Popping In To Say Hello :)

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 love the beard. Great to hear that you are doing well.

Wow. Great to hear that. I'm actually at a Flying J off 65 in Indiana for the night. Heading south in the morning. I see those trucks from time to time. Stay safe.

Hey Charlie Mac, it is great to hear from you!

I'm glad to hear that you are still at it. Hauling Milk sounds like a pretty cool gig! I still remember that one fellow who was in here a few years ago who described the surge of the milk in his tanker as feeling as if he had "angry milk" back there in his tank. I've never forgotten that expression. I'm sure you know what he meant by that.

Hey what's up Charlie! Glad to hear you're doing well man! How do your trucks pull using compressed natural gas?

I'm not working at Swift anymore either. Moved to American Furniture Warehouse as a local driver at the moment and loving it.

Hey man, glad to see you stop in and glad to hear everything is going well for ya!

I pulled a food grade tanker myself for a year one time and hauled quite a bit of cream from the dairies to various places. I never hauled raw milk from the farms, but I have raised beef steers so I'm intimately familiar with cow pies!

Sounds like you have a pretty cool gig. Cows are awesome. They love being petted, just like a dog. Just don't let em step on your foot. You can't believe how much that hurts!!

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. ☺

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.

Thanks Charlie! Yeah, I definitely find some time to squeeze in a little fun along the way.