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August. Where you at,

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blizzard2014

Veteran Expediter
Driver
KickStarter6 said:
Well tonight's my last night before I go to CDL school. Looking forward to tomorrow but also nervous as the biggest thing I've ever driven is 2500 pickup truck
Click to expand...

I will give you some more good tips. You know when it's time to start making your right hand turn in the big truck with the 53 foot trailer, it's when your shoulder is in line with the end of the curb. When your drive tires are at the end of the curb, then you start to turn and always watch that trailer in the right side mirror when you're making a right turn. You will also have to get used to double clutching, clutch in, take out of first gear, clutch in, put the truck into the next gear. You will have to learn how to "bump and run!" When you're making a right or left turn on a green light, and not from a stopped position, you will simply take your truck out of whatever gear your in by slowing down, pulling out of that gear, then you will bump the RPM up to I think it was 1500 or something like that and go into sixth gear without having to start all over from scratch. I always take right hand and left hand turns in 6th gear. You have to shift all the way up to sixth gear just to get to 15 miles per hour.

With bump and run you slow down, match the speed you're going with the proper gear, bump up the RPM and shift down. It's seamless. Then you will have to learn how to do the serpentine back, which is not that hard to learn at all. Have you been studying up on all of the terminology yet, like fifth wheel, king pin, glad hands, castle nut and cotter pin. The steering linkage is connected with a castle nut and a cotter pin. You have to name all of these parts and call them out during your pre-trip inspection.

You will have to learn how to couple the tractor to the trailer and then take a flashlight and check to see if the locking bar has locked over the king pin. Then you have to go back into the truck after you hook up the air lines "the glad hands" and then leave the trailer brake on and in first gear, you will press the gas pedal and gently tug on the trailer to make sure the king pin is locked in place. I do this every morning, or any time the truck had been parked for any period of time. There are malicious drivers out there who will pull your king pin locking bar just for sheets and giggles.

When you back into the trailer and make initial contact with the trailer and the fifth wheel, you stop the truck, get out and make sure the trailer is gently sitting on the fifth wheel. If not, you will have to lower the trailer dolly down until the trailer Is resting on the fifth wheel. If you ever over hook , or drop a trailer, most companies will fire you. Remember the yellow triangle in the cab is the service brake, and the red triangle in the cab is the emergency or trailer brake.
 
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blizzard2014

Veteran Expediter
Driver
You also can't tell if a drive or trailer tire is flat just by looking at them. You will have to manually thump them with a rubber mallet, or tire thumper to check if you have any flat tires. You will learn all of this soon!
 
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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
blizzard said:
Here is your weekend Sylectus truck count! Happy hunting guys!

Latest Alliance Truck Count
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Click to expand...
It's pretty consistent at the 17k mark
 
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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
vandriver2 said:
That's awesome OVM. I can recall what Wayne said when I inquired about how many miles can I put on mine.
He mentioned a Sprinter Customer of his (gave no name-it turned out to be you) who had 900+K.
OH, MAN, I FELT SUCH RELIEF! I know I take Proper, Timely Care of mine...but I know, Ya never know.
Yep, Longevity....that's what's important to me. Making it to my Goal, my Plan. Babying this thing.
They'll offer you whatever you'll take.
They can view your Max weight, but it's THE LOAD and $ that matters the most.
It's up to you to Protect the workings of your vehicle and run Legally, Safely for yourself and those driving around you.
That's what I've witnessed and how I feel. What they taught us in Truck Driving School...YOU protect all those driving around you as if they were your Loved Ones. My protective bubble, distance between and speed.
I want my Sprinter to last me a good 8 years minimum.
It's an investment in my eyes...$45+ K.
Bless my Older Sister's Heart as she surprised the heck outa me after her death.
She helped me Pay it off. Unexpected. Gracious.
I'm glad she and my folks don't have to worry about me.
They would. They shouldn't.
Click to expand...
Learn all you can about your van...every part has a life span being proactive and changing things out before they break can save you a ton of money..... Example: your pulley belt system .... 2 pulleys and the tensioner plus belt every year !
 
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vandriver2

vandriver2

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
OntarioVanMan said:
Learn all you can about your van...every part has a life span being proactive and changing things out before they break can save you a ton of money..... Example: your pulley belt system .... 2 pulleys and the tensioner plus belt every year !
Click to expand...
Thanks VERY much Ken...ok, then it's past time for that! Like 3 years! I've inspected them when I change my Oil n Filter. But, Ya, you're right, it's time with that many miles! I can ask him to replace those along with my Front Pads and my 6 Month Fuel Filter. If you have any other parts that I should be changing out, I'd sure appreciate it (320K)!!!
Oxygen & NOx Sensors are new, along with Alternator, battery every 3 yrs., Front Struts, Transmission Fluid/Gaskets recently.
I'm not a car/engine nut, so don't have the knowledge of one, but would like to learn more of what I need to have done.
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
vandriver2 said:
Thanks VERY much Ken...ok, then it's past time for that! Like 3 years! I've inspected them when I change my Oil n Filter. But, Ya, you're right, it's time with that many miles! I can ask him to replace those along with my Front Pads and my 6 Month Fuel Filter. If you have any other parts that I should be changing out, I'd sure appreciate it (320K)!!!
Oxygen & NOx Sensors are new, along with Alternator, battery every 3 yrs., Front Struts, Transmission Fluid/Gaskets recently.
I'm not a car/engine nut, so don't have the knowledge of one, but would like to learn more of what I need to have done.
Click to expand...
Check out Rock auto as well as euro parts , even Amazon....I've never had a belt or pulley break in all my time... So I think it works well in practice .... I suppose yours is a newer model ? 10/11/12?
 
vandriver2

vandriver2

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
blizzard said:
I will give you some more good tips. You know when it's time to start making your right hand turn in the big truck with the 53 foot trailer, it's when your shoulder is in line with the end of the curb. When your drive tires are at the end of the curb, then you start to turn and always watch that trailer in the right side mirror when you're making a right turn. You will also have to get used to double clutching, clutch in, take out of first gear, clutch in, put the truck into the next gear. You will have to learn how to "bump and run!" When you're making a right or left turn on a green light, and not from a stopped position, you will simply take your truck out of whatever gear your in by slowing down, pulling out of that gear, then you will bump the RPM up to I think it was 1500 or something like that and go into sixth gear without having to start all over from scratch. I always take right hand and left hand turns in 6th gear. You have to shift all the way up to sixth gear just to get to 15 miles per hour.

With bump and run you slow down, match the speed you're going with the proper gear, bump up the RPM and shift down. It's seamless. Then you will have to learn how to do the serpentine back, which is not that hard to learn at all. Have you been studying up on all of the terminology yet, like fifth wheel, king pin, glad hands, castle nut and cotter pin. The steering linkage is connected with a castle nut and a cotter pin. You have to name all of these parts and call them out during your pre-trip inspection.

You will have to learn how to couple the tractor to the trailer and then take a flashlight and check to see if the locking bar has locked over the king pin. Then you have to go back into the truck after you hook up the air lines "the glad hands" and then leave the trailer brake on and in first gear, you will press the gas pedal and gently tug on the trailer to make sure the king pin is locked in place. I do this every morning, or any time the truck had been parked for any period of time. There are malicious drivers out there who will pull your king pin locking bar just for sheets and giggles.

When you back into the trailer and make initial contact with the trailer and the fifth wheel, you stop the truck, get out and make sure the trailer is gently sitting on the fifth wheel. If not, you will have to lower the trailer dolly down until the trailer Is resting on the fifth wheel. If you ever over hook , or drop a trailer, most companies will fire you. Remember the yellow triangle in the cab is the service brake, and the red triangle in the cab is the emergency or trailer brake.
Click to expand...
Great, helpful info from Blizzard above!!! And as you Name each of the 110? Parts make sure you end it by saying "This is the _____, it's NOT Cracked, Bent or Broken, Not Leaking.
If you WANT this, YOU CAN DO THIS! I loved maneuvering my Truck, you'll Love it! I was the only female in a Class of 11, most were about your age. I was working, went to school on weekends for 3 Months (and second eldest). 3 guys fell away and didn't show up after the third Class. In the end 3 of us Passed the Written and Driving and got our Class A. I hope you have Great Instructors like I did! There are Free Practice Written Tests Online too. Do as many of those as you can. You DO want to get your Doubles, Triples and Tanker Endorsement and of Course Hazmat. Trust Your Gut. The last is the only one I have dropped.
 

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RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
KickStarter6 said:
Well tonight's my last night before I go to CDL school. Looking forward to tomorrow but also nervous as the biggest thing I've ever driven is 2500 pickup truck
Click to expand...

Good luck on your bold adventure. School was the fun part for me, enjoy the time, study your brains off.

Although, I guess having great instructors and classmates helped with the fun part :)
 
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blizzard2014

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Broken, bent, cracked, or missing for all metal parts. Then there is a set of terminology that you use for the tires and all rubber parts. It's been a long time.
 
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