Ask a Feeder Driver, Feeder Driver FAQ

[barnyard]

Isn’t it crazy how long a pull and replace at a CPU takes? I’ve never pulled and replaced doubles.

I build the outgoing set on the door, pull it out of the way, drop that and put the empties on. I don't code the time, but enter the number of shifts in that one menu (the same menu where you can choose wash and fuel.) Sweeping out an empty takes the same time as a shift, so that gets added too. Generally to break down the set, do all the swaps and build the outgoing set; it takes an hour and 15-20 minutes.

Last night, as I pulled in (this is the 1st leg of the night,) it started raining. We got 3 inches of rain in 45 minutes. I drove my last leg barefoot to let my feet dry out. It felt sooooo good.

We have another CPU that is a same door swap. The set leaves our building with a trailer from another CPU. Get to the 1st leg, break down the set, pull the load off the door, if there is enough room, go to another CPU and add more stuff. If the trailer is more than 60%, take the other trailer. Either way, it is a lot of dicking around.

 

[ManInBrown]

I build the outgoing set on the door, pull it out of the way, drop that and put the empties on. I don't code the time, but enter the number of shifts in that one menu (the same menu where you can choose wash and fuel.) Sweeping out an empty takes the same time as a shift, so that gets added too. Generally to break down the set, do all the swaps and build the outgoing set; it takes an hour and 15-20 minutes.

Last night, as I pulled in (this is the 1st leg of the night,) it started raining. We got 3 inches of rain in 45 minutes. I drove my last leg barefoot to let my feet dry out. It felt sooooo good.

We have another CPU that is a same door swap. The set leaves our building with a trailer from another CPU. Get to the 1st leg, break down the set, pull the load off the door, if there is enough room, go to another CPU and add more stuff. If the trailer is more than 60%, take the other trailer. Either way, it is a lot of dicking around.

Wow. Yeah that’s what I meant. Going into the combined menu and entering the number of shifts. I’m not doubles qualified yet , it looks like a real pain in the a55 to build a set. I’ve been told pulling doubles is no big deal. Building the set looks like a hassle from watching drivers in the yard do it. And if it’s raining like you said.

 

[Johney]

I was told lot lizards by the veterans. Fog lights on

Fog lights on gets you IndecisiOn kind of lot lizards.

 

[Jones]

Wow. Yeah that’s what I meant. Going into the combined menu and entering the number of shifts. I’m not doubles qualified yet , it looks like a real pain in the a55 to build a set. I’ve been told pulling doubles is no big deal. Building the set looks like a hassle from watching drivers in the yard do it. And if it’s raining like you said.

what?

 

[Johney]

what?

That's what I was thinking. How can you be in feeders and not be doubles qualified?

 

[ManInBrown]

what?

We have tons of drivers that aren’t qualified. From what I’ve been told the way it works here is, when you come from package if they don’t train you on doubles during your 2 week training period, then you slip thru the cracks. But eventually I’ll be trained. Another driver told me a few times a year they’ll grab 5 drivers and train them that day.

 

[Jones]

We have tons of drivers that aren’t qualified. From what I’ve been told the way it works here is, when you come from package if they don’t train you on doubles during your 2 week training period, then you slip thru the cracks. But eventually I’ll be trained. Another driver told me a few times a year they’ll grab 5 drivers and train them that day.

I have never heard of that. Around here once you finish your 2 weeks training that's it, you're supposed to be able to do everything.

 

[ManInBrown]

I have never heard of that. Around here once you finish your 2 weeks training that's it, you're supposed to be able to do everything.

Yeah doesn’t work like that here with everyone. Doubles wasn’t even discussed during my training. Then yesterday I saw another sup training the newest driver, and they were hooking up doubles. Luck of the draw I guess.

 

[pickup]

Isn’t it crazy how long a pull and replace at a CPU takes? I’ve never pulled and replaced doubles. The first time I did it of course no one told me about coding it combined work-shift. Love how they just throw you out there without telling you half the stuff you need to know. My sup barely explained weight stations to me. I’m TO’ing one day at 6am to go to another building to grab an empty and the weight station was open. I had about 3 seconds to decide if I should pull in. No one ever told me if you had to without a trailer. I blew past it. Got lucky no cops came out after me. Find out later that night from another driver that I was supposed to pull in even without a trailer.

]

Happens here quite a bit too and a lot of those drivers end up staying non doubles qualified. The ones that keep asking eventually get trained. The ones that don’t ask never get trained.

 

[barnyard]

My productive week was on a run that built 3-4 sets a night. I built 1 set and pulled it for half a day during my non-productive week. I was told that if I did not pass the doubles/triples portion of the written test, I could not do feeder school.

Building a set is really hard, until it is not. When you are pulling a set, look in your mirrors and note what everything looks like. When building a set, line up the sides of the trailers, do not pay attention to where the dolly is, just to how well the trailers are lined up. If you get everything close and do not think the dolly is going to hit the pin, put your hand on the top of the steering wheel and turn it the direction you want the dolly to go. I have never been able to hero hook, but I can pull up 3 feet and get the dolly centered on the pin. Beware of gravel lots or any uneven surface. I had to crank up a box that looked like a dolly would go under, but would not.

Before I had a routine down, I would frequently forget to push the snubber. 1 night my kite was all over the place. Actually scared me on one curve. After that, I developed a routine where I hit the snubber when I turn on the air and hit it again when I walk around to pretrip the other side of the trailer. If it popped while I was waiting to pull, I will check it again at the guard shack, as the run to the shack gets the air built up enough to hold. Also, if the snubber keeps popping out, give it a quarter turn when you push it. That is my habit now. Since I have started doing that, I have not tagged a trailer for a faulty snubber.

Adding additional things to your schedule is very easy. When I started, I usually had at least 1 mistake per timecard. It has been 3 years since I have been called in to discuss my timecard. The last Ivis upgrade even made unscheduled CPUs easy to figure out. Even I can do it.

 

[Indecisi0n]

I was told sups don't even waste their time trying to train "special" drivers on doubles.

 

[ManInBrown]

]

Happens here quite a bit too and a lot of those drivers end up staying non doubles qualified. The ones that keep asking eventually get trained. The ones that don’t ask never get trained.

Why would anyone want to be trained? Just seems like a hassle especially in bad weather months with building the set. They can keep the extra .50 cents an hour.

 

[barnyard]

and as our tractors are going in for PMIs, mechanics are adding the stuff for the cell phone ivis dealios. I have an otterbox dealio for my cell phone and it clips nicely to the holder for the new ivis. Makes it very easy to run a cord to the usb radio to listen to podcasts. I hate overnight radio.

 

[Jones]

For production week here if you can't build a set you don't pass, period. Back to package you go.

 

[Indecisi0n]

For production week here if you can't build a set you don't pass, period. Back to package you go.

Wrong

 

[ManInBrown]

and as our tractors are going in for PMIs, mechanics are adding the stuff for the cell phone ivis dealios. I have an otterbox dealio for my cell phone and it clips nicely to the holder for the new ivis. Makes it very easy to run a cord to the usb radio to listen to podcasts. I hate overnight radio.

We’ve had the cell phones for months. Surprisingly they really have had any glitches with it except for one day the network was down.

 

[Jones]

Wrong

You're on thin ice...

 

[barnyard]

For production week here if you can't build a set you don't pass, period. Back to package you go.

Our daytime job is the only job that does not pull doubles. Not pulling doubles means not qualifying.

 

[Indecisi0n]

You're on thin ice...

Wrong,it's summer time.

 

[barnyard]

You're on thin ice...

Noted