Update on driving a semi tractor

On-duty time will include the time he spends in his office working on his business stuff, even though it has nothing to do with driving.

Reply to
Pete C.
Loading thread data ...

"Pete C." fired this volley in news:4f5aac2b$0$2841 $ snipped-for-privacy@newsreader.readnews.com:

Correct. Any time at all "working" or doing anything _like_ work can be considered by DOT as "on-duty" -- even gardening, because it taxes your rest time.

"Off duty" is considered rest preparatory to driving. If you aren't resting, you're on duty.

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

(...)

I wonder if something like this would be helpful:

formatting link

--Winston

Reply to
Winston

There are various trucker GPS units available that provide additional functionality over the regular gps nav units. They take vehicle dimensions, weight, hazmat, etc. into consideration for routing and provide backup log functionality. There are specific approval requirements for paperless logging and the GPS units generally don't meet them so you still need the paper logs or an approved electronic log unit.

Reply to
Pete C.

Yes, under consideration right now, but none are approved.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus30777

Those GPS units are still good though since they take the vehicle info into account for routing. They are even good for big non-CDL vehicles like big RVs and whatnot. I have a Garmin Dezl 560 which is handy even with my truck and cargo trailer which is a bit over 50' long overall. Also handy with the truck camper which brings my height up to 11' or so.

Reply to
Pete C.

So, you would recommend that dezl? I am looking for a trucker GPS right now.

By the way, drove the truck some more today. I am now completely comfortable up- and downshifting, but not yet comfortable with finding a gear after slowing down in neutral.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus30777

It's a good unit, but the only one I have direct experience with. Look for reviews on trucking related sites to see what you think is the best. One nice feature in the Dezl is that it has an input for a backup camera (just buy the cable and connect any standard camera). It also provides bluetooth speakerphone functionality for your cell phone which can be handy. The LMT version has the lifetime map updates and the traffic receiver as well.

You shouldn't be slowing down in neutral anyway, you should be downshifting and using engine braking as much as possible which will put less wear on your service brakes as well as less heat into them. You should only ever slow down in neutral when you are nearly stopped and will be going below idle RPM.

Reply to
Pete C.

YOU NEVER NEVER slow down in Neutral EVER. You downshift till you come almost to a stop THEN push in the clutch and step on the brakes. You keep the trans in gear until you stop. You also NEVER coast with a rig.

Reply to
Steve W.

But what if I have to do an emergency slow down, say when someone brakes in front of me or I notice some obstruction or some such?

Say, I am going 45 MPH and I need to abruptly slow down to 10 MPH?

i
Reply to
Ignoramus30777

On 3/10/2012 3:49 PM, Ignoramus30777 wrote: ...

You'll do it a heckuva' lot faster by downshifting and braking than by brakes alone.

I'll note you can get by w/ just the tractor or even an empty trailer, but put a chunk of weight on there besides and you'll find out _real_soon_now_ that the brakes aren't nearly as stout as you now are thinking...btw, the same goes w/ that dumptruck--when it's loaded you definitely need the engine braking as well as just the mechanicals (vacuum power-assist or no).

Forget trying to drive them like just a big car...

--

Reply to
dpb

You better have left enough room. Then you let off the fuel and stab the brakes, You DON'T shift into neutral. You down shift two gears or so then stomp the brakes again. Don't hold them long enough to lock the rears up, just long enough to drop the rpms down so you can grab a lower gear. That is another part of being an operator, KNOWING what the vehicle will do given the load, road conditions, traffic flow, speed. Emergency stops in a fully loaded rig end up two ways. One - you left enough room and know the rig enough that you stop and everything is fine. Two - You climb on the pedal, jack-knife the rig, it keeps going and goes over the stopped vehicle. Then their next of kin owns EVERYTHING you currently have plus garnishes everything you make in the future.

This is why I tell you that driving a big truck is NOT the same as a car or a PU with a trailer. The vehicle dynamics are ENTIRELY different and things you get away with in the P/U will kill people in the rig.

Same thing applies to the dump truck you have. Fully loaded it will stop from 45 mph in about 1/4 mile The rig fully loaded will do about the same. BUT that is through down shifting and stab braking.

It is one of the major reasons why many states are now requiring CDL applicants to get actual driving school training before they can get a license. Far too many people seem to think that driving a rig is just like driving a car, that thinking is what kills a LOT of them in the first year. The ONLY things that a rig has in common with a car is that they both have engines, wheels and operate on the road. Stopping distance, turning radius, acceleration, visibility are all MUCH different.

Reply to
Steve W.

I passed the three written tests today (general, air brakes and combinations).

It also appears, that I could show up at the test with my semi tractor towing one of my pintle hook trailers with electric brakes. That would be a class A combination, and yet one that is exceedingly easy for me to drive. All I need to do is add a pintle hitch to the semi tractor and a plug converter/adaptor.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus12788

"Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" on Fri, 09 Mar

2012 18:41:47 -0600 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

When I was checking out a possible career change: per day 14 hours "on duty" with a max of eleven of them driving. Which basically means you had 3 hours a day to load/unload, eat/etc if you were going to drive the maximum hours. Of course,there was much bitiching about places where you'd be waiting to unload, and run out of "time". Stuck in the parking lot.

>
Reply to
pyotr filipivich

Ignoramus30777 on Sat, 10 Mar

2012 15:49:34 -0600 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

Foot off the throttle, stomp on the compression brake to start slowing. Then you get busier than an Epileptic Flamenco Dancer in a cockroach squashing contest as you downshift - two gears at a time if necessary - and get back to standing on that jake brake. And pray you have enough room.

Once all the excitement is over, you might want to take a few moments to pull the seat cover out from where the pucker factor sucked it up your ass. But afterwards.

Reply to
pyotr filipivich

That description really creates a unique picture in the mind... BUT it's also very true.

Now if you were in a twin stick Mack with a two speed rear you might need to have your pet octopus help you out....

Reply to
Steve W.

What, your peter isn't prehensile?

Old truckers never die. They just get another Peterbilt.

-- Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate. -- Chuang-tzu

Reply to
Larry Jaques

An Octopus is good for pulling things, but not for pushing (no bones). You'll need a Spider Monkey or two - assuming it doesn't show some smarts and bail out. (I have this mental image of a spider monkey pulling on a parachute, scrambling out the window and leaping off the mirror - "What's that Indian's name?!"

tschus pyotr

Reply to
pyotr filipivich

Larry Jaques on Tue, 13 Mar 2012

22:38:34 -0700 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

I wasn't going to mention ...

Reply to
pyotr filipivich

Flashing on scene in "Babylon 5" where Londo uses his reproductive organs to cheat in a card game.

Reply to
J. Clarke

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.