The Johnson Method E-Book

Terrence Johnson

• Herausgeber: Terrence Johnson
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 171

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Driving tractor-trailers - a seemingly simple activity, but in reality, a complex system of moving goods from one location to another. Driving tractor-trailers - not just a job or profession, but an experience. It will change your life. But it is not short of challenges (and a sharp learning curve).

Many who step foot through those doors come to the conclusion that they made the right choice by going to a trucking school and getting a CDL, until they begin driving and realize the industry (and driving tractor-trailers) is a lot different than they were expecting. In this guidebook I will share with you The Johnson Method, a tried, true, and actually safe driving performance I learned, personally use myself, and train others.

Learn everything from greasing the 5th wheel, sliding tandems, how to properly perform an alley dock, drop trailers, hook trailers, sliding the 5th wheel, how to use a weigh scale, keeping your paychecks high (and your work easy), and much more! Learn all the things they don’t teach in trucking school, and gain insight on how your job will be like in the real world, on and off the highway.

Leseprobe

THE JOHNSON METHOD

GUIDEBOOK FOR NEW TRACTOR-TRAILER DRIVERS

TERRENCE JOHNSON

Class A Commercial Vehicle “Safe Driver” License

Clean Background & Driving History

Certified New Driver Mentor

The Johnson Method

Guidebook For New Tractor-Trailer Drivers

Terrence Johnson

Copyright ©️ 2023

United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this guidebook may be copied, reproduced, recorded, photocopied, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means. The only exceptions are in the case of an approved written request of permitted use from the author, and brief quotations used in reviews.

To send a request for permitted use, contact the author. Contact information is located in the last pages of this guidebook. Request a permitted use form, fill the form with your information and return to the author. You will be contacted with approval or denial of permitted use.

Cover art and book design by Terrence Johnson.

ISBNs

eBook: 979-8-9877194-0-4

Paperback: 979-8-9877194-1-1

Published by:

Johnson Craftworks LLC

OFFICIAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER

All information, recommendations, and procedures in this guidebook are not designed to replace your following of DOT laws and regulations. They are not designed to replace the directions given by law enforcement, DOT officers, security officers, shipping clerks, and truck company staff. They are not designed to replace or substitute the training, information, and instruction given by any school, instructor, or CDL manual. They are not designed to change any DOT laws, regulations, or school training.

Always follow the road rules and laws as designed in the locations you drive, wherever you drive. Always follow the road signs and the direction of any legally authorized persons who direct traffic. Always follow construction signs and devices to prevent incidents and collisions. Wear your seat belt whenever the key is in the ignition, whether the engine (or power) is on or not. Always drive safely.

Johnson Craftworks LLC is owned by Terrence Johnson. Johnson Craftworks LLC, and its owner are not liable for any person or entity who misuse the information, recommendations, and procedures within this guidebook. Johnson Craftworks LLC and its owner are not liable for any person who use the information, recommendations, and procedures in this guidebook to break any law, damage any equipment, and damage any property.

Johnson Craftworks LLC and its owner are not liable for any person or entity who use the information, recommendations, and procedures in this guidebook to cause any kind of harm (physically, emotionally, verbally, ext.) to any other person, animal, or entity, including themselves.

The names of particular truck stops, students, truck companies, and persons will not be revealed in this guidebook. They have a right to privacy of their identity. Any truck stops, person of any kind, and examples are only used as examples, and not provided to degrade or pedestal any person’s or company’s reputation.

The information, recommendations, and procedures in this guidebook are not designed to degrade or pedestal the reputation, legality, debt, or profit of any business, contract, law, regulation, agreement, exchange, person, entity, or organization. Johnson Craftworks LLC and its owner are not liable for the degradation or pedestaling of any business, contract, law, regulation, agreement, exchange, person, entity, or organization.

ABOUT AUTHOR

My name is Terrence, but you can call me Mr. J or sir!

It happens every so often. I will be driving, or one of my students will be driving, and I see a very familiar scene. It takes me back to the dreams I had as a boy. In those dreams, I drove big rigs on various roads. Oh yes! I knew one day I was going to be a truck driver! It was just a matter of time… and of course legal age and a valid Commercial Driver License! Ha!

HOW IT ALL STARTED

I remember the excitement of receiving my Learner’s License when I was 16 years of age. When I turned 17 years of age, I obtained my Class E Driver License. Immediately I found myself driving everything, from cars, to vans, exotic cars, modified cars, and even 26’ U-Haul trucks when I turned 18.

It was common for people to ask me (a six-foot-tall young man) to help them move furniture. Who wouldn’t ask? Over the years, I went on to become an automotive detailer, basic auto service technician, worked at a few furniture moving companies, and owned an LLC at one point moving furniture and other large/heavy items. In 2018 I earned my Class B CDL and drove Over The Road interstate for the first time.

I had a predisposition to Class A combination vehicles. I always thought I could still make good money and enjoy driving even with Class B trucks and didn’t have to deal with the hassle of driving tractor-trailers. In 2018 I had my first glimpse of the trucking industry in a Class B straight truck. It wasn’t as bad as I thought!

A NEW BEGINNING

But in late 2021, I found myself applying for a particular trucking company. I had fallen on hard times through no fault of my own and was redirected onto a new path. I took the opportunity even though I still had a predisposition to tractor-trailers.

I enrolled in a 4-week trucking school. After I passed all the tests with ease, I moved out of Florida and on to Alabama so I could get picked up by a Driver Mentor from the company. Those two weeks driving a company tractor-trailer with the Driver Mentor onboard turned out to be a lot of fun. I mostly enjoyed that long drive to California and got to see some life-changing sights.

Before I knew it, I was assigned a company tractor to drive, a brand new one at that. It was a 2023 and only had seven miles on the digital odometer. It was actually the very tractor I’ve always wanted to drive if I could buy my own tractor, a Peterbilt 579 sleeper cab. I named the truck, Lorena. It’s a funny story, I’ll explain later! I got my first dispatch and that was the beginning of it all.

I drove solo and learned a great deal. One day I noticed a message on the ELD about the benefits of being a Driver Mentor (or New Driver Trainer as I say) for the company. I called the company and asked for more details, and they mentioned that they could run me through the checks and balances to see if I would qualify. I heard back from them not long after and was qualified to be a Driver Mentor!

LEADING THE WAY FORWARD

It wasn’t any difficult for me. I was a manager at a job when I was in my early twenties, owned an LLC before, and usually became a team leader at other jobs I worked. I enjoyed being a Driver Mentor. I train all my students thoroughly and brought them up to a minimal (but high) standard of driving ability and safety. My students and I have plenty of fun though; we share our life experiences, see many amazing sights across America, eat great food at various restaurants, laugh a lot, and of course do a lot of driving. I love me some truck drivin’!

Driving tractor-trailers is more than just driving, it’s an experience, a life-changing one at that. Upon first meeting the students, we introduce ourselves, they put their stuff in the truck (they sit in the passenger seat), and then I drive for the first three days before they get into the hot seat. I usually tell them some funny stories of mine to ease any tension or anxiety they may have. After the third day, they are in the hot seat, and their real learning begins.

THE TRUTH REVEALED

While driving for this particular company, as well as being a Driver Mentor, I realized some wonderful and some not so wonderful things about the trucking industry, as well as issues with training new drivers. This would spark the interest of writing this very guidebook. It is very common to hear “I want to start my own truck company.” Another good one is: “If I buy some trucks and hire drivers, I will make a fortune and could retire early.” At one point, I desired to do the same.

But the issue I found is that the industry has a high turnover rate, there is difficulty with new drivers making the transition from driving a car to a large, heavy commercial vehicle. The issue is due to poor schooling, a lack of teaching certain very important things, holding onto bad driving habits from driving cars, and not being given all the information and tools they need upfront to be the safest, most professional, and timely drivers, before they go out to drive on their own.

I decided to write this guidebook to give important information to those who are interested in driving tractor-trailers, those who are in or have just left trucking school and need the ‘other stuff’ they don’t teach, and finally to drivers who have been driving for a while but simply are interested in some new ways of performing their job that will create a safer industry and higher income.

From all that I have experienced while driving big rigs, training new drivers, and all the other job and life experience mixed in, I developed a very high standard for myself. I did everything I possibly could to be the safest driver, to deliver my loads in a timely manner, be courteous (and generous) to everyone I meet, and to perform the physical (and soft-skill) aspects of the job as efficiently as possible. It did well for me in every way! My desired outcome is to raise the bar and set higher standards for other drivers and the trucking industry as a whole. This guidebook will do it!

I know I won’t drive or be a New Driver Trainer forever, so my desired result is that this guidebook help millions of people (and the trucking industry) even after I step out of the hot seat of life. I have personally (and literally) authored this guidebook for your benefit!

We will begin light and easy (appetizers sure are delicious!) with some simple but very necessary topics. After, we will work our way toward the meat and potatoes (or the bread and butter) of truck driving. This is The Johnson Method. Enjoy!

INTRODUCTION

This is a guidebook. It hold valuable information, recommendations, and procedures that will aid in your tractor-trailer driving experience.

Whether you are a company driver, owner-operator, or even an instructor, you will have to be in the hot seat to perform your job. The hot seat is not just the driver’s seat. The hot seat is a position of control, self-judgement, challenge, and most definitely responsibility. You are not JUST a truck driver or instructor. Your job will affect billions of people’s lives all across the Earth, not only on the highway you are driving, or the lot you train your students.

It is of utmost importance that you always drive and perform your job in a way that is safe, timely, courteous, generous, communicative, and professional. At no place, time, or circumstance should you engage in any behavior that is illegal, unsafe, or cause of conflict to others or yourself.

This guidebook is filled with the ‘other stuff’ that is not taught in trucking schools, and even some things that are not found in any CDL manual. The ‘other stuff’ is actually very necessary for your job. Most companies will have a Driver Trainer, or company staff whose responsibility is to provide some of the ‘other stuff’ to you in some form before you drive.

This is not always the case. But it is very common for Driver Trainers and company staff to not provide a thorough training of the ‘other stuff’. It is not uncommon that new drivers are then given a company truck to drive and sent out while not being fully informed or having certain important tools they will need.

In this guidebook, I will also share some new technology that may soon come to the trucking industry. There may come a time when landing gear won’t need to be raised and lowered using a crank handle. There may come a time where diesel fuel no longer need to be purchased or added to any tanks. There may be an additional line to hook/unhook (for a total of four) with respect to electric trailers and CEVs (Commercial Electric Vehicle).

Backing a tractor-trailer without a collision has been a thing of mystery for most people. It also remain a common area of trouble for many drivers, and even the most common cause of tractor-trailer collisions. Backing a tractor-trailer in general is not the same as a vehicle with no trailer attached. As I say, backing – is not JUST a maneuver, but the ultimate challenge of your driving skill.

We will take a look at the three most important backing maneuvers (plus two other maneuvers) I think every tractor-trailer driver need to know how to perform, and perform in a way that is safe, consistent, timely, smooth, without collision, and of course enjoyable. The methods of backing I will share with you will likely be different than it is taught in driving schools (if they are taught at all, seriously).

Call-to-actions are important. Anyone can talk. Anyone can say they can do something. But to actually do it, and do it in a safe, timely, and consistent manner without causing conflict or trouble…not everyone can DO that. They say money talks, but the only way you’ll be able to make that money JUMP into your bank account as a tractor-trailer driver is by your performance. And your performance need to be up to a high standard.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: “The procedures given in this guidebook should ONLY be performed with permission from your Driver Manager and company, and only in a way that is safe, does not break any laws, does not cause any kind of collision, and does not cause any harm or conflict with any person (including yourself). It is not recommended you perform anything shared in this guidebook at any truck driving school unless it is part of their training curriculum, and the instructors specifically instruct you to do so. While taking your CDL test, always follow the instructions given by the test giver. Always follow the rules and instructions of your driving school and instructors. The author and Johnson Craftworks LLC relinquish liability.”

No, Lorena is not my girlfriend or wife! It is the name I gave to the truck the particular company assigned me to drive. It was just a question that popped in my head – “I wonder what I should name this truck?” Immediately after, just happened to look over and see a sign that said “Lorena Rd”. Later, I looked up the meaning of that name, and it means ‘victory’. Perfect! A name that I shared with my students and was a common cause of laughter by personifying the truck. Just remember, if you see the name Lorena mentioned anywhere in this guidebook, it is not in reference to any of my students, or any other woman.

It's known that most people would never consider driving a flatbed truck, even many truck drivers. There are specific reasons why, which I will not get into in this guidebook. But one thing for sure, there is one flatbed worth mentioning.

One of my students had a dream they were driving, Lorena being in the right lane, and a black flatbed tractor-trailer came beside us and somehow the flatbed lost control and rammed the side of Lorena. He said in the dream, we were pushed off the road and ended up crashing. But who would have known that in real life, he would see the exact black flatbed tractor-trailer drive beside him, on the same interstate he saw in the dream!

Luckily, the black flatbed tractor-trailer did not run us off the road, and drove on by as all the other trucks and cars do. It was a very interesting and spiritual event. Now, “There’s that flatbed!” has been a token of good luck every time me or any of my students see one.

Every time we see a black flatbed tractor-trailer, we always say “There’s that flatbed!” It serves a reminder that any of us could lose our lives at any time, and for any cause. But because what could have happened (according to that dream), did not happen, we know that if there is a such thing as a Divine Lord or God, we had our lives spared on that day.

So, if you ever see a black flatbed tractor-trailer, it is a good luck charm. It is a reminder that we should be more aware and thankful that we are privileged with another day of life. Thank your flatbed tractor-trailer drivers and the big rigs they drive for representing that! And also, for helping to transport the resources and materials that’s needed to build and maintain this world we live in!

This is The Johnson Method! So, let’s get to those appetizers!

LIST OF CONTENTS

The Faces of the Trucking Industry

Trucking School

HIRED: The Onboarding Process

The Big Rig

Hours of Service

ELD Macros

The 5TH Wheel

Hook & Drop Trailers

Sliding Tandems

Maximum Weight Limits

Tractor-Trailers: Driving Forward

Backing Maneuvers: The Pentaplex

Trailer Load & Unload

Mountain Driving

The Bread & Butter

The Trucker Courtesy

Advanced Trucking Technology

Commercial Electric Vehicles (CEVs)

Industry Changes

Conclusion

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REVIEW THIS BOOK

BUY ME A COFFEE

PRODUCT STORE

SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO

OTHER BOOKS BY AUTHOR

SECTION ONE

The Faces of the Trucking Industry

Life is all about people. But it is also true that people have needs, whether they be food, shelter, safer roads to travel, hygiene care products, or tools to allow them to perform daily activities faster and easier. It does take more than one person, actually hundreds of millions of people to extract, transport, manufacture, package, ship, and deliver these essential resources.

Because so many people are required for the complex logistical process of moving essential goods, there is a necessity for timely, efficient, and accurate usage of soft-skills. Whether you are verbally communicating, using the ELD, a hands-free device, hand signals, vehicle lights, scanning tools, or computers, it is part of everyone’s job. Let’s take a look at the soft-skills that will be useful for you, and all the people involved (in some way) in the trucking industry you will engage.

SOFT-SKILLS

Teamwork is absolutely necessary in your day-to-day job duties as a tractor-trailer driver. You will work with various kinds of people, and they all will have their own job duties. It is vital you are able to get along with everyone you encounter. They are all a significant part of the resource logistical system. Therefore, when you engage with others while on the job, remember that you are there to help make their job a little easier and smooth, as much as they are there to make yours as well.

Communication (or a lack of) is a very common issue amongst people that can mature into greater problems. It is not only the numbers and load information that need to be communicated, but also potential dangers and even smaller issues that may not seem important.

Always communicate clearly what you need, why you are where you are, and whether there is any additional information that others may need. What may seem insignificant to you might be very important for others to know. Never be afraid to ask questions, or relay information that you think or feel might impact your safety or job duties (or the safety or job duties of others).

It does not matter what profession, job, or industry you work, there are going to be some number of problems, and those problems can have varying levels of severity. The trucking industry is no stranger to problems and conflict. Problem solving is part of any and all jobs, no matter what you do. Even when everything seem to be going smoothly, still you never want to let your guard down. Always be alert, and always be ready to work alongside others through communication, should problems arise.