Switching trucks

Sounds like you gotta good gig and now you're getting a new KW, congrats!

 

When backing between the two trucks, always back as close as safely possible to the truck on the left of you. I pass by the trucks within a foot or two, then orient the front of the truck to about 930 or 10 o clock compared to those trucks which would be facing 12 o clock. Then it's easy to back in without having to stress your steers or 90 degree it in there. You will feel at first that the trailer may be getting too close to the left truck, but when you chase it it widens out perfectly.

 

Leonard's is a good company. My company does a fair bit of contract work for them, pulling bananas back to Michigan out of Penn Terminal. Their New Castle DE terminal is kinda tight, but I'm only ever there for half an hour or so.

 

Compared to a Cascadia, T680 rides like a Lexus. Smooth, quiet and very comfortable. The jacked up headlight switch arrangement and the engive brake switches on the dash rather than on a steering column stalk will take some getting used though.

I would swap my cascadia for a t680 in a heartbeat.

 

KW isn't bad as long as you don't have to look at those GIANT WTF plastic switches on the dash.

Your going to find it cramped inside as well.

Don't worry about backing, just park at the fuel island.

 

I drove Volvo VNL and Freightliner Columbia in school and got into Peterbilt 379's at my company. It felt like coming home.

Just familiarize yourself with where the important switches/levers are and just get used to it. We have a couple Kenworth T660's in our fleet and I got to drive them a couple times. It's a weird feeling but you get used to it within 10-15 minutes. The idea is the same, everything is just in a different place.

 

I haven't driven them on the road before (just around the yard and bobtail to Peterbilt dealer), but the 579/T680 are definitely the Lexus of trucks. They are super-comfortable and I doubt I could drive one long term, even with a manual. There is no feedback.