Profile For Grumpy Old Man

Todd?

I was deadheading from Syracuse to Buffalo last weekend. Started with no snow, then kept getting a little heavier as I went.

Near Batavia I was down to 45, but the roads still weren’t too bad. I was keeping my distance. A flatbed started moving into my lane right in front of me, so I let off the accelerator, meaning to drop back. Being empty, I didn’t want to get on the brakes if I didn’t need to.

When he was about 3/4 into my lane, like flipping a switch, visibility was near zero, and everyone in front of us just stopped dead. Truly an oh **** moment.

I got on the brakes and started to skid. Was headed for the left rear of the flatbed. Got off the brakes and headed for the shoulder, and luckily he realized I was about to hit him and headed back to his lane. I missed him by 3 feet and stopped in time to avoid the stopped cars. Grabbed the mic and started yelling back it down, whiteout, waiting for someone to plow into me.

Luckily everyone was able to stop, and spent the rest of the drive from Batavia to Buffalo at 10 to 15 mph, barely able to keep my wipers clear. Had to flick them a few times, something I hate doing as it isn’t the safest thing.

Two things that surprised me was that I didn’t panic, and somehow as I rode beside the tanker unable to see with wipers icing up and defrosters cooking me, the tankers windshield was perfectly clear, with no wipers going at all. I would love to know how he did that.

And some advice. GET A RADIO!!!! I’m amazed how few truckers have a radio.

I was paid a $2,000 bonus as a new driver, quarterly over a year period.

Grumpy Sure enough as soon as I got unloaded this morning dispatch already had an assignment for my. I'm back in Oswego loading coils. Since crossing over to Flat Bed I don't get over to West Rock that much.. Safe travels.

Same to you

And I'll be rolling through the area myself in about an hour from the west. Probably a little late for Chris, and a little early for Grumpy.

I’m finally mostly awake, lol. Won’t be able to move until 10:30 though.

If you happen to still be here Chris, I’m parked opposite dock 10

Truck 1775

Grumpy I see you are at West Rock. When are you getting loaded? I'm across the lake in Liverpool shut down waiting on a early (07:00) unload. If you are still around in the morning and can spare a couple of minutes maybe we can meet up? If not Safe travels my friend.

I was getting unloaded. Ran my clock out so I am here for the night. Are you unloading here tomorrow? If so I will be here until around 10, not sure where after that, no preplan yet.

What are the fridge dimensions of the space on a freightliner Cascadia. I am going to be driving for a western express and I’d like to buy a fridge to put into my truck

Depends on the year of the truck. Mine is a 2015. I bought a dometic that fits right in the passenger side cupboard. 16x16x21h

You can turn the entire fridge into a freezer.

But it wasn’t cheap. And prices have gone up since I bought it.

An SMAD fridge is cheaper but won’t get quite as cold, but still colder than the 12v coolers.

I bought that one first and it also fit, but I wasn’t positive it was working on 12v. It did work on 110 no problem. It probably would have been fine but I decided to spend the extra on the Dometic.

I’m sure I have saved enough by doing my own cooking to have paid for it.

When using the above method, be careful. If you go over a 90 to your trailer the end of the trailer will actually move backward.

And remember. Every back that results in getting it in without hitting anything is a successful back. Nothing else matters.

No matter how long you have been doing this, there will be a time when you suddenly just can’t seem to get the trailer to do what you want, for no apparent reason. Lol

I like to get my trailer positioned in front of the hole as far out as possible, so that I can back it straight in once it is between trailers.

If there is plenty of room in front ( enough to make a u turn), my preferred method is to approach with the space on my passenger side, when my passenger door is beside the trailer on the right of the spot I want, crank the wheel hard left and watch the driver side until my cab is at a 90 to the trailer.

Then watch out the driver window until I see the trailer to the left of my spot coming into view. At that point turn hard right until the rear of your trailer is in front of the hole. Stop. Turn the wheel left while stopped and you will be set up for a nice easy back in. If needed you can make a u turn and start over.

Practice this a few times to get the exact spot to start your turn.

You can do the same by approaching from the drivers side but you can’t see the spot as easy.

Ignore everyone. Who cares what they think?

Drive your tandems, not the entire trailer. If there is snow or other tracks, get your tandems on them and follow them in.

When setting up, leave half the room between the line of trucks at the dock and whatever is in front for maneuvering. Otherwise you will run out of space up front.

If you need to move over a few inches, use the snake maneuver. Go one direction until your tandems move over, roughly where you need them, then the other direction to get the trailer where you need it, then back to get the truck in front of the trailer

Watch what other drivers do.

Practice practice practice

GOAL any time you are not positive you are clear.

Never apologize for taking too long. Do what you have to do to avoid hitting someone else.

Over the last 6 years of being a member of this forum I've seen many regulars come and go. I know many people participate in other trucking sites or exchanged contact info and was curious if anyone's heard from them and what they're up to.

Ones I've been thinking about have been:

Chickie Monster

Pianoman

Tractor man

Ernie (salty dog)

Lil Syster (sunshine)

Errol

Grumpy old man

And many others. Anybody got any intel on what they're up to or if they're still out there driving?

Lol, just noticed this. I’m still at Wolding, I just never seem to have the time to do much more than read the topics that really jump out at me. I’m waiting for a load home right now, which is rare, or I probably would have missed this one.

Thanks everyone.

ANNE Patrick Croff?

And yes, I do enjoy it, but I hate leaving my wife home alone to deal with stuff on her own. I’m thinking of semi retiring in December.

Yessir . . Tonya & I are FB pals in a trucker's wife's group. . . . I'm used to it (20 years and carrying....tbh) She's getting burnt, out, LoL~! I told her about your anniversary!! He's back training for H.O.W. ~!

Retirement is OVER RATED, haha!! Tell your wife to call me . . . I've got hints, helps, and hacks.. haha! (mostly recipes, LoL!)

Keep in touch, good sir.

Kudos!

~ Anne ~

ps: 'semi' retiring . . . . I SO love pundits, LoL! Just got 'my' guy home.. gonna flip that one!

I talk to Patrick every day. Lol

Thanks everyone.

ANNE Patrick Croff?

And yes, I do enjoy it, but I hate leaving my wife home alone to deal with stuff on her own. I’m thinking of semi retiring in December.

My driver side window switch died last night, with the window in the down position. It was 22 degrees at 18:00, with 30mph + winds.

My company would have sent out road service, but what is the chance they would have a 2015 Freightliner window switch assembly?

I’ve carried a set of Torx screwdrivers for 2 years. I almost took them out a few months ago since I’ve only used them once but decided they didn’t take up much room so I kept them. Thank God I did.

I took the door apart, and switched the wire from the driver side switch to the passenger window switch. Problem solved until I can get to the shop.

On a side note, I’m parked at a closed receiver. Easily 100 empty spots. I was looking forward to a nice quiet night. Prime reefer pulls in and parks right beside me. This happens to me all the time.

Are these guys lonely or something? LOL

I got into the habit of carrying torx for changing the old style trailer incandescent lights that would be frequently torn off and busted up. I'd snag a few from old parts trailers in the yard to keep on hand when needed, which happened a lot when picking up trailers. Same for tail lights and such. I just keep a small folding set that takes up little space, same for allens, plus fuses, channel locks etc.. One night I had a pen or something roll across the CB posts on the dash of the Cascadia I was driving and it shorted out the eld, navigation, cb, am/fm stereo & whatever. Luckily I also had the trucks owners manual on hand to find the fuse box. I was relatively new to the Cascadia. Since I had several stops that night and it was snowing I knew I was going to miss the navigation most. Sure I could find my way but it is a very useful tool when you go to hundreds of different places having to get in & out from different directions. Anyway the fuse box I needed to get to is behind the glove compartment of all places and needs to be removed in its entirety to get to. I believe it is 4 torx screws and the whole thing comes right out, door and all and you're in like Flynn.

Yep. I have to pull a couple of fuses if my automatic greaser goes dry so it doesn’t damage itself.

Today I was interviewed on National Public Radio's Marketplace podcast which discusses the economy. They saw my YouTube channel and decided to invite me on the show. 15 million listeners!!!

Marketplace Interview

Congratulations

Today is the two year anniversary of my hire date. It seems like way longer sometimes.

True story: I’ve actually been asked NOT to paint or help people move, when I was free and available, out of concern I would break something or set them back hours correcting my mistakes!

I can't help you there Eugene. I will say that you don't have to be able to fix things to do well at this. It might come in handy every now and then, but in your case I recommend you learn how to get your repairs called in so that you can be efficiently waiting on a service technician to help you get it done right. You will figure it out. Trust me, there are a lot of drivers out here who can't change a headlight bulb. It's easily done, but if you can't do it don't sweat it. Just don't be "that guy" that drops messed up trailers off for other drivers to pick up. Get them to a repair facility or a terminal repair shop. You may not be able to help yourself, but you can learn to be a help to the rest of us.

If I hadn’t been able to fix it, the next option was to cover the window opening with duct tape. Lol

This was a great example of using a little initiative and getting it done. This is the kind of stuff that makes great truck drivers. This is also one of the reasons why I often compare truck driving to being self-employed. Most people who have been self-employed have the mentality that they are responsible to get things done. It becomes part of their nature. Being quick on your feet to develop solutions is a great characteristic for a truck driver. Even if it's a temporary fix - it keeps you moving and that's how we make money. I have seen drivers in a situation like this who will sit for hours waiting on somebody at their office or terminal to come up with a solution. It's a terrible waste of time, and a condemning lack of initiative.

Congratulations Grumpy, and thanks for sharing this with us!

Thanks. Got to keep rolling if at all possible.

Donna, the only thing that keeps me awake is the sound of trailers being dropped in drop lots by yard dogs. I wake up every time. I think I must think something hit my truck.

My driver side window switch died last night, with the window in the down position. It was 22 degrees at 18:00, with 30mph + winds.

My company would have sent out road service, but what is the chance they would have a 2015 Freightliner window switch assembly?

I’ve carried a set of Torx screwdrivers for 2 years. I almost took them out a few months ago since I’ve only used them once but decided they didn’t take up much room so I kept them. Thank God I did.

I took the door apart, and switched the wire from the driver side switch to the passenger window switch. Problem solved until I can get to the shop.

On a side note, I’m parked at a closed receiver. Easily 100 empty spots. I was looking forward to a nice quiet night. Prime reefer pulls in and parks right beside me. This happens to me all the time.

Are these guys lonely or something? LOL

Excellent!!! This was on the only available empty yesterday where I dropped . Seems several other drivers left bobtail. I have a small tool kit and various nuts, washers and bolts onboard just in case. I managed to reattach the crank handle enough to raise the landing gear the got an appropriate bolt at a Loves Speedco. Now I'm on a 970 mile run instead of sitting the weekend out. I also managed to reattach the broken right side arm rest on this truck instead if having to wait for the body shop at a terminal. DIY repairs are great!!!

Way to go. I just got a new seat because of a broken armrest. I had shoved a bolt in the hole where the spring clip went so I had a working armrest until I went back to the shop. I was surprised they didn’t just fix it since I’ve got 650,000 miles on it. I’ll probably upgrade to a new truck before 700000

Way to adapt and overcome, sir!

Prime drivers are friendly people. We find the sound of a running reefer soothing and it helps us fall asleep. If one parks next to you, they are just trying to help you sleep too.

I slept fine. I just don’t understand the need to crowd up next to people Lol