Advice for Feeder School

[MaceFremonti]

I agree! Nothing like being in a hurry to beat the rain and forget to pull up the legs on a swapped set of doubles at 3:45 in the morning! I got all the way across the truck stop going "What the friend is that sound?" before I stopped and figured out what it was. By then I had woken up every driver who was sleeping! They were not happy and quite vocal about it! LOL

 

[Dracula]

I agree! Nothing like being in a hurry to beat the rain and forget to pull up the legs on a swapped set of doubles at 3:45 in the morning! I got all the way across the truck stop going "What the friend is that sound?" before I stopped and figured out what it was. By then I had woken up every driver who was sleeping! They were not happy and quite vocal about it! LOL

I've never dropped a set of doubles. But I've made many, many mistakes back here. But, I can say, all of my mistakes have been in the yard. I'm all business on the road. Once the wheels start turning, I don't pluck around. And the Upstates of the UPS world can kiss my brown ass, I drive at my speed. No supervisor will dictate my speed for me.

Sounds like you've got a bunch of touchy old foogies around you. When I dropped my last trailer, drivers came out of the dark to help me crank those legs in low gear. The first laughed, and told me about the time he dropped his trailer in a driving snow storm, all alone, in a rural center. The next guy came and told me he was afraid I was going to have a heart attack. Both of them laughed at my embarrassment, and told me that it happens to everyone.

Some here say it never happened to them. They're the really good ones, because it happens to most of us.

What I would say, is when you're hooking up, if you're talking to another driver while you're doing it, stop, and check everything again. Talk will distract you. Make sure it is only in the yard when it happens.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I think your required to be at least 15 lbs overweight to qualify.

we have a lot of feeder drivers who run marathons. a couple years ago I completed the swim around lake Tahoe. 72 miles , buddy.

We have a feeder driver who used to be at least 15 lbs overweight----he has worked very hard to lose the weight and is talking about running a marathon.

 

[pretender]

I'm trying to set this up as we speak. One of the guys my dad knew is still there and was going to help me out until my class got pushed back to the same week as his vacation. I know another guy, but he just got out of the class himself. Still, time on the yard will be great.


Thanks so much for the advice. My dad drove for 33 years. I've bore witness to just what this job can do for you (and to you) first hand. In my case, it's the best opportunity I can foresee for myself (made it to my senior year as a Computer Science Major, but couldn't meet the foreign lang requirement). The time away from the kid will hurt, but its for the best in the long run. BTW... some of you mentioned package car.... I'm not coming from package car, I'm a PT'r on Irregs in the hub. This is only the 3rd posting I've seen for feeders in my 13yrs here. Package car has been even fewer.

It sounds like you have a rare opportunity--It is not common for a part-timer to go straight to feeders. I would do some research, and find out why the last 9 out of 10 failed--Spend extra time working on those areas. Even if you cannot find a driver to mentor you, driving a tractor around the property on your own, per Jones' suggestion is invaluable. If you have some older Macks at your hub, I would try practicing with them. They are a little more forgiving if your RPMs are not just right.

One thing you can control is your attitude--You said you had all of the memorization down, which is great. While it takes much more than being able to parrot talking points to be a competent feeder driver, it just shows you are willing to put forth the extra effort. Another example would be your dad's 33 years of experience. I am sure he can be a great source for tips--AFTER you qualify. The last thing you want to do, is to contradict your trainer by saying your dad did something a different way. In short, you don't want to be someone that the supervisor dreads being around for 40 hours. If you get down to your last day of training, and you are not quite there, it may be the difference between being disqualified or given a little more time. Don't give up--One day you may think that you will never get the hang of it, and then the next day everything seems to click...

 

[anonymous6]

don't forget that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

 

[Indecisi0n]

don't forget that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

I use to believe this until I worked at UPS.

 

[bluehdmc]

don't forget that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

You've apparently never tried to sell anything on ebay!

 

[cachsux]

I've never dropped a set of doubles. But I've made many, many mistakes back here. But, I can say, all of my mistakes have been in the yard. I'm all business on the road. Once the wheels start turning, I don't pluck around. And the Upstates of the UPS world can kiss my brown ass, I drive at my speed. No supervisor will dictate my speed for me.

Sounds like you've got a bunch of touchy old foogies around you. When I dropped my last trailer, drivers came out of the dark to help me crank those legs in low gear. The first laughed, and told me about the time he dropped his trailer in a driving snow storm, all alone, in a rural center. The next guy came and told me he was afraid I was going to have a heart attack. Both of them laughed at my embarrassment, and told me that it happens to everyone.

Some here say it never happened to them. They're the really good ones, because it happens to most of us.

What I would say, is when you're hooking up, if you're talking to another driver while you're doing it, stop, and check everything again. Talk will distract you. Make sure it is only in the yard when it happens.

I've never dropped a trailer but I have made other mistakes, thankfully minor. Yes everybody makes them once. It's the people who make them twice that I worry about.

 

[Covemastah]

When your sitting in the tractor and think to yourself ''did I check that" now is the time to get out and recheck !!

 

[Covemastah]

Every one developoes their own routine that's good for them, mine is I ALWAYS ALWAYS check the pin first !! If you forget anything on the pre trip,,DON"T let it be theeee PIN !!!!!!

 

[2Slow]

Be sure to keep an eye on the trailer(s) around every turn.

 

[trickpony1]

When your sitting in the tractor and think to yourself ''did I check that" now is the time to get out and recheck !!

You're in trouble........
You haven't heard the new acronym?
GOAL

get
out
and
look.

Where's the union steward....you need representation.

 

[Brownkeg8]

Be sure to keep an eye on the trailer(s) around every turn.

Came into feeders this year and this is a big concern especially in a busy yard. You need to think ahead and give yourself room or you could be in tight spot quick, hear rumors about guys having to break down their set just to move.

 

[Covemastah]

After a long tough night, go home relax,, crack a Bud have some left over Chinese and enjoy some porn !! you earned it fellah !!

 

[Covemastah]

You're in trouble........
You haven't heard the new acronym?
GOAL

get
out
and
look.

Where's the union steward....you need representation.

I.m still trying to figure out a g k l m !!!

 

[cachsux]

Came into feeders this year and this is a big concern especially in a busy yard. You need to think ahead and give yourself room or you could be in tight spot quick, hear rumors about guys having to break down their set just to move.

​Never get yourself into something you'll have to get yourself out of.

 

[Pickles]

I almost had a trailer start on fire on me the other day. It felt like it was pulling hard, but it's all up hill in the beginning and I drive a different tractor everyday. Sometimes it just does that. After about 5 miles a car comes past me honking and I look in the mirror and another was behind me flashing their lights. I quick pulled over and the drivers side rear brake on my 3rd trailer was smoking like your Grandmother. Fire trucks came but the smoke was gone by the time they got there. Mechanic drove out and let off the brakes, went back to the hub and reran the trailer. Last night the mechanic said he couldn't find anything wrong with the trailer or dolly. What the heck was the problem!?

 

[Anonymous 10]

I start Feeder school on the 19th (next Fri). Any advice? I already have all the stuff they want us to have memorized down (8 keys to lift/lower, 5 seeing habits, 5 keys to slips and falls, 8 yard control, 10pt commentary). The only things I'm really nervous about are shifting gears and backing. I've driven a stick all my life so I think I'll get double clutching pretty easy, and my dad was a feeder driver so I learned to back a trailer with only my mirrors pretty early as well... albeit on a smaller scale. Things are a lot different than when he started though, so he can only advise me so much.

I'm a little paranoid because of the failure rate. Out of the last class of ten, only one made it out...

I would start thinking of ways to restrict your diet and find time to exercise. Prepare to get fat.

 

[cachsux]

I almost had a trailer start on fire on me the other day. It felt like it was pulling hard, but it's all up hill in the beginning and I drive a different tractor everyday. Sometimes it just does that. After about 5 miles a car comes past me honking and I look in the mirror and another was behind me flashing their lights. I quick pulled over and the drivers side rear brake on my 3rd trailer was smoking like your Grandmother. Fire trucks came but the smoke was gone by the time they got there. Mechanic drove out and let off the brakes, went back to the hub and reran the trailer. Last night the mechanic said he couldn't find anything wrong with the trailer or dolly. What the heck was the problem!?

I've seen tractors that could barely supply air to two trls or even a 53 before. What could have happened is the pressure was just enough to get it to roll but not enough to completely override the spring in the brake to get it to completely release. Or maybe a small leak. Or that 3rd box is a pos and the hub was rusty, etc.

The big thing is , grasshopper, you learned a lesson with no repercussions. Next time you feel something isn't kosher you'll have the experience.

 

[Dracula]

A lot of tractors have plenty of power to drag trailers where the back wheels are locked. Any time it feels different, then chances are, something is wrong. Look in your mirrors, you'll probably see skid marks from locked up wheels. Or ask someone in the yard for a second set of eyes. Bottom line, if something doesn't feel right, get out and figure out what the problem is. Run that set by the shop. Cover your ass.