Today sucks | TheaterFire

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Evil_Space_Penguins@reddit

When you get upset, you make more mistakes and you dont think nearly as well. Thats how minor issues can turn into a full day of other people shaking their heads.

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I will be honest as possible with you OP. This industry is a dog eat dog world now. You will very rarely get any sympathy from anyone. Yea, we all have made mistakes and have had bad days. However, we learn from them. And that where the stories come from. To those who take those stories and learn from them, they survive. Who ever doesn’t and keeps making the same mistakes, they end up wanting a dedicated home everyday kind of run.

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Kenworthsteve@reddit

There are days like that.

I'm 66. I've had trouble with wiper blades. It happens.

Even though I'm a company driver and been told to NOT do anything to the truck I've managed to keep simple stuff on board and learn to do it so I can keep moving at least to a safe place. Bulbs, wipers and fluids particularly.

Tomorrow will be better.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Glad there’s someone who understands my pain haha. I’m hoping Tommorow is better too.

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Kenworthsteve@reddit

Some days even a pro that can back a mile down a curvy road can't do a short straight back.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Amen. We all have bad days and I was just sharing mine. Not sure why people are giving me hate. Yes it’s simple. Yes I had difficulty with it. But I learned from it so it won’t be as bad next time

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TehDigz@reddit

Everyone thinks you're dumb because you have YouTube right at your fingertips. You could have fixed this problem yourself and you didn't. Having this job means you need to be mechanically inclined, otherwise you are going to be sitting and waiting for a man to do the job you could have done yourself. Another thing is inspecting the work the mechanics did for you. In this business, if something fuckd up its all on you.

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DANO8503@reddit

I get not carrying a spare, but I’d have made them purchase the wipers and I’d put them on myself. Gotta be moving to earn

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Trust me every fiber of my being wanted to be moving. But it’s been raining steadily today so I can’t exactly just brave it out. On the bright side the guy showed me how to put them on for future reference.

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Gr00veChild@reddit

YouTube or similar has helped me a ton of times learning stuff I don't know/don't have anyone to ask. Often times shop people are willing to explain stuff if you ask nicely and they have the time. But learning to be semi self sufficient goes a long way in this industry.

As someone else said, the first month royally sucks for most depending on your training. It gradually sucks less 🙂

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Yeah. I try my best to be self sufficient. I rarely ask for help unless i genuinely need it. But yeah just gotta embrace the suck for a little bit

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MadMysticMeister@reddit

Damn that’s rough, I’m sorry that happened to you. I had something similar happen to me early on, I accidentally hit a wiper with a window cleaner thing at a pilot, and it came off right there. That day and the next it kept coming off and i kept putting it back on… eventually i put it on correctly and it stuck lol. Your first four weeks are going to be hell, it will get easier as you get better, but until then expect to struggle and try and take it all in stride.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Thank you, idk why everyone in here thinks I’m retarded for not knowing.

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MadMysticMeister@reddit

It’s kind of how it goes with truckers, plus sometimes it’s hard to look at a greenhorn. Everyone was new once, so I imagine it’s more like reading your story and remembering some of their trauma from their noobie days lol

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Yeah probably lol. It was a good learning experience. Although I wish I could’ve been putting down miles. But doesn’t do me any good if I can’t see while it’s down pouring.

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huuke@reddit

If you don’t “ GET “ how hard it is to replace a wiper, then why haven’t you just replaced it yourself to start with??? Smh 🤦‍♂️

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LastMongoose7448@reddit

Roadside for a wiper?! You replace those yourself. You’re at Loves? Walk in and buy one and be in your way. It’s not difficult.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I tried. 2. It was raining sideways and 3. It’s my second day. Give me a break.

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LastMongoose7448@reddit

You’ve never changed a wiper before?

JFC…

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Actually no, I haven’t.

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LastMongoose7448@reddit

🤦‍♂️

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Flavoade@reddit

It’s alright OP, you just came up in one of the later generations in a society that the really rough generations built(Different topic). My dad taught me how to work on stuff because that’s what he did, and I’m mid 30s. My friends barely know how to fix anything. The company I work for hires young men and women that are early 20s and have never even held a tool if their life before. They don’t even know how to hold a hammer.

This isn’t their fault it’s the unfortunate cycle we’re in. Fortunately and unfortunately the generation after them will be very handy doing everything.

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Cool_Thanks_4934@reddit

Getting all of your troubles out of the way and then it’s smooth sailing.

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AutumnBrooks2021@reddit

Why can’t you replace them yourself? SMH.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I tried. Couldn’t get the mf on.

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Spicy_Vagabond_@reddit

You need to learn how asap and always carry spares with you in case of situations like this.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I did trust me. I had the guy who put them on the third time show me. So I do now. Also gonna carry spares like you said.

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a116jxb@reddit

Sorry for flaming you, bro. You gotta learn basic shit. This is basic shit.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I know it’s basic shit, but some of you act like you’ve never had a bad day ever. So forgive me if I had a hard time understanding

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Not_TbagJimmy@reddit

Wipers? Everyone has bad days, most of us have had much worse to make a "bad day". Its all relative, you survived day 2 and will someday laugh at the wiper moment and think how much you needed to learn on the moment and how scared you were.

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a116jxb@reddit

So true, things that I handle easily every day now that I've done this job for waaaaaay too long we're the things that drove me to tears 20 years ago

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BrutalOwl@reddit

What kind of truck do your drive OP? We've all had bad days. Hope you have a better week and good luck!

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Freightshaker Cascadia. And thank you. Not sure why everyone thinks I’m retarded for not knowing how. Like they have never had a bad day in their life but whatever. I don’t gotta prove nothing to anyone but me.

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Thats_Neat88@reddit

“I can’t get this can of beans open! I better call a service truck”

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Indentured-peasant@reddit

Waaaaah

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a116jxb@reddit

Is this rage bait? Will they really give out a cdl to someone who can't put on a fucking windshield wiper.

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Sky_biker5683@reddit

Brother they'll give out a cdl to someone who doesn't know what a windshield wiper is.

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OhLordKrakenHelp@reddit

Hey, I resemble that remark

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Sky_biker5683@reddit

😂 well I resemble a truck driver

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pianodude01@reddit

Fat?

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Sky_biker5683@reddit

Ok now I resemble that remark 🙃

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Hey I’ve seen worse. Compared to some I’ve seen. They shouldn’t even be behind the wheel of a lawn mower

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ChiTruckDGAF@reddit

It's your first week, you should not be talking smack.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I’m better than most rookies. Most of them don’t even know how to hold the wheel properly.

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adidaman@reddit

Thank God, you are ragebaiting. I was worried

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skeeter72@reddit

Right...your first week and you can't put a wiper on, lmao. Maybe just shut up?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I’m afraid that’s an impossible task chief.

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AroundGoesThe18@reddit

Wtf is a windshield?

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nosjitbro@reddit

Theyll give a CDL to someone who doesn't know what a CDL is

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Only if your from Cali

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Distinct-Event-7472@reddit

I’m from Cali and I know how to replace a wiper you’re new to this career field and have a lot to learn you should not be saying stuff like “only if your from Cali” bring the ego down from al the excuses you’ve made in the comments you just need more life experience young man which trucking will for sure teach you

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Lmao I’m from east coast. But i actually worked for my license. Went to school everyday. After I got all my required hours I still went and practiced. All day everyday. Practically aced my test. Others just go get their hours and get out. They think it’s easy but it’s really not.

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pianodude01@reddit

You know what IS easy tho? Replacing a windshield wiper...

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nosjitbro@reddit

Trust me, the east coast isnt any different

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I tried. The fucking plastic pieces kept breaking or coming off. Besides I can probably drive better than you anyway

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IAmHollywood88@reddit

Always pay attention to how you take something apart.

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MurphyPandorasLawBox@reddit

I hope tomorrow is nicer to you.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Thank you. I’m hoping so too.

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Frogspoison@reddit

They don't show us how to do shit in CDL schools these days.

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adidaman@reddit

Let me guess, you got your cdl for free when you got out of prison

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Uh no?

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threeglude@reddit

This is such a basic life skill to have. Your parents failed you.

Pathetic how dumb people are these days, all as a direct result of softened parenting styles.

Farm kids know how to do light engine work by the time they are 10 years old. City kids like myself, at least when I was growing up, learned how to perform basic maintenance on cars (changing tires, wipers, checking fluids, bulbs and battery replacement, etc) all mostly before obtaining their license. Some learned these basic skills in school shop class, while others had father's to teach them. Sad sad world we're living in these days.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

My parents havent failed me you cumstain. Calm the fuck down

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BrandontheCDLguy@reddit

Our industry is cooked lol

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Bro it’s not even that bad, quit lying. Just because I had difficulty with a wiper doesn’t mean I can’t drive the damn thing.

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BrandontheCDLguy@reddit

Do you have a manual restriction on your CDL? Genuinely curious.

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KatieTSO@reddit

What's that got to do with wiper blades? I've got that restriction because I'm a bus driver. Doesn't make me less capable of driving a (class B) CMV.

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BrandontheCDLguy@reddit

It definitely limits what you can and can't do. A lot of class b jobs require manual transmission experience.

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KatieTSO@reddit

Fair enough. I'm happy with my bus money though. YTD gross I'm at $35k and take home $24.4k. But every paycheck seems to get a bit bigger, though it does vary if I volunteer a day off or not. I'm almost certainly breaking 70k this year, even though it's my first year as a bus driver. If I keep making checks like my most recent one, decent chance I break 80k.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Nope. No restrictions

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BrandontheCDLguy@reddit

Gotcha. Well YouTube is your friend my man. Might want to learn basic maintenance on the truck.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I know man. Believe me I tried my best to figure it out on my own but my patience grew thin after the 8th time trying to get it on.

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CrispyLuggage@reddit

Brother if you can't change a wiper, you might want to go find a job as a yard mule or something local. OTR is going to have a lot of these little issues you can either fix yourself, or waste time and money on a shop/service call.

I had my driver's wiper motor crap out. It would still swipe down, but just didn't have the strength to swipe up. I tied my boot kace to that wiper and fed the lace through my driver's window. Drive from Long Island to Montreal in pouring rain like that. Every couple seconds pulling on the lace just so the wiper could go up.

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Zaphod-Beebebrox@reddit

Keep extra airlines in your truck. I snapped 2 sets in a month because they got caught on the truck frame.

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dank_memes_911@reddit

Do you not replace wipers yourself on your car?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I’ve had the same wipers on my car for years and they still work fine. So forgive me if I don’t know how to do it. I tried to google it/ YouTube it. Still couldn’t get it on.

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Sterling_____Archer@reddit

You shouldn’t be driving a truck…

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Horus_Whistler@reddit

I love how at the end of your post you said something like How hard is it to replace a single fucking wiper? And then you posted this comment lmao

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aKindaFlyGuy@reddit

Doesn’t know how hard it is because he’s never tried lmao

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

You try sweating your ass off in 85 degree heat trying to stand on a tire getting that bitch on there. It was one of those cheap fucking plastic wipers anyway. I may not be able to get a wiper on but I sure as hell can maneuver this truck to your mom’s house.

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Horus_Whistler@reddit

Just saw on my notifications that you responded, but for some reason can't see it. Anyways, yeah, I've replaced the windshield wiper. Not 85 degrés outside, more like 105ish degrees in Vegas. Just followed the paper instructions. Maybe you were just too frustrated to think straight. Just take a deep breath next time, guy. Part of any job, and life in general, is the attitude you bring in with you.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Look, it was a long day and I just wanted to go to bed. Not to mention I just got this truck and I’m already having issues I shouldn’t be dealing with out the gate. My fleet manager said he wouldn’t give me anything I can’t make money with and out the gate I had to deal with an air leak and bad wipers. I had the guy show me how to put them on and now I know how to do it myself for future reference.

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Horus_Whistler@reddit

Sounds good. Unfortunately, these things just happen. Most of the job is pretty chill, but you will be dealing with a lot more crap down the line. I've had a trainee that when he went solo, had to switch trucks two times right off the bat due to truck issues, but he's all good now. Good luck out here.

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garr0510@reddit

Right same principle different blade number lol

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Alarming_Star_6549@reddit

How about buying them and replacing them yourself, and turn the receipt in.

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DingleberryOrchard@reddit

This is rage bait.

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ImShamallamadingdong@reddit

I know you’re new, but calling roadside service for a wiper blade when you’re 5 mins from Loves is ridiculous.

They literally take 30 seconds to replace and cost like $20-30. Just read the package directions or look up a YouTube video and you’ll have it done in no time.

Even if you’re a company driver, learn to do some basic things yourself and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and headaches down the road. Lights, wipers, fluids, etc. Pretty much every company will reimburse you for the part and most of that stuff doesn’t take too long to deal with on your own.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Well loves put new ones on twice. And they kept flying off my fuckin wiper piece. What makes you think that I think imma trust those fuckers a 3rd time to put them on. Took a guy in his late 50s 1 minute to get it on. I had him show me for future reference. I did YouTube it but the latch piece kept coming off. Was standing on my tire for 40 minutes trying to get it on. So I just said fuck it

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ImShamallamadingdong@reddit

The point is just drive 5 mins up the road to the store and buy the wiper blades you need and put them on yourself…

Hoping this is rage bait, because if you can’t even figure out something as simple as a wiper blades and how to deal with a situation like this for yourself and instead call roadside, you’re going to really struggle in a job like this that has you on your own for most problems you run in to.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I’m a company driver. If you think I’m gonna spend money on a truck that’s not even mine, you’re crazy. I get paid cents per mile. I’m absolutely gonna use all the company resources I can. And like I stated in other comments I tried to put them on myself but the plastic clips kept falling off. Replayed the video 10 times. And still couldn’t get them on. Sorry if you think it’s simple, but I don’t get paid if the wheels aren’t rolling. So anything other than that gets the most minimal effort possible

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ImShamallamadingdong@reddit

My point is you wasted almost 3 hours on the side of the road when you could have driven 5 mins to Loves and resolved your issue… I don’t know of any companies that won’t reimburse you for necessary stuff for the truck, just save the receipt and submit that with your paperwork or however they handle it.

Like you said you don’t get paid if you’re not moving, so use your head and get yourself out of situations that are stopping you from moving if you can (like this one).

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

It was raining. Pretty hard might I add. I did go up once it lightened up. By the time I got up there he came shortly after.

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Numerobofis@reddit

Spend the $20 for a wiper, get reimbursed for it. That way downtime is 30 minutes instead of hours of sitting and not getting paid

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mkroh@reddit

While a wiper blade could be challenging just wait until you're in a newer truck/vehicle with LEDs. A led assembly is expensive to replace so now the cheaper alternative is to top up the led fluid in the headlights/fog lights. It's a mess it gets everywhere and it has to be perfectly filled in the lines or it could cause catastrophic led failure.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Well that’s going to be a company problem not mine lol. I drive a freightshaker. All I gotta do is put in a maintenance request and then boom it’s not my problem lol

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Unfair_Analysis_3734@reddit

I don’t know why everyone is giving you a hard time for not having spare wipers. I don’t, because I am a company driver. I’m not spending a single dime on their truck. I’ll go to the company OC for anything. I refuse to spend a dime on their truck as they only pay me dimes per mile.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

My sentiments exactly. I’m also a company driver. And they gave me a truck with problems right off the bat. When they claim they inspected it before hand. It’s their truck so they should fix it.

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

So……..you called for service for wiper blades. Twice?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Look. It took two diesel mechanics twice to put them on and even then they still couldn’t put them on right.

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

They don’t send diesel mechanics to replace wiper blades. They just charge you as if they were. At least it was a learning experience for you. Where you heading?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

All this happened in Georgia and Bama. Heading to Arkansas

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

Watch your speed. Cops are fucking everywhere.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Yeah just taking it slow. My trucks governed at 68 anyway

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_Aech_@reddit

Why tf don't you carry spare wiper blades with you? I usually keep two spare pairs in my truck all the time. Wiper blades are just about the easiest thing on your truck to replace, but in fairness, some blades can be a PITA if you're trying to replace them in the rain and/or at night (make sure you have a good flashlight, not just your cell phone's light). Make sure you are using the correct adapter on the wiper blade, and that it is fully seated/snapped down.

You should also keep spare lightbulbs, washer fluid, oil, power steering fluid, coolant, and diesel anti-gel (but not usually important outside of fall/winter/early spring).

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Because as I stated, this is my second day. I wasn’t planning on having to deal with wipers all damn day. I got other replacement parts though that the company provided. Bulbs, fluids etc

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hackingmule@reddit

Next time just do it yourself. Wipers are the easiest thing to replace. If you can't figure it out watch a YouTube video explaining it.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

I was running low on sleep. And was just frustrated. I had the guy who replaced them the third time show me how it’s done and it was pretty easy. I tend to over complicate things when I’m frustrated.

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homucifer666@reddit

You don't keep spares on your truck?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

No.

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CapitanPino@reddit

Now you learned to ALWAYS have spares on the truck.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Yep. Definitely gonna do that incase shit like that happens again.

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FourWinns4Days@reddit

Go buy a new blade and put it on yourself?

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Oh gee. Why didn’t I think of that?

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Virtchoo@reddit

I’m curious about the air lines bud. The first few months solo are rough, but it gets better, then you get burnt out, then you stop caring and that’s when you make it a career. Wiper blades are easy, tail lights are easy, headlights can be easy. If you have the tools, hub caps are easy. Learn to do things yourself. Keep spares of cheap parts. I can’t tell you how many times somebody has stolen one of my tail lights at night. One time the guy swapped me a whole ratchet set for my tail light. Don’t know who’s dumb enough to leave the whole set of tools for a light but I did a bit of swearing, drove to the closest truck stop and got a new one and stuck it in and pocketed those tools.

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Individual-Level8925@reddit (OP)

Kept hearing a hissing coming from the air line connections. From the handle specifically. Guy took the handle off and there was a cut in the emergency line. That’s why it was hissing. Still held air though. Compressor was working overtime probably. Got all new lines now

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Snappypants9@reddit

The key is to make sure 1 bad decision does not lead to a series of bad decisions - and then once you get out of a situation to learn from it. This sounds like it really sucks - the thing to learn is to test the wiper blade to see if it stays in when you try to push it off after it is replaced - it often doesn’t cuz installation issues - I have had this issue - it took five minutes to solve because I had to learn how to deal with wipers previously- also you will want to add zip ties and spare wipers to your kit. I hope tomorrow is better for you!

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