How long?

Turtle · Jan 5, 2009

In a Sprinter, it's pretty much impossible to lock the thing from outside, without using a key, if there's a key in the ignition, engine running or not. The remote doesn't work, either, if there's a key in the ignition.

As for breaking into a truck, yeah, that's pretty easy. And for a Sprinter, it's "OMG I can't believe it's that easy" easy.

charlee · Jan 5, 2009

LOL...I cannot tell yoi how many times the truck door has slammed and i went "oh no" remembering i had taken my keys out of my pocket.

The last time was a load from washington to ca in the mountains.. had stopped at a rest area to sleep and woke up at 5 am due to nature......got up to go to rr and had the autolock button on the truck...not realizing that it automatically locked the doors behind me. Went "crap" as I tried to grab the door to no avail. One busted wing window later and I was on my way to make the delivery...keep in mind this was on Mt. Shasta. Sigh.....luckily only 75$ for the wing glass and the weather was nice

-charlee

broker · Jan 5, 2009

This is brokers husband, need to clear up a thing or two.
The only time I might leave the truck running, is when we are at the shipper or Del. to get dock information. Even though I will be out of the truck for only a minute or two, I never leave it unlocked, running or not.
When we got locked out, we were actually unloading the truck with our clothing going to the house at Christmas. Again, even though the house was 1 block away, I locked the truck (it was -30 wind chill out and was trying to keep the engine warm) Truck was parked next to the local Sherriffs house, in a town of 1,000. I don't think we have had a thief in this town for over 30 years. Heck, nobody even locks the door to their homes here. Not being my truck, I locked it up anyway.
Sherriff tried to unlock it first but could not.
As for learning new things about trucking, you are so correct. Things change so much out here I'll never stop learning. Nothing like the good old days (before computers, cell phones, GPS and all the other things that can distract a driver).
As for being fortunate to have an understanding spouse, hands down Kathy is one in a million.
She left a high paying white collar job to share my love for the open road.
Will I ever stop being understanding if she makes mistakes now and then?
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!
BIG John

LDB · Jan 5, 2009

Having been locked out of my car once decades ago I began carrying extra keys. I have 3 truck keys. Two are on carabiner key rings furnished by my carrier and the 3rd is on a standard 1" ring and stays in my pocket. My pants of choice have a small ring attached just below the belt and the carabiners clip to it. If I were to leave the truck idling and lock it to go in and if I'd taken the key out of my pocket for some strange reason and didn't have it I'd still have the third key on the other carabiner. Overkill I guess but I look at it as insurance. At $2.39 each it's cheaper than anything else.

TeamCaffee · Jan 5, 2009

Good for you Big John! There is a lot for her to learn that you all ready know and have forgotten how you learned it. You know a lot of short cuts that the rest of us "Newbies" still have to figure out. I hope you have the chance to show her all of your favorite places that you have only been able to talk about.

If locking yourself out of the truck is the worst that ever happens you will be way ahead of the game.

Have fun and enjoy each other and keep posting!

Suds43 · Jan 5, 2009

I think your going to find that we're all disturbed on here, just that some are more disturbed than others!!

Welcome aboard!!!

Now, where was that town you live in where no one locks their doors?? LOL Ah! the good ol days where you could trust your neighbors, actually knew your neighbors!! I remember back when that no one ever locked their house doors...........one of the good things about growing up in a small town!!

I miss those days and that little village with a population of 800, counting dogs and cats!!!

broker · Jan 8, 2009

We have a home in a small town up in the midwest. You would swear it was Mayberry USA.
Politics and crime have not discovered our little town yet.
Our school still celebrates Halloween. They even take an hour off from class's so the little children can parade down main street in their costums. Yes, the sherriff closes main street for the parade.
Christmas is still celebrated as Christmas in the school as well, not as a "Happy Holiday" time of the year. A Christmas play and Christmas choir are still traditional.
On main street we have a drop off for empty cans to be left. Money collected is for the towns annual 4th of July fireworks. Cans are tossed in an unlocked cage, 24/7. We raised over $3,000 last year.
Business owners walk to the town cafe to get food to bring back to the store. They simply leave a sign in the unlocked shop saying, went to get lunch, back in 15 minutes.
You just don't know everyones name here but the names of all the dogs and cats as well.
Barny would get bored in my little town.
Kathy

TeamCaffee · Jan 8, 2009

Are you from Elkhart KS which is where we moved from to Saint Louis!!

broker · Jan 8, 2009

One of many small towns in Iowa, that is stil like it used to be.
the good old days.
Kathy

TeamCaffee · Jan 8, 2009

I sure miss that down home feeling that we had in our small town. When we moved we had to figure out how to lock doors something we had never done in the past. We are still not very good at locking our house up as we come in and out.

broker · Jan 8, 2009

Isn't it sad when you have to lock yourself in your own home?
When we left to start this job, it was the first time in memory we locked our doors.

OK, somemore things that will have some of you shaking your heads.
Hubby is teaching me a whole new vocabulary.
Words that I have never heard or ment something totally different.
Chicken Coop, Big Word or Good Word (Closed Weigh Station) Small Word or Bad Word (Open Weigh Station), Landing Gear, Lot Lizard, Pickle Park, Portable Parking Lot, Bed Bug, Bull Rack, Alligators, Barn Doors. I could go on but you all know the rest.

Always look down as you are walking in a truck stop parking lot. NEVER walk on something wet, 90% of the time it isn't going to be harmless water.
NEVER shower in a truck stop without your beach sandles.
Do not take the shortest route in a warehouse. Those yellow lines are for a reason (save rookies like me from getting run over)
Open the barn doors before you are against the loading dock. (it's OK, go ahead and laugh)
We do not stop for gas, we stop for fuel.
Do not run the microwave and hair dryer at the same time (in the truck)
Leave nothing setting out when the truck is going down the road, unless you have bolted it down.
Understand, that each time your husband starts a sentence with the word honey, he is really saying, I'm being patient with you again, BUT.
Am I lucky or what?
I never knew life could be so much fun.

Before I forget. Talking with our truck owner today and just found out this site is called EO.
Just another new word to add.
Kathy