Profile For Nion M.

Big thanks to Farmerbob1 for the review on the Kenworth T680 Automatic. Here’s my quick take:

The lurching sounds like a bit of a pain, especially with a heavy load. It’s one of those quirks that seems to pop up more than we’d like.

Storage space is a sore spot, huh? It’s always a juggle finding places for all our stuff. Might have to get creative with organizing solutions.

But hey, that fuel efficiency sounds pretty sweet. Saving on gas is always a win in my book.

And less stress in city driving? That’s a big thumbs up. Anything that makes the drive smoother is a plus in my world.

So, it's a bit of give-and-take with the T680. Those miles per gallon and easier rides are tempting, but it’s a bummer about the storage and that lurching issue. Drive safe out there!

Catch you on the flip side!

I had been driving a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia eight speed manual for six months since I went solo, but wanted to try an automatic.

Sooo... I asked about it, and there was a 2016 Kenworth T680 10-speed Automatic available.

I decided to try it.

The bad:

Sleeper storage space is horrible compared to the Freightliner. It's even bad compared to the T680's my two trainers had.

Accessible storage in the cab, reachable from the driver's seat, is absolutely miserable compared to the Freightliner.

The arrangement of the cupholders is disgusting. The two cupholders are on the far side of the automatic shift lever. This means that when I put my cupholder mount for my smartphone in either cupholder spot, I cannot use the other, due to the shift lever or the smartphone mount blocking the empty cupholder. Fortunately, the odds-and-ends hole on the drivers side of the shift lever is just big enough that I can jam a 20oz soda bottle in it.

There is only one light switch for the sleeper, not the four that the Freightliner had. All or nothing.

When I sleep, I have to put my CPAP machine on the 5-gallon bucket I keep in the sleeper, because the sleeper controls are on the opposite side from the desk, and the shelf near the sleeper controls is only wide enough to be a step, not a storage place. When I am not sleeping, I have to disconnect and store the CPAP machine, as there is nowhere to permanently store it where it can be used, and doesn't risk being damaged.

The damn truck lurches like a drunken sailor when trying to back with a heavy load, meaning I have to be super careful when backing.

Acceleration from a stop is very slow when loaded. The automatic shifts low gears much slower than I can float them.

The Good:

The desk is much bigger than the Cascadia's desk. I can actually put my laptop on it, AND have room for a drink, and a mouse too!

Despite slow loaded acceleration, city driving is much less stressful. I can pay more attention to what is around me, and less attention to shifting.

The fuel mileage isn't something that impacts me directly as a company driver, but I'll comment on it anyway, because it is one of very few things I like about the truck. I drove 850 miles from Dallas, TX to Ft. Collins, CO with 43,000 in the box. Then deadheaded 420 miles to Liberal, KS and have driven 800 more miles to Potts Camp, MS with 42000 in the box. My MPG for all 2070 miles? 9.3 MPG.

.....

The takeaway? There's nothing critically bad about the new truck, but I'm still going to try to pick up a Freightliner Automatic in 90 days when I get back to the yard. And before I switch trucks again, I am going to make sure it has intelligently designed storage space, unlike this T680 Automatic.

Absolutely, Mark. If you're smelling the brakes and gaining too much speed downhill, trying a lower gear like 8th might help control your speed better with less brake use. The Jake Brake's effectiveness can vary between trucks, so even if the dealer says it's working, it might not feel as strong as you're used to. Consider asking them if there's a way to adjust it for more power. Stay safe and keep experimenting with gear settings to find what works best for your Kenworth T680.

I am confused on the automatics and going downhill fully loaded. (41k)

At the crest of the hill I slow down 50-55. (Not major downgrade) I switch down to 9th gear. The rpm goes up to 16,000 and roars. I start firmly pressing the break on and then release for 5 seconds. I start gaining momentum. I have the jag brake on full and here is where I am confused. (Jag brakes does not seem to help)

Should I have shifted down to 8? Because 9th and applying brakes is not cutting it. I am not smoking the brakes but I can smell them when I stop. (That's if I stopped right away)

Side note. My thoughts on the jag brakes from a previous truck .... They slowed the truck down. But not so much here. I just brought the truck to dealer and said they not work. They tested and said they work. Feeling dumb😠

Hi All I am currently debating on getting my cdl, I want to make a career change after 30 years as a painting contractor. I dont mind at all being by myself all day, but I am concerned about sitting in a truck for 8-12 hours a day. I know I can even get really frustrated while driving in a car for two hours. Is there a difference knowing you are getting paid while driving? How have any of you new or experienced truck drivers adjusted to the long hours of driving? Its my biggest concern, so it will be a decision maker for me. I will be 60 years old the end of January, so have mellowed out over the years. Thanks!

In my experience, if you are doing LTL, then most likely you will spend most of the day loading and unloading trailers, sometimes it takes a long time. We, some wall work drivers, think that it is something terrible if they have to do the loading themselves, but I like that you can combine physical activity as a pleasant break, which I spent while driving. You will rarely spend a lot of time on the road or on the road, you decide, as a rule, when to go and you can choose the time when the road is not loaded. On long trips, if you don't have the habit, it's better not to go.

Cool! What cool photos, thanks guys! I saw a lot of flatbeds in wall work, but so that I was never fully loaded at work (I looked at all the pictures for two hours, it was very interesting to find out. A good profession, difficult, responsible and not for the weak to carry such goods even practically crawling on the asphalt!!! Thanks a lot!!!

I live and work where there is a lot of snow. At first it was very problematic for me because I grew up in Florida. For a long time I could not get used to the fact that in the morning before going to work you need to clear your way. I own a Ford F-150, I bought a snow plow for it in wall work trucks. That was really the right decision) My neighbors were especially happy.

Hey all, it may have been asked before but in looking for a direct answer 😁. I have been wanting to learn Spanish for a while now. I'm thinking 10 hours in the drivers seat is a good time to learn. Anyone know of a friendly language program that doesn't require video that can be done while driving? I know I could do the normal route and study a program on my breaks but theres always so much other stuff to do on breaks like sleeping.

Hola. ¡Felicidades! Eso es genial. Les deseo buena suerte. I work in wallwork and sometimes I have free time and the same thoughts were. I started learning Japanese, a little German, but it was more of a dispute)))))) with friends. I searched the internet for free courses and listened to them, for example edx.org, StudySpanish.com. If it's just for you then that's enough)))))