Korena says she'll sign a Fedex contract after the first for a dedicated coast-to-coast run...for me.
She also said that she may well go independant; ie start her own trucking company.
I would have the option of remaining with our current carrier or going with her. No contest.
I'd make 15% more and keep hauling the same exact loads (or the coast-to-coast and return).
She mentioned a good deal she could get on trailers, and I said I'd rather buy one than lease one. I have no credit (as in just haven't borrowed any money), and I'm pretty sure she would connect me and back me up. My current lease is 150/week. I think I could arrange the same or lower payments for a trailer of my own. If payments are made through Korena, I'd think it only fair if she skimmed some.
I'd have to maintain the trailer at my expense, of course, but that's okay. That's WHY I want to own it.
Conventionally, trailer tires are recapped drive tires from tractors. A true trailer tire costs more, but offers massively lower rolling resistance. As I got baldies and flats, I'd replace all eight with real virgin trailer tires, and increase my fuel economy significantly.
I'd also install wind-resistance reducing devices and stuff like that. The guys on the trucker channel make me think I can get another mile per-gallon or more with these changes. That's a LOT.
15% more, my own trailer, and Korena? Outstanding.
If I get money ahead, I might even do the tire thing early--if I can get a decent deal on the trade-ins. I mean, the fuel savings could be over 100 bucks a week, so I have to think about it.
Trouble is, actually getting ahead. Ten grand in repairs 3 weeks ago, with more than that many days downtime. Now I've got uneven wear on a steer tire. I'm going to stall as long as I can, but soon I'll need to replace both steers and get whatever caused the bad wear fixed (I suspect the kingpin).
But I just did an oil filter change. My oil capacity is about fifty quarts. I was down TWENTY QUARTS, five gallons, 40%. (I know I'm an idiot for not checking).
Point is, I use the ceramic additive. I saw no hint of a problem. Never got hot, lost power or mileage. FRIKTON works, and might have saved my engine.
I don't check my oil much. I mean, the biggest part of the recent repairs was repairing two oil leaks. That's so I know for sure that I'm not losing any.
But I sure as hell should have checked after the last repair. Because I think they dumped a bunch while fixing my second leak, and never even topped me off.
Anyway after T-Day during which I had a great time with the family, she ran me around east for three quick trips and then sent me out here. Now I'm loading for Charleston TN. I should have some real money coming in soon. Ideally, enough to actually save some for once.
Oh yeah now I'm in daydream mode. Say Jan 15 she helps me get my new (maybe used) trailer, and I can consider doing the tires and the wind resitance reduction stuff right away. Maybe I got 6 grand I can safely spare (always leaving a bunch for emergencies--which happen often).
Opps I'm full okbye
Monday, December 5, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Omha, NE
I got the last steering shaft in the world for my truck. They stopped making them. At three places, including two Freightliners, they told me I was out of luck, but somehow, Sapp Brothers here found one and ordered it for me.
I failed my inspection on the 25th because of this and a carrier bearing.
I gotta say it again: All bushings on springs, one set of springs, u-joints, every section of the steering shaft, a/c (twice), tire, alignment (3 times), transmission repair 650 bucks, air dryer, wheel seal, and half a dozen other things. Over eleven grand in the last six weeks.
Once again, the repairs ongoing this time will draw me down close to ZERO.
I could wait on the a/c? And have to stop again for repairs?
You'd think I'd be discouraged by now, but really I've addressed it before. Herbie has 850,ooo miles on him, and all of this stuff was due to be replaced. All the expensive stuff should now live longer than Herbie himself.
I should be rolling again on monday, and not have to stop for awhile. I should be able to save up some money, which I'll need.
The engine's life expectancy is 900,000 miles, but I'm sure that I'm extending it substantially using ceramic coatings, my OPS oil filter, and my APU to replace idling and starts. The ceramic stuff expecially, since I should be able to keep tolerances where they belong indefinitely as long as I add it every 60,000 miles.
Another thing I want to do is switch to this no-water antifreeze. It doesn't boil; doesn't build pressure. Using it, you can replace your thermostat and run hotter for better economy.
All the same, I must expect to replace my engine or my truck within the next 14 or 15 months.
I hope to replace the truck with a much smaller vehicle and run expedited freight.
If I've got this massive expense coming up anyway, I might as well give myself a raise and get out from under the DOT...
Speaking of which, this officer in Minnesota invented three violations and shot my CSA score to hell. Then this Texas Patrolman gave me a ticket for having a flat tire.
Yeah--now we're supposed to pull to the side of the road and get a road service truck every time we get a flat!
I got sixteen tires designed to support half again my max legal weight. I drive ten times the miles you do, and have four times as many tires, excluding steers. I get flats FOURTY TIMES as often as you do!
The road service guy in this case would have had the tires, his tools, and himself IN THE ROAD while fixing me.
Do-gooders are the bane of american society. Rules upon regs upon laws are suffocating truckers. This one will kill people, let alone cause more traffic jams, more fuel consumption, shut down factories, overtime on docks, shortages, and general misery, and it's totally unneccessary.
I had 40,000 pounds and could have had two more flats on different axles and gone over 100 miles to a repair shop without a problem. And of course I was heading for the next one I got to. DUH!
I'm sick of it. They're suffocating us. Some people think that unless they're concocting more rules they're not earning their pay. They'd issue breathing licenses if they could!
And the Minnesota DOT has a policy about screwing over drivers. Probably, they reward officers who find the most things wrong. That's the only reason I can think of why this one invented a bad marker light and tail light (they both worked fine).
Right now? I'm shut down because I couldn't pass an inspection in time for my company's deadline. Their policy is to have us get one every six months instead. I respect that--it's smart.
However, the last beancounter I talked to trying to get an extention wouldn't help me. He keeps asking me what about the DOT cops at the weigh stations when they see my sticker.
My sticker is an ANNUAL inspection conforming to DOT regs and is valid for several more months. I tell him this and he repeats his question: What about when the DOT sees my sticker? I ask him what company policy has to do with that, and he repeats the question.
Because of this, I had to deadhead four hundred fifty miles and burn at least two hundred bucks worth of fuel. If I hadn't landed the last steering shaft in existance, I would have been screwed. Again.
Ohhmmm....ok better now. Monday I should be ready to roll and keep rolling. Got a great dispatcher and damn near a new suspension. New tires all around, wearing evenly-oil changed, 34 hour reset, freight booming...
And the bar in this hotel just opened okbye.
I failed my inspection on the 25th because of this and a carrier bearing.
I gotta say it again: All bushings on springs, one set of springs, u-joints, every section of the steering shaft, a/c (twice), tire, alignment (3 times), transmission repair 650 bucks, air dryer, wheel seal, and half a dozen other things. Over eleven grand in the last six weeks.
Once again, the repairs ongoing this time will draw me down close to ZERO.
I could wait on the a/c? And have to stop again for repairs?
You'd think I'd be discouraged by now, but really I've addressed it before. Herbie has 850,ooo miles on him, and all of this stuff was due to be replaced. All the expensive stuff should now live longer than Herbie himself.
I should be rolling again on monday, and not have to stop for awhile. I should be able to save up some money, which I'll need.
The engine's life expectancy is 900,000 miles, but I'm sure that I'm extending it substantially using ceramic coatings, my OPS oil filter, and my APU to replace idling and starts. The ceramic stuff expecially, since I should be able to keep tolerances where they belong indefinitely as long as I add it every 60,000 miles.
Another thing I want to do is switch to this no-water antifreeze. It doesn't boil; doesn't build pressure. Using it, you can replace your thermostat and run hotter for better economy.
All the same, I must expect to replace my engine or my truck within the next 14 or 15 months.
I hope to replace the truck with a much smaller vehicle and run expedited freight.
If I've got this massive expense coming up anyway, I might as well give myself a raise and get out from under the DOT...
Speaking of which, this officer in Minnesota invented three violations and shot my CSA score to hell. Then this Texas Patrolman gave me a ticket for having a flat tire.
Yeah--now we're supposed to pull to the side of the road and get a road service truck every time we get a flat!
I got sixteen tires designed to support half again my max legal weight. I drive ten times the miles you do, and have four times as many tires, excluding steers. I get flats FOURTY TIMES as often as you do!
The road service guy in this case would have had the tires, his tools, and himself IN THE ROAD while fixing me.
Do-gooders are the bane of american society. Rules upon regs upon laws are suffocating truckers. This one will kill people, let alone cause more traffic jams, more fuel consumption, shut down factories, overtime on docks, shortages, and general misery, and it's totally unneccessary.
I had 40,000 pounds and could have had two more flats on different axles and gone over 100 miles to a repair shop without a problem. And of course I was heading for the next one I got to. DUH!
I'm sick of it. They're suffocating us. Some people think that unless they're concocting more rules they're not earning their pay. They'd issue breathing licenses if they could!
And the Minnesota DOT has a policy about screwing over drivers. Probably, they reward officers who find the most things wrong. That's the only reason I can think of why this one invented a bad marker light and tail light (they both worked fine).
Right now? I'm shut down because I couldn't pass an inspection in time for my company's deadline. Their policy is to have us get one every six months instead. I respect that--it's smart.
However, the last beancounter I talked to trying to get an extention wouldn't help me. He keeps asking me what about the DOT cops at the weigh stations when they see my sticker.
My sticker is an ANNUAL inspection conforming to DOT regs and is valid for several more months. I tell him this and he repeats his question: What about when the DOT sees my sticker? I ask him what company policy has to do with that, and he repeats the question.
Because of this, I had to deadhead four hundred fifty miles and burn at least two hundred bucks worth of fuel. If I hadn't landed the last steering shaft in existance, I would have been screwed. Again.
Ohhmmm....ok better now. Monday I should be ready to roll and keep rolling. Got a great dispatcher and damn near a new suspension. New tires all around, wearing evenly-oil changed, 34 hour reset, freight booming...
And the bar in this hotel just opened okbye.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Peru, Il
I deliver to Cherokee, IA monday, so I stopped at the Super 8 here. I need a trailer tire replaced anyway, and there's a Sapp Bros. here.
Last night at the bar I met an Expeditor. He showed me his little van, which had a microwave, fridge, and sleeper like mine. He gets over 16 mpg's, pays 1/10th of my maintenance, and makes similar gross moneys.
I had heard truckers bitching about these guys, but never did the research I should have.
Sure, all these (for him one or two pallets--there's a larger one-pice truck that makes more) loads are hot, but wow--they're based on 57 mph!!! I mean, I have been under-the-gun, and based on what this guy said, this aint it.
And he gets longer runs, too! I'd thought they were all shorties.
I'm obviously sick of being nearly broke, and my truck has 825,000 miles on it. I'm at the stage in it's life where I need to accumulate more savings than ever to rebuild or replace the engine. Factoring in other stuff that'll come due such as the other leaf spring, my unfinished steering shaft replacement, etc., that could take 20k.
Or, I could sell this truck and get another one. A used one that I don't know.
I don't think so. I think I'm going to downsize and be an expeditor. Park anywhere. No logs. No weigh stations.
I'll want the bigger diesel box-truck so that more loads would be available to me. I also think that the longer runs are proabably multi-stops, which would require more space for more freight. Plus, diesels last ten times longer than gassers.
Right now, I've got to keep running as hard as I can. This load is light but doesn't pay much, but Korena has preplanned me two trips in advance and is moving me to higher paying loads. I'll be coming back to Wisconsin and from there maybe Chicago--I forget. Hate the cold, oce, tolls, and short distance, but that's why these loads pay more. I get it. She's helping me dig out of the hole I'm in.
And she's great. A little later after I've done more homework on expiditing, I'll talk to her about my probable downsizing plans. If I give her some notice, I'm hoping that she can sort of stick with me and make a similar deal with an expidited carrier to the one we now have with this company, and get my loads for me.
It might not work out, because she might have exclusive contracts, and her current connections are probably all for full loads.
I'd hate to leave her. Once you get somebody like her in your corner, any move away from her you make is down.
But jeez--I always wanted one of those huge sleepers, and as an expidor I could probably have one. These things are like campers!
Well, it's down the road apiece. Either way, I've got to save up a tion of money, so I'll be running as hard as she wants.
Last night at the bar I met an Expeditor. He showed me his little van, which had a microwave, fridge, and sleeper like mine. He gets over 16 mpg's, pays 1/10th of my maintenance, and makes similar gross moneys.
I had heard truckers bitching about these guys, but never did the research I should have.
Sure, all these (for him one or two pallets--there's a larger one-pice truck that makes more) loads are hot, but wow--they're based on 57 mph!!! I mean, I have been under-the-gun, and based on what this guy said, this aint it.
And he gets longer runs, too! I'd thought they were all shorties.
I'm obviously sick of being nearly broke, and my truck has 825,000 miles on it. I'm at the stage in it's life where I need to accumulate more savings than ever to rebuild or replace the engine. Factoring in other stuff that'll come due such as the other leaf spring, my unfinished steering shaft replacement, etc., that could take 20k.
Or, I could sell this truck and get another one. A used one that I don't know.
I don't think so. I think I'm going to downsize and be an expeditor. Park anywhere. No logs. No weigh stations.
I'll want the bigger diesel box-truck so that more loads would be available to me. I also think that the longer runs are proabably multi-stops, which would require more space for more freight. Plus, diesels last ten times longer than gassers.
Right now, I've got to keep running as hard as I can. This load is light but doesn't pay much, but Korena has preplanned me two trips in advance and is moving me to higher paying loads. I'll be coming back to Wisconsin and from there maybe Chicago--I forget. Hate the cold, oce, tolls, and short distance, but that's why these loads pay more. I get it. She's helping me dig out of the hole I'm in.
And she's great. A little later after I've done more homework on expiditing, I'll talk to her about my probable downsizing plans. If I give her some notice, I'm hoping that she can sort of stick with me and make a similar deal with an expidited carrier to the one we now have with this company, and get my loads for me.
It might not work out, because she might have exclusive contracts, and her current connections are probably all for full loads.
I'd hate to leave her. Once you get somebody like her in your corner, any move away from her you make is down.
But jeez--I always wanted one of those huge sleepers, and as an expidor I could probably have one. These things are like campers!
Well, it's down the road apiece. Either way, I've got to save up a tion of money, so I'll be running as hard as she wants.
Monday, February 7, 2011
OMFG
It's monday, and now Freightliner says my part has sort of like disappeared and is not available. I mean I agreed to pay extra for overnight on THURSDAY and here I am finding out it's now gone up in smoke!
I'll wait til they get an anwer to their query (no doubt a lie. The part probably went to somebody else who ordered AFTER I did). If they can't get me tomorrow I'll pay what I owe and have to get that done next week.
Meanwhile this morning I get an email purporting to be from Hotmail asking for "confirmation" of my info inc. password because they were shutting down idle accounts. Fell for it.
Next thing I know I got mugged in Cyprus and am asking everybody on my contact list for money, my password has been changed, all my outgoing emails are being forewarded.
YOU GUYS ARE ASSHOLES. GET A JOB, YOU SUBHUMAN PILE OF SHIT.
I'll wait til they get an anwer to their query (no doubt a lie. The part probably went to somebody else who ordered AFTER I did). If they can't get me tomorrow I'll pay what I owe and have to get that done next week.
Meanwhile this morning I get an email purporting to be from Hotmail asking for "confirmation" of my info inc. password because they were shutting down idle accounts. Fell for it.
Next thing I know I got mugged in Cyprus and am asking everybody on my contact list for money, my password has been changed, all my outgoing emails are being forewarded.
YOU GUYS ARE ASSHOLES. GET A JOB, YOU SUBHUMAN PILE OF SHIT.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Still Stuck
I haven't bothered proofing my earlier posts because I'm too bummed to look at them again.
yeah, it's Superbowl Sunday and I'm still stuck here because my "intermediate steering column" never got there friday, ergo won't be there til...I hope...monday.
I told them to keep it down and alert me if my bill was to exceed 4 grand. (That's right. That's in addition to 2450 I already paid for all the other stuff.)
I think they're wrong about my windshield not meeting DOT specs, too. I think the rule is that it's not supposed to impair my vision, and the crack is clearly above my sight-line. I'll just have to see about that and my remaining alignment monday. I may need to take it back to the tire/alignment guy. he's a second opinion, anyway. Crap the windshield is another 300-plus bucks (and that's cheap).
It's maddening. I want to just get the hell out of here, and could put off the windshield (if I do need it) and the inspection. I mean, I'll be taking air freight near Philly, then korena manuevers me back here for another one of those. In other words, I'll be back here within a week, and could call ahead to make appointments and stuff. might well have to lay over a day or possibly two, as well.
But NOOOO! Oh hell no, because I don't dare delay the drive-tire alignment!
It sucks. Freightliner can't pick me up or drop me off. I'll owe them money and will ask them to take it right next door to Sumerel's (the alignment place), but I bet they're not allowed to let the truck leave their property til the bill is paid.
I might just throw up my hands and have Freightliner align it. It'll cost me an extra hundred bucks, but I can get the hell out of there. If I can't persuade them on the windshield, then I'll just put that and the inspection off and spend an extra 15 on the cab.
Meanwhile, if my (I paid 100 bucks extra for overnight--hahaha)--gets there it won't be til after 1100 and maybe early afternoon--then I don 't know how long it takes to get it back inside to get replaced.
Ah! Writing is good for clearing up my thinking--even though it no doubt confuses and bores any readers I ever get. That's what I'll do: Skip the windshield (and inspection of neccessary) and just make sure it's aligned.
I was turning myself inside out trying to save a hudred bucks!
IF the part gets there tomorrow, maybe I can get the hell out of here. IF it gets there, my worst case is staying here one more night.
Damn I hope I remember how to drive, ya know?
OK I feel better now. I bet a ten buck parlay on Green Bay -3 and over 45 1/2. I'll go to Margaritaville next door and watch some of it, and get my laundry done.
Go Pack!
yeah, it's Superbowl Sunday and I'm still stuck here because my "intermediate steering column" never got there friday, ergo won't be there til...I hope...monday.
I told them to keep it down and alert me if my bill was to exceed 4 grand. (That's right. That's in addition to 2450 I already paid for all the other stuff.)
I think they're wrong about my windshield not meeting DOT specs, too. I think the rule is that it's not supposed to impair my vision, and the crack is clearly above my sight-line. I'll just have to see about that and my remaining alignment monday. I may need to take it back to the tire/alignment guy. he's a second opinion, anyway. Crap the windshield is another 300-plus bucks (and that's cheap).
It's maddening. I want to just get the hell out of here, and could put off the windshield (if I do need it) and the inspection. I mean, I'll be taking air freight near Philly, then korena manuevers me back here for another one of those. In other words, I'll be back here within a week, and could call ahead to make appointments and stuff. might well have to lay over a day or possibly two, as well.
But NOOOO! Oh hell no, because I don't dare delay the drive-tire alignment!
It sucks. Freightliner can't pick me up or drop me off. I'll owe them money and will ask them to take it right next door to Sumerel's (the alignment place), but I bet they're not allowed to let the truck leave their property til the bill is paid.
I might just throw up my hands and have Freightliner align it. It'll cost me an extra hundred bucks, but I can get the hell out of there. If I can't persuade them on the windshield, then I'll just put that and the inspection off and spend an extra 15 on the cab.
Meanwhile, if my (I paid 100 bucks extra for overnight--hahaha)--gets there it won't be til after 1100 and maybe early afternoon--then I don 't know how long it takes to get it back inside to get replaced.
Ah! Writing is good for clearing up my thinking--even though it no doubt confuses and bores any readers I ever get. That's what I'll do: Skip the windshield (and inspection of neccessary) and just make sure it's aligned.
I was turning myself inside out trying to save a hudred bucks!
IF the part gets there tomorrow, maybe I can get the hell out of here. IF it gets there, my worst case is staying here one more night.
Damn I hope I remember how to drive, ya know?
OK I feel better now. I bet a ten buck parlay on Green Bay -3 and over 45 1/2. I'll go to Margaritaville next door and watch some of it, and get my laundry done.
Go Pack!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Background: I've had this issue with my tranny for years. It's an automatic ten-speed. Like all commercial diesels, it has a high and low range. Fifth gear is the top of low range, and sixth is the bottom of high.
When it's cold, sometimes my tranny fails to get into sixth gear. It tries and "misses", tries/misses again, and then gears down while disengaged, and remains disengaged--stranding me wherever I rolled to a stop.
Twice I took it to a Freightliner, and they repeated the same steps the second time, including charging me every penny of what I paid the first time. And the problem came right back.
I learned to live with it. I warmed it up longer. I shifted and rolled a little between reverse and foreward several times. I made sure to have a safe spot in case it screwed me again. When it did strand me, I shut down and let it sit for ten minutes. The computer--which had me now in "failure" mode--would refuse to even let me start, until I did this.
OK second background issue: My old steer tires had worn unevenly. When that happens, it gets worse over time, until the vibrations and pulling threaten to shake everything apart and make you lose control.
So a few months ago, I got new steers.
More recently, I almost lost a wheel bearing. I got that fixed, but now the NEW tires had worn unevenly, and now, already, have reached the dangerous stage. So I pulled in here to Cinci to get that fixed: Replace the steers, get an alignment, knock out a DOT inspection--take care of any other issues they found.
Oh yeah. And found issues they did. I needed both bushings on the springs. One of the bushings was shot so I needed a whole new leaf spring. I needed a drive tire. A wheel seal was leaking. Some brake drums were cracked. I needed some shoes.
Almost forgot: Robert the boss called me at 6:30 am to tell me that my tranny was in failure mode and he couldn't get it off his rack, and he had work backing up. I told him to try the reset thing, then realized that it was above freezing, it had sat in a heated shop overnight, and there was no way they'd got it anywhere near high range. It had simply failed while sitting there.
They dragged it outside with a towmotor, and I fiddled around sith it, including disconnecting the battery for ten minutes. Nothing worked. moreover, I was out of air. Robert was kind enough to have his road service guy pump air into my tank. I have two air tanks. The primary fills first, then the secondary fills. Except it didn't. The seconday tank remained empty.
I had to once again call Korena and tell her that after being stuck over the weekend getting repaired, I was out of commission again. Fortunately, I hadn't been committed to a load, and the broker had plenty of time to get the air freight covered.
Robert got me a two truck to two me the 200 feet to the Freighliner (another lucky thing) for 100 bucks (believe it or not that's a good deal). And another lucky thing is that unlike most Freightliners, they said they could get me in to look at it last night or this morning.
I'd left my suitcase and (more importantly) my trailer here at Days Inn. So this time I had to call a cab to get back here.
Today is wednesday and I've been here since friday. The bill for the suspension repairs and three tires was 2450. I still need the rest of the alignment, and Freightliner is too backed up to do that--and will only do the full alignment. But they'll do my DOT while they're doing the other stuff, and I'm hoping Robert can get me in/out quick...
Oh no--I can't skip that! New bushing and spring and no alignment? That's a great way to wear out my drives at light-speed like I did the steers!!! I get 100,000 mile tires and they last 35,000--no more of that crap!
I can hear Korena's frustration, though she works har to hide it. Might be fear, too: She just got this lucrative air-freight gig for me (and her), and now I may miss an available run. While I haven't compromised any loads, still somebody else could get in there and nail it down--acing us out.
I swear, it challenges my rationality. It's hard for me not to conclude that I'm cursed.
And I'm scared about the Freightliner bill, and just how bad this problem is.
Korena asked me if I thought I'd be cack on the road today. I really doubt that.
It's 0940 so I'll check on it...
they won't get it in til this afternoon...
When it's cold, sometimes my tranny fails to get into sixth gear. It tries and "misses", tries/misses again, and then gears down while disengaged, and remains disengaged--stranding me wherever I rolled to a stop.
Twice I took it to a Freightliner, and they repeated the same steps the second time, including charging me every penny of what I paid the first time. And the problem came right back.
I learned to live with it. I warmed it up longer. I shifted and rolled a little between reverse and foreward several times. I made sure to have a safe spot in case it screwed me again. When it did strand me, I shut down and let it sit for ten minutes. The computer--which had me now in "failure" mode--would refuse to even let me start, until I did this.
OK second background issue: My old steer tires had worn unevenly. When that happens, it gets worse over time, until the vibrations and pulling threaten to shake everything apart and make you lose control.
So a few months ago, I got new steers.
More recently, I almost lost a wheel bearing. I got that fixed, but now the NEW tires had worn unevenly, and now, already, have reached the dangerous stage. So I pulled in here to Cinci to get that fixed: Replace the steers, get an alignment, knock out a DOT inspection--take care of any other issues they found.
Oh yeah. And found issues they did. I needed both bushings on the springs. One of the bushings was shot so I needed a whole new leaf spring. I needed a drive tire. A wheel seal was leaking. Some brake drums were cracked. I needed some shoes.
Almost forgot: Robert the boss called me at 6:30 am to tell me that my tranny was in failure mode and he couldn't get it off his rack, and he had work backing up. I told him to try the reset thing, then realized that it was above freezing, it had sat in a heated shop overnight, and there was no way they'd got it anywhere near high range. It had simply failed while sitting there.
They dragged it outside with a towmotor, and I fiddled around sith it, including disconnecting the battery for ten minutes. Nothing worked. moreover, I was out of air. Robert was kind enough to have his road service guy pump air into my tank. I have two air tanks. The primary fills first, then the secondary fills. Except it didn't. The seconday tank remained empty.
I had to once again call Korena and tell her that after being stuck over the weekend getting repaired, I was out of commission again. Fortunately, I hadn't been committed to a load, and the broker had plenty of time to get the air freight covered.
Robert got me a two truck to two me the 200 feet to the Freighliner (another lucky thing) for 100 bucks (believe it or not that's a good deal). And another lucky thing is that unlike most Freightliners, they said they could get me in to look at it last night or this morning.
I'd left my suitcase and (more importantly) my trailer here at Days Inn. So this time I had to call a cab to get back here.
Today is wednesday and I've been here since friday. The bill for the suspension repairs and three tires was 2450. I still need the rest of the alignment, and Freightliner is too backed up to do that--and will only do the full alignment. But they'll do my DOT while they're doing the other stuff, and I'm hoping Robert can get me in/out quick...
Oh no--I can't skip that! New bushing and spring and no alignment? That's a great way to wear out my drives at light-speed like I did the steers!!! I get 100,000 mile tires and they last 35,000--no more of that crap!
I can hear Korena's frustration, though she works har to hide it. Might be fear, too: She just got this lucrative air-freight gig for me (and her), and now I may miss an available run. While I haven't compromised any loads, still somebody else could get in there and nail it down--acing us out.
I swear, it challenges my rationality. It's hard for me not to conclude that I'm cursed.
And I'm scared about the Freightliner bill, and just how bad this problem is.
Korena asked me if I thought I'd be cack on the road today. I really doubt that.
It's 0940 so I'll check on it...
they won't get it in til this afternoon...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Oak Grove, MO Back from Hell
Herbie's batteries were flatlined when I trtied to start him the next day. I waited most of the day for them to get him back in the shop.
I needed to replace my four 6-week old batteries, their locking rack, my alternator, and the starter in my APU. When the APU sensed low voltage, in tried to start. When is failed to start, it keprt trying over and over again until the last vestiges of any charge were gone.
The combined costs totalled about 2500 bucks.
I finally got my ultra-late load delivered monday morning, and outran the snowstorm to get here last night on my way to...someplace in MO 150 miles away.
I'm afraid that this has endangered Korena's UPS contract, or that they will block me from hauling any more of their freight. You, she, and I know that this cluster-fk wasn't my fault, but beancounters do what beancounters do.
I need a 34-hr reset so I'm in o hotel dragging my feet.
Oh: On the batteries, they're warranteed allright, but not with Sapp Brothers. If they had let me take the batteries to drag around until I could get to another Bosselman's, they'd have charged me 40 bucks each (160 total) core charge. The hell with it.
I needed to replace my four 6-week old batteries, their locking rack, my alternator, and the starter in my APU. When the APU sensed low voltage, in tried to start. When is failed to start, it keprt trying over and over again until the last vestiges of any charge were gone.
The combined costs totalled about 2500 bucks.
I finally got my ultra-late load delivered monday morning, and outran the snowstorm to get here last night on my way to...someplace in MO 150 miles away.
I'm afraid that this has endangered Korena's UPS contract, or that they will block me from hauling any more of their freight. You, she, and I know that this cluster-fk wasn't my fault, but beancounters do what beancounters do.
I need a 34-hr reset so I'm in o hotel dragging my feet.
Oh: On the batteries, they're warranteed allright, but not with Sapp Brothers. If they had let me take the batteries to drag around until I could get to another Bosselman's, they'd have charged me 40 bucks each (160 total) core charge. The hell with it.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Shut Down in Cheyenne
It's tuesday, and I've been here since being towed in on friday.
Friday, a stretch of the I-80 was shut down--gates across the road, and you're shunted off on an exit ramp. They have to do this sometimes due to drifting snow that the plows just can't keep up with. The north wind is always a factor here.
Like many other trucks, I hit the edge of the ramp to park. My APU had picked this very day not to start, and it was arctic cold even without the wind chill, so I left the engine idling. The cold and wind actually drove my coolant temperature and heat down to half operating temerature.
After about two hours, the freeway was re-opened, so I pulled out. The truck died in the middle of the exit ramp, and the starter wouldn't engage. Only later did I find coolant under the truck, but I had no check engine or low water lights, and it cranked...sort of.
I scrambled to call the locan Sapp Brothers, who referred me to a towing company. He said he'd be there in an hour. Three hours later, I was towed by a guy who'd been called by the Highway Patrol...who was parked behind me to help prevent some dumbass from running over my cones (which cost 80 bucks and which I forgot) and hitting me.
The original wrecker had broken down himself.
This was New Year's Eve, and the tow cost 950 bucks. Then Sapp Brothers couldn't even look at the truck til monday, since it's a Mercedes engine.
I checked into the on-site hotel, which I'll never do again. They hadn't cleaned the tub for months, and the heater's thermostat was haywire, alternately broiling and freezing me. Saturday I caught a shuttle to the Holiday Inn, which was awesome.
Monday, miscommunication kept my truck out of the garage til late afternoon. Then they told me the good news. Everything worked, but I had a bad cooolant cap. That doesn't make sense to me, absent any engine codes or alerts when I broke down, but there it is.
They also fixed my APU, which was just clogged with carbon.
But I went to start it and the batteries were dead. And a part they need for the trailer (major air-bag leak I'd been putting of fixing but could no longer...it can lock your brakes and kill you in the mountains) won't be here til 1600 local.
...and there's a weight restriction in effect, and I'm under 20k...and the batteries shouldn't have been dead, and the starter...the starter...
I
Friday, a stretch of the I-80 was shut down--gates across the road, and you're shunted off on an exit ramp. They have to do this sometimes due to drifting snow that the plows just can't keep up with. The north wind is always a factor here.
Like many other trucks, I hit the edge of the ramp to park. My APU had picked this very day not to start, and it was arctic cold even without the wind chill, so I left the engine idling. The cold and wind actually drove my coolant temperature and heat down to half operating temerature.
After about two hours, the freeway was re-opened, so I pulled out. The truck died in the middle of the exit ramp, and the starter wouldn't engage. Only later did I find coolant under the truck, but I had no check engine or low water lights, and it cranked...sort of.
I scrambled to call the locan Sapp Brothers, who referred me to a towing company. He said he'd be there in an hour. Three hours later, I was towed by a guy who'd been called by the Highway Patrol...who was parked behind me to help prevent some dumbass from running over my cones (which cost 80 bucks and which I forgot) and hitting me.
The original wrecker had broken down himself.
This was New Year's Eve, and the tow cost 950 bucks. Then Sapp Brothers couldn't even look at the truck til monday, since it's a Mercedes engine.
I checked into the on-site hotel, which I'll never do again. They hadn't cleaned the tub for months, and the heater's thermostat was haywire, alternately broiling and freezing me. Saturday I caught a shuttle to the Holiday Inn, which was awesome.
Monday, miscommunication kept my truck out of the garage til late afternoon. Then they told me the good news. Everything worked, but I had a bad cooolant cap. That doesn't make sense to me, absent any engine codes or alerts when I broke down, but there it is.
They also fixed my APU, which was just clogged with carbon.
But I went to start it and the batteries were dead. And a part they need for the trailer (major air-bag leak I'd been putting of fixing but could no longer...it can lock your brakes and kill you in the mountains) won't be here til 1600 local.
...and there's a weight restriction in effect, and I'm under 20k...and the batteries shouldn't have been dead, and the starter...the starter...
I
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