Running with JCT, Part Deux

Met steel tiger at the yard last night..lol....he got a kick out of my "strong" southern accent...by the way steel....I was saying Bastrop, Louisiana...lol

 

Well, now that I have recovered from whatever was going around. Got me a load that picks up tonight heading for my usual run to Colton, CA.

 

Going to riverside for a Thursday morning delivery

 

I don't know if blowouts are preventable, but do everything you can to prevent one. The TA charged me 2000 dollars for fifty miles and one tire and rim. Wow. When I looked at my settlement, my jaw dropped. Now I'm in the hole. ONE BLOWOUT.

 

I consider blowouts to be preventable. The majority of blowouts are caused by under inflation of the tire. The tire heats up quicker with it under inflated which causes the tire to fail quicker. This is regardless of wide singles, duels, virgin tires, or recap tires. The reason the tire heats up quicker with it under inflated is that it causes more friction with the road surface. More friction equals more heat produced. More friction also reduces your mpg. It is very important to always make sure all your tires are properly inflated. Especially with the wide singles. I run 105 on the steers and 110 on the drives. Most of the trailers have the auto inflation system, but the ones that don't I make sure those are at 110 also. Being that finding air at a fuel island is rare now a days, I carry my own air hose to inflate my tires as needed. It just hooks on to the glad hands.

 

Good info to think about. I know I don't check my tire pressure often enough, that's for sure. I did check them a few weeks ago and they were in the correct range. Some of the places I've been driving are rough on tires. I think I have two drives that are iffy right now. One is pitted from driving on rough gravel at a receiver on the border. Any idea on what a new tire costs installed? I'm trying to get back to sapulpa for an upgrade right after my home time, but I'm sure they'll charge me for new tires.

 

Last I checked new tires were around a grand each.

 

Macho, I'm like you about tires. GOT to keep the pressure right for SO many reasons. But the shop told me 110 on my steers and 120 on my drives and so did a couple independent techs.

Darla has the 22.5 Michelin DN2 steers and ZA3+ Super Single drives. Seems to be providing very smooth rolling resistance, even wear and MPG so far.

Esmeralda got different shoes?, and if no; are you seeing better wear and MPG with the lower pressures?
Thanks.

 

I have a question for you JCT heroes, contributors, and readers. I know it might be difficult to answer; you don't know much about me and my background, but I appreciate what I read from you. The breadth of experience levels is important to me. If it helps, I'm just looking for input, not a decision - that is my job, alone.

As you might know, I am retired from a long first career in aviation. I have a pension and Social Security as other sources of income, and I have probably 3-4 years more to work to pay off these monster grad school loans - a word to the wise: don't get into it if you aren't going to finish! - so I'm not looking at this as a long-term second career; really, I am checking off a very fun 'bucket list' item that happens to pay fairly well. My goal isn't ncessarily to get the pink slip for a truck and am not in this to become an owner-operator or fleet owner one day, though if I work that long and end up owning one, I can always sell it. And I like what I know about this company ... a lot.

In addition to all that, I have a good mind that gets bored fairly easily, so having a challenge and staying actively engaged in more than just getting from Point A to Point B is important as I age. I would like to have a bit more control over where I go, what I do, and how long I stay out; I do have grandchildren that live far from me and visiting them on the road is a goal.

So here's the question for any reader to answer:

If I was your brother or friend, would you advise me that leasing with John Christner Trucking is a 'good' thing for me, considering what you know and the relatively short time I want to stay in this business?

I really am looking for input; I am definitely not looking to hear from lease-bashers - and there are many - about how stupid a company-based lease is. I don't need to hear the term "flease operator" or be on the receiving end of personal attacks. I've heard them, read them, and they do not advance the conversation. I know well about the risks and didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. As I said, I am looking for input mostly about this specific company, not whether I should or should not lease in general. That would be my decision and I know the pitfalls.

So, what do you think?

 

An amazingly short answer from ME!

Go for it!

Wouldn't do this ANYWHERE else and I too have more than one brain cell to polish each day and did my Due Diligence. C'mon.