Where is everyone #5

About 10 or so years ago the company I worked for picked up a contract to work on a fleet of Workstar tandem dump trucks and pup trailers. All ISX and 18 speed. Honestly the worst truck I have ever had the (dis)pleasure of working under the hood of.

Thankfully there wasn't much to do on the engines since they didn't have a shop so they went to the dealer for that sort of stuff. We mostly just set up the service truck in the pit and did a service or major repair on a truck and fixed whatever stuff broke on the running trucks through out the day. Mostly tarps, air leaks, tail lights etc. Once in a while we'd chase down a hoe or dozer.

 

I’ve had quite a few 6+ apart years ago.

The gap between gears is so great, you can smoke a cigarette waiting for the rpm’s to drop far enough for the next gear.

Drivers would keep shoving trying to force the shifter in to the next gear, and then you end up with worn / chipped synchronizers, and shifting forks bent so bad it wouldn’t stay in that gear, you had to keep force against the shift lever to keep it in gear.

Customer: Hey this truck won’t stay in gear like it should!

Me: You do a lot of taking off loaded going up hill at red lights?

Customer: Uh…. well yea I deliver over on raccoon creek, you know how up and down that is.

Me: Hmmm, ok lol….

 

Dang Mike, no doubt about it you get to enjoy some beautiful lands.! Looks like an awesome time..

 

Thanks Mike!
Our schedule allows for it. Great time with the kids. Makes it all worthwhile.

 

That's out around Cadomin isn't it? Fella I apprenticed under had a wicked Jeep he rock crawled with out there.

If I ever move again, good chance it'll be Hinton. Always loved that area. Even Edson wouldn't be terrible. Not as scenic but still relatively close to the mountains.

 

About 30km south of cadomin.
Lots of work for guys like us around those parts.

 

Seems like its all forestry or mining based though. I like being relatively close to big city, lots of options there since its a lot more diversified. Maybe when I get closer to retirement in another 20 years lol.

 

Hahaha. From reading here sounds like I'm about 15 years older. I'm 45.
If busing ended for me I'd prefer to drive a truck somewhere. Wear out different parts of my body. There would be nothing left to donate. All used up.
The busing was almost an accident. We bought the crummy company my wife drove for and made it better. I'd have been broke 10 times over if I wasn't a wrench..
But it sure has allowed a great family life when my kids have needed it most...

 

Yeah I figured about 15-20 year gap based on your posts as well lol.

Fixing things hasn't done me wrong either. I'm finally transitioning away from the "I know just enough to be dangerous" phase lol. It feels weird being one of the "old men" on the crew though.

 

Thanks for the reply. I've run this route before but it has been about 4 years since I've been through there. I do remember that there were no truck services on tht ride from Gallup to Hurricane.