FCC--Fremont Contract Carriers

I had a similar thing happen when I was parked at home.

Normally, I’d sometimes run the APU for a bit over the weekend to top off the batteries but at times the APU would start up on its own as I assume the truck sensed the weak batteries and self started to avoid dead batteries.

But, one weekend I left it set a bit too long, I guess the APU never self started, ended up with dead batteries… BUT, I could start the APU separately and it would run fine but it would not charge the batteries at all.

The boys in Breakdown seemed a bit confused about it as well. Ended up getting a jump and ran the engine 24/7 until I got back to the Shops just to be sure and avoid another jump before making it back to the mothership.

 

Well, I’m back to Solo Driving once again. Had the Better Half riding along with me for the passed four weeks. Was rather nice having company along for the ride but this box does get rather small at times with two bodies in it 24/7.

next year we might try 6 weeks
… or just 2… LOL


(She picked up a job as a school teacher so she has summers off)

 

On a side note, it’s a friggen shame the prices the scales have gotten to. It’s not like scales are suddenly harder to find and maintain, nor have they had to adjust due to the fluctuations in gravity. Ugh.

 

Have you ever seen the equipment they use to maintain the scales? Or the driver that they have to hire to do that job. It's not really a door slammer job. Now do you think Catscale doesn't have a workers comp policy on that employee or offer them benefits? I mean yeah $13.50 is a lot but Catscale isn't in it to be nice or charitable. It's convenient and it's an expense that gets reimbursed or otherwise passed on same as lumpers.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a re-power or preload that I didn’t automatically scale, with Kawasaki being the occasional exception. When companies went to the CAT scale app. most guys don’t get a hard copy or even write it down. Good job.

 

Kawasaki I don't scale because I've never hauled anything more out of there over 25k pounds. Pallets I usually don't scale either, because they're pallets. Doesn't really matter where you set the tandems at on those loads.

 

Once you are comfortable with the load gauge in your truck, it's not necessary most of the time. If the company is paying for it why not, but I pay for it, so screw that! I don't scale unless I absolutely need, I've literally scaled once in the last 6 months. As far as relays, it doesn't matter, if it's close enough to require a scale, then the driver delivering needs to scale anyways if they're not comfortable with it. Doesn't matter if you write down how much fuel and the make of truck. It's a nice reference sure, but does he know where you're fifth wheel is set? How much stuff you carry? If you have a passenger? Gets on my nerves when they send those messages about scale the loads, that gets started from lazy drivers who want someone else to do their job for them calling complaining. If I pick up a load it's my responsibility to make sure I don't get an overweight ticket, not the previous driver.

 

Got my truck back from the shop. They said the problems with my APU were A. the alternator had completely seized up, and B. because of that, the belt walked itself off, causing it to chug when it tried to turn over and start. That would explain on Friday afternoon when I got home and tried to start it, all I got was massive belt squeal. The belt must've worked itself off during that and caused the chugging and black smoke I noticed that night and Monday morning. They also mentioned that the tensioner wasn't tensioning at all.

They said that the alternator going out/tensioner issues might've been the cause for my hvac breaker warnings I've been having for the past few weeks.

I've no idea if this is related to dodging flooded roadways in Great Bend but all I know is that it's all fixed now.

 

Yup. While I will write the numbers down on the BOL for the next driver and can email my copy of the scale ticket (I rarely grab physical paper) I also have no problem scaling a load that was handed off to me if I have concerns if it’s legal or not. Like you said, wasn’t my truck being scaled.

 

And i do love the CAT App.

Simple to use right in the truck with no need to move/park the truck to run in to find you are not legal and have to adjust… or legal and can just roll. I have the email version to show LEOs and submit with BOLs.

I just dont see the need for grabbing paper inside the truck stop.

scale and roll