Truck Driving
For new people working in the shop, they must have 10 supervised trips and a cleared motor vehicle record before they can start driving on their own. At least 5 of these trips must be with the 3 ton.
If you cant use the vehicle the order is going out on the 1 Ton Box is the preferred delivery vehicle unless you are picking up a dolly or an order that will not fit. If picking or delivering small items, feel free to use your personal vehicle and bill us for mileage. Enter your mileage in your timecard.
Loading the Truck
- Check to make sure all Basic Package carts and shelving are strapped in before adding more equipment.
- Load all the items onto the carts the client has ordered. If there is a lot additional, ask the rental manager if the client would like to add carts.
- If they don’t want to add carts, load everything else onto the shelves or stack neatly in the aisle.
- All additional gear on the order should be either on a shelf or down the aisle. Do not put additional items in the standard truck crates or on carts that come with the truck.
- Load items that do not fit on carts onto shelving. Smaller lights will go into milk crates, larger fixtures can just go directly on the shelves or down the aisle.
- Set a ratchet strap deep into the truck. Hook one of the hooks onto a solid point, then hook the other end to a point that will be accessible once the cart is in and pull tight. This way when you push the cart in the strap will wrap around the backside of the cart and you can still reach the ratchet to strap it in.
- Before pushing on additional carts, make sure all items are strapped in with rope ratchets.
- Do this again until all carts are loaded and individually strapped in.
- See if there is any unused space where the carts can't fit, but other items can. (Ex. of this would be a 7000w Generator or a 4' Slider.)
- Crank stands should go at the end of the truck if possible. This allows you to pull the stand off, then head up the light right away.
- Before you close the doors make sure everything is secured. Pull-on the carts and confirm it is strapped in.
- Never jump off a liftgate, lower to ground level then step off. Jumping is a very easy way to get yourself hurt.
Pre Trip Checklist
- Make sure everything is strapped in.
This should be done whether or not you loaded the truck or not.
- Make sure the roof is fully strapped down with no loose items.
- Make sure all doors are closed.
- Visually check tires are inflated properly.
- Make sure windows and backup camera are clean.
- Check proof of insurance and registration
Both of these documents are in the metal clip board.
- Let anyone know you are about to move and move any items you could potentially hit.
A quick honk is a good way to do this.
- Check mirrors and backup camera
- Know the height of the vehicle your driving.
The height restrictions are labeled clearly on the dash in the cab of each vehicle
While Driving
- Make sure you and your passengers are wearing a seatbelt.
- Never have passengers in the box section of the vehicle while in transit.
- While driving grip trucks, leave a 7-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Hitting the back of a vehicle in front of you is your fault.
- Backing up is the cause of most accidents and should be avoided as much as possible. If you do need to back up, do not rely solely on your backup camera. Feel free to ask for help and have someone spot you. If no one is available, Don’t be afraid to get out of the truck and look.
- How to Make Wide Right Turns
When driving over 100 miles you need to do a few checks to make sure you are in compliance with the laws/regulations of driving a larger vehicle. The following is only necessary if you are driving over 100 miles from your point of origin.
Hand Signals
Refer to this video for instructions about hand signals.
DOT Required Emergency Equipment
Check the truck for the following:
- A fire extinguisher that is up to date having an Underwriters’ Laboratories rating of 5 B:C or more
- Three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles
- Spare Fuses
Filling Out The Truck Logs
The main thing you are filling out is your time log. To do this you will draw a line for when you are doing each of the 4 tasks. The tasks are defined as:
Off Duty - Not at work, not working.
Sleeper Berth - When you are in a truck with sleeping quarters and you are resting there. This is not going to be applicable to us as none of our vehicles have a sleeper berth.
Driving - This is when you are driving.
On Duty - This is when you are doing things like your pre-trip inspection, fueling the vehicle, or other duties that are part of your work day, but are not driving. You should write in the remarks what you were doing while you were on duty for this portion. For example, marking when you did your pre-trip inspection.
Ultimately your final product should look like the image below.
You must drive the speed limit as they will check when you started and when you have arrived at a weigh station to make sure you have been traveling the speed limit.
- Enter The date
- Enter the address of the shop for home terminal
- Fill in your first and last name
- Employee Number is the License plate number
- Total Miles Driven is how many miles are estimated to be driven
- Unit Number is the License plate number
- Line 3 are the total hours being driven.
- Sign the log sheet.
None of this is required if driving under 100 miles.