Are you allowed or expected to do your own maintenance/repairs where you work? I’m guessing it’s the small family firms where it goes on. In contrast do you work somewhere where you can’t change a rear bulb unless you’re a fitter?
Bulbs airlines etc i do bodge it back to the yard repairs also.
I’ll change airlines and bulbs, and I’ve been known to temporarily fix breaks in trailer wiring using nothing but a Swiss army knife and some insulation tape. If we night trunkers didn’t do this stuff ourselves, no one else would. 
None, not allowed too, we’ve got a rygor merc vmu on site so any defects thats who deals with it.
I’ll change bulbs, fuses, cable tie mudguards up. Anything that can be done with cables ties or bungee cords I’ll do it. Would change airlines but are not provided with spares. Phoning fitters adds about a hour or 2 hours to your day canna be bothered wae that pish rather just temp fix it myself then let them sort it out later.
We’ll change a bulb, fuse and air line etc but that’s our lot, airline’s are easy as we have the Bessie ones.
Can’t remember last time I done any of the above.
Had a driver ring the other night with dumped air suspension.Now most are a bunch of bloody plant pots but this bloke was a “gem” he asked if there was anything he could do. I told him to disconnect the height sensor on the near side of the chassis frame, told him what to look for and where it was.
He did this and the truck went into ride height “default” and he got the truck back.
Saved me driving 2 hours to do the same job,saved him sitting on his ■■■ for 2 hours,saved a call out from mercedes (120 quid minimum) if I was on my own,and maybe saved somebodys job because all companies look at the bottom line on the cost sheet.
All very well sitting on your ■■■ saying “Ive not been trained” but at the end of the day if it keeps you able to put food on the table cos the job is still there then whats the choice.
Thats the problem a bit of common goes a long way but you always get the diks.
I wouldnt expect the man to change a bloody axle but you have to look after your own interests.Or maybe you dont you possibly I got it wrong.
I’ll do anything I can or need to, to get back to the yard. Once changed a red air line at a set of lights on the A45 in Coventry. If that was a blue chip driver, the queue would’ve gone back to rugby. Took me less than 5 mins
Not allowed to touch anything Company called out mechanic to change a brake light in the middle of the night mechanic was delighted said depot call out charge pays for his summer holidays utter madness
Being a ex fitter , means I will do any thing to keep the wheels rolling , even when I was a driver for Brs Oxford I would change bulbs etc for other drivers at 4am in the morning to save them waiting for the workshops to do it , Oxford depot were booking the jobs with out even coming out , I just kept a stock of bulbs in my side locker , the only drivers I did not help were the ones who rushed about all day and never had time to have a chat ,hence bulbs were out every where etc .
mjallby:
mechanic was delighted said depot call out charge pays for his summer holidays utter madness
I was chatting recently to a mate whos a tyre fitter for a well known truck tyre Co, who said when hes on call out duty, he gets £40 a go for each call out.
Over the recent Friday - Sunday period he was on Call out, he made £800+ but he admitted he was on the go for most of that time
None, why should I when someone else is paid to do it…!?
merc0447:
I’ll change bulbs, fuses, cable tie mudguards up. Anything that can be done with cables ties or bungee cords I’ll do it.
Cable ties are the most useful thing you can carry. If you run out - as I did one night in Birmingham with a trailer mudwing to repair - you can often find them wrapped around lamp posts or traffic lights. Cut them as far as possible from the “ratchet” end and they’re usually long enough to fix trailer mudguards and a host of other things.
all we can do is change rear bulbs the fleet is contract maintained so were not allowed to do anything
Bulbs, fuses, tyres etc Anything that can be fixed at the roadside I’m expected to do.
Not allowed to do anything except change an airline, however we have quick release (collar on each end) and carry a spare in the cab.
Some of the stores we do mean you have to screw around quite tight
Nope… Nothing, not allowed to change bulbs, which is a shame as I’d quite like to be a bit more “handy” round the truck and learn a few things about up keep and maintenance
I do anything I can. Bulbs, keep the wagon clean, curtains and poles lubed.
Manitou is a different story so anything goes because it’s a very simple set up. Changed filters, batteries, relays, and obviously keep it greased and good to go at all times.
When we do have a fitter out I’m the irritating bugger that is peering over his or her (although I haven’t met a her fitter yet 
) shoulder because I’m curious how these things work.
F-reds
Strongly encouraged to do what we’re comfortable with. Last week I had a day in the yard and repaired a tail lift hose, changed a relay valve, repaired a torn curtain and fitted a phone and tracker to a new lorry. Have also done a gearbox with our fitter (now sadly diagnosed with cancer). Would rather get stuck in and learn new stuff than sit around reading a book whilst somebody else does it.
Gary
on that note why do other drivers expect you to know how to replace a red airline,i had the night drivers unit out one day and it went right on a roundabout in wokingham i spent nearly an hour trying to replace it with a spare,the result was a temporary repair that got me going,this was after endless stress and a lot of loud cursing,when i got back to the yard and he came in he started moaning saying drivers should know how to do it properly,why is that,i am no mechanic and any work needed doing has allways been done by the proper fitters/mechanics,changing bulbs and such like is not a problem but when stuck on a roundabout under pressure you try your best but obviously not good enough for our night driver even though there was no air leaking and it would have got him to birmingham no problem,until that day i had never changed an airline,i am paid to drive these vehicles not repair them