Coming to orientation Aug 13th...

Discussion in 'Watkins & Shepard' started by SpiritWolf, Jul 23, 2012.

  1. BackIsSore

    BackIsSore Road Train Member

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    Oct 18, 2008
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    Pictures not working :( But hope this is the worst of your problems that your truck will give you! Were the O/O's in orientation former W/S company drivers also?
     
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  3. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    North Highlands CA
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    Grrrr...this site in driving me nuts on the pics issue.... But if you go to my profile, and look at my album, the photos are there.

    And I have no idea about if the O/O's were W/S company drivers before or not, I just know that my not resigning my company driver spot before starting the O/O sign-up procedures seamed to completely screw up the "normal" process... Heck, even after getting out on the road on my 1st load, I got an email about yet another thing that needed to be done, and had been forgotten. lol.
    Like I said, no major issues, just annoying hiccups.

    EDIT TO ADD....
    Shes is pulling strong and hard with a 30k load. Made average 7.9mpg on the back highways from lewiston ID to Sacramento CA. She popped a code last night though, something about a communications error. but nothing seams to be going wrong..... ::Sigh:: My plan is to deliver Monday, and keep rolling, most likely hit LA to have it checked out to make sure its nothing major.
    FYI, having an unlimited truck is a new experience. Have to make sure I don't leave my foot down and roll WAY to fast...
    I REALLY see why company trucks are tuned down, because a rookie would get themselves into serious trouble rather quick.
     
  4. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    Somedays I wonder how California ever made it this far without a complete meltdown.
    Having fun trying to get the title transferred over to me, because the DMV didn't understand how a truck can be registered/licensed in Montana, but titled in CA. Wasted close to 7 hours yesterday before I finally got to someone in the system who knew what I was trying to do, and was able to give me directions on how to go about getting it done. By that time, it was to late in the day to do it, so I have to take another day off to get it done. ::sigh:: At least its going to be cheap...total of $19 for the title change.
     
  5. BackIsSore

    BackIsSore Road Train Member

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    USA
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    Glad I get to live these headaches by reading from you instead of me! Give it another week and everything will start running smooth enough that it'll feel like you've been an O/O for a year.
     
  6. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    You arnt the only one living vicariously. I have 4 or 5 trucker friends who are calling me daily for updates lol.
    So.... Monday night, had a delivery in Tracy CA.... And while I was waiting, It hit me that I hadnt backed a trailer to a dock in almost 3.5 months! Now I was doing it in an unfamiliar truck! Talk about nerves! But the result? a PERFECT dock on the 1st try, didn't have to reposition at all! hehe.. Nice to know the skills haven't atrophied to much...
    Also got a compliment on my truck from another driver... :biggrin_25525:

    Yesterday I finished the title junk with CA late in the afternoon. So, all thats left is a couple of fax's, which I can do whenever. So i let dispatch know Im ready for a load....

    Hmmmm.... Im thinking I may have to get my steers balanced. Running bobtail, she seams to have a "shudder" in the 50 to 60mph range. Im feeling it through the steering, and it bad enough to visibly shake the headlights. ;-/ under that range its there, but hardly noticeable... Over that, the shudder is gone, and she runs smooth as glass. Im looking at the Centramatic wheel balancers, but that would have to wait till I build up a bit of money in the bank.
     
  7. Shiftin

    Shiftin Light Load Member

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    Spend the $200+ for a set of centramatics. I put them on my truck (company truck) and it did make a difference. Also if you can find the get a set of Weather Shedders for your mirrors.
     
  8. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    Im already planning on the Centramatics on all 6 wheels next month, once I have some steady income. Unfortunately I blew through my discretionary budget for equipping my truck already.
    I swung by the speedco in Ripon CA on my way down to pick up an empty trailer, and they took 28 minutes (yes, i counted) to balance my steers. Both left and right took 8 ounces, and now the vibration is gone.

    None truck headache.... I HATE getting Late dispatches from either LA to modesto, or from Modesto to LA... it never fails that I dont have enough time to both drive there, and take a 10hr....Yet i keep falling for "it will be a quick loading"....
    Last nights "quick loading" turning into a 3.5 hour wait, and now Im going to be late for the delivery by several hours. So...the broker says im going to have to sit on the load till tomorrow. (insert string of swear words here)
    :biggrin_25510:

    EDIT TO ADD....
    She pulled a average 7.8 Mpg on the way down from modesto with a 44k load. And yes that number includes going over the grapevine. lol. So far I'm REALLY happy with this truck mpg. She is perfectly content to run between 60 and 65, with only a 1/10th of an mpg difference between 60 and 65. I cant wait to see what happens on a cross country load, when I can spend a day at 70/75 to see what happens.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2014
  9. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    No thanks to the broker, but a big thank you to walgreens, who went ahead and unloaded me, even though I was 5 hours late, to an appointment that didnt exist..... yeah.... according to them, then had NO info my truck was coming this week at all ;-/
    Nice.... some brokers are easy to work with, others tend to bend u over and try rude things.......

    Anyway. Sitting and waiting for a 2400 mile load to finish loading, then going to start a good long wringing out of this truck. Im eager to see what her fuel mileage is at elevated speeds. Kinda have too, since I have 3.5 days to run 2400 miles.... well...I did ask for it. lol.
    should only be a 20k or less load, so I will get to put a Full load of fuel on for the 1st time, and give her a good work out.

    On a humor note.... I REALLY missed the online games I used to play. So, one of the 1st things I did with this truck, was build and install a full on gaming computer.........And...I have yet to have a good enough internet connection to do much more than slowly browse the web. lol. You really would think LA would have great service...but for the most part, anywhere I have parked my truck.....it doesn't.
    Eh, If nothing else, it means I can post here more, since all I have to do is hit a switch to turn things on...Instead of the 10 minutes it used to take me to drag out the laptop, string cables, ect....
     
    jomar68 Thanks this.
  10. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    North Highlands CA
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    Hmmm....2 days of running 70 to 75, and my fuel is indicating 8.0mpg!!!!!!!!! Lol. Gonna have to take that with a grain of salt till I can figure it out on paper, but....wow....

    in other news...I swear the weather is Broken..... Drove through sleet, rain, hail, and near whiteout snow yesterday, in AZ and NM, went to bed at 30 degrees. Today got PASSED by a TUMBLEWEED.......yeah...I had a triple take at that....NM and TX had some horrible winds today given how light my load is. And now I have my A/C going, since its bedtime, and still in the high 80's in this part of Oklahoma..... yeah...the weather is Broken.

    Truck is ticking along nicely, and seams to be most comfortable cruising right at 70mph... Turned out 2 days of 680+ miles without a hitch.
     
  11. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    I just HAD to say she was running fine. ;-/
    Ok, the front end vibration is back with a vengeance.....And my battery protection is going off constantly at night... ::sigh::
    Well, made it to NC yesterday, so Im down for a 34, and going to take the truck to Blue ridge to see what they say.
    Plus side, trip average for fuel was 7.8mpg, and average highway speed was 71mph.... Next run going to aim for 65, to see how big of a change it makes.

    Almost didnt make the delivery on time due to getting stuck in a 3.5 hour traffic jam on Monday. The tornadoes in Arkansas played havoc with travel, and made a mess out of Mayflower.
     
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