Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

I can easily see how a breakdown could be a real career ender.

In my situation, I think it was a case of mis-diagnosis. Not being able to get an answer from Freightliner as to a possible ship date for that pump, should have sent up a red flag.

It's history, now. But I sure did hate giving up that truck.


Chompi, have a very Merry Christmas, and a great New Year. Thanks for all your help and support. It means a lot to me.

 

Thanks, Sammycat.

I hope you a great Christmas with Dave and your family.


Keeping that coffee warm, eh?............attagirl.

 

Hello Everyone.

I hope everybody had a great Christmas, enjoyed time with their families and got lots of goodies.

I'm home at the moment, because my tractor is still in shop status. Being that this was a holiday weekend, the shop at my home terminal is a bit overwhelmed with tractors requiring service. My 2012 Cascadia, although young in years and low in miles, needed some attention.

The interior of the tractor needed to be cleaned and shampooed to remove an odor I couldn't eliminate with air fresheners, open windows and air conditioning. I dropped it off on Friday and the shop started on the interior immediately. When I stopped by the terminal this morning, they were working on the other items on my list (installing my inverter, CB, interior lights inop, and taking care of a mid to high speed vibration). I was impressed when I saw it. My tractor looked brand new!

The holiday weekend caused the shop to run a limited schedule, so they are backed up with work. I'm thankful that my tractor made it in this morning. I hope I can get back up there sometime today, so I can move back in with all my fresh supplies. I'd like to get dispatched by tomorrow. The time off with the family is great, and wouldn't miss it for anything, but I'm not making any money if my truck is sitting.

So I'm ready to roll out, just waiting on word from the shop.



I'll post a pic of this tractor as soon as I get her out of the shop.




Thanks for reading.

-Wedge

 

I get to keep the 2012. It's identical to my 2011 with only some minor changes to the controls for the bunk heater and the addition of an idle cut-off which I don't like. This truck is going to idle in the winter because if I'm up north, which I'm sure will be the case, I don't want to have the air supply for the trailer bleed down over night. If the brakes apply in 0 degrees, they could freeze to the drums, and I'd be under the truck trying to free them up.

It seems that 2011 (model year) is a transition year for phasing in manual transmissions at USX. My 2011 had a Eaton Fuller 10spd, and so does this one. Some of the new Peterbilts are coming in with 8 spds. Manual transmissions have been in the USX line-up for over a year. I don't think they'll be getting anymore autoshifts.

The odor was a combination of BO and smoke. It just permeated anything made of fabric. The detail men at the shop took care of the interior and I was amazed how well it came out.

I still have some bugs to work out of this truck. But just like my '11, it's going to take more than one trip to the shop to get it right.

 

Thanks, AT.

Once it was all cleaned up, it looks like the old one. Just needs some TLC that it was never given.

I like your new rig. How was the transition to that long nose? I'm curious, how's the living space compare to the Century?