Good night from...

Van Horn, TX. Load was 2 hours late this evening. Going to try and run a split tomorrow. If can not arrive in Chandler or Casa Grande by 2000, then will have to send MAC 22 to say will be 15-30 mins late. Or I could sit here for 16 hours, then run all night and get there at 0430. Would have been nice to know if they had overnight parking.

Talked to KW today and let them know that I am comming, and asked about the conversion from the 8 to 13 speed, and all of a sudden today, the price was $600. They are telling me $250 for a conversion kit, (the knob, a valve and two air lines) and 3.5 hours labor. Scottie, I know that you had yours done, and if I remember correct, it was half that price. Let me know what your all entailed. I think that the service person misunderstood, or trying to rip me off.

 

Yes the parts were only a couple hundred bucks and about .5 hour installation at $105 per hour plus taxes. The notes on my receipt read that there was a problem during the road test with it not splitting, so they had to tack on more shop time to diagnose and fix the problem so the total bill came out to $440 bucks for mine.
Something to think about, your 9 speed comes with a 450,000 mile warranty. The minute the 13 is installed that is negated and you have a fresh warranty, but it is only good for 100,000 miles.
My advice, do it anyway, saves fuel and fatigue. So much easier to thumb it down to 8Lo for those little bunny hills rather than let it lug down to 1100 RPM (thereby pumping cold underpressured moist soot right into the DPF) or make the choice to downshift to 7 and let it scream at 1600 RPM. As you know the splitter is really nice for those 'in between' speeds like 50,40,30 through those small towns and moderate curves, bunny slopes and such.

I've been down in Texas the last few days too. I think the other day we were within 50 miles of each other. Picked up a load today at San Antonio Central yard wherein there is a Swift driving academy. Going to Kansas City, after that all road lead west for home time, may have made a mistake taking this load now, looking at my hours it will be touch and go whether I run out of hours getting routed back home. If they can at least get me to Sparks NV or Los Angeles, it doesn't matter, I will bobtail home.

 

thanks. What is ticking me off, the last time that I was in there, I was told that had to purchase the knob and two air lines, and 3 hours labor, about total of $300. Now all of a sudden, it is a conversion kit, where this truck already has the converion kit installed, and now they want $600. As far as the warranty, KW in PHX told me that it will not affect the warranty. SWIFT has a deal with Eaton Fuller and KW. The warranty is supposed to stay at 450,000. I will be converting, but not at $600. I am giong to have a talk with the service mgr in the morning and get this straightened out.

 

Medford, OR... What a beautiful day. How often do you get to see four volcanos in one day!?

 

Casa Grande, AZ. Got a little bit of a repreive today. Forgot that PHX is on CA time. Got me an extra hour. Tomorrow finally will be able to get off this split sleeper crap.

 

Billings, MT with my K-Fart live store unload at 5am. Bad enough I had to pick it up at o'godawfulearly.

Have a pplan to repeat one I did last week. Deadhead to Worland, Wy, d&h a load of cans and take it to Salt Lake City. It is a "planners' special" which is a polite way of saying something having to do with ankles and grabbing. ("No we don't; will spit do?") Told the planner I want a sea to shining sea load: Seattle to Bangor, ME. She said she would work on it and actually seemed intrigued by the challenge. I'm going to work on growing hair back on that spot on the top of my head that feels raindrops first. Bet I win.
Frank

 

Scottie, that's where I went to school. Great group of people. If you like Thai food there's a really good place one exit south on I-410 in the north end of the truck friendly Walmart parking lot.
Frank

 

5 AM #### my hair ain't even up that early.... better u than me....hate early loads. in Lancaster sitting on my ###

 

Thought I'd drop in this since its been a while. Dwight, IL for the last three nights. Had a drop at a cat in east Peoria but couldnt make the final in Joliet before they closed Friday. So here ive been sitting. Taking a 40 foot container back to Houston for next load.

 

You know how I need coffee and time to become human. For a 5am I get up at 3, snarl at everything for an hour. Btw, your hair's always up even though it sometimes isn't sure where up is.

You really need to look into changing terminals to Laredo despite granny who does nothing for you. Here's another reason besides never sitting: truck wash po monthly for what it costs, not limited to $40. Oh, did I mention no bs safety, idle or goal messages?

Take care, pal. I'll give you a shout one of these days.
Frank