Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Last carrier I worked for has a dairy fleet that runs their CNG trucks on gas recovered from the manure. It's an interesting process, but those trucks had a ton of problems when they were first put in service. They were constantly broke down on the side of the road or pulling their tankers with diesel loaners.

They've gotten a lot better lately it seems, but for a while it was common for me to see 2-3 broke down every day. Man, those guys got super pissed when you hollered at them over the radio and asked if they were out of cow farts.

 

Perhaps it could be chalked up to our mechanics at my plant (who are excellent) but our CNG's are relatively trouble free. They did have a run for awhile where it seemed like the Cummins van was at our shop daily, but it seems between software updates and some changed parts and parameters, they're on a pretty even keel.

We don't baby them, either. A lot of times they don't even cool down between coming into the yard off a run, and going back out on another. Company policy is to use CNG tractors first, as they save an unbelievable amount of money on fuel cost versus diesel, well offsetting the miles per gallon difference. By way of price comparison, there's a CNG station next to SCA Tissue in Saratoga Springs NY with a retail pump price of $1.19/gallon equivalent. Diesel is touching $3/gallon in places up here.

 

The Eaton automated 10 spd is a giant screaming pile of poo.

@JPenn, what do you haul to have 2 48's plus tractors weigh so little? potato chips?

 

I concur on your very accurate evaluation of said Eaton product. The little robotic helper operating the clutch is particularly inept... I did better the first time I EVER drove a large truck with a manual. And, yes, potato and corn chips.

 

I must agree with my esteemed colleagues regarding their assessment of this mechanical dumpster fire masquerading as a transmission. Eaton needs to take many lessons from Volvo regarding how to build an auto.

 

Same here in Phoenix as well.

 

My Uncles welding shop used to do work for Eaton Company which is based in Beachwood, Ohio I drive by there corporate headquarters every Friday. Anyhow my uncle hates Eaton Corporation. I told him I had an automatic Freightliner with this garbage Eaton Fuller automatic transmission and he said "Eaton Fuller? Is that Eaton Company."
I said "Yes and there automatic transmissions are pure trash that company never could make a good automatic transmission."
He went "Yeah that all figures coming from Eaton Company."

 

On Friday I got to my 3rd last stop 3600lbs and no where to park. The stops an elevator stop and I don't think it's that awful with a fold down, might even take another fold down next week, but look at that 1000lbs right there:

That frozen macaroni and cheese is heavy.

 

Look at this cool retro late 1990s NYC VHS era trucking video: