Shumate (pictured), fortunately, he says, today owns the reefer trailer he totes behind his Peterbilt (also
Taking full responsibility as much as possible for maintenance, even on company trailers, will keep marks on inspection reports to a minimum and, particularly if you don’t own your trailer, have the added benefit of demonstrate your worth to the carrier. It’s important to do your homework selecting that carrier, too, as Shumate notes. He’s leased to Crystal Refrigerated Express, the trucking business of Union City’s Williams Sausage. “When we come in on the yard, [Williams has] a shop there,” he says. “Even with me and my trailer, they’ll tell me, ‘You’ve got a tire that’s weak on the tread, you’ve guy a light out on the trailer.’ Things we can head off.”
In other words, they return the favor, well demonstrating their worth to him in the maintenance area, more and more important in the CSA era. In any case, enjoy the vid talk with Shumate below. And read part 2, the full feature on “CSA and your rig” in this month’s Overdrive, for a comprehensive approach to maintaining your rig for good safety measurement results. Find part 1 in the April issue.
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