The Dog.....

When Paddy and I were running team we'd click off up to 1900 miles a day. This was running west of I-35. East of I-35 and especially the eastern sea board we sometimes had less than 1,000 mile days. This was back in the 80's.
Julie
:smt059

 

1900 miles a day can NOT be possible.... that would mean if the truck started rolling at midnight and did not stop for a SECOND for a full 24 hours, the slowest average speed it could attain is 79.166 miles per hour. On top of that, at 5 mpg, you would need to carry at least 400 gallons of fuel, leaving you with 10 gallons extra when you reach 1900 miles...


This means either your truck was made by Boeing, or you're embellishing a little bit. Not calling you a liar, I just don't see how it is physically possible.

 

Oh it's possible. 1900 miles wasn't a daily average, more like an upper limit. We had a Peterbilt 362 with twin 250 gallon tanks, so we didn't stop for fuel a whole lot. Big Cat diesel, geared for speed. Running through the desert or wide open plains we could handily do 95 to 110mph. The truck ran 24 hours a day, we'd drive in 8 hour shifts. It can be done, but it's a hard life. When we stopped to change drivers after 8 hours that's the only time we stopped. Bathroom, food (to go), fuel, whatever. Once the doors shut they didn't open for another 8 hours unless it was an emergency. It can be done, most days we did around 1200 to 1500 or so. Hot load, clear radar detector, then we'd lay the hammer down. Ran a load from Tulsa to Spokane like this once. I'll have to check with Paddy but I think we did it in 19 hours or so. We really picked up some time in Wyoming and Montana. Straight and flat with very little bear activity on that trip.
Julie
:smt059

 

"we could handily do 95 to 110mph" as quoted by Julie

This type of behavior is the reason so many people look down on the trucking industry to begin with and why drivers are not given any respect.

Do you NOT realize the danger of your actions? I would certainly hope you didnt have your children with you at the time as you have posted previously that they were with you alot when they were VERY young....and I am pretty sure everyone of you who brag of such speeds will post back that the road was clear of all four wheeler traffic as well.

ANY "professional" truck driver who would drive at those speeds or for way to many hours at a time should be taken off the road, your not an assest to the industry by any means. I know its just MO but, the behavior that has been posted here and bragged about is past the point of reason, and it saddens me to know some of you are out there right now with people I care about and love dearly....I only pray for their safety and for you all to wake up and realize the dangers you pose.

 

The definition of a professional is one who stays within the limits of any job.
Outside the limits you are setting yourself up for disaster for yourself and those around you.

We all have the right to make choices but, it's up to you as a driver to make the right ones.

 

luvmyhubby,
Looking back, yes it was not a smart way to run. We were in it for the money, pure and simple. Shippers we worked with on a regular basis knew we could get a hot load down the road quick, fast, and in a hurry. If it meant an extra dollar or more a mile we said yes. Running hard like that bought us a house outright and put away a nice nest egg for the kids college fund. When we quit we had a nice nest egg put away to start a new life. We always had good trucks to run in once we were established. Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably.
We ran that hard with Brian and Danny in the truck. We have faith in our abilities and faith in the trucks we bought to make our runs in. The rest we left in God's hands.
We were young and dumb. Just farm kids who had never seen so much money in our lives. In one month we could bring home what my dad made all year building furniture in his workshop and framing houses. Neither one of our families were middle class. Once those cheques came in, we were hooked. We got greedy and thank God we quit when we did to do something else.
Julie
:smt059

 

This thread is open for GOOD discussion....As this in an Interesting and educational topic.

 

A doctor can work unlimited hours a week. In fact many work in access of 80hrs a week, with irregular sleep schedules, and sometimes in conditions that require alot of concentration, such as surgery.


BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....Disgrace to drivers BLAH BLAH BLAH....


Everyone has broken rules at some point. Companies expect it. The good old days are gone, the days of driving from LA to NY in 2 days are over. But sometimes we all cheat a little.

We are forced to mess with the rules due to a variety of situations. Not everyone can show up at a car dealer during business hours and simply have them take delivery. In the real shipping world if we miss an appt we sit. Sometimes for days if you are dealing with a walmart D.C. or McLane.

See normal otr, if the appt says 0900 and you get there at 1000, you sit. With car delivery the dealers could care less. They want the cars, because they are sold before they get there, so they are not gonna turn the driver away for 2 days. Car haulers usually have open appointments, they get there as soon as they can, and as long as the dealer is open they take the product. Sometimes we sit, many times an OTR driver is given a load that has 10-20 extra hours built in. We in most cases cannot deliver early, we are at a disadvantage. You have a one sided view of trucking, because your husband hauls cars. Regular OTR freight is much different.


K

 

Just because my husband is a car hauler is no reason to think/state that I do not know about trucking in general. My FATHER was a tanker yanker, My GRANDFATHER was a common carrier and did livestock for several years before he died. I can read, have had life experiences that make me knowledgeable.

As a woman/wife/mod who has been around this industry all my life I do have a few ideas/thoughts on the subject in general and I LOTS of common sense.
I still stand by my thoughts that the "supertrucker" attitude has harmed this industry, that bragging about speeding and how many hours over the rules you can run is 1. bad for the public perception of the industry, 2. Might influence a new driver or someone looking to become a driver to do things from the start of their career that are dangerous and could costs them alot more than a few points on their license.

As for car haulers, no often times the cars are not already sold when they are delivered, if a driver gets to the dealership after the receivers have left they have to sit and wait til the next day, or take a chance and deliver STI and that can cause them MANY problems....drivers have to deal with receivers at the dealership who are in no big hurry to inspect the cars, and that makes their job just as much a pain in the backside as any common carrier that has to sit and wait cuz they missed an appointment time.