Wright Transportation, Mobile, Al. The home I have been looking for...

Wright just put into effect a new safety policy.

If a driver gets a speeding ticket, their tractor gets turned down from 70 to 65 for 90 days.

Personally, I'd like to see them turned down to 63 or 62. But, that's just my honest opinion. Speeding is a huge safety problem on the roads. Someone needs to address the problem.

Anyway, I'm back in Mobile. I'm on recap, so I'll take a 34 unless they have a run to a better place to reset.

Peace and safe miles to all.

 

Welp, here I sit. On I-12 westbound, 1/2 mile from exit 57 broke down. 160k miles, 1 year and almost 2 months before a major issue.

While at Abilene for 9 months, I changed tractors 3 times before I left.

We think it is an ECM problem, as I have heard other drivers with similar tractors have ECM problems as well.

Oh, well. That's life in Commercial Driving. I'm just glad it isn't really hot today. I've lost count of law enforcement units that have passed that care less about my well being.

Peace and safe miles!!!

 

It's a 2017 Freightliner Columbia/ Fitzgerald glider. No EGR or DEF. Just raw Detroit 60 and Eaton 10 speed both remanufactured by and to Fitzgerald specs. Other fellow drivers with the same tractors have had similar issues that resulted in having to have the ECM replaced.

I was towed back to Empire in Slidell, where I left the rig to be diagnosed. And I retired to a nearby hotel for the night. I should know the diagnosis when I wake up in the morning. Empire should leave me a voice mail with the results. Then, depending upon the severity of the issue, I'll know if I'll get my home back, or if I'll have to move into a temporary 10 wheeled hotel, i.e., a rental tractor.

My hypothesis regarding the ECM is based on the fact that the information readout in the dash kept showing "no eng". Which I thought was hilarious, personally. Yes, breakdowns are no fun. Luckily, it didn't get super hot as it could have been. And, the tow truck driver was cool and a joy to chat with. And, the room I booked online was not ready, so, I got upgraded to a studio room. Too bad my lovely bride isn't with me this trip. (sigh)

 

Oh, and to expand on our new speeding policy, I'm being told that DOT certified officers are being pricks and performing traffic stops on rigs "speeding" 1 to 5 mph over the limit. They give a quick inspection of your paperwork, then tell you that they won't give you a ticket, but they have to report your speeding via the "inspection", which goes against your company's safety scores, which, as y'all should know, raise the numbers so DOT can "legally", but immorally, harass all drivers in your company at any time, for no reason whatsoever. As if our civil rights aren't violated enough these days.

Drive safe, legal and smart, my friends.

 

I had a beer delivery that got screwed up by my lack of 70 this last weekend. I dropped it at our Pensacola lot on Sunday for the local drivers to deliver on Monday.

 

It is registered as a 2017 since it is a glider. I'm not sure what year the engine is. I still haven't heard anything about it yet.