Reporting ABS Light On Trailer

I drive solo as a company driver for Western Express. After picking up a load of lumber, I noticed the ABS light for the trailer had come on. I reported it on my DVIR for the trailer. I've been stuck at my terminal waiting for the trailer to be repaired, and I find myself hunting for an empty trailer. I talked to my trainer, who says I made a big mistake and should've just delivered the load. As long as I've been waiting and no longer have a flatbed trailer, I'm starting to believe he was right. Just trying to find an available trailer is a challenge in itself. It seems like everybody is fighting to grab an available trailer. Even after I saw an available trailer, another driver took it right after I reported finding it to my driving manager. I learned rather quickly that I should never let a trailer go once I find a trailer. I feel I'm being punished for doing the right thing and reporting the defect. Would you have just ignored it?

I feel I'm being punished for doing the right thing and reporting the defect. Would you have just ignored it?

Welcome to the real world scenarios of trucking. Hey Christopher, there's a lot of what we sometimes call "grey areas" in trucking. Those are areas where you are required to make a decision which may or may not have a bad effect on your ability to be productive. All rookies struggle with this part of their new career.

Here's how I handle situations like this. That trailer is safe even without the ABS system working properly. I would complete the load, but inform my DM about the light. He and I would coordinate a way for me to drop it off somewhere for repairs after I've finished the load. That way I'm making money, the trailer gets looked at, and I'm getting dispatched on my next load. Everybody wins!

Don't let that attitude take root that claims the company is punishing me for doing the right thing. That will grow into things you don't want preying on your mind. You just didn't know the most efficient way to handle the situation. You'll have hundreds of similar decisions to make during your first year.

Safety is always your priority, but don't forget productivity is right up there at the top also. You've got to make good decisions when you encounter these "grey areas." You just didn't know how to handle this one. Now you do! Mark that one up as a lesson learned.

Thanks, Old School. I appreciate your advice.

I feel I'm being punished for doing the right thing and reporting the defect. Would you have just ignored it?

Welcome to the real world scenarios of trucking. Hey Christopher, there's a lot of what we sometimes call "grey areas" in trucking. Those are areas where you are required to make a decision which may or may not have a bad effect on your ability to be productive. All rookies struggle with this part of their new career.

Here's how I handle situations like this. That trailer is safe even without the ABS system working properly. I would complete the load, but inform my DM about the light. He and I would coordinate a way for me to drop it off somewhere for repairs after I've finished the load. That way I'm making money, the trailer gets looked at, and I'm getting dispatched on my next load. Everybody wins!

Don't let that attitude take root that claims the company is punishing me for doing the right thing. That will grow into things you don't want preying on your mind. You just didn't know the most efficient way to handle the situation. You'll have hundreds of similar decisions to make during your first year.

Safety is always your priority, but don't forget productivity is right up there at the top also. You've got to make good decisions when you encounter these "grey areas." You just didn't know how to handle this one. Now you do! Mark that one up as a lesson learned.

OS put it well. A lot of times with the ABS lights, its just a simple connection issue with the pigtail. For sure always make sure a trailer is safe to run, but in time, you'll learn to prioritize issues to address and that a lot of simple issues on a trailer you can take care of or fix to at least complete the load and then get fixed.

I blew a trailer tire 2 miles from the reciever on a load the other day. I asked the reciever if I could drop it there and have our repair guy fix it on-site after its unloaded. They agreed. I called my dispatcher and breakdown and let them know.

You'll get comfortable making decisions that carry weight, but for sure, it can be confusing in the beginning.