Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

I've been to Levelland. I wouldn't say its flat because it has an overpass.

 

Levelland doesn't but Lubbock has quite a few!

 

Same ol same ol.

 

Any count of passes under 35 in Waco?

 

On Cattle vs Swine now?

 

Still on hogs....countdown is on though. 9 more loads

 

Just for grins and giggles if you have an old afrc valve pull the plunger out of it and put it back together. You’re making a poor man’s block off plate. Then plug your boost line.

I’m not sure we were on the same page about the plungers. If someone has had one or all out you could have one a tooth off. Many won’t really miss as in a dead miss. It will have a ping I can hear. That prevents the Rack from full travel. Cut the threads off a kind 3/8 bolt. Turn key on and pull rack inspection plate. Top plug is a 8/15 wrench. Drop bolt in there and pull throttle all way back. It should be past that wide cut out part on rack bar. The back face of that cut out is half travel. The bolt should be completely on top that back side flush or plum to the cut out.

I suck at explaining ####. I’ll try to find you a picture of what it supposed look like. You can have one a tooth off and barely see it there. I’ve had them brought to me after being driven like that for 100k miles i don’t see how anyone could put up tmwith that lol.

usually if the plungers are tired it will crank hard, then sorta fire like a poppin John then settle down. Be real sluggish toi like free revving it.



If you can get it to Arkansas I’ll tune it up.



Feb 1 is our official opening date. I ain’t sure if we gonna keep the truck or not. Insurance is high for a part time or maybe. It’s been a touch over 30 years since I bought my first Peterbilt. I’ve worked for others such as Deere and CAT. Sheehan, Murphy Bros, Gregory and Cook, Welded pipeline, Donald Collins, as well as for myself. I’ve always had one in my yard with my name on it. At first I’d just cancel insurance and get it back when I was ready. Wasn’t a big deal. Had 4 at one time, that was a bigger deal lmao. I got a couple trucks that I can just look at but they are not mine. Proud of them 2 trucks is an understatement. And that settles it, without mine setting beside them I’m a failure…..that isn’t an option. Guess I just needed to talk that out to come to a solution.

 

Glad we could help! Lol

 

I would not dwell too much on the failure word. You could well be ahead of the coming wave of men getting out of the truck. For a myriad of reasons, such as low freight rates, high fuel and tire costs. Excessive Insurance premiums just about take the true profit from an small operation.
Consider...
You could well be earning that $175.00 per hour shop labor rate instead of bustin em to be able to pay others to do it. Sleeping at home, eating at home.
Honestly, I think this may be looked at later as a very wise move in uncertain times. Do one thing do it well, charge your price, AND.. Collect your money...

(And all this from an old man who lacking a CDL for health reasons, would be driving today. LOL )

 

@wore out
If it’s like my part of the country a good diesel mechanic is hard to find and worth every penny it takes to keep him working on your rig. Nearly a year ago I left my favorite independent shop I had used for 8 years. When they refused to pay their experienced mechanics competitive wages all their mechanics left. The first time I went in and they had shade tree mechanics who spoke zero English for the same rate, I didn’t go back. When I am paying $150 an hour its for an experienced mechanic and the ability to communicate with said mechanic. Good luck on your new venture and I hope it works out great for you.