CRETE - A Year in Review

ET,
When you have time, would you share your insight into successfully beating a commercial truck traffic ticket.
Thanks,
JS

 

ET isn't truckin anymore

 

Write the court a letter asking for leniency. As a CDL holder you can't take defensive driving, or deferred adjudication, but the court can grant dismissal if you have a good case to plead.

 

In addition to a letter a good lawyer will help a great deal as well. I paid $500 + the reduced ticket and it was worth every penny. I had a 76/60 reduced to 63/60. This was in my personal vehicle but the law doesn't care what your driving with a CDL. All made possible by purchasing 15 minutes of a guys time. All they want is your money they have no desire to take your job. Hopefully yours wasn't as serious as mine, possibly career ending in my case. Good luck.

Although ET's done with the road he did say he would be back from time to time to chime in.

 

Add my name to the long list of people who have enjoyed following this thread. ET- good luck to you in your present and future endeavers, and thanks for the entertaining and informative thread.

 

Heading to Indy for A/C work. Anyone have good or bad experiences with that shop?

 

It use to be a good shop...before they moved. Not sure now. Moving seems to be a negative for our shop people. KC was a good shop when it was miles away from the terminal, Knoxville was good before they moved to Lenoir City...SLC was decent before the move...if things follow s.o.p. at CCC, they'll start sucking at Indy too.

 

As for my miles...I just completed my 1st 3000+ mi week since the 1st week of May. Last week I had 2582(last load of last week was a 3 stop) the week before was 2276 with a 5 stop load and a very short shag load. Now I'm sitting in Ardmore putting in a 10 hr waiting to go to Edmund to pu headed for Hammond, LA for Monday...only 814 mi...but with the way last week went, my logbook looks like a roller coaster for hours...and not quite enough time to squeeze in a 34....

JDZR - I don't know if the cornbinder airbags are as easy to change as a century class, but all you need for those is a 2ton walmart jack and a pry bar... Every century I've driven had sleeper air bag issues. Since you have one of the pre-prostar models...I hope it went right, given your location for repair.

 

About Indy..personally speaking they are good. They have new facilities which need enhancing for the drivers. They have some new maintainers and are trying to train. The parking lot is still a mess. Lots of unsupported asphalt..be careful where you drop. Too much springs/ground water (not a hydrologist, but recognized wetness). No showers, but a different driver lounge arrangement. One lounge till 1700, then you have to relocate as they lock the office area...including the forms and records.
That said, the staff are positive and helpfull. Not a bad mix, but please get the drainage, support, support for the parking lot and finish the driver support features. Plenty of space, but needs budgetary support ....You get the drift.

 

Finding the part,and then waiting most of the day for it to arrive was the worst aspect of the situation. This was an International parts problem, not a Crete shop problem. Mike, the lead night mechanic was extremely helpful in get my truck in the shop once the part arrived. Repair was done correctly. Also, the parts lady was very helpful in finding the part at a different dealer after the SLC dealer said they had none, and didn't know when they would get any because the DC in Las Vegas keep back-ordering the part. It's water under the bridge at this point. Time to do some serious trucking.