Driving OTR with US Xpress

Hello There.


I'm sitting in Ellenwood in my new truck.......well...... not "New" new, just new to me. I have a 2013, 587 Pete that I recovered in Evans, GA.

The '12 Cascadia I brought back from Markham needed a lot of work. It made an unexpected trip to Cummins the day after I came home. It's expected to be there for at least 2 more weeks, before they even address the work I indicated the truck needs, like a clutch. 425K on a team truck, there's no feathering this clutch. If you don't tach the engine before moving it's kind of like being shot out of a cannon. No meat left on that baby.

So they had me chase down this Pete. My student drove me out to Evans. Nice truck, raised roof condo, 78k for miles. Sounds good. My student climbs into the truck first then pops his head out the door.


"Where do I sleep?"

Yep.......no upper bunk.......just tons of head room.


Great.


Still had an empty trailer attached, so I brought the whole rig back to Ellenwood, informing my FM that this tractor only sleeps one.


She said "I'm on it."

My student may be a family friend but he's not sleeping with me.



Anyway they began a 3 day search for another truck. Finally, word came down that I was going to have to roll with this truck and swap it out somewhere for a truck I can use to train, then come back and pick up my student.


Grrrrr


So my residence in this truck will be short lived.



While we're talking about trucks, every tractor I've had with USX in the last 2 years has been a Cascadia. Moving that same gear into a Pete was a challenge. There's room, but the layout of the cabinets are different. I've had to re-organize to fit everything. And with no upper bunk, my fridge is now on the passenger floor. I don't have the desk/ drawer that comes in the F/L. That is something I miss. I'm not going to do anything about that now as this truck is most likely a temp.


Anyway, I have a P-A From Stockbridge, GA to Statesville, NC that delivers tomorrow around noon. I'm waiting on an empty location so I can roll.





Guess my student will have to wait a little longer.




I'm sure all heck will break loose tomorrow when they see I'm dispatched with no student.




Dang! Hate to give up this truck.




Thanks for reading.
-Wedge

 

Yeah. It's like a house with a vaulted ceiling.

 

I'd go for a Volvo.

 

Hey Sammycat. Where have you been? You not being around is like having a family member MIA.


I'd love to fill you in on my training exploits but I'm still stuck in this Pete.


Which I've named "Flipper", BTW. Even with the 5th wheel and tandems set perfectly, it's like being strapped to the back of a dolphin.


I heard that my old truck "Frankenstein" is finally back from Freightliner. It's back at our Markham terminal and I'm headed up there today. I'm going to whine and whine until they ask me if I want any cheese.


.....I'll take Franky back. But hey,.......thanks for the offer.

 

You can, but I'm a little behind "student-wise" at the moment.

I have a student patiently waiting for me in GA. I need to get out of this truck, first.