Well I've been out for about 4 weeks with 4 major breakdowns. Although it has been a good experience we could have made alot more money had we not spent so much time in the shop or waiting for a tow truck like we are now. This time it was the water pump locked up while traveling N on I-75. Luckly we were able to get to the shoulder with out incident!!!!!
check out that truck good before you agree to drive it
- Thread starter fketchum
- Start date
Hope the truck owner is providing some sort of compensation for these breakdowns. Though I realize being a contract driver you might be out luck. The only way I could think of to check the water pump would be to grab the fan blades and wiggle blades up and down or sideways to see if there was any slack in the bearings on the pump shaft.
Regarding a new contract driver checking out a new ride, any one consider getting an outside opinion from an independent mechanics shop before you signed the contract to drive ? Would this be to much ?
jimmy
Regarding a new contract driver checking out a new ride, any one consider getting an outside opinion from an independent mechanics shop before you signed the contract to drive ? Would this be to much ?
jimmy
denny2010
Expert Expediter
i dont think thats to much to ask for. one reason i say that is, if you were going to buy a truck you would want to take it to shop for a close inspection. in a perfect world you would like to trust owners word that truck is ok, but in all i wonder if some even care if truck is safe to drive. all they want is to see that truck make money...in case mentioned above, truck broke down cant make anyone money...THATS THE BOTTOM LINE......
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well I got to tell you that if you are driving for someone else, they need to make sure the truck is up to the work. It isn't a driver's thing to ask for the truck to be put through a process to make sure that it is good enough to drive. There is no way I would let a potential driver consider this with my equipment, they are there to drive it not judge it.
BUT if you are going to buy the truck, then have the oil analyzed, the truck put on a chassis dyno to see what the engine is doing, have a blowby test done while it is on the dyno and a vischeck if you have access to a place that does that test. AND if you can, have a DOT inspection done by someone who knows what they are doing - stress you need to find problems.
Quoting Greg. "BUT if you are going to buy the truck, then have the oil analyzed, the truck put on a chassis dyno to see what the engine is doing, have a blowby test done while it is on the dyno and a vischeck if you have access to a place that does that test. AND if you can, have a DOT inspection done by someone who knows what they are doing - stress you need to find problems."
Very good way to have a Truck checked out, if you are buying.This would be the way I would like to have the truck checked.
Re the question I asked in post #2. I was more concerned about what sort of financial responsibility, a driver contractor might bear as a result of mechanical breakdown in the first month or so of driving. If any.
One thing a new driver/contractor might think about. Would be requesting an copy of the trucks DOT inspection form, preferably a recent one. This before driving somewhere at their expense to pick the truck up
jimmy.
Very good way to have a Truck checked out, if you are buying.This would be the way I would like to have the truck checked.
Re the question I asked in post #2. I was more concerned about what sort of financial responsibility, a driver contractor might bear as a result of mechanical breakdown in the first month or so of driving. If any.
One thing a new driver/contractor might think about. Would be requesting an copy of the trucks DOT inspection form, preferably a recent one. This before driving somewhere at their expense to pick the truck up
jimmy.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well see I wouldn't count on the DOT inspection to do more than say it was a DOT inspection unless it was a level 1 inspection.
I have found out early in my "career" that the inspections are only as good as the driver/owner/mechanics want them to be and nothing more.
The problem may be that there is an assumption to just pass the truck and that's it, allowing the mechanic to skate over the inspection and sign off on it. If he sees something horridly wrong, then it is one thing but overall there isn't much one can count on with many of these inspections.
I, with my truck, want to be told of a problem and I tell the "inspector" that is what I want them to do. I have actually fought with the manager of a "truck stop" repair shop over a poor inspection to get my way. Not many will do that.
Unfortunately you are right about mechanics and shop managers wanting to skate by on DOT inspections, paticularly if they thought that was what the truck owner wanted
Just trying to think of a practical way to check out a truck from a distance. Good pictures might would help.
jimmy
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well see there isn't any way to 'check' out a truck unless you go there yourself or hire an inspection service. It isn't as easy as that.
What I have done is put a clause in the contract that explains what happens when a breakdown happens, who foots the hotel bill and so on. BUT I also have stressed that I lose money when that truck sits, more than the driver because my insurance and other fees from the carrier don't stop, so I want to keep it running.
What I have done is put a clause in the contract that explains what happens when a breakdown happens, who foots the hotel bill and so on. BUT I also have stressed that I lose money when that truck sits, more than the driver because my insurance and other fees from the carrier don't stop, so I want to keep it running.
Thank you Greg. Very helpful hint for the driver, about what to look for in the driving agreemnent.
jimmy