True. However, no mega fleet I know of has installed Scan Gauge or a Boost Gauge to give any idea of instant feedback on how you are driving. Nor do they take the time to teach efficient driving methods. Then as a result they get foot stomping cruise controllers that have no skin in the mpg game. At least Prime gives a fuel efficiency bonus, so that's a start.
The journey begins - purchased a truck.
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by blairandgretchen, Dec 10, 2014.
Page 38 of 565
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What they should have done is installed boost/pyrometer or a scan guage, and given out fuel bonuses. Too chintzy on the truck specs to have anything more than RPM, Speed, Air pressure, just the basics.stwik, Lepton1 and double yellow Thank this. -
TWIC card
Applied for one. $128 and a pre enrollment on line, then a trip down to IWX in Springfield,MO to fingerprint and click buttons. Delivery to the house if, they can figure out I'm not a tearist , (that's terr-or-ist).
TRAILER
Just called down to Utility, driver is about 45 miles out. They'll get it in the shop today and fit tool boxes and dunnage rack, should be ready to roll out tomorrow morning, which suits me, because it was 50 degrees yesterday, which allowed me to wash the truck, and all the snow and ice melted off, now it's snowing again and bloody cold. Sit inside and watch the load board, I think. -
They did tell you that you have to give the TWIC card back if you become mentally ill or become involved in terrorist activities.
Stay sane, you will need the card.Blue jeans, stwik, tsavory and 2 others Thank this. -
Blue jeans, Pete 389, Itsbrokeagain and 4 others Thank this.
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Great thread, really enjoying reading. Keep us posted
blairandgretchen Thanks this. -
Dad-gum! Very nice and informative thread, thank you to all who have contributed and to Brian for detailing his adventures. Just read all 38 pages. Perhaps Lifetime will turn it into a drama movie or something? LOL
I have to say, as one who is actively looking to purchase a truck and get on with LS (again), after reading about test strips, dynos, charts and graphs, coolant colors, blinky lights on trailer dump valves, #17 screws, mpg and boost gages and a whole crap load of everything else mentioned herein, I feel completely unqualified to own a truck now. I've been driving two years and haven't heard of most of that stuff. I know there are coolant colors but not why it matters although I know more now thanks to the posts here, and I've heard of a dump valve but not a blinky light to go on it or why we want one. How much of this stuff is really necessary to know? I don't like the idea of continuing to be a company type driver (co driver for an O/O) but good heavens. I don't want to be an idiot owner either. Am I being an idiot to think I can own my own truck now?
FWIW: Most of my two years is flatbed team. I was the "other driver". Less than 6 months was solo and I had about 8 months of drive away doing the piggy back loads - a whole different ball of wax entirely. Flatbed was Prime and CRST.blairandgretchen Thanks this. -
Follow up question: If a truck is advertised as "recently overhauled" - is that the same as an "inframe" and if not, what do each of those mean? ~sigh~
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Same thing. But if it doesn't have warranty papers on the inframe (or overhaul or whatever they want to call it) then it did not happen. No matter what they tell you. No paperwork on the engine work, then it didn't happen. Because if you believe everything everyone in this industry tells you, well, then you should know how that usually turns out...
Another thing to keep in mind not all inframes are equal. Even if you have a 2 different trucks with platinum inframes done by CAT. They both will be different. Some things will be the same and some people just go with the standard because it's cheaper that way whereas others might go above and beyond replacing other components as recommended or if they think it necessary. The latter would normally be someone who intended to keep the truck. Your standard platinum consists of new water pump, new injectors, new head, new liners, etc, etc the hard parts of the motor that is standard with that kit.
However one truck's owner may have decided to replace other components, like perhaps the camshaft and oil cooler (which are not part of a platinum inframe replacement) Or maybe one owner decided to replace the radiator and/or CAC. Or maybe one had a new turbo and the other didn't. These things will all be spelled out in the work order, or "paperwork", on any given inframe. Now if a shade tree mechanic done the inframe this paperwork might be sketchy at best.stwik, Oxbow, OneCosmicGuy and 5 others Thank this. -
If they give you paper work you need to check serial numbers because some truck dealers are just like used car dealers and have been known to use the same overhaul papers for several trucks.
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