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How Bad are the New Freightliners?

Discussion in 'Watkins & Shepard' started by 3031, May 25, 2018.

  1. May 25, 2018 #1
    3031

    3031 Light Load Member

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    I'll be getting one soon, and I've already heard horror stories. They slam on the brakes in normal traffic. Beeps and alarms constantly go off, distracting and annoying you. The inverters don't work when the truck is shut off, so anything in your fridge goes bad when you shut down. The idle temperature has been raised to 73 from 70, because increasing driver discomfort can save a few bucks! You lose power in normal traffic situations when vehicles are in front of you.


    If these trucks are really that bad, I'm afraid for my safety. Is it going to slam on the brakes on an icy road, sending me down a cliff? Or in traffic so I get hit from behind? Or if I'm about to hit a deer? How can I be a safe driver if I'm constantly annoyed and distracted by beeping alarms? If they go off in normal traffic situations, won't I quickly learn to ignore them, rendering them useless?


    This company used to care about its drivers but now it's really starting to feel like a Mega.
     
    3031, May 25, 2018
    3031, May 25, 2018
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  3. May 25, 2018 #2
    Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    From my understanding, what you describe is a non-propietory collision mitigation. From what I've heard, they suck, and can come on all trucks, it's just because of mega fleets, it happens they most commonly are on Freightliners.
     
    Bean Jr., May 25, 2018
    Bean Jr., May 25, 2018
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  4. May 25, 2018 #3
    Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

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    Yeah, we got a loaner daycab from Penske, had all that krap on it, driver hated it!
     
    Lonesome, May 25, 2018
    Lonesome, May 25, 2018
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  5. May 25, 2018 #4
    Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    That is that Vorad system, I think that is what they call it. It is that eyeball looking thing in the bumper of the truck, and yes it will slam on the brakes. Even shadows from overpasses set it off. A friend of mine has driven a few of them, very dangerous.
     
    Justrucking2, May 25, 2018
    Justrucking2, May 25, 2018
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  7. May 25, 2018 #5
    uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Mine works fine.
    But it is not a fleet truck and doesn’t have any of that stuff on it.
    I have a PTO switch (without an actual PTO) that over rides the idle shut down, so I can idle anytime I want.
     
    uncleal13, May 25, 2018
    uncleal13, May 25, 2018
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  8. May 26, 2018 #6
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    my truck at wm will brake if i come out of the seat to hard to reposition my self. it has sensors somewhere in or on the seat
     
    truckdriver31, May 26, 2018
    truckdriver31, May 26, 2018
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  9. May 27, 2018 #7
    3031

    3031 Light Load Member

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    That sounds... incredibly dangerous.
     
    3031, May 27, 2018
    3031, May 27, 2018
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  10. May 27, 2018 #8
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    its just a little brake not to much
     
    truckdriver31, May 27, 2018
    truckdriver31, May 27, 2018
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  11. May 27, 2018 #9
    driverdriver

    driverdriver Road Train Member

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    Freightliner has onguard and yes it's dangerous especially in the winter cause it doesn't ( can't ) distinguish between wet/icy and dry.
     
    driverdriver, May 27, 2018
    driverdriver, May 27, 2018
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  12. May 27, 2018 #10
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    I hammer down in the snow. my little black box gets covered in snow and will not work. so that lets me keep the hammer down
     
    truckdriver31, May 27, 2018
    truckdriver31, May 27, 2018
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