Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Farmerbob1, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    My Espar worked fine at -24. I did treat the fuel though.
     
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  3. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Depends on where you fuel and the climate.
    It don't take many miles to drive from 50* to 0*

    Fuel is generally treated for the temps.
    And when you're a company man. A frozen truck isn't my money to fix. Although Howes was usually supplied. But not always.

    I'm guessing them heaters have small fuel lines to gel real easy.

    And as mentioned above. Cold starts are very hard on an engine. And trying to pump oil thick as molasses.
     
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  4. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Idle that thing .......
     
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  5. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    Yup, that's why I turned on the headlights overnight. The battery draw is enough to force the opti-idle system to activate fairly often, keeping the engine from getting too cold.
     
  6. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Can’t you have that ecm changed to idle if you want to in any temperature...?
     
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  7. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    For a fee at a shop, I can have the truck set to turn off after a certain amount of idle time, or make it so it will idle without stopping.

    I very rarely have a need for overnight idling. Easier and much cheaper to just leave the headlights on.
     
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  8. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Given the amount of money you’ve spent at dealerships you could’ve just asked them to change the settings.....when their plugged in for something else.....
     
  9. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    Oh, I was wondering why some guys leave their headlights on while parked overnight at a truckstop. Before I thought that they are just dumb not paying attention people, but now I know that it's for a reason. I never knew about this opti idle system and how it works
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2021
  10. RStewart

    RStewart Road Train Member

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    Just a little friendly advice from my point of view, take it for what you will.

    I wouldn't empty the maintenance to pay off the truck. I've been there, running a truck because I depleted my maintenance account and it wasn't fun. Lol. I was lucky enough to get past it ok but it was hard on the nerves. Lol.

    I can't speak for the public load boards but Landstar's rate have dropped significantly in the last month. I'm sure there's still some good paying freight out there but it's not anywhere close to being what it was. Now this might not be as much of a concern to some but I don't run all over the country anymore. I stay in my region and run but I will venture out as far as Ohio sometimes. But I prefer to stay better I-35 and I-55, and between I-80 and I-20.

    Running this area I would be making about the same money running for a mileage plan that I used to run for vs the % plan at Landstar. That 35% Landstar takes really hurts when loads don't pay really good. I was on a sliding mileage pay scale and was averaging $1.33 a mile for all miles and had a lot less expenses before I went to Landstar.

    I'm telling you this because I thought I would make a lot more money by switching, and I would've had the rates not dropped. Spot market and percentage plans are a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you'll gross $8k a week and other times it will be half that. You have to be a lot more financially stable and prepared to run for %. I've been with Schneider and Landstar.
     
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  11. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Personally I think it's ignorant leaving the lights on. Specially the leds. At least cover them up.

    Wouldn't running the batteries down shorten their life.?
     
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