Well passed class 2 a couple of weeks ago and now have my licence. Still waiting for my first job,going to sign on with a couple more agencies today. Not tha start i expected but ill just have to be pacient. Well my question is maybe a simple one but if you dont know or havent been shown then you dont know. I dont want to turn up on my first job and not know the answer so here goes.The one i learnt in only had a tail lift. How do the curtains work on a truck. It looks like there are straps every couple of feet but how do they work? Also i know which way to put a tacho in but will it start no the right time ie. u just put it in over the pear shaped bit or does the pear shaped bit need to be in a certain position?I read somewhere about 12/24 hour clock on there,is it possible to get that mixed up? Feel stupid really asking but i know u guys always answer so i might as well ask!
The straps are easy, there are no tricks to them, just dont over tighten them, After the first couple you will get the hang of them.
As for the tacho, If it is an older truck there will be a key in the top of the speedo, use this to open the face and you will see the pear behind, just place the tacho over the pear and close the face back up, At the bottom of the face of the speedo you will see a clock, just check this has the correct time BEFORE you put the tacho in, if it is more then a couple of minutes out then adjust it by turning the little white wheel on the side of the OPENED speedo.
The other type you eill find are the CD player type, these you have to press an eject button and then the drawer pops out, place your tacho over the pear but UNDER the little plastic clip on the far side. Then close the drawer. There is a digital display on the front that shows you th time, if it incorrect then check with the TM on how to change it as these vary. (Some you have to have a tacho in others you dont)
Hope the above helps, but at the end of the day ASK either the TM or another driver, if they are any good they will help without mocking you.
will it start no the right time ie. u just put it in over the pear shaped bit or does the pear shaped bit need to be in a certain position?I read somewhere about 12/24 hour clock on there,is it possible to get that mixed up?
The pear shaped bit will make it sits at the correct hour & minute & as you insert it you will be able to see if the clock is set to am or pm by whats at the top of the chart, the area to be recorded on.
So when you insert the card just keep the field you want to record on (am or pm) at the top & if the pear does not match then it’s set for the wrong period.
How do the curtains work on a truck. It looks like there are straps every couple of feet but how do they work?
The straps are ratchet type straps.
To connect then you hook a metal loop onto the bed base, pull down on the loop & then if needed give it a extra tighten using the ratchet & then push the ratchet flat to the strap (close it…)
To open the curtains lift the ratchet, pull the bottom strap & it should just pull loose.
The ends of the curtains are on poles the bottom of which fit into ratchets, if you look at the base of the poles you will see some kind of release, I normally just tighten the pole slightly to take the weight of the lock & then they, normally open easily.
The replace the curtain is a reverse process, it’s just often a pain to replace the pole at the top & get the curtain under the skirt at the same time.
ALWAYS try to get the curtain under the skirt at the top of the truck as not doing so can result in the truck bed getting wet, which is a real problem with some loads.
When loading a whole truck bed open all the curtain & pull it all of it to the back then move all the curtain to the front as the bed fills so that the forkie has nothing to rip or get caught up on.
Sorry if I have made it seem more complicated than it is.
Good luck.
Should have said about the straps, make sure when undoing the curtain open the straps first then undo the poles, and when closing do the poles first then do up the straps, sounds like a simple thing but I have seen guys try it the other way round and the curtain ends up looking a mess and will be flapping all the way down the road. Just take your time, don’t rush anything at first, straps whipping around in the wind hurt … they bloody hurt, when they hit you right in the face.
smcaul:
just dont over tighten them,
Just how tight do you fasten the straps, smcaul?? I aways advise that the straps should be tightened as much as possible without actually having to ‘swing on them’.
One of the advantages of tight curtains is the magic words these ‘fuel economy’ and another (which shouldn’t be needed if we were all 100% perfect) is a bit more load security from a shifted load incident.
As for ‘first time’ (on each new type of curtain) ask!!
marcustandy:
Just how tight do you fasten the straps, smcaul?? I aways advise that the straps should be tightened as much as possible without actually having to ‘swing on them’.
I have always found that pulling them just tight enough that you can pull the lever down without doing yourself an injury is quite suffcient. If you do them any tighter then by the time you get to the end the front ones are loose cos you have cranked them down. Over tightening them also leads to the curtains stretching and then bang goes your fuel economy. 
I think perhaps we tighten them the same…we just explain it differently 
Chenn, the answer to your original post is pretty much covered but I would add this,
There are many amusing answers on here, but no silly questions!
marcustandy:
smcaul:
just dont over tighten them,Just how tight do you fasten the straps, smcaul?? I aways advise that the straps should be tightened as much as possible without actually having to ‘swing on them’.
One of the advantages of tight curtains is the magic words these ‘fuel economy’ and another (which shouldn’t be needed if we were all 100% perfect) is a bit more load security from a shifted load incident.
As for ‘first time’ (on each new type of curtain) ask!!
Over tightening the straps can damage the rollers that the curtains run along, making it a pain to move, but as you agree with Smcaul on the tension needed I think that about all you need.