An old man's career goes flat, Snackbar moves to open deck

One positive about the new trucks (at least for us solo drivers) they're going to a cabinet style headache rack like you had on your old truck instead of the open chain rack style we have now. Plus, with the 680 and TK HVAC setup you'll have a ton more under bunk storage than these Volvo's have. I have only part of one sidebox for under bunk storage.

And I have always thought the new body style 680's look incomplete with the painted body and partially painted side skirts with unpainted side skirt panels. Looks like the truck was wrecked and repair panels were just added to get it on the road.

 

Probably part of the Wylie deal...that way all our vehicles are Paccar trucks with TK APU's...at least we're not getting red Pete's...yet .....

 

Got all 3 pick ups done, easy peasy mac-n-cheesy, then made it north of Montgomery. 5 PODS, 4 little ones 1 big one. Nice and lite.

I have pulled this 53' with my axles spread in and back out of FL (with my permission slip from the FL DOT). Today was the 1st time I was asked for my spread permit. Even though I am not heavy with this load, spreads ride better(and it was a PITA to get these to open to begin with).

 

So....you feeling at home in your new SPD mobile home yet?

 

An oil leak on the APU already? Sounds like someone didn't do a systems check after installing it before issuing it to you.

As for the truck being a dog, every PACCAR motor I have driven was like that. Feels totally guttless. Did your blue truck have a Cummins? If it did that would explain the difference in pulling power and quietness. PACCAR's are virtually silent compared to a Cummins. And the downshifting sounds like there is something amiss in the software. I have driven other AMT's, but never a PACCAR, none would do that.

Are all the new trucks going to be auto's? Guess that's another reason for me to avoid having to switch trucks....I was hoping to have to retire from open deck because I was too worn out and unable to do it physically before having to leave because of equipment...

As for the idling, they probably need to adjust the idle temps, both the trucks I've had here would idle when it was over the low to mid 90's. The KW would shut down under that, even if you parked with just the trailer brakes set and truck brakes released. This one will idle all day long with the truck brakes relesed no matter what temp it is outside.

The adaptive cruise on the KW I had would adapt long before it needed to use the brakes...it would be so subtle slowing down to match the speed of the vehicle in front of me, you wouldn't even realize you were going slow. Sounds like the new system has it's own issues to be resolved. I say they scrap the whole system and use the same system we used before that technology ever existed(by that I mean a driver who pays attention and adapts their speed to the surrounding traffic flow)

As far as the 5th wheel placement, that may be an issue when it comes to pulling an RGN. I wonder how many cross members will get damaged by a RGN kingpin before they either put 5th wheel ramps on or move the slide back.

 

The new safety lady who does logs and I are going to have to have a discussion. When my truck was at the dealer getting mostly fixed, I signed off the Peoplenet. There were several 'unassigned' driver time entries from the mechanic moving it that I rejected. One entry keeps getting edited and I have re-rejected 3x, and noted it on the entry each time that it was not me, and also referenced my driver login many hours later was when I took possession of the repaired vehicle. Get the hint lady...I will keep rejecting it, and noting it on each time it gets changed.