CRETE - A Year in Review

I'm in Scottdale, PA getting 45200 pounds of paper off. The last two weeks, I've had the exact same number of miles...2255. This week I had two days at home, so I'm at 1300 now plus anything I might deliver tomorrow.

 

Since there are drivers here from at least three different companies all having similar issues with their Prostars, I guess that rules out the "how the company spec's" cause of the problems we have with these 'barge anchor' engines. We shall see how International's redesigned engines will resolve the issue once they exhaust the supply of 2012 pre-built engines.

Hopefully by the time I get on at Poly, and would be due for a new truck, perhaps they might have either gotten sick of International's problems and moved on to a different maker, or the new engines would be out and the problems we're having now would be resolved.

 

I figured up my mileages. Calendar year (according to MMR)= 123,325; hire to date (7/28 to now) = 55,882. This puts me on a projected yearly mileage of 126,341. I have never asked for "a more productive run"; never turned down a run I could make and have helped out dispatch when they needed something moved (like Houston to Houston at Grocer's supply..5 hour unload). I have no idea if they even remember which driver is which but I know (well think) your AM has a lot to do with getting a good run after a lousy one if you will just remind them in a constructive way. But what do I know

For anybody looking to get rid of cigarette smoke smell you might try a bowl of vinegar. Just pour it in a bowl and set it in your truck for a couple of days (obviously you will need to be on home time or maybe just waiting on weekend dispatch..haha). I got a smoker's truck again and it seems to have worked for me. Of course Fabreeze and Ozium will help cover the smell as well.

Day one of vacation and already bored. Heading to Vegas for a long weekend.

 

We shall see how International's redesigned engines will resolve the issue once they exhaust the supply of 2012 pre-built engines.

There is no redesign on the 13 litre and below. The replacement 15 litre is a total Cummins built 15. They are in production now and from what I have heard, January is the big ramp up and distribution month.

 

Yeah its gonna suck coming from Stevens with a nice 2011 Peterbilt (no DEF) and cummins engine to one of these Prostars. Never had any issues with the Paccar brands (KW, Pete).

 

"Hopefully by the time I get on at Poly."

Good idea and I hope you get there soon. If I was to ever go back to OTR driving they would be on my list too.

 

Bumper, I notice you live in Kerrville. Just wondering if you are driving a local gig? I drive for HEB for six years.

 

From what I had read, the Cummins replacement was only temporary until they got an EPA compliant engine approved. They reported that they were going with another ingredient to the emission alphabet soup by adding ICT(in cylinder technology or in cylinder treatment) along with exhaust after treatment(DEF). They were suppose to be teaming up with Cummins engineers to speed up the developement of an acceptable engine because the government said that they were no longer permitted to build non-compliant engines and pay a fine, and were out of green credits as of the end of 2012. They were only allowed to use what non-compliant engines that they had manufactured before the end of 2012. Unless they are doing what Detroit did with their 12.7 liter and just end production of that displacement and switched to the 14.1 Series 60 until they had the DD15 ready and approved. I was never sure why they called these engines 13L...they're only 12.4 liters

 

I believe he left Crete to transport new Cornfield Caddy's from the border to dealerships all over North America.

 

Back in truck, taking 44,000 pounds of booze to Rochester NY. And now my engine light is on.