JCT

I have been with JCT since 19th Feb 09. I choose a 07 International 9900 and when I got it, it had 452000+ miles on it. Now it has 480000+. I live in middle Tn. Home time has been no problem. Today I got home for the first scheduled time off. I come home empty from Shelbyville, In., my choice, until Wednesday morning. I have been on a three week run this last go and needed to get a few things done at home. I have got loads from the yard in Ok., to Fl., and done a 34hr+ restart at home. I seem to get through the house around every 10 days without requesting time off. To date I have done one PM on the truck, and like a fool I took it to the yard in Sapulpa. the cost 355.00 for a oil change and a steering coupling that needed to be replaced, so they say. Never again will I do any work at the yard. I need to get a new steer tire one is out of round and alot of hopping. I will do that at a retailer. As far as the truck goes no real complaints, knock on wood. I plan on day 90 to swap for a new pro star or cascadia mainly for the full factory warranty, but willing also to look at any 379's if new. I just came off a 5100 mile week and getting miles is easy. Never have I waited more than 30mintues for my next load. Most of the time it is a preplan. Health insurance is something you need to look for on your own. I understand they have a new plan that may be good I still need to find some myself. Remember you are basically you are self employed so be smart with your dollars. I only buy the amount of fuel needed for each trip. Right now I average 6.2 - 6.4 and I run 62mph. I just learned that I can run 66 and get the same if it is flat ground like I-10. This past week I went to Seattle and only got 5.7, plus got shut down by dot in oregon for 10 hours for false logs. I crossed a weight station at 7:20pm but by logs showed sleeper berth at 7:15pm. Oregon uses prepass as a tool to validate logs. No big deal, DM asked if I could still deliver on time and once I said yes that was it. If any one has any questions please ask. I will be home until wednesday and don't mind helping.

 

Glad to hear things are going well, bigorangefan. Do they dispatch a lot of loads from the Sapulpa yard?

I'm also curious how you manage 5100 miles in a week. That sounds pretty hard to do.

Thanks for the update.

 

Seeing how oregon is not on the prepass program you will never get a green light. So if you want to avoid getting marked with your prepass here is what I do...first off if your prepass is on the windshield take it off. Don't worry it will still work sitting on the dash, when you do not want to be hit by the transponders put the prepass unit under your leg (between the seat cushion and the backside of your leg) and it will not be hit by the transponders on the hwy there for you won't come up in the computer.

 

Thanks for posting!!! Very informative, I also got a log book violation years ago in OREGON (my home state). Just make sure that logbook matches when crossing those scales. You mentioned that your trading in your 9900 for a new truck - is it that easy? The company doesnt mind you just turning in an older truck and getting a new one? Do you have to reserve a truck or pay anything? You also mentioned a new Pete 379, I dont know if they still make 379's, I could be wrong, but I was looking at them also on there website and didnt see any new ones's.. DRIVE SAFE and keep us posted on your Itinerary!!!

Also, what trucks did you have to choose from during your orientation? Thanks again, enjoy your hometime!

 

They dont make 379s anymore. The pete 388 and 389 took its place.

 

I made the mistake of telling them the other day that I need to make some money. I asked for as many miles as they can give me. BIG mistake. 5100 miles is not all that hard. I left home April 1st. Since then, I've covered 6986 miles in 11 days, 2595 of that has been in the last three days, after a rolling 34 hour restart....

 

Trading in isn't all that bad, from what I understand. There are some MAJOR drawbacks to it. They will charge you for anything that is wrong with the truck that you didn't write up when you got the truck. I've seen a couple of drivers get hit for thousands of dollars worth of things that were pretty ridiculous. The exception to that is if your truck is over 500,000 miles. They don't want those trucks left around. When you trade in your truck, they have two standards they go by. If your truck is over 500,000 miles, they aren't as picky about the condition of the truck. Anything that isn't "up to par" will go against your maintenance fund.

Once your truck is over 500,000 miles, they will try to get you to upgrade. They like having the newer trucks in the fleet. I expect them to try to get me out of this truck my next time on the yard. I have no intention of upgrading for several reasons. First of all, I happen to like my truck. Second, I want to get it paid off. Third, I don't want the higher truck payment.

 

To Grizzlyman,
How much is your current weekly truck payment and what would be the payment on a "brand new truck?" If you did decided to upgrade that is.

 

My current payment is $559 per week, and my side note (down payment) is $100 per week. I don't know the exacts on the new truck payments, but I know they're over $600. You do make up for some of that with better fuel economy. (from what I've heard from the guys in the ProStars, they're making WAY more because of fuel economy...)

 

Might want to find out from JCT management directly what the cost would be on a new truck. Of course with a 700 per week payment (ball Park figure) that means turning at least 778 paid miles just to cover the truck payment.

On the other hand a new truck with a warranty and better fuel economy might be worth it (provided they kept you running).