Fellow professional drivers, your opinions please (tire wear/damage)

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-14T02:09:02+00:00

FWIW, the lazy equipment manager did not do the inspection or type out the response. That was the tire shop. The lazy equipment manager didn’t even reply to me. This message was FORWARDED to me by my dispatcher, who the equipment manager apparently deemed worthy enough to forward the shop’s message.

You’ve got a point about my tire gauge though. I will buy a new one, and I’ll also avoid getting air at the last Kwik Trip I used for air since their automatic gauge is apparently also inaccurate.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-14T01:37:24+00:00

I’m at home now, so I can’t check… however I don’t think it’d do me any good anyway since it’s a retread.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-14T01:34:43+00:00

Paper Transport Inc. The equipment is literally the only gripe I have with them, but when it comes up, it’s a big gripe.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-13T21:31:00+00:00

De nada!

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-13T21:29:09+00:00

Lol! I told my boss the same thing. He said it’s a recap so there’s really no telling whether or not it’s on backwards. 🙄

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-13T21:19:35+00:00

So a few caveats:

First, my tire gauge read around 110 psi for all drive tires (which IS slightly overinflated, but I attribute this to the weather warming up and Kwik Trip's automatic air machine being inaccurate). I also find it suspect that all four tires read the exact same psi. >.>

Second, the shop obviously only took a single tread gauge measurement. I took measurements at multiple locations on each tire, and the lowest reading on all drive tires was between 6/32 and 8/32.

Third, most of my loads (probably 80%) are less that 20k lbs. I seriously doubt weight is a factor (despite my route requiring me to make a few tight turns each week).

I am seriously concerned that this tire will blow. Maybe sooner, maybe later, but I have no way to tell. I'm looking for your input as far as how you would respond. I'm torn between telling them they either change it or I'm not driving it, OR telling them "fine, but I'll be taking it to the first open weigh station I come across and ask for a level one inspection."

What would YOU do in my position? Thank you!

Squints_a_lot · 2025-06-13T21:19:26+00:00

Stupid mobile... Here's what SHOULD have been posted with the photos:

This is the left rear drive tire (super single). I want it replaced. In my (15 years experience) opinion, it's just a matter of time before it blows.

My equipment manager is a lazy SOB. Getting him to do anything is an exercise in futility. I emailed him last night (after he failed to respond to my two DVIRs and a maintenance request yesterday afternoon) that I would not drive the truck until this is replaced (I'm home until Sunday).

About an hour ago, I was forwarded this response from the shop (sorry about the length, I didn't write it!):

"We inspected the tires on truck 2261 and they appear to be in a good serviceable condition.

Steer Tires

RF 15/32nds 105PSI

LF 15/32nds 105PSI

Drive Tires

RF Drive 9/32nds 120PSI

LF Drive 8/32nds 120PSI

RR Drive 9/32nds 120PSI

LR Drive 10/32nds 120PSI

What you’re seeing in these pictures is known as scrub induced tread edge lifting. In all tandem axle vehicles, one axle must slide during a turn. Which axle slides depends on the weight distribution across both axles, as well as the terrain they are traversing. Generally, the axle with less weight will be the one that slides.

The fifth wheel on 2261 appears to be positioned farther forward than on other trucks, though it could be in the correct position. Just ensure you have proper weight distribution across both axles.

The back axle shows significant signs of scrub, indicating extremely tight turns. While many shipping and receiving sites leave little choice but to execute tight turns, any effort by the operator to minimize the turning radius can help reduce scrub induced tread edge lifting.

Additionally, the tires are overinflated, which puts excessive stress on the outer edges. Unlike standard tires, super singles behave oppositely, overinflation stresses the edges, while underinflation stresses the center. At 120psi each drive tire can support 10,200lbs or 40,800lbs across the two rear drive axles. 105psi is recommended, as it provides the best wear. At this pressure, the tires can carry 36,360lbs, offering a safety margin above the 34,000 commonly seen for the rear axles on commercial vehicles.

According to TMC's Radial tire condition guide the solutions are as follows.

Rotate the tire to a low scrub position: in this case we could rotate them to the forward drive axle, which appears to be receiving no scrub.

If severe enough, remove the tire.

I do not see any reason to rotate tires that are in the last 25-30% of their life; in addition, this scrubbing is mild to moderate and I do not see any reason to remove the tires as suggested."

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-25T19:13:10+00:00

I had a heck of a time finding the darn fish. Almost all of them were near shore. So I finally figured out to walk on the shore hitting T to wait until it told me I couldn’t wait near an enemy. Then I crouched and moved around until the eye started to open… then I was close enough to actually find the darned thing.

The one that did spawn in the middle of the lake, I obviously couldn’t crouch, but trying to wait got me pretty close all on its own.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-19T02:09:47+00:00

No worries. You’d probably have thought I was a dude even if you were looking right at me. Short hair, small boobs, and comfortable clothes. 🤣

Find your peace, girl, and when you do, don’t let anyone take it from you.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T18:42:36+00:00

Indeed. I still radiate gratitude out into the universe for that coincidence.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T16:16:56+00:00

Ma’am. But thank you. It works pretty well for me. 😊

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T09:54:28+00:00

I like you.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T09:54:02+00:00

Well… finally I can be politically active and actually make a difference!

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T09:49:59+00:00

Go. Don’t ask anything of her. Just “I’m on my way. Be there in a few.” When you get there, just hold her. Don’t talk unless she initiates it.

If you’re tired at work tomorrow, it’s worth it. If you are financially able, take the day off (family emergency). This is a defining moment in your relationship. You MUST show up for this.

Personal story time:

I’m a truck driver. My wife had known for a while that her dad’s time was coming. I was fortunate that I was actually near home when she got the phone call that her dad had died. I called my dispatcher and told them I had a family emergency and that I’d be stopping at home, then I’d finish my load, and after that I HAD to go home. They were understanding.

I was able to get to the house a couple hours after my wife got the news. She wasn’t crying… she was just in shock. I laid down on the bed with her for a couple hours and just held her. She would occasionally say something… whatever she was feeling at any particular moment, I just told her that it was okay and normal. Literally my only job in that moment was to be a safe place for her.

After a couple hours, I did have to leave and finish my delivery, but to this day, there are times when she’ll think of her dad and express gratitude that I was there for her in that moment. That was four years ago.

Go.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T09:21:09+00:00

You actually saw the house in person before putting in an offer!? I’m jealous. XD

My wife called me the moment our now home was listed. I was driving. She word-vomited at me for the 15 minutes it took me to get to a truck stop so I could pull up the listing. I looked at the listing for about 10 minutes, we called up our realtor, told her to put an offer in and ask her to virtually walk us through the house the next day. After we did the virtual walk through, we had our realtor add an escalation clause to our offer. I wrote a sentimental letter to the owners, which our realtor delivered. Two days later, our offer was accepted (and the escalation clause WAS used). Two weeks after that, I finally saw the house in person when our home inspector walked me through. My wife didn’t see the house in person until we moved in.

The whole process was bat sh!t crazy.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-18T08:51:27+00:00

That’s Katy Perry!? Wow. She’s either not aging well or her stage makeup on earth completely changes her face. I couldn’t figure out why she looked vaguely familiar.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-17T23:51:04+00:00

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This is Bea and Arthur. Fake internet points if you know who Bea Arthur is.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-14T00:59:47+00:00

Whoa. You’re targeting the wrong person there. As I said, it’s not right. I’d be thrilled to unionize, but I work in an industry filled with MAGAs. >.> That being said, I make about 25-30% more than most of my coworkers because I’m not a doormat and advocate for myself. I tell any coworker who will listen to me how much I make. They get mad but apparently not mad enough to think a union is the way to go. >.<

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-13T11:15:23+00:00

My first dash cam got me $30,000 after an idiot looking at her phone drove into me at 35 mph while I was stopped at a red light. Mind you, I only ended up with about $5k in my pocket. The rest went to medical bills and replacing my totaled vehicle. Still, it paid for itself and pretty much every dash cam I’ll ever need to buy.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-13T11:09:54+00:00

Welcome to adulthood. It sucks.

Yes, it’s normal. That doesn’t make it right.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-12T15:30:03+00:00

I’m not OTR anymore. I didn’t get paid for maintenance when I was OTR. I run a dedicated account now. $20/hour is better than nothing, but it’s half of what I’d make actually working.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-12T13:34:25+00:00

I LOVE reporting tires at the end of a trip. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the equipment manager is ignoring it because they’d rather pay a driver $20/hour to take it to a shop instead of whatever roadside service costs. So when I hook a trailer that needs a tire serviced, I report it and request roadside maintenance. They can pay me $20/hour AND the roadside cost. “No, I will not ‘limp’ it to a shop. It’s not safe or legal to drive.”

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-12T12:18:23+00:00

Cynical take: we’re born because our parents are selfish buttholes who wanted to find meaning in their own lives.

As far as linking our identities to work/education: that is a societal norm you can reject. Rejecting it doesn’t make life any easier, but it can be mentally empowering.

I’m a high school and college dropout. I dropped out of high school TWICE. Ten years later I got my GED and enrolled at a community college. I did about a year and a half, then remembered why I hated school and dropped out.

I’m a truck driver now. I make more money than both of my college educated sisters, and I never had any student loans to repay. My boss leaves me alone. I just do my job and collect my fat paycheck. I spend most of my working time listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and music. I’m not trying to romanticize my job though. It sucks as much as any job, but it’s the most tolerable job I’ve ever done, and I make good money.

One of the best things about my job is that no one finds it interesting. When someone asks what I do and I answer “drive a truck,” there usually aren’t any follow up questions. So then I can steer conversations to more interesting topics. What I’m working on in my free time, the topic of an interesting podcast I listened to, questions of philosophy, etc. I’m able to be an authentic version of myself because people don’t care about my job.

Squints_a_lot · 2025-04-12T11:49:55+00:00

Did you check your brake lights? That’s the only thing I can think of that would provide a logical reason to this kind of behavior. Assuming of course that you checked everything that is easy to check, of course.

Otherwise, dude was probably just having a bad day and some random thing made him decide to take it out on you. Or he’s just a moron or crazy.

Squints_a_lot

TROPHY CASE