New Trucks

Nearly any decent driveline shop makes shafts from scratch on the spot. If you've ever owned a truck of your own you would know that. The post you're referring to was complaining of the U joint that was in demand, not the shift itself. U joints are the same on any driveshaft regardless of truck vintage. Speaking of older posts there is one a little further back where the owner was getting raped on parts for a new truck. Those repairs never would be a thing on older equipment. New "trucks" just like the auto industry are designed to force the owner to pay more for parts as well as repairs. They are designed to fail and limit their longevity. It's simple planned obsolescence by greedy POS companies looking to bleed you dry.

 

Most have the attitude “not my truck”
Use to hear that when I was a shop foreman. Some would come in and write up truck starts and shuts off.
So someone would go out and check fluids it would a few gallons low on oil, low coolant. Ask driver when they check fluids. Get the lost and confused look on the face.

I would say that is part of your pre trip!.
Check fluids and add fluid if needed.
Your given fluids to keep in truck if needed.

To which driver would reply,
“Not my truck dude”.
I am just a driver, make me want to throat punch the lazy #######.
I couldn’t take it after a few years went out bought some trucks and trailers and went back to driving. I drive one and my brother drives the other one. Reminded me why I quit working at a KW dealer years ago. I was going to lose it and lose it big time.

 

There are hundreds of them sitting around now due to parts availability. So much so that manufacturers have asked for a waiver from CARB & the EPA due to a DEF header malfunction issue. Cummins has issued TRP's & "TSB210187" as a result. They're basically bypassing a repair via a calibration, then requiring the repair to made once parts are available. I love the newer technology, but this TSB shows the downside of the newer technology. These trucks can run fine without the part & with programming.

Here's a bit of the TSB - "This communication is for information purposes only and to help provide clear communication to the customer. Because of a global shortage of parts in the industry, as a result of unprecedented demand in the wake of the global pandemic and other events beyond the manufacturers’ control, an ECM calibration code solution is being provided that reduces the inducement levels when DEF header datalink communication faults are detected. Fault codes 3868, 4572 and/or 4677 could be active but no amber check engine light illuminated indicating there is no communication between the engine and DEF header, however the vehicle will be allowed to operate normally without engine torque and vehicle speed limits. DEF Level indicator will not provide an accurate reading and is not indicative of amount of DEF available in the tank. See Table 1. The DEF fluid level in the tank will need to be manually inspected to allow proper vehicle operation. By agreeing to this repair, one is agreeing to make the vehicle available at a later date once DEF header parts are available. A future communication will be sent to make these arrangements. DEF quality, DEF temperature and DEF level in the electronic service tool will not read correctly. These products have new corresponding engine ECM calibrations codes that align with the repair. A Fleet Count will be required to install the new ECM calibration code. See appropriate table below for ECM calibration code mapping. Fault Codes 3868, 4572 and/or 4677 will still be active. Running an engine that is not properly maintained such as without DEF or improper DEF quality are conditions that are consider customer abuse. Reference Responsibilities procedure in the Warranty Administration Manual."

 

If I got back into trucking I would buy a truck with a mechanical injected engine and zero computers . Either a big cam Cummins or a 3406-B Cat

 

I think the breakdown is this. Either buy brand new OR a used pre-emissions truck. Buying a used emissions truck with 300-400k in mileage is where the probability of major issues arise.

No truck is perfect. A new truck can have a sensor issue, that a pre-emissions truck would not have. A pre-emissions truck may need an in frame that the brand new truck won't need.

The best of both worlds were gliders but that time has past. I have heard some interesting stories though on places where one can buy a 2022 389 with a 3406 in it.

 

Yes I have the mighty big Cam and I could not be happier.

I have never had to wait more than one day or so for parts for my truck or my engine.

But I will say that I do see trucks idling constantly all the time everywhere I go for hours and hours and even days at a time just idling.

I don't understand why in this day and age of APUs and generators I see not just some trucks but the vast majority of them Idle constantly in all types of weather.

Emissions engines in general are problematic but that's just one more thing that makes it worse.

 

You remind me that X1Heavy guy. An old bored man sitting at home,having no clue about current situation in the trucking world, yet posting left and right in here, just spreading nonsense.

 

In many ways, (most of them not good,) this place is an extension of the truck stop lunch counter. The loudly verbose can generally be counted on for bad information.

 

Plenty of posters here in the Owner Operator section aren't even really owner operators yet they post their advice regularly. Just parroting what they've read here from real ones. No experience, just repeating info they've read in the past.

 

Well I agree there is problems now but my point is that given a stable parts source in a normal economy, we would not seeing hundreds and hundreds sitting on dealer lots or in the scrap yard because of the emissions systems.

Emission systems are a reason why I have spent more money on prevention, downtime. The emissions cost me a lot more to maintain but it has laid off in the long run, lower downtime and more revenue per truck.

Here is what I am all for, no emissions at all. I don’t see the reason for it at all in any diesel vehicle. Diesel particle issue happened in Europe where there is a dense population and people getting sick from constant exposure but here only in nyc is where any problems appeared and that questionable. If we are to fight climate change, we need those soot particles in the air, not perfectly clean air.