If it's showing a warning for low fuel now, best to shut it down and tell dispatch you need fuel ASAP. The engine racing is a passive engine parked regeneration, and is normal.
Why shut down? Two reasons:
1. Running it low picks up all the junk and contamination that settles to the bottom of the fuel tanks.
2. Since you are new to this particular truck, how do you know the fuel gauge is truly accurate? Many times these are not.
Thanks PackRat. I actually ended up going to dispatch and asked for an emergency fuel dispatch after that comment I made.
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Operating While Intoxicated
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Finished my first delivery today. Buena Park, CA to Tolleson, AZ.
Everything started like it was another day. Started early because traffic in Los Angeles/Orange County is just craptastic. Fueled at the terminal. Less than 1/2, since I had a heavy load to pick up (Gatorade). Bobtailed almost an hour (traffic) to get an empty. Funky parking lot. But, got out without damaging anything. Get to shipper about an hour early. They call me 30 minutes after my appointment time. Not too bad, considering I got loaded before trucks that were waiting longer. Getting out of there was tight. Truck before me had to back up from a tight corner several times. I learned and went wide. Took an hour to get to a scale (traffic). Weights were good. Time to get the heck out of SoCal!
I live in Los Angeles and despise the traffic. Wife and I are moving to the east coast next year. Any way...
Along the way, have to stop to change my eta because I forgot to account for slow uphills due to a heavy load and slow downs because of accidents. But not a big deal. I had until 5PM today, to deliver.
So, I get to the receiver. Passed by it because the company name on the signs changed from what was on the dispatch. But I made it with 1/8 fuel and just needed to drive 7 miles to get to the terminal after. Was proud of myself for that one. More of a lucky guess.
Now, here is where things go downhill. I just couldn't back the trailer into it's spot. I had 38 minutes left on the clock and felt rushed. It took almost all that time to do an easy back...then, I forgot to open the doors and move the tandems all the way back. By the time I hook up to an empty, I'm out of time. So I have to use PC to get to the Swift Terminal a few miles away.
I really need to change my status as soon as I pull those knobs. That really f'd up my time
But, at least I got to the shipper and receiver early.
All in all, not bad. I expected to f up more. I expect plenty of mistakes to come for as long as I'm a steering wheel holder.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.