Any info on quality Carriers

Smaggs you may want to check out Ruan.com and see what they have in your area. Ruan is a dedicated carrier, and hauls for several different accounts, many of which are local jobs. They are a good company that won't mess with you if you are a good, responsible driver. Pay and benefits are good. I drive for them in Texas.

 

They don't have governed trucks but they have a corporate 65 mph speed limit . They get a notice every time you exceed 65 . "They " is corporate in Tampa . They send terminals reports of every time a driver exceeded 65 mph , what the top speed was that month and percentage of time over 65 . They also report every hard braking incident .
Now I realize this info could improve safety to a degree but to send a report on a driver going over 65 mph for less than 5 minutes obviously on a downgrade ? To send hardbrake notices under 20 mph ? Obviously the driver had someone cut in front of them when trying to keep a safe interval in backed up traffic .
They also watch percentage of time idling and using cruise control .
Safety is a bunch of headhunters and when they say a driver goes the terminal manager has no say . They send mass e-mails to all drivers when one of their 3,000 drivers screws up . I think it's pretty dumb sending thousands of e-mails saying a woman was killed because a QC driver tried to make a U-turn on a ramp in front of her .
They sent all terminals a picture they received from a customer of a driver taking a sample of acid without his face shield down . He had been with them over 10 years but he was terminated .

 

The Blackberry is also used for communication with dispatch and to receive notices from corporate . They don't want drivers tying up phone lines .
I don't know about this terminal but the Blackberry provided by the terminal with provided unlimited data use . I installed the Google Maps app and it was very helpful .
More than likely the tanks are dedicated and you will be paid roundtrip , just deadheading back when empty .
Here's a pretty good road test on a Mack with an automatic . http://www.overdriveonline.com/test-drive-6/

 

I have seen Ruan pulling dedicated tankers . I believe it was Air Products and CNG

 

I'll drop a reply in a bit. In the shop getting stickers for my "new" car. Welding frame, too.

 

They haven't said anything to me about only being allowed to go 65, but I'm used to going 66 or slower, anyway. There's a lot of 55mph zones in Ohio and some parts of PA. I can live with it, though it is super annoying.

Elogs are something I'm used to. I think they are annoying, too. However, I started with them and did some paper logs for a while. Elogs have minor benefits if you plan to operate legally.

I don't mind using cruise and hanging out at 65. I would prefer to just drive the truck my way, which is 70 in a 70. I usually go 56-57 in a 55, etc. I don't really like to speed. I've been stopped for going 57 in a 55 before. THIS is where elogs and speed recording will help me. No more bullying LEO trying to claim I was going 68 when I was in fact only going 55.

I'm more of the mindset of driving at the speed limit and getting there by managing my time and giving myself enough leeway to get where I'm going early.

Being as I will be home every other day, it seems like there's no real reason to rush myself. I'm not going to lollygag, but I'm not going to earn any tickets.

My point is, I am prepared to put up with the BS of tattletale truck satellite systems. I've been doing it all along, anyway. I don't like it, but until I can buy my own tractor, I have to put up with it for a while. In the name of "safety".

The other nice thing about not speeding is not having to worry about stinky the bear ticketing me for it. I can focus on what's important. That is the safety of myself, the truck, the load, and everything else within a reasonable distance of me.

 

Tampa would like all trucks governed at 65 but my affiliate owner stood firm and said he would govern them no lower than 70 . Drivers are allowed to briefly exceed 65 to pass another truck . Pre and post trip must be a minimum of 15 minutes . They never had a problem with me doing an inspection while fueling .

 

Good, because I'm not passing a 63 MPH truck at 65. Unless The posted limit is below 65. If it's 65, I'll usually go to about 67-68 and make a safe pass. If I can't, I'll wait a while.

 

If the Mack was ordered by corporate it may be governed at 65 . Our terminal at LaPorte has new Peterbilts governed at 65 . Experienced company drivers refused them . Most of the Macks at our affiliate were governed at 72 . One truck was serviced at a Mack dealer and the dealer called the boss and told him the truck had been set up to 80 somewhere by the driver . The driver should have been fired but wasn't . He was also one of the drivers caught with serious log falsification during the audit .

 

Wooooah. Yeah. I saw a guy at a shop trying to get his truck reprogrammed. I didn't really listen in, but it sounded like the tech was refusing, because they driver couldn't prove he owned the truck. From what I understand, some shops won't modify company/lease trucks.

I guess I could make a 65mph truck work. I'm not overly worried about that. With all the grades and construction, there's no point in going too crazy.