Upgrade question

I can't speak to the room and comfort as I have a Prostar Premium, but I have been very impressed with the Cummins ISX 15. Pulls great, especially for a 65MPH truck and if I behave with shifting and idling my MPG metrics with the company are real good. Can't say I'm real impressed with International's electrical system or interior design but it IS a large fleet truck with a second bunk so it wasn't spec'ed for a whole bunch of good stuff that International does offer. The electrical glitches are the annoying part because they aren't serious enough to force me to a shop but they are nuisances. Love the ride and she's real quiet. Almost too smooth and quiet if you get my meaning. Very easy to forget you're in a big truck when it comes to speed and space management. Turns tighter than other trucks I've driven too.

For what it's worth and CONGRATS on the impending upgrade. Welcome aboard in advance ( mean to full on solo. I don't drive for prime. Just noticed I was in a prime thread. sorry for the intrusion.

 

Why go with lightweight if you are s company driver? You don't get a choice?

 

Lightweight would translate into fuel savings which should get you a better fuel bonus.

 

Fuel bonus money is money your company should have been paying you all along. They're the ones that put that crappy engine tune in the ECM. They're the ones that designate your fuel stops and routes. They're the ones that govern the trucks down. Right?

So, guess what that means about your fuel bonuses?

 

No your wrong. If you drive like a idiot and get 5 mpg and I drive smart and get 7 mpg your telling me that we should both be paid the same even though I save the company money on their fuel bill? Wrong sir. Your not entitled to money, you earn it.

 

Giving the terms he's using, I'm guessing he's a Prime driver. Prime requires all company solos into lightweights.

I was in a lw Cascadia during my time at Prime. It isn't a terrible truck by any means but storage is a huge issue with them (especially if/when you get an APU). They also are a bit weaker, so a lot more downshifting for hills and such. When I was there the lw Prostars were few and far between, so I can't give too much info.

The easiest way to say it is while Prime 'designates' these trucks as lightweights. These type of trucks are actually designed for people who run dedicated, that are home on the weekends and such. So a lot of the storage, room to move around, and such has been sacrificed. So my best advice would be find ways to condense your things so you got room to breathe.

As far as advantages. From the driver's seat, it's pretty much the same as a condo and they are also pretty dang easy to back.

 

No sir. I'm telling you that if I run like an idiot and put down 100 miles more than you a day, at 65at say $.40cpm, I will make $44 a day more than you driving the same POS truck for the same POS company. I would run more miles, empty faster, load faster and make more money driving like an idiot for a guaranteed amount as agreed upon between me and the carrier, correct?

But you would rather run slow so that you can get that fuel bonus...Ah! The mythical fuel bonus. How much is it?

See, in order for that awesomely mythical fuel bonus to be worth trying to achieve, it would have to pay more than $44 a day for every day you run. And it would have to be easily attainable, not like a carrot dangling in front of a horse.

Is your fuel bonus over $200 extra a week? Because that's how much more money running like an idiot would make than you. Guaranteed $200 more a week. Not some freakin "bonus". How's that for beancounting?

 

Not sure where you get your numbers but ok. 100 miles you would drive at least 10 mph faster then me for the entire 10 hours. Most likely never happen. Ever looked at your average speed at the end of a day? 50 mph I bet unless it's been all interstate driving with no stops. Rarely does that happen.