3 candidates receive CDLs

Three of our drivers recently completed their training and successfully tested for their Commercial Driver's license.

The first was 84, who comes to us with many years' experience as an over-the-road truck driver. Nice job, 84!

Next, 91 passed the test, showing extensive knowledge of all portions during the exam. Perhaps the experience as a heavy-vehicle driver will prove helpful to him in his future aspirations as a civil engineer, especially as it pertains to traffic and transit. Good job, 91!

And just today, 98 was found qualified by the State to be given a CDL after completing his test. Congratulations, 98!

To all those who had a hand in helping to train these drivers, we want to thank you for a job well done. For our new CDL drivers, we wish you safe driving, remember to get that physical every 2 years (even if you're not employed as a commercial driver when it comes time to renew, because a CDL can be very useful in a tight economic market) and your license renewed every 5 years.

WAY TO GO!

CDL Manual 2.14 Seeing Hazards

When someone learns to drive, they must learn the importance of Seeing Hazards.

The bible of student Commercial Vehicle drivers, The CDL Manual, section 2 paragraph 14 (1997), teaches that "You will have more time to act if you see hazards before they become emergencies....

"There are often clues that will help you see hazards. The more you drive, the better you can get at seeing hazards."

This is a good lesson for new drivers, for those who have not done much driving. Seeing Hazards is something we can all do well to remember. Isn't that right, 83?

CDL pre-trip - air brake system

Undercarriage - Air brake system

Click on any photo to enlarge

Proper CDL pre-trip means good troubleshooting:
PART and PROBLEM

Air tanks -- leaks, rust
Air lines -- leaks
Air brake chamber -- air leaks, cracks
Push rod -- damage
Slack adjuster -- damage, >1" travel
S-cam (not visible) -- damage



Brake shoe -- cracks, loose or missing bolts
Brake lining -- loose, missing, oil or grease, less than 1/4" on lining wear
Brake drum -- cracks, oil or grease, rust



Brakes return spring -- loose, broken, missing



Spring brakes (rear axle only) -- damage

Repeat inspection for all wheels

CDL pre-trip - suspension system

Undercarriage - Suspension system
Click on any photo to enlarge

Proper CDL pre-trip means good troubleshooting:
PART and PROBLEM.

Frame -- damage, cracks, rust
Hangers -- cracks, loose nuts
Small clamps - loose, missing



Leaf springs -- shifted, cracked, missing, rust
U-bolt -- cracked, missing
U-bolt nuts -- loose, missing
Axle -- damaged, shifted, cracked, rust



Shackle -- cracks, damage
Not visible: Torque arm -- cracks, damage



Shock absorber -- leaks, loose nuts, rust



Air bag systems:
Air bag -- leaks
Control arm -- damage, cracks

CDL pre-trip - 7-step air brake test

The 7-step air brake system test must be done with correct values and in the proper order.
Click on any photo to enlarge.

Chock the wheels.
Put on seat belt.
If air-gauges are not full, run bus engine until they are, then turn engine off.


1. Test for air leaks
Push yellow parking brake knob in (photo above).
Push service brake and hold steady for one minute. No more than 3 lbs pressure loss allowed.



2. Test low-air warning system
Turn ignition key to right but don't turn engine on.
Lower air pressure by pumping on brakes.
Low air light & buzzer must come on higher than 60 lbs.



3. Test spring brake activation
Continue reducing air pressure by pumping the brakes.
Parking brake knob should pop out between 20 & 45 lbs.



4. Test air compressor build rate
Unchock wheels.
Put seat belt back on.
Start engine.
At 85 lbs (photo above) begin timing, and ...
... At 100 lbs (photo above) stop timing.
The 15-lb interval should take no more than 45 seconds.



5. Test air compressor shut-off
Let engine continue to idle.
Air compressor should shut off at about 120 lbs. Gauges will stop rising.



6. Test spring brake hold
Pull out yellow spring brake knob.
Put foot on brake.
Shift to drive on gear selector.
Using throttle pedal, raise engine rpm to 1000, then release.
Bus should not move.



7. Test service brakes
Push service brake.
Shift to drive.
Push yellow parking brake knob in.
When it is safe, release service brake and move bus forward to 5 mph.
Hover hands over steering wheel as indicated in photo above.
Bring bus to a stop by applying firm pressure to service brake.
Determine if steering wheel turns left or right, or if brakes grind.


Pull out yellow parking brake knob, shift to neutral. End of air-brake system test.

CDL pre-trip - steering system

Undercarriage - Steering system
Click on any photo to enlarge

Proper CDL pre-trip means good troubleshooting:
PART and PROBLEM.

Steering wheel -- damage, binding
Steering column -- binding



Steering gear box -- leaks, cracks



Pittman arm -- cracks, rust



Drag link -- cracks, rust, (grab and) shake for looseness



Steering ring knuckle -- cracks, rust
Kingpin -- cracks, rust
Spindle -- damage
Steering arms -- cracks, rust
Tie rod -- cracks, rust

CDL engine pre-trip

CDL ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Click on any photo to enlarge

Proper CDL pre-trip means good troubleshooting:
PART and PROBLEM.

Air filter -- holes; dirty when indicated by vacuum gauge
Hoses -- leaks, loose clamps
Belts -- >3/4" play, fraying, cuts, missing
Wires -- loose, cut, no insulation
Fluid filters -- leaks
Alternator -- loose bolts, loose wires at rear
Water pump -- leaks, it's belt driven

Air brake compressor -- air leaks, fluid leaks, no belt so it's gear driven
Steering fluid pump (not visible) -- leaks, no belt so it's gear driven
Air governor (not visible) -- not cracked

Oil dipstick -- engine off, remove & clean, seat, remove & read, fill if needed
Transmission dipstick -- engine idling, remove & clean, seat, remove & read, fill if needed
Steering fluid dipstick -- remove & clean, seat, remove & read, fill if needed
Coolant -- Fill when needed only when cold
Coolant reservoir -- leaks
Steering fluid reservoir -- leaks

Fan -- not turning, scraping
Radiator -- leaks, blockage (from debris)
Fan motor -- leaks

A day

Mayberry fun!

A visit by 62, 80 and family. You know which one 80 is.

Pole prep
Expertly accomplished by 87. Had we really done any painting, it would have rained.

Surprise visit
63 paid us a surprise visit. Here she enjoys a joke with 50. Probably at my expense lol. I miss you 63!

Hit and run
Overnight, bus 12 garaged east of town was hit up. Apparently there were eleven other locations hit before this job.

Stunning
One must always be careful what one asks for. Or for what one tells someone to wear. 78 is supposed to have grubby clothes on for crawling under a bus to learn undercarriage bus systems. This is what we got.

We DID crawl under the bus to examine parts of the suspension system, but ...

... apparently I don't know what I'm talking about lol.

Unfortunately, it gets worse . . . This guy's trying for his Commercial Driver's License!

A minute

While 87 and 83 might look bored, we were actually counting down a portion of the 7-step air brake procedure, which requires a minute and a minuet.

For Monday

PAINTING OF THE OFFICE

Hopefully, on Monday morning the paint crew from Capital Assets will come in and begin painting the lounge and office. The remaining furniture will have to be removed before that. Conducting business during this time will be difficult at best, please be patient. After the first coat of paint is finished, tile will be laid, then a final touch-up of paint will be completed. When after all that dries (usually in a day) we will begin putting everything back.

OUR PAINT CREW
For those who will be on one of our paint groups, we will begin collecting supplies and will probably start our first job painting the yellow poles on Monday or Tuesday. Dress appropriately: Your clothes and shoes will act like a paint magnet!

BUS LANE SOON!
Soon we will have a dedicated, Bus Rapid Transit bus lane, our first for the campus at large.

At an unspecified date in the not-too-distant future, Pine Knoll drive going westbound between the Forestry driveway and almost up to McConnell drive will be re-striped in order to set aside a bus lane for MCT.

Late last April, Grounds installed signage that will inform vehicle operators of the prohibition of operating in the lane on the north side of the street. This north-side lane will permit occupation only by buses and bicycles; all other traffic (including MCT vans and office cars) will travel westbound in the center lane. The exception will be for vehicles traveling west along Pine Knoll that will be making an immediate right turn into Huffer lane where Mountain Line bus barn is located. It will be important for our drivers operating in the bus lane there to watch carefully for vehicles turning right into Huffer, as well as bicycles using the bus lane.

When the bus-lane project is completed, it will help MCT buses avoid the heavy traffic that occurs during class changes there and will cut three or more minutes from our running times.

CDL TRAINING
CDL training will continue this week, including pre-trip, engine, and undercarriage. If you will be learning the undercarriage systems, please wear grubby clothes and inform the trainer if you would like a hair cover and/or eye goggles (recommended).
VAN TRAINING
Van training is also to continue once we get 123 back from the shop. If you haven't done the Extreme Skillz for Van training yet, we'll set something up soon. Relax. It's easy.
OUR FIRST BBQ
Thanks to everyone for a very nice outdoor bbq last Friday. If you have any ideas for future bbqs on Fridays, let us know.

A POINT OF OUR POLICY
Just to remind all our MCT drivers, regardless of university vehicle, that talking or texting on a cellphone is prohibited. Boston's WCVB-TV 5 reports that a trolley operator who was texting his girlfriend last week did not see another trolley stopped in front of him and crashed, injuring 46 people. Let's not make that horrible mistake.

NEW ENTRANCE
A new entrance is being constructed on Knoles not more than 20 feet north of the University Union bus stop. It will allow vehicles earlier access into the parking lot between Cline Library and the Field House. Once it is open, Route 1 drivers will need to exercise caution for vehicles slowing to turn right into the lot. The driveway into the lot will be one-way eastbound only. This should ease up a significant amount of traffic snarling that normally occurs during class changes at the Library stop sign, and help improve the timeliness of our service a bit.

THANKS
... to everyone for doing such a great job the first week of summer! And don't hesitate to make use of the links on this page, or to submit your own ideas for this Slack Adjuster blog.