Ask a Feeder Driver, Feeder Driver FAQ

[Indecisi0n]

Who said that was a funny. You seem angry. Of course, many of us are upset about what has happened with the contract.

I am one of the happiest members on here.

 

[Rick Ross]

I am one of the happiest members on here.

 

[Indecisi0n]

View attachment 216992

 

[Rick Ross]

 

[ManInBrown]

Anyone have any useful tips on feeling more comfortable driving in the rain? I’m already driving at a very safe speed when it rains but I always feel like at any moment I could slide off the road, especially on highways. I don’t know if it’s just in my head but it always feels like the front tractor tires don’t have good grip in the rain. Unsettling as sheet. Then you have the FedEx and swift morons that drive around like they have nothing to live for. Driving 80 in the rain weaving in and out of lanes.

 

[trickpony1]

Hydroplaning and/or oil slick is always a concern when roads are wet.

Slow down 5 mph and see if it still feels the same.

Don't use the cruise control on wet/snowy/slick roads.

 

[trickpony1]

EDIT:
Years ago a new driver asked me, "hey trick...you really think these 80,000 pound trucks will hydroplane?".

Trick-"Yup...especially when you attempt to stop.".

I hope he remembers that.

 

[trickpony1]

Another edit:

I hope my little buddy indecision remembers this also.

 

[Indecisi0n]

Another edit:

I hope my little buddy indecision remembers this also.

I'm that tractor in the far right lane doing 55 when the speed limit is 65. All those tractors can get pissed and stay on my ass or pass me.

 

[Indecisi0n]

Anyone have any useful tips on feeling more comfortable driving in the rain? I’m already driving at a very safe speed when it rains but I always feel like at any moment I could slide off the road, especially on highways. I don’t know if it’s just in my head but it always feels like the front tractor tires don’t have good grip in the rain. Unsettling as sheet. Then you have the FedEx and swift morons that drive around like they have nothing to live for. Driving 80 in the rain weaving in and out of lanes.

Just take it slow and easy. Try not to make and quick turns or braking. Also always keep your windows clean. Last thing you want is hazy windows at night or for the windows to fog up.

 

[ManInBrown]

Just take it slow and easy. Try not to make and quick turns or braking. Also always keep your windows clean. Last thing you want is hazy windows at night or for the windows to fog up.

I'm that tractor in the far right lane doing 55 when the speed limit is 65. All those tractors can get and stay on my ass or pass me.

Lol. I’m the guy in the right lane doing 40 in the rain in a 65, while swift and FedEx pass me going 80

 

[over9five]

Also always keep your windows clean. Last thing you want is hazy windows at night or for the windows to fog up.

Highly agree! Buy Windex, and keep in the tractor. Don't bother trying to clean the inside of the windshield with freakin washer fluid!
Also clean the MIRRORS after you wash it. Those water spots block your view!

 

[FrigidFTSup]

When do loads generally get sorted?Night, Preload, Twilight , Day etc? Just trying to understand the system better.

When When I bring a night load into a Hub for example, when will it get sorted?

It’s actually not all black and white which sort it will go on.

For buildings that have boxlines, there is usually at least one door on the twilight and night that can run pure preload volume. So if you have preload units sitting on property, throw them up rather than waiting for the preload to start.

Night loads can technically get run on any twilight, but depending on the load content it may not make sense. Our twilight only builds 5 preloads, but our night 27. So we’d end up taking a lot of that night volume and dumping it back into another sort somewhere else.

Twilight loads (think volume from another hub, not CPU volume), again can go either way. We have some loads on our twi that can get pushed to the night, and often do with no service failures. But it’s also building specific.

I’m not even going to go into day volume because some sorts it’s all preload volume and others all origin.

 

[retiredTxfeeder]

When I was a young feeder driver, I had an OJS ride. There were several of us in a convoy going down a rainy, wet freeway.. The guy in front of me had been in feeders 20+ years, and we were driving slightly below the posted speed limit. My on road supe told me to speed up, and pass the lead driver. I told him that the guy in front of us was way more experienced than me and he knew this road like the back of his hand. I told him I didn't feel comfortable passing him. And I didn't. Bottom line, no matter what the schedule says, or what the dispatcher says, go as fast as *you* feel comfortable with. Having to answer their questions afterward, should there be any, Is easier than filling out a LP880, or whatever it's called now.

 

[Indecisi0n]

When I was a young feeder driver, I had an OJS ride. There were several of us in a convoy going down a rainy, wet freeway.. The guy in front of me had been in feeders 20+ years, and we were driving slightly below the posted speed limit. My on road supe told me to speed up, and pass the lead driver. I told him that the guy in front of us was way more experienced than me and he knew this road like the back of his hand. I told him I didn't feel comfortable passing him. And I didn't. Bottom line, no matter what the schedule says, or what the dispatcher says, go as fast as *you* feel comfortable with. Having to answer their questions afterward, should there be any, Is easier than filling out a LP880, or whatever it's called now.

I'd much rather have a late load than a rolled set.

 

[Dracula]

No cruise during wet conditions, and drive at the speed you feel most comfortable, regardless of the conditions. End of story.

 

[Dracula]

As a mileage driver, I tend to drive hammer down. But when it's wet, the cruise goes off. Same thing for construction zones and lower speed limits. Just because you drive mileage doesn't mean you forget the rules. I only go fast when I drive. I still have a bulletproof pre and post trip routine. And even driving 70 MPH, I rarely leave or arrive on-time. That's because I don't leave if my equipment isn't road-ready, to the button. And I don't leave a hub with a load that doesn't have straps or a load bar securing a load.

It still boggles my mind how much OT I get because the hub refuses to do their job, and I have to hunt around the hub, or empty trailers in the yard, looking for a load bar. Truly amazing.

 

[Dracula]

And it's been kind of amusing how management has reacted to all of this. I'm suppose to be hooked up, sealed and ready to go. But, usually, that doesn't happen.

Lately, however, they have had me hooked up and sealed. Most of the guys hooking me up are the new, street hires. So I've pulled some of those guys aside, and asked them if they've made sure my loads are secured. They all ask me what that means, of course. I tell them what it means, and tell them if they sign my seal, they are responsible for my load. And I tell them if they don't want to seal, or get the load sealed, they need to go get a load bar and seal it.

So now--shocking!--my loads aren't sealed.

And if my seal isn't signed, or the % isn't filled out, and the seal is on, I pull the seal and check. And guess what? No load bar.

Hey, when I'm driving this load down the road, it's my responsibility, and I'm going to know what I'm carrying.

 

[retiredTxfeeder]

Lately, however, they have had me hooked up and sealed.

If I pulled a load that was completed at my building, I checked for load retainers, and I checked some packages in the load to make sure it was the right trailer. I sealed the door after verifying the seal#. I'd never trusted anybody else to do that. Hell, I didn't even like to pull prebuilt sets. All management is doing is putting a bandaid on the problem. They need to lean on the hub to do their job right so you can hit your gate time.

 

[Johney]

Hard to check for load bars on rail loads.