West Coast Mountains

MIdwestern trucks also did not have a trailer brake hand valve either. just the foot valve.

 

I don't remember the name of it. I was told to go there and wait for a trainer, that would be assigned to me based on where the trainer lives.
Some driver stopped me and asked If I need a trainer and I said I was waiting for dispatch to find one. He said, hop in, I'll be your trainer. I said, "Screw dispatch" and hit the road. He was a cool guy from Oklahoma if I remember correctly.
Dispatch was looking for me after a couple of days and finally tracked me down. "What are you doing on his truck?" I said, "I don't know, dispatch told me to get on his truck." They never figured that one out.

 

I've been driving less than 2 years. I'm a West Coast reefer jockey and my most common gross is around 78.5K. I'm almost always on the heavy side. The grades scared the bejeezus out of me in the beginning. But, respect them and run them a few times and they get more routine. I actually enjoy those passes now because it is usually such pretty scenery to run through. Arrowhead in Pendleton Oregon is one of my favorite truck stops. About the only time I'll pull into a parking spot instead of backing in. Pull into a spot on the East side of their parking lot and you've got a beautiful view of the toe of Cabbage (Blue Mountains). Much nicer than the usual view of a bunch of other trucks.
Anyway, nothing to worry about. Respect the grade, don't go faster than your weight dictates and enjoy the view and scenery. Lots of natural beauty out West.

 

They are big, and indeed rocky. You drive through the Appalachians, right? I wouldn't worry too much about it.

The Vail is probably going to be your highest pass. That's the I70 stretch from Denver to Grand Junction. I've seen it snowing up there in June/July. They love to turn on those "chain up" lights even when it's not needed. lol

If I have the choice, I prefer to take I80 through Wyoming if conditions look reasonable.

 

Stopped in there and got cheap fuel last week. Beautiful drive headed east, but man what a pull.

 

I wouldn't worry about I-70 through that stretch for awhile. As I understand they had a really bad mudslide and it's basically closed off to trucks for now. I heard it may remain closed till around Christmas time. The detour around the damaged portion for cars is not a truck route. So, I've heard you basically gotta use I-80 instead. Haven't checked on it in a couple of days so unsure of the latest.

 

I ran Government camp hwy 26 for CF pulling a train with out jakes daily when it wasn't snowpacked. Easy does it gets you off the hill.

 

Didn't they have an L P for $ 1. ? I remember talking to some of their drivers.

 

Yeah, those trucks were known as "Dollar Trucks."