Driving A Big Rig
Posted: Tuesday, August 16, 2005
by A Gumshoe
Radford Detective Agency
Have you ever watched one of them trucks, you know, the ones with all kinds of lights
the side of it. They go all across the bottom and some of them even go around the top and
down the tail end. Looks kind of like a Cristmas tree at night, the top is lit up enough to land a
big ole airplane on top of them.
Why...I remember when I was a kid growing up in Southeast Mo., I was 12 or 13, but after we got
done chopping cotton or picking it, depended on the time of year, I would lay across my bed with
my window up, and listen to them big ole motors bellering a tune, man, that was sumpin.
I always dreamed of driving one of them there Big Rigs, an I did. I have been to all 48 of the
lower United States, never made it to Alaska or Hawaii. Didn't want to go to Alaska, too cold,
I figured if they ever built a bridge to hawaii I'd go.
Now, I got another question? Have you ever seen one of them there Big Rigs sitting at a redlight
and when they start to take off, it's kinda like a wild mustang.
It just sits there, jumping up and down, the driver's trying to hang on, and the more he tries
the more she bucks. Heh Heh!! Been There, Done That and got my T-shirt to prove it.
Now, why do you suppose that truck bucks like that? Is the driver giving it too much gas when
he eases up on the clutch? Well, I'll tell you a little secret that took me a while to learn.
On the right side of the steering column, there is a lever, it's a handbrake for the trailor. If the
truck rolls back and hits someone or something the driver is in big trouble, so, when he eases up
on the clutch he steps on the gas fearing that the truck will roll backwards 'cause he ain't
holding the brake no more.
Now, here's another thing most folks don't know, most all big trucks engines have enough power
to start them rolling without giving it any gas at all. What you have to do, if you are on a little
hill, is use that there handbrake, gently. Pull the handbrake lever down and ease up on the
clutch at the same time. When you feel the truck try to move forward, you ease the hand lever
back up, and you start giving it the gas real slow till it gets going on it's own.
Well, that's my tip for this time, if you want more, why just emaail me and I'll do it agin.
wyldman@worldverge.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)yes it was very helpful me . IM a new driver and looking for the information that i can get on operating the big rigs if there is any tips that u can give me that would be very helpfl.
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