Magnum ltd - fargo, nd

not a mercedes engine
a mercedes transmission they call it a DD12
mercedes freightliner and Detroit are all inter related like KY cousins

 

Ewww...I'm still dissappointed.

 

Like you I have driven the new Freightliner - it was a nice autobox, but I just like the way the Pete handles. The VNL780 is a super roomy ride, but I think we are sticking to Pete and Frieght's just like the local trucks

 

I'm working for what I want. Why settle?

 

I currently drive a Volvo 730 with my current company...pros are it has been super dependable(at least for the two months I've had it) and even the 730 has tons of room, so I'm sure the 780 would be like an apartment lol. Cons...the interior is the cheapest looking and built I've seen in a truck...it's reminiscent of a 1980s Volvo car and everything seems to rattle loose or just plain break.

What are you guys running in your Petes? Cummins or Paccar? How is the pulling power and efficiency?

 

We run the MX-13, decent power but wish we had thirteen speeds vs the tens, but they give great efficiency...

 

I agree winny...I am currently running a Volvo d13 with an eaton 13 speed...love this trans compared to the 10 speeds I had in school! My trainer had a brand new T680 with a Paccar and the eaton ultrashift 10..autos are nice, but the shift programming in that truck had a mind of its own

 

I swapped loads with the driver that has the freightliner. That truck is almost 1000 lbs heavier than the peterbilt.i rescaled after swap. I don't think they will just based on that fact. We haul to close to gross a lot.

 

The last 2 companies I have worked for I had the same opinion/preference about the 10/13 speed gearboxes. The problem is, with today's CDL mills, not many driving school graduates would have a clue what that other switch on the shifter is for. A few years ago I spoke to a Roehl driver who had only been on his own for 4 or 5 months and got assigned a temporary truck while his was in the shop (a Swift took off his hood) and he asked that very question about the extra switch. I don't mean any disrespect or insult towards new drivers, it's just that most aren't taught on a wide variety of equipment, so they would be lost with a 13.

As far as the reliability of trucks, a few weeks ago I broke down in my Poly truck 3 times in one week. The 1st service guy and I were chatting while my truck finally decided to do it's parked regeneration. He said his boss is getting rich from road services on these new trucks. #1 model he sees is International, #2 is Freightliner, #3 is Volvo/Mack. He rarely sees KW and couldn't remember the last Pete he saw because it's been so long ago. Coming from a company who only has Internationals...I welcome the opportunity to drive a Pete...manual or automated.

 

The interior is the same w/ the new Pete's. I named mine "Lego" because it was all snap together...