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Double Yellow's Company Driver to Independent Thread

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by double yellow, Nov 5, 2014.

Page 53 of 198
  1. Mar 31, 2015 #521
    colorado18spd

    colorado18spd Medium Load Member

    396
    298
    Mar 10, 2013
    0
    Thanks, DY& Rollin Coal. I start reading this weekend.
     
    colorado18spd, Mar 31, 2015
    colorado18spd, Mar 31, 2015
    #521
    dannythetrucker Thanks this.
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  3. Mar 31, 2015 #522
    Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,588
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    Your observation of the decline of the poker economy is spot on. Before 2008, with all the easy credit, there were plenty of "fish and chips" on the tables. After that I noticed the total amount of money on a typical no limit table declined over 50%, and the fish that used to feed the stacks ran out of credit and began playing intermittently if at all. That left the rocks and aggressive players, with a few timid souls, not the sort of table where I'd normally be able to make money. My playing style had to change, and bankroll management became critical.

    Table selection is key to making money. Nowadays as a trucker I rarely get to play, but there are casinos out there that have good games on select nights. Weekends are generally alright, but where and when you play is so critical. If you are wanting to play in Vegas, then go during Super Bowl, Final Four, the rodeo, NASCAR, or WSOP for live cash games. Other than that you're likely to be left tending a "rock garden" of locals that all know each other.
     
    Lepton1, Mar 31, 2015
    Lepton1, Mar 31, 2015
    #522
    csmith1281, dannythetrucker and double yellow Thank this.
  4. Mar 31, 2015 #523
    icsheeple

    icsheeple Trailing the Herd

    2,548
    2,552
    Nov 1, 2013
    Kansas City, KS
    0
    Man oh man, I'm jealous. I'd love to go all Rounders style. I'm just too timid to gamble and play poker. When my friends convince me to go to the casino with them, I just grab a drink, drop one dollar into the penny slot, and play minimum bet until their ready to go.
     
    icsheeple, Mar 31, 2015
    icsheeple, Mar 31, 2015
    #523
    csmith1281 and Redtwin Thank this.
  5. Apr 1, 2015 #524
    Redtwin

    Redtwin Road Train Member

    5,484
    7,602
    Aug 17, 2012
    PBC, FL
    0
    I went to a casino with some friends in 1996. Set myself a limit of $20 and hit the slots. After losing $14 and thinking how many meals that money could have bought me (this was in '96, remember), I left the $4 in my pocket and wandered around until they were ready to leave.

    I am just not wired up for risk taking.
     
    Redtwin, Apr 1, 2015
    Redtwin, Apr 1, 2015
    #524
    csmith1281 Thanks this.
  7. Apr 1, 2015 #525
    Lazydog

    Lazydog Light Load Member

    94
    68
    Feb 13, 2008
    Somewhere over the rainbow
    0
    Worst thing to play at a casino is the slots. Houses favor as they are all controlled by computers now days. I had a quarter machine hit trip 7's and the last real jumped back one. I was pissed, the jackpot was $250k that day. I prefer roulette but craps is looking good too.
     
    Lazydog, Apr 1, 2015
    Lazydog, Apr 1, 2015
    #525
  8. Apr 2, 2015 #526
    colorado18spd

    colorado18spd Medium Load Member

    396
    298
    Mar 10, 2013
    0
    DY, how is your mpg with your new trailer with skirts? Did you consider the under frame tray, I haven't read anything in different in mpg's, only the tray will pop back to form were the skirts will stay damaged.
     
    colorado18spd, Apr 2, 2015
    colorado18spd, Apr 2, 2015
    #526
  9. Apr 2, 2015 #527
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,066
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    Oh I considered moving -- and still do (My preliminary numbers compared CA vs TN: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...3395-how-do-my-preliminary-business-plan.html ). But I still have friends, family, & rental property in California. And a huge business advantage (for me) is having family to check my mail & deposit cheques while I'm out on the road for 4-12 weeks at a time...

    I averaged 8.1 mpg in 2014 with the old trailer (50,000ish miles). So far (11000 miles) I've averaged 8.76 with the new trailer. I credit the KLT02e tires (78 rolling resistance) at least as much as the skirts...

    The Hyundai dealer offered me my choice of skirts or the smart-truck UT6 system (undertray, bumper diffuser, and roof fairing) -- included in the purchase price.

    I had a lot of experience with the UT-6 system driving for Con-Way and appreciate its durability/ground clearance (only rubbed it once in a very deep dock -- and it sprang back just fine). But I tracked fuel mileage religiously and never was able to see a meaningful difference when pulling a trailer with an undertray (if curious, look up the truck "maxxforce" on fuelgauges).

    I also couldn't really tell a difference when pulling one of Con-Way's trailers with the Kodiak airplow fairings (supposedly 4%). But I could tell every time I had side skirts (which was unfortunately a rare occurrence with CWTL).


    More objective comparison:

    [TABLE]
    [TR]
    [TD][/TD]
    [TD="width: 122"]Smart-Truck UT6[/TD]
    [TD="width: 123"]AeroSaver Skirts[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Cost[/TD]
    [TD]included w/ trailer[/TD]
    [TD]included w/ trailer[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Weight[/TD]
    [TD]270 lb[/TD]
    [TD]188 lb[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Estimated fuel savings:[/TD]
    [TD]6%*[/TD]
    [TD]7%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Made in USA[/TD]
    [TD]yes[/TD]
    [TD]yes[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Warranty[/TD]
    [TD]15 years[/TD]
    [TD]1 year[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]

    * The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga's computational fluid dynamics program showed an aerodynamic improvement estimated to offer 6% highway fuel savings. Smart-Truck's own computational fluid dynamics analysis estimated it at 7% -- which is the number they advertise (insinuating that figure came from the University of Tennessee).

    But independent real-world testing has also shown the disparity between skirts and undertrays to be even larger -- 5-7% for skirts, and 0-2% for undertrays: http://www.truckinginfo.com/blog/on-the-road/story/2013/10/a-tale-of-two-fuel-tests.aspx

    Anyway, weight was also a decent consideration for me -- California's 40' kingpin to rear axle law means that it is often difficult to get the trailer axle weights legal. 80 extra lb on the back of the trailer, in and of itself, isn't a big deal, but if you are already 150 lb over axle -- that 80 extra lb might just be the straw that cost you a ticket...

    I also estimate that side skirts are less likely to get your trailer blown over in a high Wyoming crosswind (the additional surface area below the trailer's center of gravity should partially offset the leverage exerted on the top of the trailer that is trying to rotate the trailer onto its side).
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2015
    double yellow, Apr 2, 2015
    double yellow, Apr 2, 2015
    #527
    spectacle13, Grijon, Rocks and 7 others Thank this.
  10. Apr 2, 2015 #528
    Terry270

    Terry270 Road Train Member

    1,455
    1,678
    Jan 21, 2014
    BG, KY
    0
    On the California thing I was more referring to the loss you take when you go there. Unless I heard wrong you will take a hit on your DPM for all miles when you run out there right?

    8.76? That can't be right, that's more than the KR signature truck and that can't be possible :)
     
    Terry270, Apr 2, 2015
    Terry270, Apr 2, 2015
    #528
  11. Apr 2, 2015 #529
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,066
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    Lately I've been taking a hit leaving California too. I've been avoiding looking at this quarter's numbers because of it -- I'll probably have to separate loads to/from CA from the rest just to keep my sanity. I keep threatening it, but I really do need to just park the truck in KC or Columbus and fly home...

    Yup 8.76 -- it pays to drive slow when you've got the time. I'm hoping to crack 10's by the end of the year (by adding tractor skirts, a trailer tail, & replacing my goodyear steer tires with kumho klto2e's). At this point though, it really is more of a hobby than a business move. Some guys like chrome, I like watching mpgs climb...
     
    double yellow, Apr 2, 2015
    double yellow, Apr 2, 2015
    #529
    csmith1281, spectacle13, Grijon and 6 others Thank this.
  12. Apr 3, 2015 #530
    icsheeple

    icsheeple Trailing the Herd

    2,548
    2,552
    Nov 1, 2013
    Kansas City, KS
    0
    You can park your truck next to mine for $50 a month with access to electricity in the winter.
     
    icsheeple, Apr 3, 2015
    icsheeple, Apr 3, 2015
    #530
    spectacle13, paul_4lp and double yellow Thank this.
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