two on the way back...
And the smell was pretty bad, after leaving the truck I used the company shower at the terminal , and the clean clothes I had on when I started the trip smelled just like the truck......
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.
I have also done a couple of recoveries in my time and it was exactly the same experience everyone else had - just disgusting.
I hate to say it, but as a group we've certainly earned the lousy reputation we have in our society. It's not "a few bad apples" either. It's a ton of bad apples with a few good ones mixed in.
One of the many reasons I enjoy this website so much is because of the high standards we promote and the top tier professionals we turn out. There are plenty of people who hear our teachings about taking high levels of personal responsibility and focusing on making yourself into a top tier driver and they immediately retreat to darker places on the Web that promote company bashing, blaming, complaining, and criticizing. The people who believe in our message choose to handle themselves with pride, integrity, and responsibility and they really shine in this industry.
We have so many amazing drivers that frequent this website. It's a real joy to get to see everyone succeed at such a high level.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
I've never recovered a tractor, but I have recovered a few trailers from trucks that were in wrecks and took the opportunity to check out the tractor they were attached to. Each time the interiors were disgusting. Being that they were in a wreck I expected things to be all over the place, but they were just plain disgusting. One had a lair of pet hair so think covering everything it made my stomach turn.
Company routinely updates the recorded message that you listen to while your on hold waiting for your dispatcher. Some time ago there was a woman who recorded a message basically begging driver's to throw out their trash and please make use of the free showers at the terminal and the free shower credits you earn on the road. Kinda spoke volumes about the conditions these tractors and driver's are coming into the terminals in.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
The seemingly predominant culture in this industry still baffles me.
Although I do not train new drivers at the frequency I used to, I had one basic rule: if you stank, either got a shower (10 stalls at the DC) or find another trainer.
Since we regularly interact with Walmart personnel and management, professionally representing our employer is part of the job and unfortunately the opposite leaves a lasting, negative impression.
Baffle:
A partition or separator within a liquid tank, used to inhibit the flow of fluids within the tank. During acceleration, turning, and braking, a large liquid-filled tank may produce unexpected forces on the vehicle due to the inertia of liquids.New Reply:
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First truck was also a recovery truck. Not something I would do again.
Flew to Portland, OR from SLC. Truck was in the yard and filthy. Mattress was dirt brown. Strange residue on walls. Dog poop on floor and a foul odor.
I had to clean it out as best as I can but I truly was not ready for that. Unfortunately I slept in the bed because the company wouldn't buy me a hotel and I sure as heck didn't have money for it.