Talking Shop: The Just Talking Thread

My suggestion is a video pointing out the dangers of rookies making safety videos. Very dangerous. Lol

Maestro: the topic of pre-trip inspections is one that doesn't get enough play. It's drilled into the heads to get the CDL , but how many of you see drivers actually getting down and looking at stuff? How many times have you gotten to pick up a load and the trailer hasn't had a federal inspection in 15 months? Tires hanging slack on the wheel, or completely missing?

Things that I found to be a challenge for many of the drivers I trained / coached / mentored were: 90 degree angles on brake slack adjusters, looking for leaks in hub seals inside the brake drum, examining the ribs or underside of trailer floors for integrity, tire pressure and tread depth checks. I have a sh**-ton of images that I put into a document that I used for day one kind of stuff. I found that many of the drivers that may have attended high school but not gotten an education there have no idea what a 90 degree angle is. Used the 'finger gun' too demonstrate - that was a lightbulb moment for at least three drivers from Chicago - they knew what to say to the CDL license road test examiner, but didn't know what to look for.

So many other ideas that fit into this, but I would say "Pre-trip Inspections. If you aren't getting down under, you're making a blunder. Who is YOUR blunder going to kill today?".

Ya, I actually made that into a meme...

Maestro: the topic of pre-trip inspections is one that doesn't get enough play. It's drilled into the heads to get the CDL , but how many of you see drivers actually getting down and looking at stuff? How many times have you gotten to pick up a load and the trailer hasn't had a federal inspection in 15 months? Tires hanging slack on the wheel, or completely missing?

Things that I found to be a challenge for many of the drivers I trained / coached / mentored were: 90 degree angles on brake slack adjusters, looking for leaks in hub seals inside the brake drum, examining the ribs or underside of trailer floors for integrity, tire pressure and tread depth checks. I have a sh**-ton of images that I put into a document that I used for day one kind of stuff. I found that many of the drivers that may have attended high school but not gotten an education there have no idea what a 90 degree angle is. Used the 'finger gun' too demonstrate - that was a lightbulb moment for at least three drivers from Chicago - they knew what to say to the CDL license road test examiner, but didn't know what to look for.

So many other ideas that fit into this, but I would say "Pre-trip Inspections. If you aren't getting down under, you're making a blunder. Who is YOUR blunder going to kill today?".

Ya, I actually made that into a meme...

Thank you for the suggestion...I sent this idea to the Safety Manager and awaiting a response. :)

If anyone is interested, here is G.O.A.L. video I created for Online Transport.

I watched the GOAL safety video that Maestro made and it’s very good and professional, great job. I especially liked the three toed Sloth part in the video. Gave me a good laugh.

The only part I didn’t get was the operating cost per year of a trucking company. Is that per truck? Could be more clear, but still it got the point across that safety blunders are costly.

My suggestion for a useful video would be about avoiding a high hook. I see drivers regularly backing up to a trailer and never getting out to check the height of the trailer in relation to the 5th wheel. Even in my company (approximately 300 drivers), there are several high hooks every month. This is even though all our trucks are the same and we only pull company trailers that are all the same. So some drivers assume everything will be automatically aligned each time they hook up. Not so! In my time with the company, I would have high hooked 2 times if I hadn’t gotten out and checked before slamming home the connection. The three toed Sloth photo could also be used in this video.

I thought the way that the buttons and stuff was laid out on my trainer's Pete 579 was just all wrong and counter intuitive.

Asked my company for a Freightliner and I like it a lot. Seems underpowered compared to the 579 engine but that's not a deal breaker for me.

579 has a digital gage cluster. Some like that. I'm just fine with the regular cluster on my 2020 cascadia.

The 579 has had lots of issues with its compartment door not latching properly. It opens up on the bed as well, so when my trainer's bed got moldy from all the water seepage, he had to get a new bed. A common problem was water leakage on the compartment door, said our shop. Cascadia compartment door hasn't had this problem plus it doesn't open up the sleeper.

My cascadia has fog lights, super helpful. Our 579s don't have fog lights.

I'm glad I asked for a Freightliner.

I watched the GOAL safety video that Maestro made and it’s very good and professional, great job. I especially liked the three toed Sloth part in the video. Gave me a good laugh.

The only part I didn’t get was the operating cost per year of a trucking company. Is that per truck? Could be more clear, but still it got the point across that safety blunders are costly.

My suggestion for a useful video would be about avoiding a high hook. I see drivers regularly backing up to a trailer and never getting out to check the height of the trailer in relation to the 5th wheel. Even in my company (approximately 300 drivers), there are several high hooks every month. This is even though all our trucks are the same and we only pull company trailers that are all the same. So some drivers assume everything will be automatically aligned each time they hook up. Not so! In my time with the company, I would have high hooked 2 times if I hadn’t gotten out and checked before slamming home the connection. The three toed Sloth photo could also be used in this video.

Thank you for the suggestion, BK, and the compliment!

Safety got back to me and said that the video looked good! They gave me the go-ahead to create more!

P.S. I am creating the videos to reduce points on my safety record. I'm encouraged!

How often do you guys do 34 hour resets?

How often do you guys do 34 hour resets?

When I run out of hours and only get back 7 to 9 hours over the next two days, then I do a 34.

Laura

How often do you guys do 34 hour resets?

Every weekend