Back in a truck after over a year!

Ok, so about june of 06 i started with schneider national carriers... not a bad company, but i thought i could do better, closer to home, so i got a job as a mechanic at a place called Sabreline Transportation in Saginaw michigan. Well after about 16 months of wrenching, i'm going back in a truck due to some undesirable circumstances within the company at the moment. I'll be driving a 2004-2005 freightliner columbia with a detroit 60 series. No biggie

but the trailer will be a Manac 8 axle dry van



i'm kinda excited. its been awhile since i've been on the road... i'll be pulling it from Saginaw, Michigan, to Menomenee Michigan which is right on the border of wisconsin in the upper peninsula. I'll start monday... wish me luck! I'll try to get some pictures of my rig if its half way clean when i get it...

 

I just have to ask what is the deal with all the #### axles on trailers in Michigan?? Every #### trailer you see up there has at least 4 of them

 

my truck and trailer combo is plated to haul 145,000 lbs GVW

 

How in hell's half acre do you turn something like that around a corner? Or do you need a half acre to turn a corner? That just seems like axle overkill to me.

 

well, especially in the winter time, you dont turn to sharp, and you DONT stop with the truck crooked from the trailer. also dont turn too fast... they jackknife easy, considering you have five heavy axles trying to go straight and only 3 light axles trying to turn it. They arent THAT bad, but you know they are back there. actually they turn better than you would expect because the pivot point is alot further forward than a tandem.

 

Dannnnngggggggg Drivvvvaaaaaa!!! Good Luck!!!!

 

Remind me never to pull anything with more than three axles. And one of them needs to be air operated to lift it up and down. Haha!!!

Kudos to you for being able to handle a trailer like that. I doubt that I could.

 

i bet what would make most people nervous is that i have to go over the Mackinac bridge twice per round trip. I've been over it in a car and a big truck many times over, so i dont see it being much different. We'll find out monday i guess

 

Ah, so you've been up there before. I've been through Menomenie a few times. I don't mind coming from Wisconsin, but the drive from the western border of the UP to the bridge is just so boring. I really think they need an autopilot for trucks. Sometimes I won't see more than 3 cars in an hour.

 

well i made my first turn with one. it actually is not nearly as intimidating to drive as it looks. once you get on the highway and put the axles down, it drives like a dream. doesent bounce or buck at all. now i gotta go out for a couple more days.... i'll be back!