Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Was the Federal Marshall involved? LOL!
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Potential new appliance for my truck
I would look at the 4 qt Instant Pot... Much smaller footprint and will run on the 1800 watt inverter. Myself, I prefer the Oster 12" skillet. Easy to clean, and cooks quickly. Steak and eggs baby... As far as cleaning, I use a mix of Isopropyl alcohol and water, 50/50. Just spray and wipe. Use it on your mirrors and glass too, especially in the winter months.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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If you can learn how to shift a manual, and it is not that difficult, I would at least make sure the school you are attending has that option. Just because the big guys are going automatic, does not mean everyone is. I believe manual transmissions are still relevant out here, as many of the smaller, better paying outfits still use these trucks. Automatics are very expensive to repair, and they do break. Manuals, in competent hands are darn near bulletproof. Learn how to shift a truck.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Never move the steering wheel... Just go straight, control your speed, you may have to hit the brakes. Invest in a camera, I like my Garmin 55, the mid range one, and my Herd Bumper. Always be prepared for the most stupidest of animals, the human one. Don't be that guy.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Backing help needed: turning front vs. back of trailer
Slide the tandems, all the way to the rear... Then watch those tires, not the trailer. The tires are your guide, steer the tires too where you want to go... The TIRES, are what you align on, if they are forward, line the tires up to the target. Just remember, you have that trailer back there. It can hit things on the swing.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Prepaid legal services/insurance plan
I had one of these plans when I first started driving, this was thirty years ago... It saved my bacon once, a $650 speeding ticket in OR. My reefer went out, middle of summer, frozen load, racing to get to ID on a weekend to the Thermo King dealer to get repaired. The sheriff nailed me at 70 in a 55, around 0200 in the morning on a weekend night. The only guys out there on the interstate were me and him. That was a lot of money back then, almost a weeks pay, just like today...
I no longer have one of these plans, but am seriously considering getting involved in one due to the increase in accidents and fatalities in our industry. We all play beat the clock now, including myself, everyone is speeding, if not on the road, in the truck stops, almost hit twice last night just weighing the truck in the TA in Dexter MI. I am seeing an increase in reckless and careless driving out here, and I know I am doing things I would never do, and an increase in screw ups on my part as I race that clock.
There are daily road closures in my area of travel, Detroit to Chicago and back, and way too many fatalities, another one yesterday, three this week that I know of involving big trucks just here locally. Last year big truck fatalities in Michigan were up 18%, and we are going to beat that this year, we are already past that in my observations.
I am still on the fence, but the way things are, I would not tell a guy to not sign up for one of these plans, as I am seriously considering looking in to one myself. Getting very dangerous out here.
Oh, that ticket, reduced to faulty equipment and a $35 fine.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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You and the equipment... Don't be that guy!
Michael it’s been stated several times; company drivers are not authorized to perform the work you just described. Most of us have no desire to drive all day, then wrench all night.
Although your point is understood, and it may well apply to your owner operation, it does not apply to the overwhelming majority of drivers posting to this forum.
10-4
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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You and the equipment... Don't be that guy!
I certainly appreciate the mechanics a lot but I am also thankful for the truckers who choose to help out and fix whatever they can fix. I want to go to school and get a certificate in Diesel Mechanics so that I can just fix the truck myself instead of waiting around for a day or two. Maybe thats impatience, on the bright side it would/will save a lot of money.
You will need those skills, due to the fact there are few mechanics out here any longer. We have plenty of parts changers, but they rarely ever fix anything. It is so bad, I chose to in frame my ISX in my buddies driveway rather than taking it to another Cummins certified dealer that botched the first one. They installed all of the wrong parts, and failed to machine the block to set the liners... $38,000 down the drain... They did send all of the correct parts, eventually, but this time, the job was done correctly.
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Great New (possible) Housing Option!
Michael,
I totally get that. One of our members is doing something along those lines. (I will let him share on it if/when he is ready).
I was taking flying lessons. Had a hangar at an airport. Kept my track-day motorcycle and ATV there, along with airplane projects. Rode ATV on trails there and grass strip runway. They had a pond and even built a cabin there. Had festivals and concerts too!
It was my "Country Club"!
I know of a hangar at another airport with a loft office / living quarters. Be aware... if they get FAA grant money there are limits on non-aviation activities (% of space or length of time unflyable things can be there). A friend keeps his motorcycle in his hangar. Several RV's live at several airports I know.
I have a Tiny House community on Facebook.
Cool! You know what I am speaking of... Home ownership is great if you live and work in a community, wife kids, etc... But a single truck driver? I would much rather have that hanger and a patio... ;-)
Posted: 4 years, 4 months ago
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Rattlesnakes in trailers
I wish we had a "Thumbs Up" button here... You just earned one. Thumbs up.