FCC--Fremont Contract Carriers

That tracks.... I don't think I have ever gone up there outside of the winter months, with a couple exceptions.

 

Well heck, been here a bit over a year and I had to decline a load for the first time (at least that I can recall). While I was at Bethel my load from Carlisle to Joliet was pulled and replaced with a cheap heavy and late load from New Jersey to Edgerton, KS. I came up with an ETA several hours later than the delivery appointment. Waiting now to see what they want to do.

 

And I would simply tell those drivers if you’re gonna go up all spring and summertime then you can go up in the winter time too

 

The only time I could get PNW loads with Magnum was during winter, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. The last time I was in Washington state is when I ran a Kawasaki load from Ontario up I-5 to Salem, OR, then deadheaded to Yakima, and that was near the end of May last year, which i guess technically isn’t winter but still. Haven’t been to Montana in at least a couple years

 

That big hill on the CA/OR state line is an attention getter if you aren't ready for it. I have run I-5 all the way and I-5 to US97 at Weed, CA to Yakima a few times. Mt Shasta is beyond a nice bit of scenery, especially from 97.

 

At Poly they had a policy, if you chose to run it in the good months, you ran it in winter...whether or not they enforced it was another subject all together. I personally never had any issues running up there no matter what season it was. In my opinion...miles are miles and the PNW is a lot of miles away from where I started and a lot of miles back.

 

Fcc is home for me they are a decent company though a few extra cents per mile would help with maintenance costs since it seems I might be spending a few thousand more soon to fix rear engine oil leaks and replace my clutch and the carrier bearings and dpf cleaning anything else that needs fixing when it hits 700k miles. I also haven't had any issues with getting detention as long as FCC gets paid for it.

 

Unfortunately FCC hasn’t been able to raise rates in over three years with our customers, fingers crossed that with a new business friendly administration coming in things will get better.

Maintenance and repair costs are just part of truck ownership, I’m nearing 800K and have to start considering either an in frame or just trade and buy another used truck. The thing is, a rebuild on a modern truck is $40 to $45k, I can go find another decent used truck in that price range, so a decision will have to be made after the first of the year.

 

especially in the current economy with trucking companies going under. The one YouTube channel with the ET Transport boss checks that big nationwide auction site from time to time and see's 2 and 3 year old equipment priced for what 5 - 6 year old trade equipment went for a few years ago.

 

Maybe it’s a good idea i’m taking the longer route around. If I had stuck to I-80, i would’ve had to deal with this bs. Closed between Cheyenne and Laramie