Where is everyone #5

Got stuck in MinotND one winter as a company schmuck. The truck had that Opt Idle crap where when the interior temps reaches your desired setting, the engine cuts off. Typical Dakota winter.

Truck would cut off and restart after 15 seconds. Burned the starter up. Every time the truck would cut off and restart, I would wake up. That time, it cut off, 15 seconds CLICKITYCLACKCLICKITYCLACK!!!!
Dead.

Uhoh, at least I am not in the middle of nowhere.

Sometimes, I think that I should get a degree and become a beancounter. Don’t know jack about anything but convince some Moron at Moron trucking to drop $100mil into some lame brain idea that any free thinking driver can tell is a stupid idea.

 

Speaking of geniuses, I got stuck in Minot at a later time, waiting for a load. Sat there for 24 hours. Had some woman call me on the phone to discuss my idling…

“Driver, you have been idling for 24 hours. Our company policy is…”

Did you know that while the sun was up, the outside temperature was +3?

(she’s reading from her playbook) “Driver, if you are cold, turn the heat on full blast and close the curtain to the sleeper. When it gets warm, cut the engine off and bundle up and…”

I will turn the truck off and check into a motel. Tomorrow, you can tow your truck to a shop, and pay their hourly rate while the truck thaws out.

“Is there something wrong with the truck?

What part of ‘+3 degrees when the sun was up’ did you not understand?

 

Had the same thing happen when things started tightening up in the oilfield 10 years ago. Told us we should avoid leaving our service trucks running while we work to help cut fuel costs. Its -35 outside, the truck is my warm-up shelter. When its +30 its my cool-off spot. I always shut the truck off when temperatures weren't extreme though.

 

What happens when the truck doesn’t start at -35 in the field?

 

Usually the customer is around, even on remote worksites. Probably be pretty embarrassing to ask for a boost or a heater.

 

Good night from Seville Ohio.

 

Now is the auto braking, lane departure, and screens for mirrors. We missed the next 100 mill. But dream up another terrible idea.

The opt idle was a good idea, yet didn't have the technology. It was always the hood sensor that cause bigger problems. However I worked with a guy that used the detroit hood mercury sensors on his pickup tool box. Turned the box lights on well. The technology was fine for his application.

 

New lights are 10 inches wide and 16 inches long.

 

The Menards lights went back. Against my better judgment, we ordered these from Amazon. I would MUCH rather buy from a store that I can walk into. The Menards lights were more yellowish than white and that alone was the deal breaker. These are advertised at almost 21,000 lumins. Only 4 out 15 arrived yesterday. So, that’s what got put up today. Will post more pictures as more lights get installed.

 

Nice lights— so tell us a story about the Ford