Just some of the stupid things I see

A dirty old truck makes just as much per load as a shiny new truck....except that dirty old truck is probably paid off and doesn't have any truck payments....which frees up $1500+ per month to use maintaining the truck to keep it legal. Not to mention, collision and comprehensive insurance coverages are probably set at much lower values (if they are carried at all) which saves even more money....where that shiny new truck with the truck note requires full coverage.

I've never cared much what the truck looks like, as long as it is mechanically sound, holds air, has good tires, the brakes are functioning properly, and the lights all work.

 

You're right. It all depends on how someone takes care of the truck. Like I said, some do, some don't. I know a lot has to do with costs. Fuel is killing guys, and dead heading long distances does not help. Stopped a guy today going from Boston to Miami deadheading all the way back. The point I was making was some of the truckstha look junky as hell are good to go. Some of the newer stuff that looks good can have quite a few serious defects.

 

Had one of those stops the other day that made me think of this thread. Stopped a guy for 15 over the limit. Not that big of a deal. Well he has a temporary IRP hanging in the window. I ask for it and immediately I see where someone has erased the issue dates and expiration dates, replaced them by handwriting them in. The rest of the document is typed. The VIN number does not match. While getting the rest of the information I look at the IFTA decals on both sides. I remembered the first few numbers on the driver's side decal and when I looked at the passenger side they were no where close to being the same number. I looked a little closer and they had "void" written all over the decal. Immediately I knew that was a color photocopy of a peeled off decal. I take them off the side windows and what do you know, they are copy paper.

It just went downhill from there. Driver suspended in three States, no registration, insurance, IFTA, brake issues, tire issues, leaf spring and U-bolt issues, log book hours of service violations. 30 total violations, 16 out of service defects. This is definately a carrier that CSA needs to take of the road. I bet the complaince review that I requested may get that ball rolling.

 

Without revealing more than you are willing, was this a small outfit or a larger company?

Have you noticed a pattern to the worst violators?

 

Three truck operation. I have, the smaller outfits are the ones I catch doing this. It is definately economy driven.

 

I've noticed alot of smaller outfits in my area run on a fraying shoestring budget. Problem is that they've always run like that, good or bad economy. It's all about putting extra money in the owner's pocket, screw maintainence on the truck or running legally. Thank the gods CSA is putting some of these outfits outta business, and cleaning up the rest!

 

You must have something new by now db...

-Steven

 

I'll throw one in while we wait. The other day I was coming up on a flatbed and noticed he was kinda swervin around. As I come up to pass, he's swervin some more. Never crossed into the left lane, but did cross back and forth across the white line. So I think, "Man, this guy sucks."

I get up even with him and look over. There's a ten year old girl driving, sitting on her daddy's lap. She looked at me and grinned like she was having the time of her life. So I laugh and think, "####, she ain't doin bad at all." And rolled on.

 

There has been a few, but I don't have time to post about their adventures at this time.