Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

And a flashlight.

I've learned the best trick for dealing with OTRM, this came from another driver.

Send a 1 line, or 1 sentence macro when you deal with them. "Trailer tire flat." "Windshield wiper just fell off."

Because when you send them the whole story up front, you will repeat each item to them, in it's own macro, for an hour.

 

I live in Portland, OR, is that close enough? Getting home can happen, there is freight to Portland, Seattle, and central Washington often enough. If you're within about 150 miles, you can usually deadhead home. Don't count on your husband being home on time every time though. I'm not usually on time for home time, no matter how hard we try.

Him being out 2-3 weeks and home for a weekend is doable. I recommend 3 weeks out and 3 days off, because Central has trouble getting folks home every 2 weeks. If you want to see him more often, he might be able to get on the Western region run, and stay in the western 11. I've known several drivers who do that, the days are only 400-550 miles, but it works out to decent milage. And, for those who live in the region, they get run through home now and again. There's also a KRAFT run out of Stockton, CA to Portland and Tacoma, so if you live on the I5 corridor, he could get home more often.

I can't vouch for solo driving, as I'm half a team, but from what I see, plan on 2500-3000 miles a week, on average. Some weeks are 1500 and some are 3500. Right now there's a lot of freight out of the Northwest (produce) so he'll have a chance at decent loads after taking home time.

 

I agree with the miles smadronia said. Talking with my last few students they seem to be getting good weeks. Just plan on Dec Jan Feb to be tough. Partly with holidays and its also a slow time.

 

Hey,this really is a small world...I live in Salem,OR but spend some of my home time in Portland with my daughter & son-in-law. I have no problem getting home on time,mainly because I ALWAYS have a doctor appointment I absolutely cannot miss. It is usually the truth,my dm would not dare challenge me and does everything possible to get me there on time. I only had a problem the first time home getting a load out of town. Last month I got one to Michigan! It can definitely be done,you have to know what to say and who to say it to,I guess.

 

Hi everyone just finished with my training.. had a great trainer.. was woundering what type of refrigerator anyone with a prostar had. I havnt been able to find one that fits the opening its only 15.5 in wide and most fridges are 18.5 any sugg? I know the coleman 12v coolers fit but really wanted a real fridge. Thanks

 

You can buy a fridge that fits thru a dealer but they are really expensive. If you lease you can remove the cabinets. But otherwise you don't have many options. If you do take out cabinets, make sure when you turn the Trk in you have the cabinets with it as they are really gonna cost you if you don't.

 

Ya thats what i thought. didnt what to remove the cabinet. I found both the coleman and the igloo electric coolers. Is one better than the other? They seem pretty much the same.

 

My experience was the coleman was either great or didnt make it a full year. Their warranty requires you to send back motor, trash the cooler and they will send you a new one. I also have returned them to Wal-Mart for replacement, with receipt of course.

Never used an igloo. Just watch where you buy it. Most truckstops have the price jacked up, but that might be ones only option. Think I saw replacement motors in a ts last week for the igloo.

 

Or like with us, you get two of the BOZO's on there and they start sending you in two different direction, 150 miles apart.... lol... then you tell them one will come back and ask "which is the best for you" and then later, after they change shifts, you get a third one and he gets pissed becaused you went to the wrong place...

But then... (this is the best part) LadyK (OMG I love this woman) she gets on the phone and beats this guy into submission and tells him "The shop is going to be locked up after midnight, I am a woman, I can not just get out of the truck and pee on a tire like my husband. They are not going to cut the power to the instrument panel just so I can drive to a truck stop for the night, I will have no gauges or speedometer I'll be running illegal because it will cut the qualcomm too (I wasn't sure about that one but...) . You are going to put me up for the night in a hotel!"

Needless to say... we spent the night in a hotel.... lol....

 

If you really want to, you can take the truck into WVC (from what I have been told ONLY WVC can/will do this) but go to the shop and ask them to take the cabnet out.
DO NOT DO IT YOUR SELF! Reson, is 1) if you screw something up; you buy it. 2) if you loose it; you buy it. 3) if you turn in the truck and the cabnet is not replaced and they loose it (I have heard of this happening); you buy it. 4) if they loose it; it is on them. 5) if they screw it up; it is on them. Also, after the last few times I have had to deal with the mechanics in WVC, you can just about bet wither #4 or #5 will happen.