So you want to be an owner operator?

I believe that anything is attainable,.. it all depends how hard you are willing to work to achieve your goals.

I had a rough first 12 months. If anyone can stick out what I went through, then I believe that they have the fortitude and character needed to make it as an O/O.

All too often, I'm reading where guys are jumping in and financing a truck, or taking lease purchase programs through companies and they dont really have the experience and/or financial backing to see it through. They end up struggling and giving up or end up bitter because they took the hard road to becoming an O/O.

I had this stage planned before I ever got my CDL back. This is only part of the path I have chosen. I need to follow this through or else spend the rest of my life wondering if I missed out.

Thanks

Hurst

 

The noise I hear could possibly be air 'burping' through a clamp/coupling. Weather has turned ugly where I am right now. Heading up to Cody, Wy and then have a run I pick up Mon morning heading down to Albuquerque. Hopefully weather is nicer by the time I get to Nm. I'll buy some clamps and double clamp the couplings and see if that makes a difference. I'll be in the right area to find out. Definitely a cheap experiment to see if thats where a problem is.

Thanks.

Hurst

 

The company owner said that he had that done once already. Not sure what the mileage was,.. I need to find out. I am familiar with the periodic valve train maintenance CAT motors need,.. particularly the ACERT motors. He said the actuators had some broken bolts when it was done last time.

I never said I was down on power. Truck runs strong. Not as strong as a newer 475hp C15,. but definitely no slouch. I can climb the hills with relative ease, even with 46k on the bed. I will always love a large CAT motor for this very reason. It feels like it should be stronger and missing a few ponies. I will get the bugs sorted out or sell it if things get too expensive.

I look at this truck as a tool and nothing more. Its here to get a job done. Once the tool has worn out, you replace it with a better one. You dont keep repairing it and hoping it will be like new again. I dont like this truck enough to throw empty money at it.

My race car at home is the only vehicle that I throw money at and dont expect a return on my investment. Thats my stress relief. I beat the pee pee out of it. When it breaks,.. I park it till I have the money to fix it. Rinse and repeat.

Hurst

 

I agree.. anything that will improve fuel economy will eventually have a return on the investment.

But dumb stuff like what I just did wont pay off. While getting unloaded I hear a hissing under the hood. So I pop it. Found a small hard plastic line coming off back of the compressor leaking air. So like the brilliant guy I am.. I tug on it too try to see where its going. Welp... it snapped off at the fitting. I started the truck to see if it would still make and keep air pressure. Seems the line has something to do with either the dryer or just the blow off when max pressure is reached. It blows air for a second or two after the psssst blow off and then stops. Hopefully I can limp it somewhere where I can either buy the line and some pressure couplings or pay to have them repair it. Figures I'd be in Cody Wy when something like this happens lol. Could be worse I suppose.

Hurst