First time I watch a trucker youtuber helping a fellow driver instead of just waiting to film when disaster strikes. Thanks Justin

Finally a driver that helps another driver be safe out there

In my experience (27 years) I have found that the trailer brakes are WAY out of adjustment. That is why they wont hold. Remember you don't need air for your trailer brakes to engage. You need air so that they wont.

I sure like You helping other drivers out. I am impressed with Your attitude and knowledge.

Thank you for teaching sliding tandems. Most "truck driving schools" don't, along with a few other things. You are an inspiration. Thank you sir. I think your channel is real world. You're doing a great job.

Log truck is the way to go. Honestly loggers are some of the most help drivers out there it's one big brotherhood no matter the company. Cheers be safe.

Nice to see a Real Guy like you on one of these videos. I’m going for my class A cdl road test next week....keep up the good work Bro!

Same here. My school never taught me sliding tandems or weight distribution either. I’m still learning 3 years later.

I drove otr for 34 years all heavy haul OD. You are right about the pay problems. It gets old fighting it but if you want to get paid and make a good money yearly don't give in .

Damn nice of you to help the other guy out, well done!

Just a suggestion if that happens just switch your red and blue airlines around and release your trailer brakes, it puts all 130 psi of pressure to clap your brakes down. I works about 98% of the time.

Thanks man!! I like how you stick to your guns✊️. I’m learning a lot from you

For pins 4 inches apart, each hole is about 250 lbs; for 6 inches per hole, it’s about 400 pounds.

Been driving 25 years glad to see a younger man who is a top hand

A tip on the tandem sliding. Parking brake applied is only springs. Not that much pressure. Try using trailer brake lever, it applies much more to the brakes.

Sometimes you have to just stand your ground. Like they say good things come to those who wait. Be safe out there and God bless you and your family.

Nice 👍 job helping the driver. Not sure he completely followed you. He needs to get Brakes looked at. 👍

Awesome to see. I'm in school now or I'm supposed to be. We're home at the moment. Hopefully within the next few weeks we'll be back. I've only had 3 rides so far. I enrolled at NTTS in Liverpool NY. Awesome to drive. My first time ever sitting in a truck and ever riding in one and 15 minutes down the road he said, "ok this is where we switch". I looked behind me assuming there was someone sitting in the back that I missed. I assumed wrong. After the first 10 minutes and 5 stoplights it was great. Outside of missing gears, grinding gears, forgetting to hit my blinker, shifting in an intersection, missing an entire greenlight, not shifting through the down shifts, other drivers blowing their horns and throwing me the finger with a few 4 letter words, other than that I was perfect. Like I'd been driving for 20+ years! Thanks for all the great videos. God bless

You said One mistake. Every hole is NOT 500 lbs instead it is 250. When it comes to 5th wheel you are right.

Your video was very entertaining and detailed. I just swithced careers after 17 years and graduated truck school got my license 3 days ago. The fact that you always make sure to say God Bless is Great. I just subbed.

Good job keeping rates up! I've had my trucks sitting for the past month and a half but it's go time!

Love the way you shed light on what us truckers deal with out here. Appreciate your work bro. Hopefully I see you one day out here driver. Keep Truckin!!!

Hi, great vids. Honesty is a lot. I drove for swift flatbed, picked up a load of die for clothing. that was my 5th load for them. they put 1 pallet, and 1 small sac of die on the trailer. asked where is the remaining, 23 pallets, told me that's all the customer ordered. I new they only order a truck load so there is a problem. talked to the shipper's and swift and the customer if all the figures were correct. all but the shipper said it was correct. after an hr back and forth, my dispatcher told me to get it delivered as is or find a new job. Took it to the customer and he was shocked. one pallet one bag. He lost a 3 million job for this and swift made them pay for a full truck load. shipper made the input mistake and blamed both party's for the error. Customer had to sue both party's and won. I filed a complaint about the dispatcher. I tried too help out all party's even though it wasn't my place but if they just corrected the paper work and made it out for his full load, they wouldn't have been too court.

An old timer taught me a trick. Tandems won't slide, swap your air lines, then release your red trailer brake valve, which applies the service brakes on the trailer without applying the brakes on the tractor. Holds the trailer still so you can slide the tandems.

I respect that you stuck to your gun in the negotiations

Other truckers have helped me before and I appreciate it Soo very much

That’s what I like about you! You get out there and help fellow drivers instead of sitting back watching and talking shit.

Air is not used to hold trailer brakes...unless the driver is using the hand/trailer brake. Otherwise the brakes are locked with springs in the canister after air is released/evacuated, this why they are called spring brakes. Either way those trailer brakes will fail an inspection, because they are out of adjustment, or so wore out there is no more adjustment available.

IMO, when you call on a load, you gotta sell yourself. "I'm empty, no other trucks in the area". Do it for $950 right now! They make you wait and, tell them you cost me time so now my rate $1025!

This is why I got out of construction. Gave a bid to paint a new construction home. Got a verbal go ahead on my bid. The day I was to start I showed up and the house was already primed. Builder gave the job to an illegal alien who did the job at cost just to get his foot in the door. Last conversation we had was asking if I could go lower on my price. This was 2008. I needed the money has much as he did so I couldn’t budge on my bid.

You tandems won't slide if your carriage isn't centered either do a couple loops left than right it usually works

Right near where I grew up, but that pilot must be new. Haven't been home in a few years. Good shit.

Glad I never had that problem and headache to go through in all of the years pulling a bull wagon, never argued over the rate.

Just found your channel Female here that grew up on trucks from less than a month old (paci and stashed in the sleeper haha at weigh stations) my father drove for 50ish yrs. Brings back a lot of memories. Have a safe trip

I'm a company driver, I've been off of work cause of the weather here in Texas a week, I've just discovered this channel a few days ago and been binge watching ever since, love the content, love your attitude toward work and life, keep it up. Can't wait to get back to work , these videos are motivating me

trick I learned put the blue line on your service side red on the other push both buttons it will hold

Yes this guys sounded like some shady brokers. I know when I use to do it, you were better off treating your drivers good. When you test the drivers good they are more likely to take your hard to sell loads. A big key that got me drivers calling me instead of me calling them, was getting them loads going in the direction they wanted to go. I had one driver that came to me 90% of the time because I would set up a route that take him from home in Virginia bring him to the west coast then back to North cal in a week and a half. Those to me are the better drivers to have as a broker. So why try to rip them off. Steal someone's money once they will never work with you again. Unless of course you are paying big bucks.

Same thing happen to me in San diego. I got a ratchet. Locate the adjusting mechanism on the slack adjuster. It usually takes a 9/16 wrench to turn it. Tighten it all the way; you should see the S-cams move and the brake shoes tighten against the drum. Then, loosen it 1/2 turn and you should be good

You can make offers on Uber just call and give them the reference number and then tell them you want to put an offer on that load. I do it all the time. Works about 92% of the time 👍🏼

It's the other way around on air brakes. The air releases the brakes. Spring pressure applies the brakes. When you first back under a trailer, try to pull forward before you hook up your air lines. You cant. Hook up your air lines and the brakes release. When you start your tractor in the morning the truck doesn't move until the air pressure reaches about 80 psi and releases the brakes.

By the way I’m so glad to see a driver willing to help another and to take time to show new drivers about how to fix common problems that aren’t taught in school, like you said.

Brakes may need adjustment. SEMPER FIDELIS

Bra, I appreciate you my brotha. I clicked on this video cause I saw a trailer with its tandems ripped off. Wasn’t even a Swift trailer. You owe Swift an apology.

We are a big family. We are always alone OTR so we must help each other!

So I guess since I have never driven anything larger than a 65 C10 with 3 on the tree and am a senior citizen with arthritic knees I could get hired by Swift.

I was lucky guy, trucking company I was leased to had great mechanics, every time I came back in they put my truck in line to check everything including making sure my trailer slid well. First time I pulled for them I got loaded went straight to the truck stop, weighed, pulled off, slid one hole, weighed, pulled off, slid one hole, weighed, pulled off, slid one hole, weighed, pulled off, slid TWO holes, and repeated 2 more times. Now add all the differences between each weigh dived by 6 you get a good average. This should be done with full load 24 pallets on board. Now in the future if you have less pallets you move less weight truth was I got it right almost every time, use to keep an excel spreadsheet of every load for the first year, number of pallets, weight of load, what hole I was in on the tandems and what my weight was. You do that for one year I promise you you can look at your bills see the weight , see the number of pallets and know where to put the tandems every time. This came in handy when I was in a hurry and there was huge line at the scale. Nice video glad to see you get out and help, nice if people would help those having trouble especially with parking. I never tried to tell people how to park unless they asked what they were doing wrong and I never treated them like they were crap just because they needed help. Retired now 17 years (1.2 million miles / 2 accidents) Helping people is good Karma.

Good for you man. Helping that other driver slide his tandems.. Too many times I watch these videos, and the drivers just sit and watch (and complain) while they make their video.

That swift driver was trying to tell you his slack adjusters were out of adjustment. Low air pressure or volume wont keep your spring brakes from applying. But yeah, if his slacks are wacky, his trailer brakes arent going to apply, not so good...

Sometimes when you slam trailer hard all the way back it gets jammed. I carry a chalk with me for this purpose

I don't screw around with them as much as you do but I run all 48. A lot of the brokers I work with have learned that I won't wait. While they are trying to wait me out I'm finding something else! I get calls all the time. You still have that truck? Nope I have it loaded.

Hey Justin, I'm going for my Class A road test in Maine next week. Your videos are very informative and helpful as I plan to save and run my own business in a couple years, with some experience. Probably a rookie question but if you see this, are there any particular load boards you'd recommend over another? The world needs more good PEOPLE trucking, not only good drivers so props to you, sir. 🤜🤛 Who knows, maybe I'll meet you out there some day. God bless.

500 lbs per hole seems a little high, unless your trailer was different from mine. Mine figured out to about 250 lbs per hole.

Those black plastic pallets are great. Unless your on a picker as they have no lock mechanism. We use clamps so the load won't shift

That man's trailer needs to go to the shop. Obviously he doesn't know what is wrong with it. As to the "please stop bidding on this load". I thought that was hilarious.

Brakes will not release without air. It is not an air problem. His slack adjusters are out of adjustment and or his linings and drums are crap. Could also be they put on cheap air cans and all the maxi brakes are broke.

His brakes whernt adjusted right cuz seating the breaks takes the air away and the super strong spring in the chambers force the breaks on if he had a air line pinched will cause the breaks to drag

For all the commenters that have said "adjust your brakes". Before I got off the road and retired from driving, I cannot tell you how many times I had drivers tell me ... "We are NOT allowed to adjust the brakes on the truck, or trailer! If they are out of adjustment we have to call in and get an OK to have a mechanic do it for us." Mostly it was the big operators like Swift, CR England, CRST, JB Hunt, Knight, etc..

if the brakes ain't holding he's got other issues, probably need adjusted or new shoes/drums, if anything they should work better when cold

I remember hauling onions the wheels were all the way back. 79+ No problems with law. Stinks to drive. So glad to get rid of them.

Dang, ,if everyone stuck to they're guns like you do, we could move rates back up! Great video bud!

Hey driver! New subscriber here and looking forward to watching more of your videos. I’m a retired owner operator but I have to admit you’re making me feel a little nostalgic and a lot jealous, lol. I always contracted with a carrier and worked for percentage of each load (mostly ltl but a bit of everything over the years). Carrier always found all my loads for me and of course took care of all the billing. You sure make it look fun, interesting and clearly are very good at negotiating! I kind of wish now that I had of tried operating same as you even if just for a couple of years. In my defense there wasn’t yet internet and easy access to load boards for much of my trucking career but all the same I love the freedom that you have to choose where you want to go, what loads to take, and for how much! Watching your videos kind of makes me feel like I was pretty much a glorified company driver all those years now, lol! Anyways, one question for you... do you find ALL your loads yourself or do you have help sometimes? I’m wondering if you have your wife or a friend or someone watching the boards for you while you’re driving sometimes. Otherwise I could see it get frustrating and time consuming some days if you’re always having to hunt the next load yourself. On the other hand, maybe the LAST thing anyone would ever want to do is turn their spouse into their dispatcher, lol!

That truck stop used to be one of my sleepin spots good job driver keep styling and profiling stay safe

tandems is approx. 250lb per hole, fifthwheel holes are approx. 500lb per. I have seen so many rookie drivers leave the shipper and run tandems all the way back!! bridge law!!

Nice of you to help! Thank you.

The axle gease seal sometimes leaks grease onto the brake drum. If there is more than 25% of the drum coated with grease you can be red tagged

thank you for helping drivers sr👏

Good job for helping another truck driver out.

His emergency brakes are not working.The air is only needed to compress the spring brakes to release them and when you pull the trailer brake it releases the air from rear system and brake springs put the brakes back on.

It’s not about air in the brakes. The slack adjusters are the problem I believe.

The tandems all the way back is incase you don't have the pins out to lock the tandem in place. With them all the way back there is nowhere for the trailer to slide.

Usually when the breaks dont hold like that. Slack adjusters needs adjusting.

You did well helping that guy. You're right about the school not teaching how to slide the tandem and the fifth wheel, too. My dispatcher was mad at me for losing two hours trying to slide one night. The trailer is old with weak brakes. The pins came out and it slide a few inches and stuck. He told me not to slide the tandem again. Most of our drivers slide it forward to make corners. I don't care about that. I started 25 years ago, I can make a corner. I don't cross the scale on my route, so if it's heavy I don't have to worry about a ticket. I don't want it over, and it rides and pulls better at the 41 ft. I will slide it if I want to.

From a 27 year trucking veteran. Good job hand!!!

justin your comminication skills were great with that driver who spoke almost no english but he was good for his age fast and funny,

The springs in the chamber go bad over time. The service brakes will work, but the spring brakes don’t so you can’t slide the tandems without choking the wheels.

Emporia, VA 95 & 58 been through there a lot coming out of Danville, VA headed to Norfolk/Hampton Roads.

Weigh per hole depends on how trailer is loaded , distance between the holes . some states you can have tandoms all the way back. Different states different laws. Slide tandoms towards the heavy end. Slide 5th wheel the direction you want to move the weight.

That first guys problem is maxi brakes are old and they get rust inside and they don’t hold very good. The good news is service brakes still work good.

My son is in air force intelligence. 13 years. 5 years in Germany 2 deployments to Afghanistan. Currently at Langley. Probably similar to your brother has been offered many times to go to a private contractor for big money. Will do after he gets retirement

If your brakes won't hold, DON'T PULL THE TRAILER!!!!!

Awesome brother! Two thumbs up for helping a fellow driver out...God Bless and Happy New Year.

If he brakes aren’t holding to slide his tandems, he needs to get those brakes fixed ASAP, as that is super dangerous.

I think his trailer brakes need to be adjusted!! Driving schools should teach all their students how to adjust your tandems REQUIREMENT. Also advice them to carry some tools 🔨 🔧 🛠

I found it easier to un hook a spring on the handle then tap the pins in. Trying to sledge the pins in with the spring engage was hit or miss

When you helped out the swift driver his brakes were locked because his airlines were cut and they could not release. Springs are what apply pressure to the cylinder that activates your brakes its the air the holds the springs back. Did your trucking school not explain to you about how airbrakes work?? You also may want to read up on slack adjusters. There are automatic / self adjusting and you want to make sure the travel stays within 1 inch max.

Can you do a video on weight distribution?

Regarding tandem location, it’s actually dependent on state, such as in Texas if you within legal weight limit you can drive with the tandems all the way back (not advised but legal)

It ain't always just because of not having enough air. I had a local dedicated run which my company wanted to use an old Trailer for, was almost next to impossible to slide Tandems. I took it to our shop, explained my issues to our mechanics, they adjusted my brakes to the max. Took it back to our customer, following day, same damn problem. Took it back to our shop loaded with Tandems all the way to the back, they lubricated the heck out of it, still didn't improve. The issue can be one of many: Brakes, pins NOT releasing, NOT enough air, buggies dry and rusty and or the problem I was facing. The fibreglass plastics that's between your buggies and frame that's supposed to make it easier for Tandems to slide. I finally had enough of it, I told my company to remove Trailer from the customer and give me a Trailer that was worthy. If I have a hard time sliding my Tandems, I crisscross my airlines, Blue to Red and Red to Blue. Now I know it's NOT what you're supposed to do but it works.

Trying to rip hardworking people off, Glad you stood your ground.

when it comes to sliding tandems..l always 'specked" out the load to see what the weight was. Being a "flatbedder.'..l had a good idea where to put ny coils,steel bar.lumber.machinery for proper distribution. Then l would slide my trailer axles with the trailer empty...much easier.

Canadians have had CDL licences longer than Americans. It is called a CANADIAN DRIVERS LICENSE

Most states you can drive with your tandems all the way to the rear

The air system is not the problem. The spring brakes are out of adjustment. Old school you were able to use the hand lever on the steering wheel. But the new systems that doesn't work .

Thanks for your videos and very interesting about the trailers.

When I drove forklift, some of the trucks dipped big time and that's how it was.

Sliding tandems all the way to the rear is the worst thing to do. It damaged is the trailer causing that floor 2 Flex and damage cross members that holds the floor

Good job on sticking to your guns. Guys like you is what's going to bring the market back up.

it doesn't matter what they "say", infact that doesnt mean shit. You have to get a new rate confirmation from them if you have a TONU or any detention/unloading pay

this guy is like soo detailed i like that

You're a nice trucker. You actually helped him out instead of making fun of the other driver. Many accidents can be preventable if one driver gets out and helps. I gave up on OTR trucking after only making 200 a week with with good ole England.