Ask a Feeder Driver, Feeder Driver FAQ

[Yeet]

Yeah that free test really helped me pass my test

DMVGenie helped me. It’s a free app. Just kept taking the tests over and over until I started consistently passing with a 98% or better.

 

[BigUnionGuy]

 

[formymax]

Anyone having issues with their shop disconnecting the automatic 5th wheel release and making them manual? There’s been some issues with getting parts for the 5th wheels but it’s been found that if they’re kept well lubed it’s not so much a problem. My shop will automatically disconnect them even if there’s no issue.

 

[2Down2Many2Go]

Anyone having issues with their shop disconnecting the automatic 5th wheel release and making them manual? There’s been some issues with getting parts for the 5th wheels but it’s been found that if they’re kept well lubed it’s not so much a problem. My shop will automatically disconnect them even if there’s no issue.

You must have a 251 Freightliner or newer, either way I thought the tractors with automatic release could not be released manually.

 

[DriveInDriveOut]

Anyone having issues with their shop disconnecting the automatic 5th wheel release and making them manual? There’s been some issues with getting parts for the 5th wheels but it’s been found that if they’re kept well lubed it’s not so much a problem. My shop will automatically disconnect them even if there’s no issue.

Yes.

 

[quad decade guy]

You must have a 251 Freightliner or newer, either way I thought the tractors with automatic release could not be released manually.

Not true.

They can be released. However, it can be very difficult. I drive one and have a puller in case.

Road calls occur when faulty.

Mgmt doesn't like road calls....thus the deactivation.

I love my auto release. Really useful and sure is cleaner and safer on the body.

 

[2Down2Many2Go]

Right so they can't be released manually without being deactivated by the shop ? Either way a driver I know couldn't get the fifth wheel to release manually, and that's how he learned about the automatic release.

 

[Yeet]

Right so they can't be released manually without being deactivated by the shop ? Either way a driver I know couldn't get the fifth wheel to release manually, and that's how he learned about the automatic release.

You can still manually pull the pin on auto release tractors. It’s a pain in the ass, but you can do it. I’ve been told it’s more of a quick yank motion rather than pull like the older fifth wheels.

 

[Yeet]

Anyone having issues with their shop disconnecting the automatic 5th wheel release and making them manual? There’s been some issues with getting parts for the 5th wheels but it’s been found that if they’re kept well lubed it’s not so much a problem. My shop will automatically disconnect them even if there’s no issue.

Not here. All of ours are still functional and I’ve only ever had one instance where it didn’t work and that’s only because the entire panel was fried. 4 ways, bag dump, auto release, LDW, TC, the whole board. That one went back to the dealer.

 

[trickpony1]

You can still manually pull the pin on auto release tractors. It’s a pain in the ass, but you can do it. I’ve been told it’s more of a quick yank motion rather than pull like the older fifth wheels.

Have a good orthopedic surgeon in mind so he can repair your shoulder.

Possibly helping.

 

[Yeet]

Have a good orthopedic surgeon in mind so he can repair your shoulder.

Possibly helping.

I wouldn’t do it repeatedly. Just to get you out of a pinch and red tag it as soon as you get it back to the yard. Yanking on a pin like that will definitely mess you up.

 

[HEFFERNAN]

The shop gave us a can of chain lube to use periodically on the connector.
Haven't had a problem since with the automatic release.
I do seem to have issues connecting to the pin which scares me.
Sometimes takes 2-3 backs to get it to hold. Not sure if it's just my tractor.
Regardless, I'll never hook up with a trailer unless I can pull-test it immediately.

 

[DriveInDriveOut]

The shop gave us a can of chain lube to use periodically on the connector.
Haven't had a problem since with the automatic release.
I do seem to have issues connecting to the pin which scares me.
Sometimes takes 2-3 backs to get it to hold. Not sure if it's just my tractor.
Regardless, I'll never hook up with a trailer unless I can pull-test it immediately.

Mine was doing the same thing. Whenever the automatic release was acting up, it wouldn't hook on the first try with the next trailer, like the lock jaw wasn't resetting right or something.

 

[BigUnionGuy]

Regardless, I'll never hook up with a trailer unless I can pull-test it immediately.

There was a case out of Local 135, where a guy dropped his back box because of it.

 

[Johney]

The shop gave us a can of chain lube to use periodically on the connector.
Haven't had a problem since with the automatic release.
I do seem to have issues connecting to the pin which scares me.
Sometimes takes 2-3 backs to get it to hold. Not sure if it's just my tractor.
Regardless, I'll never hook up with a trailer unless I can pull-test it immediately.

There was a case out of Local 135, where a guy dropped his back box because of it.

I was going to say, I hope you also do a visual inspection every time because I've had a time or two when the tug test seemed fine, but when doing a visual you could clearly see the latch was not fully locked.

 

[over9five]

I was going to say, I hope you also do a visual inspection every time because I've had a time or two when the tug test seemed fine, but when doing a visual you could clearly see the latch was not fully locked.

Me too. You're a hack if you're not doing a visual of the latch.

 

[Yeet]

Me too. You're a hack if you're not doing a visual of the latch.

You’re basically asking for it if you don’t. I’ve caught a few times it wasn’t fully latched. Got back in and hit reverse, same thing. Dropped the legs, uncoupled and slammed it again. Then it was fine.

Dispatch asked me to do a CPU to wrap up my day one day. Headed there, did my swap and I’m on the way back. I wasn’t there for 15 minutes. On the way back I see a YRC driver dropped a set on the other side of the road, blocking the entire road on that side. I just missed him or I would have been stuck behind him with no way to turn around.

 

[Johney]

You’re basically asking for it if you don’t. I’ve caught a few times it wasn’t fully latched. Got back in and hit reverse, same thing. Dropped the legs, uncoupled and slammed it again. Then it was fine.

Dispatch asked me to do a CPU to wrap up my day one day. Headed there, did my swap and I’m on the way back. I wasn’t there for 15 minutes. On the way back I see a YRC driver dropped a set on the other side of the road, blocking the entire road on that side. I just missed him or I would have been stuck behind him with no way to turn around.

One night about 3 a.m. I saw an ABF guy lose his back box in the middle of I-95. Drove by and seen him sitting with the front box and dolly about 100 yards down the road then saw the rear in the middle of the road. Weird thing is there was no pads or ABF buildings anywhere.

 

[Yeet]

One night about 3 a.m. I saw an ABF guy lose his back box in the middle of I-95. Drove by and seen him sitting with the front box and dolly about 100 yards down the road then saw the rear in the middle of the road. Weird thing is there was no pads or ABF buildings anywhere.

95 is cursed at night. I ran Palm Bay for 2 years and I can’t tell you how many times FHP had to shut it down due to a fatality. So glad to be off that run.

 

[over9five]

I've seen several of our guys drop their box right after making the right out of the Chema driveway. That'll teach you. I hope....