When Regulations are in Question

Is not the phone# and web address to each state dot office not in the front of our motor carriers atlas? Or is that for something else?

 

Hay thing of fuel or other hasmat as aload an your good to go

 

retainer my ###! they have em in court!

 

You probably haul things that are potentially more dangerous and never know it.

 

I wanna drive a flatbed; what sort of mpg can I expect? Are there any fuel efficiency devices that work? what about all these emission regulations?

 

Dunno, amigo. I drive a 2003 Freightliner with a Mercedes, and I weigh about 28,500 with an ordinary empty flat. In September I averaged 7.9 mpg, with a number of very light loads. Last month I got 6.93. I went to New Brunswick last week with 5000 pounds of styrofoam, and got about 8.5 for 1250 miles.

The most important efficiency device on the truck seems to be me. I drive for Roehl, and I'm scored on fuel mileage but not on replacing bearings. So I don't warm it up, I lug it on acceleration and hills, and I turn off the key the moment I stop moving. I don't idle it at all-- I use the Webasto bunk heater to stay warm and a two-bit 12-volt fan to stay cool.

Seems to work.

 

Some of you veteran drivers could prove me wrong but I gotta believe that once DOT/FMCSA get a "regulation train rolling", it can't be stopped. FMCSA has been on the hot seat from Congress, safety groups and the general public for years. FMCSA has spent a sickening amount of money on research, rule making and education. It seems like, from what I've read, that a lot of the pressure has finally come to a head and everything and anything that can be done in the name of safety is either being done right now or is primed for a peak over the horizon (e.g., on-board safety systems, fatigue-monitoring devices, etc). Is driving about to become robotic? Or should I say more robotic? Maybe the new stuff hasn't affected your operation or the in's and out's of your daily driving life. Comments?

 

Where you at bud? All but one of the majors are gone from the del. market in Hou. Tx. Exxon is the only one left with co. units and that's a closed shop. You have to know someone who knows someone blah blah blah...... or you're not getting within 50 feet of the gate, never mind apply for a job.

What's left is contract haulers like Coastal, Tree top, Jam and others that run the dawg cheet out of you for paltry wages. Rack lines are long too. It's not uncommon to see 4 waiting in line for one spot.

Most of the conv. stores here are run by the packy's and they're convinced that you're stealing from them so they want to look in the top.....which is a no no. I'm told the fine is 10k if you're caught opening the transport.....Need I speak about the erroneous strapping chart ? Need I tell you what happens when he gives you a chart for a 10k and it's a 6600 or 8k and I've got 8800 to drop?

I need a good job hauler...where you at ??