Do you know the history of the truck you’ve been assigned?

Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-15-2007, 11:37 PM
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Central Florida
Posts: 8
Default Do you know the history of the truck you’ve been assigned?

I’m brand new to this industry and curious if, in general, company drivers are given the opportunity (if they ask for it) to review a trucks maintenance and inspection history prior to assignment to that truck. This information would come in handy for a number of reasons particularly if you breakdown and need to troubleshoot. Thank you
 
  #2  
Old 08-15-2007, 11:42 PM
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 62
Default

I guess I would be more concerned on who lived in it, than what happened to it! But thats just my opinion. :shock:
 
  #3  
Old 08-15-2007, 11:47 PM
WildK9's Avatar
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 1,860
Default

Yeah, it was brand new. :P
 
  #4  
Old 08-16-2007, 01:50 AM
Malaki86's Avatar
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mannington, WV
Posts: 4,482
Default

Heh - I bet mine would have a heck of a history...

It started out in 2001 by being owned by USXpress. My company purchased it in 2006. Hard to tell how many different a$$es have sat in my seat (no wonder the cushion is worn out).
 
__________________
My facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/malaki86
  #5  
Old 08-16-2007, 02:00 AM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 600
Default Re: Do you know the history of the truck you’ve been assig

Originally Posted by latergator
I’m brand new to this industry and curious if, in general, company drivers are given the opportunity (if they ask for it) to review a trucks maintenance and inspection history prior to assignment to that truck....
I think you'd witness the maintenance department faint dead away! :lol:
 
__________________
Anything worth living for is worth dying for.
- anonymous
  #6  
Old 08-16-2007, 02:01 AM
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Central Florida
Posts: 8
Default

Originally Posted by WildK9
Yeah, it was brand new. :P
As a newbie, I’m guessing I won't be put in a new truck. I won’t complain if it happens though :lol:

Do the larger OTR outfits (the ones that hire recent graduates) make this kind of information available to their drivers? Before jumping in a truck and heading across country it would be nice to know the trucks trouble history.
 
  #7  
Old 08-16-2007, 02:46 PM
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Central Florida
Posts: 8
Default Re: Do you know the history of the truck you’ve been assig

[/quote] I think you'd witness the maintenance department faint dead away! :lol:[/quote]

I take it this wouldn't be a request the maintenance dept is used to hearing :?
 
  #8  
Old 08-16-2007, 02:52 PM
Malaki86's Avatar
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mannington, WV
Posts: 4,482
Default

For the major carriers, most trucks are only ran 3-4 years then they replace them, so you really shouldn't have many breakdown issues. For smaller carriers they tend to keep the "running" part of the truck in good condition as they can't afford to have one of their trucks broke down along the interstate 1,000 miles from their only shop.
 
__________________
My facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/malaki86
  #9  
Old 08-16-2007, 05:40 PM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Near Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 573
Default

Don't be surprised if you are assigned a brand new truck right out the gate. Even if it isn't brand new, most companies trade them in around 3 years old so you most likely won't get a clunker that breaks down every 100 miles, however, that happens from time to time also. If a company put me in a truck that didn't allow me to make the kind of money I need I would just request a different truck. Drive by any medium to large sized company terminal and you will likely see many many trucks parked waiting for a driver. This should really be a non-issue with most companies.

As for my company's maintenance records, I slip-seat so I don't care to request a copy every day. One advantage to slip-seating, our trucks are inspected generally every other day by a driver, a yardman and if anything is wrote up by one of the previous, they are run through the shop by a mechanic. Breakdowns happen on occasion, but they are extremely rare. My biggest concern when I get my truck assignment for each run is how well will the seat adjust and how hard will it be to unhook the radio antenna so my XM will work properly... I rarely find anything worse than a marker light out during my PTI.
 
__________________
The opinions expressed are those of the author's only. They do not represent the views of CAD or of the other members of CAD...
  #10  
Old 08-16-2007, 08:53 PM
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Central Florida
Posts: 8
Default

Thank you so much everyone for all your info and insights. Sounds like not too many drivers really feel a need for the trucks service history. That’s a good sign!
 




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT. The time now is 10:21 AM.

Top