Back on the Road, with Con-way Truckload

I don't suspect Upper Management cares
The colors and schemes are a enterprise thing, that comes far higher up the food chain than we have here in Joplin Mo.
Myself I am a fan of when all CFI trucks were Red.
The other color trucks were million mile drivers trucks.
When you reached that million mile mark, you got a new truck and got to pick the color. But still liked it when all the trucks were "CFI" Red, much better than the later Viper Red.

 

Today I went to APU and Torque use class today.
Found it to be interesting.
We are asked that if we drive a APU equipped truck, that we maintain a floating 3 month avg of at least 7 mpg.
Looking at the averages of the APU equipped fleet, it is do-able.
APU operation is straight forward. Unit has its own 1800 watt inverter. APU will charge the truck batteries, and heat engine coolant. Of course the star of the APU is the Air Cond. and a separate bunk heater.
The truck engine will shut of after 5 minutes of idling.
All this is different than what I have been used to.
Now this Detroit engine is going to take some getting used to.
Used to the days of spooling the RPM's grabbing gears, big boost, all that good stuff. Not in this ride, it is all Low RPM's, high torque. Have to hit the shift points right on every time to get the best performance, and this will also hit the marks of fuel mileage.
The days of shifting by feel, or sound is gone.
This truck is smooth as silk, and really quiet, at least as far a truck goes.
The previous driver had avg 6.6 mpg's, but he was a regional driver, that makes a difference, there is latitude regarding the regional drivers.
Time will tell.
I have a truck set up in Laredo
Freightliner Cascadia 2009 DD15 Detroit with a 13 speed.

 

Will say, I really like the Cascadia opposed the the T-600's I have driven. I am a fan of the International Pro-Star too, I think the Pro-Star is all around winner with aero, style, ride etc. But I drew a Cascadia. Outside, it is butt ugly, but inside it is set up pretty nice. Everything is in reach, engine brake on steering wheel, radios in good spots. Plenty of room between seats, can stand straight up in the cab.
Will see how storage works out.

 

Day 2 of loading the U-Haul, and almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Got to pick up a few more straps to tie toolboxes, and a couple flatscreens down, and that part will be done.
Load up a car on the trailer, and tomorrow will be heading south.
I don't know how those bed buggers do it, this packing, loading stuff is for the birds.

 

Got my new truck, not a new truck, but new to me. Previous driver seemed to take good care of it.
Do some lite cleaning on the inside, unpack my junk and it will be good to go.
Was going to attempt to do it today, but its like 10 thousand degrees here in Laredo, so I accomplished throwing my totes on the top bunk shelf, and strapping them in.
Will unpack and organize when cooler temps are found.

Got to come up with a name for it.
Middle 3 numbers are 666, so I guess it will be something devilish.
Would like get some devil horn graphics to put above the 666, I'm sure that will be frowned up.

 

So finally got 1st load out, Laredo to Cincinnati, not a bad draw. Sitting at consignee, unload in am. Having a issue with apu, doesn't seem to cool jack nothing. Have resorted to relying on my childhood tent making skills. Have lowered top bunk for storage, now have. Blanket sealing off the bottom bunk from rest of sleeper and have the only vent opened to lowe bunk. Ac on full bore and barely down to 75.
This thing has to do better. Need thru Joplin anyhow for new mattress and get bumper fixed, I have it bungeed up rite now. Will get this apu looked at, otherwise I hope the have the receipt.