Running Doubles

If you charge the air line to the dolly, even without the tail connected, you will detect air leaks in the lead and dolly connections, right?

Yes, the problem at least with our dollies is there is no way to shut off the rear trailer. So once you charge the dolly it is going to try to send air to the rear trailer. We have dummy gladhands on the dolly but they can be difficult to get a seal on since they are not used often and seem to get bent.

I just end up hooking everything up, charging the system then hope and pray nothing is leaking. It's soooo annoying when you have a bad dolly and have to split it all up and start over.

Ive read over and over this thread and watched videos of doubles. I still cant get my head wrapped around doing it. Everytime I see one pass me or I pass them, I think about what it would be like to haul them, but I cant picture myself doing it. It seems like it would really take some skills to do.

Thanks.

The bad dolly (sounds like the title of a cheezy 70's horror flick) concept was where I was going. Bad brake chamber diaghram, leak at connecter head, etc would add a whole buncha time into a run. Thank goodness for an electronic DVIR system, to track the repair need AND the time spent mqking what should be 30-40 min (?) process take over an hour. Im guessing time metrics are part of the plan, right? Especially for a newbie?

I charge as I build; meaning once I’ve coupled to the lead unit I set tractor brakes and release the trailer brakes. We have airbag suspension on our pups...lots of places for air to leak.

Since each subsequent coupling has valves on the connections it’s easier to isolate any issues. (the dummy gladhands are functional) The final check of opening the rear emergency valve to determine if air has pressurized the entire length of the set, determines if I proceed. I then check service brakes before getting into public roads. The most problematic connection is dolly to rear of the lead unit. The gladhands on the rear of our pups get beat-up, subjected to a high degree of abuse. I’ve gotten very proficient at changing gaskets and “influencing” pressure points to seal the connection.

My dolly is assigned to me, no one else uses it enabling me to keep tabs on everything.

It’s a process.

We have dummy gladhands on the dolly but they can be difficult to get a seal on since they are not used often and seem to get bent.

It's so common, I'm starting to think they come that way. They seem more sturdy and better placed on our newer dollies, but people have become accustomed to not using them that they don't use them.

It's soooo annoying when you have a bad dolly and have to split it all up and start over.

At FedEx, we call that delay pay.

We have airbag suspension on our pups...lots of places for air to leak.

I carry a spray bottle of soapy water. If I hear it, I spray it. Makes it easier to pull it to the shop and have them fix it. It's usually just 5 minutes of turning a wrench and I'm good to go.

Im guessing time metrics are part of the plan, right? Especially for a newbie?

No sir. You just have a gate time the rest is up to you. All they care about is you hitting that gate when you're supposed to. If I hit mechanical issues, I let dispatch know and they notate it so the next center waiting for the freight is aware of it.

When they call they say we have an xyz 9 for 930. That means I'm expected to be there at 9 hookup and hit the gate by 930. I get there at 840 because I hate rushing.

Thank goodness for an electronic DVIR system

You would think so, but everybody just clears it without checking it.

I’m rather spoiled... any air leak I notify one of two Penske techs assigned to our terminal yard. Most of the time they are able to repair in place.

The bottle of soapy water?! BRILLIANT!!! Over 7.5 years driving and I've never heard that. Thank you, Banks!

G-Town, those gladhand gaskets were always a component of my tool kit. I used them so often on pool trailers that I started keeping them in the driver door pocket - amazing how many drivers just grab and go. I even changed them on our trailers the times I did yard rat stuff at the cross dock we contracted with. Only the company trailers, but fix it nonetheless. An assigned dolly is a brilliant move by the management - it allows skilled professionals to take ownership of their equipment and their workspace for better efficiency, and more profit to the outfit (and provides for greater accountability as well)!

The bottle of soapy water?! BRILLIANT!!! Over 7.5 years driving and I've never heard that. Thank you, Banks!

G-Town, those gladhand gaskets were always a component of my tool kit. I used them so often on pool trailers that I started keeping them in the driver door pocket - amazing how many drivers just grab and go. I even changed them on our trailers the times I did yard rat stuff at the cross dock we contracted with. Only the company trailers, but fix it nonetheless. An assigned dolly is a brilliant move by the management - it allows skilled professionals to take ownership of their equipment and their workspace for better efficiency, and more profit to the outfit (and provides for greater accountability as well)!

I agree, the soapy water trick is great. Plumbers use soapy water to check their gas lines connections. If they see bubbles they know gas is leaking. Appliance delivery men who also hook up gas appliances use that technique. But most of them have an electronic “sniffer” to detect gas leaks.

Warning: never use a match to detect gas leaks. Lol

I’m rather spoiled... any air leak I notify one of two Penske techs assigned to our terminal yard. Most of the time they are able to repair in place.

Same. We have a shop with 6 bays. I've had tires changed, bulbs changed, air lines changed etc.

The bottle of soapy water?! BRILLIANT!!!

I got the idea when I had an air leak on the tire of my POV. I would have an air leak I couldn't pin point and I would have the shop techs look for it. It's easier just to point it out to them. There's also a lot of connections with a set and you can't get under a dolly or reach hoses.

those gladhand gaskets were always a component of my tool kit. 

I keep them on hand, but if I need one and don't have one I take one off the rear trailer and replace it when I get back.

An assigned dolly is a brilliant move by the management -

Agreed. We don't have assigned Dolly's, but I wish we did.

So how did you like your first winter with doubles? Still enjoying it?