Good Night From II

If you can get to the Rochelle, IL central terminal. They'll test them each individually and have no problem replacing them. I've been in the same boat as you and they took care of it for me. They're good people there.

Plus that terminal has a shuttle van you can sign out and go get groceries or eat while your truck is in the shop.

 

Thanks for the info, Buckeye.

I really need an updated list of terminals.
Actually - a database of the good, the bad, and the ugly of each terminal would be priceless.

 

I think there is thread on here to that effect.

 

I was told (by a Diamond driver) that the switch to automatic trucks can down from Jerry. Seems somebody finially realized that AMTs (automated manual transmissions, no such thing as a true automatic in a class 8 truck) can improve MPG and reduce driver fatigue. My arthritic left knee would love an AMT.

 

Bennett, CO at the Love's. 609 miles today, all but 62 miles on US287, most of that in the rain and/or fog.

Live unload tomorrow in Aurora, then a live load in Denver headed for Crown Cork & Seal in Worland. Messaged my DM asking specifically for a Crown MT can load to SoCal. Don't have it (yet), here's hoping.

 

I've asked at my terminal , at Phoenix and on the owner operator Facebook page . It appears there is no such animal .

 

At the Wenatchee Truck Stop (Wenatchee, WA)... a little hole in the wall place set in an industrial area of fruit packing plants, next to the Columbia River.

I started the day at 2:00 am in Weed, CA and drove north on US-97 through central Oregon, watching the sun rise and light up all the big volcanoes. Had a yearning for my youth, when I climbed most of them.

Tomorrow morning I make a delivery to a "job site" for new housing construction in Orondo. Talked with the customer, who assured me that as soon as I get there in the morning they would have a crew ready to unload me. Encouraged me to stop and call at the turn off before getting to the job site, to "avoid the 16% grade" that so many other truckers have encountered.

After that live unload I'll only have a handful of hours on my 70, then head south to Yakima to pick up a load headed to Tacoma with a couple of days to make delivery. I need an oil change, so it looks like the Sumner terminal will be in my near future. I hope they can deal with it quickly.

I've never driven an automatic. Those that I've talked to that have driven them seems to like them, EXCEPT for backing (they have a tendency to sit there until you apply enough throttle and then GO like a bat out of Hades). Not great if you need to be delicate backing into a dock.

Regarding "clutch leg", I certainly am familiar with that. My brother's '03 KW T2000 had a clutch that required the leg strength of a weight lifter and was hell in tight quarter situations. He claims with the rebuilt clutch the problem is resolved now.

That being said, I rarely have any issues with "clutch leg" driving Swift trucks. All the trucks I've driven have a nice, soft clutch. I also RARELY ever double clutch, and RARELY "tap out" (single clutch to disengage a gear). Almost 100% of the time I float gears. Even in the worst LA traffic I float gears and it's very relaxing. Seems like LA traffic is the only place that LO gear is useful. If you REALLY want to learn how to float gears, then float in LA rush hour when you are bobtail. That will teach you to be SMOOTH with the throttle and stick to find the rpm's and let it drop in like butter. Practice floating bobtail in a terminal or customer yard between a drop and hook. It's much easier on the drive train and your sanity when you get it right.

Personally I'll never drive an automatic.

 

Tempted to call Phoenix and talk to planners directly to set up my next load. Having Memphis message them is futile.

 

At a Petro in Salina KS on I-70. Heading for Ohio.

Wrapped up a Savannah GA to Los Angeles run a couple days ago and grabbed another hazmat from Los Angeles to Dayton OH. Swift has been keeping me pretty busy this winter with the exception of one week wasted in Lancaster doing WinSims and Fresh Start in Houston. Waste of time pretty much.

Been doing a LOT of soul searching lately on how much more of OTR I can stomach. Will have 4 years completed with a pretty good record with no tickets or accidents and have started talking to outfits in Houston while on hometime. Hauling crude from tank farms to the refineries in nice daycabs at $26/hr or % of load (no off-road work)..or..Ashley Distribution (truckload no-touch) regional and go home each weekend..or..regional hazmat tankers, chemicals and home on weekends..or..non hazmat tanks, chemicals out-n-back 250 mile radius, home during the week and weekends. Many options with a good delivery history and driving record..especially in Houston, the Tanker capital of the country.

Swift has been good to me and I to Swift. They fit me like a good pair of old jeans....however....I've grown very weary of all the BS with general freight and running all 48. Plus I want to see my family more often. Swift simply doesn't offer the type of trucking out of the Houston area that meets my needs.

Anyway, I feel I'll have to make a change soon to recharge my batteries.

 

Long day, went to Van Nuys then took a load to Merced and then shot up to Stockton for a General mills. Between traffic, road work, stops and obstacles I had to shut down in Turlock behind the Target with less than 30min left on my 14. When I got to General Mills and hooked up to my trailer all the lights on the trailer would not work, checked fuses, checked the connection etc several times and after being frustrated for 45min I smacked the fuse box....lights came on and stayed on since, not sure if there is a loose connection somewhere in there or not.