Calex Express....My New Home!

God's personal house band just got a whole lot better. RIP Big Fella

 

I have joined the Calex family!

In talking with Mort I understand they're pretty full up on drivers right now. This blog has done a tremendous job. Way to go john boy!

When they are looking in your area the ad will be on craigslist so look there.

 

I will be posting details I didn't see in the blog.

part 1 The truck...

if you have not driven a volvo before it will take a lot of getting use to. almost everything is the opposite the way you think it would be. you push switch down to turn light on, hi engine brake is all the way down, steering wheel adjustment is a pedal on the floor, a lever at the base of the steering wheel opens the hood...etc

I am in a "coast" truck. It is smaller from the dash to the back of the bunk than a Columbia. high ceilings and tons of storage cubbies help alot. it has a 2 shelf narrow fridge with freezer, and seems to have inverters built into the highest cubbies. I say seems because I have not been able to get the plugs to work.

although I am spoiled rotten by the automatic transmission, this is the roughest riding truck I have ever been in.
trailers are a mixed bag.

they have a very large shop that are kept busy. it is not open on weekends. my 1 experience with a road breakdown was excellent.

 

my truck does not have an apu and they no longer pay for idle air. I was offered a truck with apu but it was a standard. all the new trucks will have apu units.

the steering is really nice. every truck I have driven before always pulls to the right but this one does not. the volvo traditions of easy turning and parking are great. airbag dump and fifth wheel slide buttons are on the dash. windshield is all 1 piece. separate visor for driver's roll down window, and curtains across the front window.

 

it went really well once I recovered from the disasters in getting to the truck. nothing to do with Calex. Mort and Louie were great. then they were even better at orientation.

I have a new joke from it. how many drivers does it take to figure out how to open a volvo hood?

after 3 we gave up and got a mechanic...

i used paper logs to get out there and when I turned them in they seemed fine.

 

I have your phone number somewhere. I am settled into columbia indiana for the weekend. I will give you call later.

 

the plugs only work when you plug your truck in.. between the fairing and the sleeper on the drivers side you wil see a plug that says cab power plug in to that with standard 120 and your plugs will work..

 

Hey everyone,

Been a while since I've posted - but I still read the blog daily and always follow the exploits of my fellow Calex drivers.

I'm here at the yard since Sat. Morning, after having delivered in Denver, PA late Friday night. Got back to the hotel Saturday morning, which Mort and Joe were nice enough to get for me, since I have a laundry list of about 8 things to work on on my vehicle. I asked Mort if he thought I was worthy of a new (or newer) vehicle when they came in next month - and he said he'd put me down for one.

I've always believed in hanging in there with your problems on a truck (plus I despise changing trucks - but who likes that?), but when a truck starts having multiple problems repeatedly then maybe it's time to make a move. In the year and 8 months I've been here, I'm on truck #2 right now. Gone are the days of a million trouble-free miles on these babies, eh? More like 500,000k, at least with these Volvos. Which are a pleasure to drive when they work properly, by the way!

But the real reason I'm posting is to say, after speaking to Mort this morning, that Calex is currently looking for drivers in Tennessee, N. Georgia and Greenville, SC. So if anyone from those areas is interested, give Mort or Brian a call in Safety.

Johnny, sorry about your Miami Heat pal. Maybe Kobe will "take his talents" to South Florida next year to put you over the top J/K. Enjoy your home time pal.

Anyone out west seen any of these humongous fires that are raging? Sounds really bad.

God bless to all and til next time!