epes

Was that a 5 series trailer? There is a trick to get the pins to retract on a lot of those. It takes a pair of vice grips, a flat head screw driver and a lot of patience to get them to hold the pin in on the solenoid so the pins will retract. Many of them are out of adjustment and the plate won't contact the actuator on the solenoid. The trailer issue hasn't changed in almost 5 years now. Especially the TSE trailers. At least they are getting rid of the 5's slowly.

Last year for the all manual f/l fleet was 2014. When those cycle out of the fleet it will be primarily auto.

2015 f/l fleet was autos except for 30 sticks.

2016 f/l fleet is about the same as the '15's.

They're going all auto except the trainer trucks.

The Volvo 780's are autos they have a few 630's that are mid roof sticks.

'16's also have the ongaurd collision avoidance. Talked to one of my former students today he has one he absolutely hates the thing.

Not all of us liked the autos.

 

Not sure what series trailer it was but I'll keep those tricks in mind. I have the vice grips I've used to hold the bar but haven't utilized a flathead screwdriver yet. Maybe that's the key.

And I drove one of the 2016 models with that system up to Chester and I did not like it either.

 

I sure don't miss those days of having to play mechanic a couple of times a week just to get a trailer down the road.

Use the blade of the screwdriver to hold the plunger in and the vice grips hold the screwdriver in place. Takes a bit of patience to get the angle right so the pliers will hold. Works every time.

 

You don't work at Epes anymore? I'm actually looking at them now

 

No. Still pretty well connected with plenty of folks there that I speak to on a weekly basis though.

Did 3 years there. Started as a trainee worked my way up to trainer. Left due to a retirement caliber job at a private fleet that was too good to pass up.

I still recommend them as a decent company, especially for students. They're decent enough. They've got plenty of drivers that have been there 10+ years. There are sure much much worse companies out there.

 

I've got 7 years, and I think the being home every weekend is music to my ears. I put in my application. I'll call for more info tomorrow

 

lol don't count on weekends. That may or may not happen. Shortly after I started they changed the policy from home weekends to home weekly.

They added a lot of customers that have weekend drops so you may end up running some of those. Depends a lot on who you get for a DM and/or planner.

But you will be home weekly most weeks and if it works out right weekends. A lot of politics goes on behind the scenes as to who gets in and when.

 

Hmmmm.. I guess I may look at my other options. I have a neighbor that's running "us xpress" dedicated, but I'm not thrilled about the ideal of Dollar General deliveries

 

PM me with your location if you have a stable and clean employment history / driving record. I'll give you a good one where you WILL be home weekends, not be micromanaged, left alone to do what you do and make some #### good money if you're in one of the areas we're hiring. With 7 years in if they're clean years they'd be interested if you're in an area where they're hiring. We've got positions open in a lot of locations but not all of them

 

I would probably recommend Epes also but I'm becoming more disgruntled by the day lately . I was hired on a dedicated account for a certain amount of money and miles guaranteed per week . And that has not happened despite everything I try to do . At this point it's almost looking like a bait and switch kind of tactic as far as this dedicated account goes. But like you said there are plenty of people that have been here for many yearsso I am only speaking for myselfand probably for the few others that were hired for this dedicated account.But they do get you home weekly, not necessarily guaranteed on weekends but you will get home for at least a 34 hour reset each week in most cases.