Went and done it

Truck has worked 2 weeks now, it has just over 5000 miles and driver is taking it in for an oil change on Monday. To me the truck feels a little under powered but I am use th the 379 with a 475 hp cat turned up to 550. The glider has a 500 hp Detroit that has its RPM's limited to 1800. So I am sure that has a lot to do with it. My driver came out of a 2012 Volvo and he says that the glider has a lot more power than the Volvo he was in. 1800 is what is required by Fitzgerald to keep the warranty good. Good or bad I am not sure but is something I would have to think about before I got out of my old Pete into a new Fitzgerald 389. I guess compared to the newer emission motors it's okay but when comparing it to what I have not so much.
Truck has used 1 gallon of oil in its first 5000 miles which I expected as my cat did the same right after it was rebuilt.

 

Thought it was about time for an update since it is the end of the year and I am doing taxes.
Truck now has 106,000 miles on it. Had the ac compressor go out at 90,000 miles and was replaced at Freightliner under warranty and just this week driver found a broken manifold bolt. Fitzgerald say they went out of warranty at 100,000 miles but to send an estimate and they will try to work with me since it's so close. I let y'all know how that turns out.
Truck is no longer using any oil between 15000 mile service and is averaging 6.8 mpg.

Have found a good driver that takes care of the truck and acts like he will be around for a while. He has been in truck from day 1. He made $53000 last year and didn't get his first check till The first week of April. (April -Dec) Many of the other drivers makes comments on how clean he keeps the truck. Not extremely mechanically inclined but keeps me well informed about the truck.
Truck brought in $183000 to the truck after carrier got their cut. This was on roughly 97000 miles.
Plan on getting another truck but waiting for the rates to come back or at least get moving back in the right direction. That may be a while and all I can do now is hope that it will be able to perform as well this year as it did last. Not looking like it for now. We still have good rates going out, down a little for the FSC but the rates getting back are horrible and in most cases the freight just isn't there. Most of the time we just deadhead back in.

 

Well, tired of waiting, talked to the bank today and talked to Fitzgerald, getting the paperwork started to get another truck up and running. Driver is happy, going with a 389 Flat top. Have a new driver ready to step into the Freightliner. Hope he works out as well as my other driver. If he does I will hopefully add another truck before the end of the year.

Also as a follow up Fitzgerald paid for 3 hours labor on having the Manifold bolt replaced.

 

Placed the order for the new Pete today. This is the one. . I'm just sad that my driver will be in this ride and I'm still in my 99. Hope he appreciates it. Lol

 

My ride ain't so bad either for an old girl with 2 million on the clock

 

I have never seen a 389 short hood. Fitzgerald has the 386 which has a shorter sloped hood. They are good looking trucks also. Especially if you take the fairings off of the top. The ones Fitzgerald has all have the side fairings that are low to the ground. I am sure they would get torn off or bent up in the places we go. It would take them approx 90 days to order one from Pete without the fairings, then they would still have to put motor and tranny in.