Question:
This can be the hardest thing for a newbie to say. You are worried about making your company happy. I ran into a situation the other week where I had to stand my ground.
I picked up a relay load out of Oak Creek, WI. I did the pre-trip inspection. I found a flat tire on the rear axle. I figured I would try to go to the Pilot down the street and air up the tire to see if it would keep up. Well I jump in the truck and do the 4 point air break check. Well I notice I am loosing air out of the secondary tank. I set the tractor breaks and go and see what is going on. I find that the trailor has a major leak around the tank. I call maintaince. It is 3am on a Sunday. They told me I would have to wait until later in the morning. Well at around 9am the next shift calls me. I tell them what is going on. They ask me if I have duct tape. I know where they are going with this. I tell them NO, I will not take the trailor on the road they need to get someone to me to fix it. They were going to try to see if I would wrap the fitting in duct tape and limp down the road to save the road call fee. I had to stand my ground and they eventually called for road side.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog

Answer:
GOOD FOR YOU BUZZDOG!!!!!!
Remember.. to those who are afraid to do this.. it is YOU who is out there on the road, not the guy who is sitting home, tryin to talk you into running unsafe, so he can finish the ball game...
You run the load, YOU are responsible for it, it's YOUR life, safety, and career.
To quote a quote that's very old...
This above all, to thine own self be true.
Dreamer
"The true sign of an intelligent person, is the ability to control emotion, thru the application of logic"
Answer:
If it was your money you woulda been like, "anybody know where I can get duck tape at?"
- Pain is temporary. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever. -
Answer:
"I found a flat tire on the rear axle. I figured I would try to go to the Pilot down the street and air up the tire to see if it would keep up. "
I must say because this is the newbies. Airing up that flat isn't one of the smartest things you could possibly do. Never for any reason put air into a tire that has gone flat or even real low. There is this little thing called the "zipper effect". That is the noise the tire makes when your airing it up and the side wall blows out. That could easily kill you or remove body parts quickly. It is caused by a tire that has been driven with low air air pressure and the sidewall has been damaged.
If you do a PTI in the morning or are picking up a new trailer and you find a flat the only thing to do with it is to take it to a shop. You have absolutely no idea how long or even if that tire had been driven in that state, So why chance it. Besides it needs repaired anyway. They dont just go flat for no reason.
I had to add that little info to possibly help someone avoid a disaster.
I would like to thank Phil whom I once argued this point with. He was right. It's not a good idea at all.
'Carpe Diem' does not mean 'fish of the day'.
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
[This message was edited by Stuffs on December 17, 2003 at 0:21.]

Answer:
If you do a PTI in the morning or are picking up a new trailer and you find a flat the only thing to do with it is to take it to a shop. You have absolutely no idea how long or even if that tire had been driven in that state, So why chance it. Besides it needs repaired anyway. They dont just go flat for no reason.
I agree!
The chances of this happening (what Stuffs mentioned), are remote, but it does happen.
Better safe than sorry.
It's kinda like that old saying that you heard your mom yell at ya when you were a kid.
"It's all fun and games until someone gets their eye poked out."
Know what I mean?
Buzzdog, as far as the air leak, ya done good! Stick to your guns on stuff like that.
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"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division

Answer:
When it comes to something on the Truck that is going to effect my safety and the safety of the drivers around me as well as my pocket then you can bet your sweet butt I will say NO!! In cases like that. You did good in refusing to do something like that. Our instructors have repeated many times dring our training. We are Drivers out there and not mechanics so let those people do thier job and do what you are being paid for. Driving.
Drafter
Keep the wheels rolling