Had my radio tweaked, peaked, and tuned. Now it's noisy!

Thanks for the tips! After reading this, I checked and the seals are shot. This is a result of many drivers neglecting the truck since 2005. Both door seals have been loose and the other guys in the past were just slamming them in without shoving them back into place. I will ask them to adjust and replace them next week... I'm also due for new mudflaps and soon, a state inspection.

As far as radio noise goes... I chatted for a moment with another driver in PGH yesterday. He said he could hear just a tad of my wiper noise(electrical) and alternator through my radio on his end. He said it wasn't bad, but barely noticeable. Still better than before when my switch was hanging between normal CB mode and noise canceling modes.

Since I don't own the truck and it's a lease, I'm going to snag a ground loop isolator and call it good.

 

What's up with the Maxxforce engines? It's like they "learn" how you drive. I call them the "slow-star" engine. I could never stand pulling a grade or trying to jake brake down a grade in a Pro Star with a Maxxforce.

 

I'm just driving Class B box trucks now. Crappy pay, but it's something to do until I get a car and can move on to something nicer. It's really weird driving a truck single clutch. Plus, it's a 6 speed E-F. No splitting, no range selecting. I'm still getting used to it. I always have to remember to back up like a car and not like a combination vehicle!

I also had my first experience road testing a rookie fresh out of school. I needed new britches after the first five miles. Poor kid couldn't shift his way out of a wet paper bag, but I bet he was nervous. Only 21 and he didn't know anything. I felt bad for him. Nice kid and his good manners were a bonus. Not every day you run into a 21 year old that's not just a total jerk. Nevertheless, big trucking isn't for him. He went to school not knowing what he was getting into. He told me he was shooting for local Class A or B work. Good luck with NO experience! I gave him what good pointers I could and told him to keep his chin up and try to get at least a year otr/regional in. Two, if possible.

Most companies in Pittsburgh want 2-5 years OTR or verifiable experience with Tanker/Hazmat, etc. before they will consider your application. That's what I see in the ads, anyway.

No, this is not a thread about my new job. It's a thread about my radio, which brought me out of retirement. I got away from OTR, because the constant loads of BS finally had me upon the brink of losing my mind. When my APU quit and I couldn't stay warm at night (I waited a week and got no fix... freezing every night for a week sucks!) I bailed and went home. I just couldn't hang with the low pay and lack of respect for drivers.

Just doing my little toy truck job for a while. I'm interested in tri-axle dump or maybe tankers. Has to be local, though. I'm playing bass in a band again and I have too much going on at home to be OTR or even regional again.