A good truck driver respects his environment. Proactive reasoning and alertness to the minutest movement in and around the environment are factors that come into play when determining the skill level of the driver. Today, we present you a short video that explains how to maximise visual search and space management in truck driving. Please watch, learn and actionize. You […]
Continue reading »Month: November 2013
JACKKNIFING IN TRUCKS
The rig jackknifes when the drive axle brakes lock up. From the Feature Picture: Figure 1. If you lock the steering axle brakes, the rig will move straight ahead regardless of the wheel angle. Figure 2. If you lock the drive axles, the rig will jackknife. Figure 3. If you lock the trailer axles, you will get trailer swing. Case […]
Continue reading »GETTING OUT ALIVE IN AN ACCIDENT
Trucking is a very dangerous profession. In the US where ample data abounds, record has it that over 800 drivers die each year in highway accidents. In Nigeria, the fatalities would be expectedly much higher. On the average, you hear of at least 5 accidents every other week and this number is just for those that made it to the […]
Continue reading »SPECIAL DEDICATION TO THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR TIME: A MUST READ!
It’s a pretty wet day in the middle of nowhere and you are all by yourself struggling and battling to keep an 18-gear gigantic behemoth straddled to a rig bearing a 40ton cargo on a long patch of road that looks like a cut-through mud and gravel; wheels sounding like they were getting tired of staying on the road and […]
Continue reading »Bringing the Boss up to speed in Fleet Management: A Teacher’s Approach (Part Two)
Teach Fleet Management 101 Unless the new boss has some background or understanding of fleet management, the next step is to begin the education process. The fleet manager has “felt out” the new manager, based on several factors, including where he or she came from, early discussions or communications, and specific questions that may have been posed. Fleet managers should […]
Continue reading »Bringing the Boss up to speed in Fleet Management: A Teacher’s Approach (Part One)
Picture this: You are Fleet Manager saddled over the years with the responsibility of profitably managing a fleet comprising over a hundred heavy duty vehicles that moves a minimum of 10,000 tons of goods for counterparties all across the federation in any single month. Suddenly, you get an internal memorandum that tells of the impending resumption of a General Manager […]
Continue reading »WHEN BERGER SUYA FAILS: REMAN TO THE RESCUE! (Part Two)
Difference between Reman and Used Parts Reman from Remanufacturing Companies are completely disassembled, cleaned, rebuilt to oftentimes better than factory specifications, and fully tested to make certain they will perform like new, or better. On the hand, Used Spares even from relatively new trucks are usually from wrecked or damaged or sometimes over-used vehicles and the condition of these parts […]
Continue reading »WHEN BERGER SUYA FAILS: REMAN TO THE RESCUE! (Part One)
Destination is actually Sterling Bank Plc located at the tail-end of arguably one of the longest streets in Lagos; Kirikiri Road, a long dingy road in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government spiraling all the way from Mobil road end of Bale Street in Ajegunle right down to the Mile 2-Oshodi Expressway Road. Everywhere is quite busy and there seem to be an […]
Continue reading »Pre-Trip Inspection: Animated Version
As a Fleet Operator or truck driver, you are required to perform daily inspections of your truck. A pre-trip inspection could save the driver a whole lot of trouble down the road. In continuation of several other video presentations that we have brought across your way towards instilling a deep appreciation for this very important aspect of haulage operations, today […]
Continue reading »Coping with Driving in the Dark
For a professional truck driver, night driving may probably qualify as one of the professional hazards that come with the turf. In a developing environment like ours where our roads are practically covered in a thick blanket of darkness the moment the sun recedes into the horizon, the hazard could most likely present a clear and present danger to haulage […]
Continue reading »Heavy Truck Braking System
To complement our recent posts that focused comprehensively on the issue of brake failure in trucks with a view to curbing the increasing carnage on our roads, we bring you a video presentation on handling heavy truck braking system. Please watch, learn, take action and safe lives! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36KPQmvFCbE
Continue reading »Carnage on Our Roads: Understanding WHY Truck Brakes Fail and WHAT to Do to Curb It. (Part Four)
Inspecting Combination Vehicles – Truck & Trailers A truck and trailer combination has more things to inspect than a single vehicle. Check the following during a walk-around inspection of a truck and trailer combination in addition to the items described above for the truck alone: Check the coupling system areas: Check the air and electric lines to the trailer. Be […]
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