Flatbed Solo Fleet Thread

Well I got my 2011 Cascadia...

Holy crap that thing is heavy. With full fuel and a 53' skateboard its just over 33k!

Decent condition, 226k on the clock, ok power from the DD15 but they CASTRATE THE BALLS off of this thing. Speed set at 65, higher than the 2012-13's that are set at 62-63. 100 gallon tanks on both sides, DEF tank, and really steep crappy steps. Freightshaker screwed that one up for sure. No APU on these or apparently any future trucks. I'll give ya a fleet lowdown later in the post.

Interior:
Front seats are CHEAP! At least they have armrests. But these seats are not too uncomfortable, but they will not recline more than 2 or 3 degrees. Decent lumbar support. Steering wheel adjustments could use some more engineering. Gear shifter hits right armrest in R and 1st/6th hole. Straight ten speed should be a 13, but I guess some of the morons they hire cant figure out a spliter. Dash is less than basic. Tach/Speedo, Oil Press, Water Temp, Fuel, Primary and secondary air. Voltmeter in the center LCD display. That is it. Dash holds a double DIN opening with a single DIN radio and cubbyhole. Cruise, marker interrupt, and jake activation are on the steering wheel. Jake power selector in on the dash switch cluster. Headlight rotary is in a bad location, more than once I grabbed they key. Sleeper is a single bunk, Webasto bunk heater that has two settings, off and the 666th layer of Hell. Minimal storage, 2 main cabinets left/right. Left has large door on top with hanging rod, open area for whatever, slideout desk, and small door above the air return. Right cabinet has a small door at top large open area for TV an such with antenna COAX and 12-volt tap. bottom is open. Decent mattress. Underbunk is a three chamber affair, side boxes and center, bulkheads are immobile. Center section is too big by about a foot.

The Cascadia bounces like a cabover! The center dash actually creates a peninsula in the cab. There is weak soundproofing, but the DD15 has a nice sound, even if a bit too loud. Jake brake fans will be disappointed. The muffler really keeps em quiet. They get louder below 8th, but not by much. Power ports are lacking, 4 in the back, 1 up front plus the ciggie lighter. And of course it wont power half what you stick in it. Also the one in front is right about the 4th/9th hole. So the shifter bangs into whatever is plugged in there.

Exterior:
Amber strobe light and two utility work lights. Mirrors are ugh, 2 standard 2 convex and 2 fender mounted convex. Have yet to figure out how to attach anything to the supports. No brackets exist for them. Headache rack is an open affair, timber racks on the sides, lumber tarp racks next, chain and binders in the middle with a tray at the bottom for steel tarp. Full catwalk.

Equipment assigned:
~75 rubber bungees
20 rubber mats (actually cut up mud flaps)
20 plastic 5" edge protectors
18-20 4" straps
10 chains and binders
10 V boards
10 pocket stakes (Not avaiable when I got loaded in)
8 corner protectors
2 2" ratchet straps
2 1" ratchet straps
2 lumber tarps
1 steel tarp

All of this is on an "If available" status. If an item is not available upon assignment, Western will buy it if you get a load that needs it. Or you buy send in the receipt and get reimbursed.

The tarps...ARE FRACKING HEAVY! They claim 160. I weighed mine. The newer one was 175 and the older junker was over 200. And the steel tarp is only 80 but really small.

OK now for the report...

I got assigned the truck (PM me if really want to know the number) and loaded the rack up, got a load off the yard and headed for Bridegport, AL. Unloaded there, went to Tuscaloosa (or Roll Tide if you wish, Had no idea a washing detergent sponsored college sports.) Went to Houston with that load, and picked up may first tarp load in Beaumont. Two words about slinky loads. STRAP YOU! ad to get it reloaded, over axle out back. So on one load humped tarps 3 times... Discovered that a 2" ratchet strap makes a decent come along. Im actually thinking about creating some items to assist flatbed cowpunchers. God knows we need em. Got that load to Bedford Heights, OH, and deadheaded to Lepsic, Oh for my first US Steel load. Oh joy...

Loaded there and headed to Talladega, AL. Unloaded and went to the terminal on Birmingham to get the current load I have that got me home. It's a two stopper Jacksonville and Altamont Springs.

Westerns fleet consits of Freightliners and Internationals with a smattering of Volvo's and a few daycab Pete's. The Vulva's have the D15, International Prostars have the MAXX JUNK mills, Shakers have the DD15 or Series 60's (Columbias only). Some Internationals are old SMX trucks, 9400's and they have Cummins I think. Pete's all have Cats i am told, dont know the type. Columbias, 9400, and Vulvas are on a fast track out of the fleet, as the plan is to run only Cascadias (whoopie...no really...) The Pro Stars are in both Van and Flat have those junk APU/whateverthehelltheyare that replace one of the side boxes. They are also Ultrashift 10's. Some of the Vulvas have them too. Most of the new 2012 and all of the 2013 Cascadias are super singles. Just shoot me.

We have a bunch of 48' (not legal for Cali apparently), and 53' ex-SMX trailers that have the spools on only one side. The 53' Western trailers have them on both sides. Had to drop an SMX for Western on that slinky load. Also have 53' all steel stepdecks.

As far as DM's (dispatcher's) go most are better than just competent. A few are ex-drivers, more than most companies. Mine seems to be good, although we are still getting to know one another.

The bad stuff:
Going to a terminal during business hours. A 15 minutes drop and hook becomes a 2 hour ordeal. That is if your truck is not due for service. If it is and you are going to Nashville, forget getting out on the same day. The mechanics are really good, but they take for freaking ever. But you can rush quality, right? Ahem...

I was pretty much thrown in the deep end. Training was a joke during orientation, and we had a step deck during my Eval. But the learning curve aint too steep, and the load securement guys are just a phone call away. I know there are some loads I just wont be able to pull. I cant physically climb on top of the loads. The height dont bother me, just no hand or foot holds that can take my weight! Luckily those loads are few and far between I am told.

All in all there is more good than bad here, but I would not recommend them for a first driving job, at least in flatbed. If you have driven before and are smarter then the average steering wheel holder this is a good place to learn the art of flat.

I'll update this on a semi regular basis, at least until I get a good wifi service and get a new laptop.

Later ya'll!

 

Well I left them back in early December, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. They instituted a new pay system after Christmas, and they have been pestering me to come back. My dispatcher has called me no less than 8 times, but with my mother in chemo, I have to be able to get back more often than they are willing to work with. Can't run vans, only flat from where I live, so until mom has been in remission for a while I wont be rolling across the big roads.

Other than getting stranded over Thanksgiving, (4 days in OKC... I now hate Flying J) my experience was positive. But if I got back to flat, I will only drive conventional tractors, such as 379/389, W900, or Classic XL with a minimum of a 13. Cascadias are less than useless for flatbedding...

Oh BTW the 2013 and up Cascadias there have DAY-GLO ORANGE seatbelts... Fracking dipsticks...