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

kylefitzy · Jan 12, 2024

supersnackbar said: ↑

Today was another one of those days. Went to start my day in the daycab, it was stone cold dead. The shop charged it for an hour, still would just barely roll over once then click. They swap me to another local drivers truck who is off today, it barely started but one of the brakes was froze. Both of the loaner trucks had already had the Samsara nanny system installed ...which I haven't gone thru the training for yet because I wanted to have it fresh in my brain when my truck got switched over. Got a crash course on how to use the new system and got the brakes freed up and moving, then picked up the necessary blocking and bracing for this antique truck I am hauling. Roll down to the pickup (without directions). Half way there, I see a red light pop on for the low fuel...which sucks because my fuel card is in my Volvo which is in the shop. They put me in an older T-660 that has so many places that let in outside air, it was like a wind tunnel. Sitting still, it will roast you out, driving down the road you need a snowmobile suit. Make it to the Kenworth plant, get to where the truck is stored...but it's an R & D facility so all doors are keycard locked. After freezing my ### off getting there, then freezing it off more trying to find how to check in, I headed back to the truck to warm up. A few minutes later the boss comes out and we chat about how this loading all goes down. Then he invites me in to see the vehicle and to warm up. Out of curiosity I asked him if this thing has been winterized since I am going to be going thru sub-0 temps...turns out, they never even thought about that. Opened up the radiator and it was just regular water. So now the one guy has to call an antique car mechanic to see if modern antifreeze will harm this old engine. While they're getting that settled, I proceeded back outside to set up my ramps and get my vehicle straps ready. Next thing I know, he is driving the truck around the lot to circulate the antifreeze, then drives it up the ramps and parks it. I did get several thank yous from the guys there at KW for catching that lack of coolant issue, that could have not only ruined a radiator but possibly messed up the block. We secure the straps, I block and brace the wheels then call my FM to see if this other truck is on my fuel card. He gets it swapped over, I head 20 miles to Tacoma and fuel up, then fight traffic to get to the yard before he goes home so I can get reassigned to my regular truck (which was completed before they closed). Froze my ### off all the way back to the yard. Now, back in my truck I seem my Samsara unit...hooked to the old Peoplenet mount and it's sticking 6" away from the dash where the Peoplenet would tuck in tight...on top of that, I can't connect an external wireless keyboard (touch screens and I don't get along). All in all, other than meeting some really nice folks at the shipper, I would like to forget the rest of the day.

This is what I am hauling

View attachment 500521 View attachment 500522 View attachment 500523 View attachment 500524

A 1923 KW...

Just noticed...they put new drive tires on my truck...and my old ones weren't all that bad. That's one positive SPD has over Creaffer...at Creaffer you almost have to be on barely legal slicks before they change treads. Here, I didn't even have to ask.
Click to expand...

Unless they put a different mount in yours, you should be able to get it back in the same spot. I know I could mine, but I also already had the tablet style peoplenet. It’s the exact same hardware with different software. As for the keyboard, maybe try the stylus on the touch screen.

good catch on the antifreeze, those guys up there are super cool. Even gave me an air fitting to air up dead trucks because I haul so many dead test trucks.

just an fyi your fuel card works on truck. Your driver ID has to be right, none of the other numbers matter, at least to turn the pump on.

kylefitzy · Jan 12, 2024

Did they put new caps or virgins on your drives? We used to be all caps, then roadmaster switched us to all virgins, now I don’t know what we do.

mdmgolfin · Jan 12, 2024

supersnackbar said: ↑

Today was another one of those days. Went to start my day in the daycab, it was stone cold dead. The shop charged it for an hour, still would just barely roll over once then click. They swap me to another local drivers truck who is off today, it barely started but one of the brakes was froze. Both of the loaner trucks had already had the Samsara nanny system installed ...which I haven't gone thru the training for yet because I wanted to have it fresh in my brain when my truck got switched over. Got a crash course on how to use the new system and got the brakes freed up and moving, then picked up the necessary blocking and bracing for this antique truck I am hauling. Roll down to the pickup (without directions). Half way there, I see a red light pop on for the low fuel...which sucks because my fuel card is in my Volvo which is in the shop. They put me in an older T-660 that has so many places that let in outside air, it was like a wind tunnel. Sitting still, it will roast you out, driving down the road you need a snowmobile suit. Make it to the Kenworth plant, get to where the truck is stored...but it's an R & D facility so all doors are keycard locked. After freezing my ### off getting there, then freezing it off more trying to find how to check in, I headed back to the truck to warm up. A few minutes later the boss comes out and we chat about how this loading all goes down. Then he invites me in to see the vehicle and to warm up. Out of curiosity I asked him if this thing has been winterized since I am going to be going thru sub-0 temps...turns out, they never even thought about that. Opened up the radiator and it was just regular water. So now the one guy has to call an antique car mechanic to see if modern antifreeze will harm this old engine. While they're getting that settled, I proceeded back outside to set up my ramps and get my vehicle straps ready. Next thing I know, he is driving the truck around the lot to circulate the antifreeze, then drives it up the ramps and parks it. I did get several thank yous from the guys there at KW for catching that lack of coolant issue, that could have not only ruined a radiator but possibly messed up the block. We secure the straps, I block and brace the wheels then call my FM to see if this other truck is on my fuel card. He gets it swapped over, I head 20 miles to Tacoma and fuel up, then fight traffic to get to the yard before he goes home so I can get reassigned to my regular truck (which was completed before they closed). Froze my ### off all the way back to the yard. Now, back in my truck I seem my Samsara unit...hooked to the old Peoplenet mount and it's sticking 6" away from the dash where the Peoplenet would tuck in tight...on top of that, I can't connect an external wireless keyboard (touch screens and I don't get along). All in all, other than meeting some really nice folks at the shipper, I would like to forget the rest of the day.

This is what I am hauling

View attachment 500521 View attachment 500522 View attachment 500523 View attachment 500524

A 1923 KW...

Just noticed...they put new drive tires on my truck...and my old ones weren't all that bad. That's one positive SPD has over Creaffer...at Creaffer you almost have to be on barely legal slicks before they change treads. Here, I didn't even have to ask.
Click to expand...

She’s gorgeous. Better than hauling monkey chow or anything along those lines. I’d be geeking out if I saw that in person

supersnackbar · Jan 12, 2024

kylefitzy said: ↑

Did they put new caps or virgins on your drives? We used to be all caps, then roadmaster switched us to all virgins, now I don’t know what we do.
Click to expand...

It was dark when I got back to my truck, I'll take a closer look at the tires in the daylight. I just noticed I had a lot thicker tread.

I think the biggest difference between the mounts is the back of this cradle is closer to the ball mount so when I tuck it in the cubby hole on the dash, I cant get in there to twist it tight enough to stay in place. As for the touch screen, a stylus is there, but I hate using them. I am much faster and more accurate with a physical keyboard then doing the hunt-n-peck with just one digit.

supersnackbar · Jan 13, 2024

Samsara already screwed me. Went on PC to grab dinner....it decided to add 1 minute of on duty drive time in with the PC drive time. If it ever does that and ends up screwing me on a 34...it will be in the garbage after I put my fist thru it...and then I will enjoy a smooth flight to the house. #### Samsara all to hell

Bumper · Jan 13, 2024

supersnackbar said: ↑

Today was another one of those days. Went to start my day in the daycab, it was stone cold dead. The shop charged it for an hour, still would just barely roll over once then click. They swap me to another local drivers truck who is off today, it barely started but one of the brakes was froze. Both of the loaner trucks had already had the Samsara nanny system installed ...which I haven't gone thru the training for yet because I wanted to have it fresh in my brain when my truck got switched over. Got a crash course on how to use the new system and got the brakes freed up and moving, then picked up the necessary blocking and bracing for this antique truck I am hauling. Roll down to the pickup (without directions). Half way there, I see a red light pop on for the low fuel...which sucks because my fuel card is in my Volvo which is in the shop. They put me in an older T-660 that has so many places that let in outside air, it was like a wind tunnel. Sitting still, it will roast you out, driving down the road you need a snowmobile suit. Make it to the Kenworth plant, get to where the truck is stored...but it's an R & D facility so all doors are keycard locked. After freezing my ### off getting there, then freezing it off more trying to find how to check in, I headed back to the truck to warm up. A few minutes later the boss comes out and we chat about how this loading all goes down. Then he invites me in to see the vehicle and to warm up. Out of curiosity I asked him if this thing has been winterized since I am going to be going thru sub-0 temps...turns out, they never even thought about that. Opened up the radiator and it was just regular water. So now the one guy has to call an antique car mechanic to see if modern antifreeze will harm this old engine. While they're getting that settled, I proceeded back outside to set up my ramps and get my vehicle straps ready. Next thing I know, he is driving the truck around the lot to circulate the antifreeze, then drives it up the ramps and parks it. I did get several thank yous from the guys there at KW for catching that lack of coolant issue, that could have not only ruined a radiator but possibly messed up the block. We secure the straps, I block and brace the wheels then call my FM to see if this other truck is on my fuel card. He gets it swapped over, I head 20 miles to Tacoma and fuel up, then fight traffic to get to the yard before he goes home so I can get reassigned to my regular truck (which was completed before they closed). Froze my ### off all the way back to the yard. Now, back in my truck I seem my Samsara unit...hooked to the old Peoplenet mount and it's sticking 6" away from the dash where the Peoplenet would tuck in tight...on top of that, I can't connect an external wireless keyboard (touch screens and I don't get along). All in all, other than meeting some really nice folks at the shipper, I would like to forget the rest of the day.

This is what I am hauling

View attachment 500521 View attachment 500522 View attachment 500523 View attachment 500524

A 1923 KW...

Just noticed...they put new drive tires on my truck...and my old ones weren't all that bad. That's one positive SPD has over Creaffer...at Creaffer you almost have to be on barely legal slicks before they change treads. Here, I didn't even have to ask.
Click to expand...

When I was at Creep I used to write myself fake fix it tickets to get new tires......

supersnackbar · Jan 13, 2024

mdmgolfin said: ↑

She’s gorgeous. Better than hauling monkey chow or anything along those lines. I’d be geeking out if I saw that in person
Click to expand...

Honestly, I would rather haul monkey chow, at least this time of year and after all the crap weather we are dealing with right now. If something happens when hauling that, it goes in the dumpster. If something happens to this, there is no replacing it. I have hauled much more expensive aircraft parts and never been nervous about it. With this, it's a rare antique that's irreplaceable, and SPD has already damaged one when it shifted in the trailer...I don't want to be number 2.

supersnackbar · Jan 13, 2024

This is what it shows when Samsara gave me the option to review and certify yesterdays log

Nothing I touch on the screen gives me anything to review (as in log entries or a graph). How does it expect me to review anything on my log activities from this screen. I ####ing hate Samsara already, as many issues I had with Peoplenet, it is head and shoulders above Samsara.

Oh, and there is a Samsara app for your phone that is tied to you...you can use it instead of the dash unit for logs and such. The only problem is, if you don't log out of the app, then exceed 5 mph(say using a personal vehicle to go shopping or for those that ride a bike for exercise) it automatically logs you on duty-driving. The app is being deleted.

runningman0661 · Jan 13, 2024

supersnackbar said: ↑

Today was another one of those days. Went to start my day in the daycab, it was stone cold dead. The shop charged it for an hour, still would just barely roll over once then click. They swap me to another local drivers truck who is off today, it barely started but one of the brakes was froze. Both of the loaner trucks had already had the Samsara nanny system installed ...which I haven't gone thru the training for yet because I wanted to have it fresh in my brain when my truck got switched over. Got a crash course on how to use the new system and got the brakes freed up and moving, then picked up the necessary blocking and bracing for this antique truck I am hauling. Roll down to the pickup (without directions). Half way there, I see a red light pop on for the low fuel...which sucks because my fuel card is in my Volvo which is in the shop. They put me in an older T-660 that has so many places that let in outside air, it was like a wind tunnel. Sitting still, it will roast you out, driving down the road you need a snowmobile suit. Make it to the Kenworth plant, get to where the truck is stored...but it's an R & D facility so all doors are keycard locked. After freezing my ### off getting there, then freezing it off more trying to find how to check in, I headed back to the truck to warm up. A few minutes later the boss comes out and we chat about how this loading all goes down. Then he invites me in to see the vehicle and to warm up. Out of curiosity I asked him if this thing has been winterized since I am going to be going thru sub-0 temps...turns out, they never even thought about that. Opened up the radiator and it was just regular water. So now the one guy has to call an antique car mechanic to see if modern antifreeze will harm this old engine. While they're getting that settled, I proceeded back outside to set up my ramps and get my vehicle straps ready. Next thing I know, he is driving the truck around the lot to circulate the antifreeze, then drives it up the ramps and parks it. I did get several thank yous from the guys there at KW for catching that lack of coolant issue, that could have not only ruined a radiator but possibly messed up the block. We secure the straps, I block and brace the wheels then call my FM to see if this other truck is on my fuel card. He gets it swapped over, I head 20 miles to Tacoma and fuel up, then fight traffic to get to the yard before he goes home so I can get reassigned to my regular truck (which was completed before they closed). Froze my ### off all the way back to the yard. Now, back in my truck I seem my Samsara unit...hooked to the old Peoplenet mount and it's sticking 6" away from the dash where the Peoplenet would tuck in tight...on top of that, I can't connect an external wireless keyboard (touch screens and I don't get along). All in all, other than meeting some really nice folks at the shipper, I would like to forget the rest of the day.

This is what I am hauling

View attachment 500521 View attachment 500522 View attachment 500523 View attachment 500524

A 1923 KW...

Just noticed...they put new drive tires on my truck...and my old ones weren't all that bad. That's one positive SPD has over Creaffer...at Creaffer you almost have to be on barely legal slicks before they change treads. Here, I didn't even have to ask.
Click to expand...

That will be a load you will remember fondly, pretty cool.

supersnackbar · Jan 13, 2024

My new tires appear to be virgin rubber. I don't see any seam or recap branding around the shoulder of the tread

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