Tennessee Steel Haulers...

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by snafu.driver, Nov 13, 2010.

  1. snafu.driver

    snafu.driver Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    Nov 13, 2010
    St. George, SC
    0
    Just filled out the paperwork for T.S.H. and waiting on my letter of intent before I buy a truck. I'm currently employed as a company driver and have my scratch to go ahead and take the plunge. Unfortunately the only expierience I have in my 10 years of driving have all been trucks with CAT motors. Even the MTVR's I drove while in the Marine Corps had a CAT. Oh I take that back. The company I drive for now has one P.O.S. MACK and I know enough about that one not to ever buy one.

    The only strung out question I have is what to buy...

    Detroit, CAT or Cummins...

    Truck doesn't much matter. I prefer to get something aerodynamic, 3:55-3:70 gears and would loooove to keep my MPG in the 7 range. T.S.H.'s typical load is 40-47k lbs so I would prefer a 10 speed. I'm favoring the T600/T660 and Pete 386's...used of course ($40-50k range).

    I am considering Century's/Columbia's and even Volvo's. Don't know diddly squat about Volvo's. But I can pretty much get the same motor in just about all the other entries. Your input would be great in terms of fuel efficiency and when these motors have to be overhauled. Asked a CAT tech the other day and he even said they just changed the way they determine that. Supposedly they pull up the amount of fuel the truck has consumed and base it off that....SO...

    Any and all answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

    S.N.A.F.U.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

    4,352
    2,601
    Aug 6, 2010
    western pa
    0
    if i were you ,hauling that weight i would consider at least a 13 speed transmission--a tiny bit heavier but it should be better for fuel and a lot smoother when your shift points are closer to gether and a true blessing in the hills
     
  4. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

    3,723
    2,038
    Dec 23, 2009
    AL/TN BORDER
    0
    I am leased to an affiliatte of T.S.H. i.m.o. a det would do better on fuel. parts are less expensive & available. very few parts would have to be ordered. now that is on the older models.95'-2000' I have a super 10 trans. at 1.4 mil, it has never been touched. I was told the less moving parts the less chance for things to break. I dont know about the difference with a 10-13-18 on pulling hill's, e.t.c. most every one I know with a det & a 10 sp, get good m.p.g. I always have. I have the ser 60 det. I hear that any det ser 60 03 or back is better on fuel than say the 05' I will say that I am still in my very first truck, so I cannot comment on experience with others, only with mine & what I hear about others. after a straight 10 years & never a breakdown on the road & over million miles I have to give the ser 60 det of my year 95' a number 1 choice. The main thing I hear about the det is the bull gear, or the bull gear bearing go out near high mileage & that should be looked at. mine is still original & still good. to me the ser 60 det is like an ole chevy compared to a foreign car, they might not have the prestige of a more expensive engine, but parts are east to get, inexpensive, & not hard to fix yourself,and almost everyone has had experience with every aspect with them. so your likely to get a hold of some one who had the same problem you would have & know's how to fix it. good luck on your decision.
     
  5. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

    4,352
    2,601
    Aug 6, 2010
    western pa
    0
    i would second the detroit idea--mainly cause that is basically all i have ever driven or worked on
    what i like about the 13 is that instead of dropping that whole gear you can split and not have the huge rpm droop or drop in road speed when going up hill
     
  6. snafu.driver

    snafu.driver Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    Nov 13, 2010
    St. George, SC
    0
    Just the answers I was looking for. Don't know how it's worked out in the past 10 years where all I've driven is a 10spd with either a CAT C15 or 14 but such is life.

    I've mainly kept my eye on a few Frieghtliner Century/Columbia's that Triple T has in Charleston. The price is a whole lot more appealing then say the same year/make/engine/tranny config in a Pete. The 2yr/200k mile warranty gives me a little reassurance in terms of something failing right off the rip. Better to get something vs. nothing. The only apprehension I had was the Detroit motors. I'm a stickler for maintenance but I don't want to buy a truck just to do an inframe a year down the road. Triple T does a fairly thurough inspection and I'd be sure to make it adamant they pay for any fixes if it fails initial inspection.

    Although I've never driven a Frieghtliner, I look what's on the road while I'm driving/fueling up. 10 to 1, it's a Frieghtliner and there has to be a reason for that. I'm trying to find that fine line between efficiency and reliability. I think I can do that on a $40k truck budget.

    heavyhaulerss...you said you leased to an affiliate of T.S.H.'s. Other than bumping into one busy driver fixing to hit the road a while back when asking some questions at the office, I've never had the opportunity to ask about dollars and cents. Just trying to get a good budget laid out and instead of answers all I've pretty much gotten is the nay-sayers telling you no one is making money.
     
  7. red77

    red77 Bobtail Member

    14
    1
    Nov 20, 2010
    0
    i am thinking about moving my truck to tsh is everyone one doing good and is it a good company to be with
     
  8. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

    2,493
    1,066
    Jul 25, 2010
    Wisconsin
    0
    One thing about buying a Freightliner... those squeaks and rattles will keep you awake!

    I'd buy a pre-EGR truck rather tha screw with all the problems associated with newer trucks.

    But I wouldn't buy a truck in this economy, either!
     
  9. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

    3,723
    2,038
    Dec 23, 2009
    AL/TN BORDER
    0
    TSH works out well for some folks. in my area most the drivers do good, cause of the dispatchers here. I am home every day. usually 2 hours out/2 hours back on 1 load. if I do 5 loads a week approx $1800 to the truck. give or take by a couple or few hundred depending on weight. at times I do 11 loads a week. some times I go north to OH. & get reloaded right back home. some times it is real slow for everyone. it is very sporatic right now. d.o.t. is all over in the TN/AL area. they have more trucks on the shoulder doing inspections than most scale houses. yeah I know that is another story,.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.