Profile For Charlie Mac

I know all about "toughing it out", but I'd take issue with sleeping on some other guys mattress.

You want me to do a recovery? Fine. Deliver the load? okay. Clean his truck? That's iffy...I'd have to see it. Sleep on his mattress? No way.

You're a braver man than I.

If there's ever any doubt...pull in.

Old School, "angry milk" LOL. Never heard that one before...but it makes sense. I think it kinda feels like getting whacked in the back with a mattress.

The fuller tanks don't surge as much (53k ish) as there's no where for the milk to slosh. Anything under 50k wrecks havok though when I have to slow down/stop or hit one of those 25mph curves...(or 12mph curves as I like to call them) Lbvs.

The empty tanks weigh about 10k (light right!) and the CNG tractors even fully loaded with fuel don't have the weight that a fully fueled diesel tractor would have. About 17,800 Bobtail.

I've got a bulk transportation agriculture permit (for an extra 2k pounds on the drives) so I can run 12/36/34 legally, but I'm seldom 81k gross.

Big Scott, I'm guessing you were either @ the 201 (newly remodeled!) or in Whiteland across the street from Love's?

🎹 man, CNG isn't bad...but you have to drain the fuel filters daily (there's 2 of them) or moisture will bog the engine down & it smells like rotten eggs & butane.

Danielsahn, Thanks! (So does the wife) LOL.

Brett, I'm indebted to you more than you know for maintaining this site. The free practice tests are an invaluable asset & friendly straight-shooting moderation is second to none.

I hope you're doing well & not forgetting to take some time for yourself along the way of keeping TT running like a finely tuned rig fresh out of Blue Beacon. ☺

Howdy all! It's been awhile since I checked in last. I'm currently pulling tankers of raw milk from dairy barns in Northern Indiana to various Kroger creameries. If you live in the Midwest & buy anything with dairy in it that's Kroger brand, (milk, ice cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese etc.) chances are I've pulled it.

The company is called "Ruan" and they trucks run on CNG (compressed natural gas) instead of diesel. The CNG also comes from the cows @ dairys I pick up from. They take the cow pies & feed it into a "digester" that converts it into methane which is then pumped through a pipeline to the company fuel islands.

It's neat to use a renewable resource...but there is a downside. I run about 500 miles a day & have to fuel twice during this run. The tank on the truck holds about 3600psi of fuel & I use about 4600psi per day. (And I miss those fuel points!)

If you're ever running on I-65 & see a Ruan tanker be sure & wave!

I don't mind driving anywhere on a U.S. Interstate. I really like the sights on I-80 once you hit the desert.

I despise those state routes that take you through backwoods small towns, mostly because the speed limit goes 60...55...45...35....45...55...60. (Sprinkled w/ stoplights).

Wash, rinse & repeat.

I've delivered to some villages in Pennsylvania tucked into moutainsides that shouldn't have 2 lane car traffic, much less trucks w/ 53" trailers. 😑

I have one of those clip-boards with a locking storage hatch built in. Calculator built into the clipper. You can buy 'm at any truck stop or Wally-World.

More often then not, there will be 2 signs. "All Trucks and trailers weighing over xx,xxxlbs gross must enter" and "AVI/Prepass follow onboard signals.

What really miffs me is when the Prepass doesn't go green or red & the open/close sign is off. This has happened a few times & I'll pull in anyways...just to realize someone forgot to flip a switch before they left.

Back to the O.P.

IF they have prepass, sign or not & you get the green...the prepass will continue to blink green for awhile after it's activated. If you get stopped, you'll have proof you were given the go.

Charlie:

It's obvious where the NEW UNDERWEAR comes into the story. I would slow down through those cornfields. Maybe 35 MPH max.

Certainly will, especially when I see an oncoming bike.

Awesome story Brett! Thanks for sharing. 👍