is Road Squad really that bad?

So you check if the restaurant is open, before you fuel?

I thought fueling location was predominantly based on fuel price. Not whether you could also buy artery clogging meals shortly thereafter.

Mikeeee

 

Depends on what model truck you have. Depends on the tech, I have seen decent techs at a TA. Depends on the problem. The bottom of the barrel techs are the ones that work for your trucking companies. Absolute worst. Wouldn't let those guys pet my dog, let alone touch my truck. "Fleet maintained"....yeah right.

If you have a Freightliner, you may be okay. If you have anything else and need anything more than an oil change or a tire, save the money and go elsewhere. TAs do have their positives however. Warrantees are good across the board. I batteries at TA for that reason. The down side is that like many others now, TAs can't find true mechanics, they hire parts changers. They throw parts at a truck until it's fixed. That's an expensive way to fix a truck.

Had an issue with the right tailight on my bobtail. Couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work. Went to a TA. They call me 5 hours later and told me that I need to take my truck to the dealer, but I owe them $350. Instead of the tailight not working, none of my lights work now. "You want me to pay you for butchering my wiring harness?" Unreal.
"Well we have to pay the tech." For what? What the heck did he do to deserve pay? Had a heated discussion. Did the little survey thing at the kiosk. TA corporate called me for a conference call with the shop manager. The shop manager asked me why I didn't tell her that he butchered my wiring harness.

"You were the one that took my money! I did tell you!"

It actually felt good to cut loose. I am extremely cautious now. If you have a TA tech service your truck, write his name on the receipt. Some of those jack wads think it's funny when they do a PM service to to really tighten the filters on so the next tech won't be able to remove it.

You have the same thing going on at the dealers too. Throw enough parts at it, and eventually it will be fixed. Truckers make a lot of money, they can afford it. Had a problem with my truck building air pressure to 150 PSI. The dryer was constantly bleeding off. Sounded like a tire going flat. Took it to the TA. they changed the air governor. Same problem. Took it to another TA. they changed the governor and the dryer. Go to Kenworth and ask them, "If it's not the governor and the dryer, what could it be?"
The moron service writer tells me that she needs to get the truck into the shop so that one of her techs can diagnose the problem. I tell her that if one of her techs could fix my truck, they would know what the problem is without even looking at my truck. But I relented and put the truck in the shop. The tech tells me that it's an air line. Suuuuuuuurrrrreeee. They put a new air line on. Didn't fix it. Then the tech tells me that it's possibly just my air gauge. Guess I won't bother ever going back to that Kenworth in Baytown.

The real mechanics are booked up. They make a name for themselves and open their own shops and stay covered over. That's why I tell guys who want to become owner ops to find the independent shops near their homes. Drop the truck off and go home. May take a few days, but it's FIXED!

 

I don't think I've had to use a TA shop, but being a night driver, I've had enough of them. Too many of them practically shut down at 9pm. Sucks when I'm hungry for lunch or breakfast and the only thing around is a TA. Some of them don't even keep the POS Country Pride open at night. Country Pride, the restaurant so bad, they try to rename it state to state to fool people... "Almost as good as Denny's for 20% more money, come to Country Pride"...

There's no way the food they have out for self serve is less than 4 hours old (the legal limit on most/all of that stuff). I like to avoid TAs whenever possible. Taco Bell and Popeyes on the right day are the only thing that will bring me to one voluntarily, haha.

 

If you have a flat tire, TA used yo like to try to sell you an alternator. Because it's one of the only things they can install. TA Road Squad sucks unless you have a flat. That's about it. Or if you're dumb enough to run out of fuel.

 

4 hours is the legal limit?? lol. Tell that to some of them. I remember stopping at the TA in Hudson, WI. Checked out the breakfast samdwiches. It was 2 pm. They were out since 4 am. And they were still selling them.

 

The only experiance I have had with TA was'nt good so they did not get another chance. I am a certified truck and auto tech and decided to go driving for awhile. I was running flat bed and was I believe around Kentucky when my 96 Frieght started squeeking in the yearly morning. I pulled into a TA and since it was winter decided to let them look at the truck rather then crawl around in the snow and slush. Kid went under truck looked around for a few minutes and came out told me hanger brg screwed. I said ok I'm here lets do it. He dissappeared for awhile and then I noticed he was up front on the phone. He finally came back and told me he was waiting for the local frieghtliner dealer to call back with price and availability of a new driveshaft because mine is very rusty. It was this point I lost it alittle I politely informed him I was a certified truck tech and I have changed countless hanger brgs and not once did I need to replace a drive shaft. Needless to say he went back under changed the brg and I was back on my way in alittle better then an hour. Overall the bill was'nt to bad but I would never deal with them again not even for oil drops.

 

Unfortunately breakdowns happen when and where they do with limited choices.. Ones gotta do what they gotta do.. TA/Petro, Jimmys Truck and Trailer repair, Dealer, Tows to or from and the do it yourselfer.. Pros and Cons with all here

 

I guess you didn't understand the "when I need it" part

 

Got a PM done at one TA/Petro. They said I had a leaking axle seal but did not have the part and could not get one.

Stopped at another and they could not see any leaking seal.

Now I ask to see all broke/worn issues before replacement.

Mikeeee

 

Not to be mean or insulting but if a driver male or female doesn't have a basic understanding of all the subsystems on a trk... and how to do basic repairs and or knowledge and takes some jack wads advice on how to repair it. (throw parts at it and hope it's fixed). is in for an mty wallet