Instant O/O and Load boards

I don't know the answers to a lot of that, but my set up sounds a little bit different. It sounds like you had some sort of local setup? Mine is through eclipsetrans and they broker loads everywhere from IL to TX to NY to FL, so 1 way could be 1k miles sometimes, and then you'd find your backhaul somewhere around there too. Usually couple weeks out same as OTR. The long lines sound like it would apply, I hope it's not too bad. He did say some were open late as 10pm, so I don't think I'd purposely try to get in line that early. But again, I'll have to find my stride. Only 2 things that can happen, either it is good or it's not. If it's not I won't hang out until I'm ruined, that's why I'm just going to rent the trailer, not going to get myself stuck.

 

Ok I went back down to the dealer today. When I got to the lot he said the T2000 wasn't back yet, but by the time we walked out she came rolling up with a brand new paint job. I had mentally prepared myself NOT to fall in love with it but this didn't help...at all.






Anyway, they really should talk to these dealers about screening people a little better, but regardless he simply threw me the keys and said have fun and walked back inside.

So, I sat there, engine running, looked down at the stick and had no idea what I was looking at. I don't think I had any idea what a Super 10 was, I learned on a straight 10. Anyway, after the 7/8 gear there was one that said AUTO. Now that sounded good. Turns out, that's not really what it means. Ok, started her up again.

I still don't really know how to work it, but since I wasn't under load, I just left it in high and I guess just grabbed 2 gears at a time. Mainly I just wasn't sure if you switch from low to high while it's still in gear, if you have to take it out of that spot and put it back in, clutch, no clutch, whatever. So I just eliminated it for the drive. Down shifting, forget it. Got it right a couple times but it was a loud mess most of the time. Given that I was learning to drive a super 10, the test drive was really pretty useless, I just didn't have the confidence to pay attention to any of the things you would normally be checking for while test driving a car.

Anyway, I told him I was interested and would like to get it checked out. He didn't ask for anything, just gave me a photocopy of a dealer plate, said bring it back whenever. Whenever? lol... ok well at least the process is easy.

So I took it about 10 miles to my drivers school, the only place locally I know any truck drivers, and luckily Benny the mechanic who is just an awesome guy was there and happy to help me out.

He wiped some oil off the engine, fired it up, listened, and basically said no. He kept pointing out inconsistencies in the sound, darned if I could tell what the heck he meant, but he was very certain. Apparently there is some sort of problem in the bottom part of the engine. A loping or something. Said if it was a fleet truck he'd put it in the shop right now. It's either injectors, valves, at worst cylinder(s). Also pointed out bondo, it's been wrecked, but probably superficially.

So I thanked him and he said he'd go up to the lot with me Friday. Anyway, I get back and the guys says the overhaul was the top half and they didn't have a machine to diagnose, but that if I took it up to Superior or some place and had it diagnosed, they'd be happy to take care of it or let me have it fixed if I preferred and they'd deduct it. He said he never intended for me to take anything as is, the personal checkup is to get a list for them to address. Some of the trucks sit there for months and it's not worth their while to do it up front without a buyer in place. So I'm guessing this is potentially good news.

Tomorrow I'm going to get an early start and take it up to the shop and also take that Volvo out for a spin. I really hope to button something up by the end of this week.

My school mechanic guy is just awesome, he won't take any money from me, I wish he would so I could retain him for maintenance, but instead he said he'd be happy to teach me how to maintain it myself. I can't imagine a nicer thing for him to do. So what I think I'm going to do is, since he won't take any money, and I don't want him to spend his time teaching me, I'm going to show up and help him maintain the school fleet for a week or so and learn that way. I think he'd appreciate the help.

Here's a couple other pics.







Needs a new mattress... EWWWW!

 

SWEET!!!!!!

Check the weight on that beauty though. I hear they are a dream to drive. Sweet red color. Me likey!




Those antennae would look nice on there too.

 

Thanks! Yeah she was perty. I hope we can get the engine worked out. I went to my guy for a reason and intend to take his opinion seriously. I won't buy it unless it's perfect and he signs off on it.

What's this about the weight? Are they known to be heavier than most? I don't know yet if it was a dream to drive... not with ME driving yet lol.

 

Oh yeah, definitely have everything fixed before you sign the line. I've heard that those tractors are pretty heavy, but I cannot be certain. I'd imagine the KW site would probably have details on the weight though. I know when I was at TMC, they were reducing the number of Pete 387's because of weight issues. Only longhaulers got them because they typically hauled lighter loads than the linehaulers.

Dont worry about the driving. Once you get used to the gears you'll be floating them in no time and knowing your tractor thoroughly will give you much more confidence.

 

A Super-10 is really easy to drive. Under a load, you'll start off in 1st (good place to start) which is all the way towards you and down with the button down. Run that up to 1500 or so (depending on weight, grade, road conditions, etc.) then flip the button up and let off the throttle. You'll automatically shift into 2nd. Run 2nd up to 1500 or so (just like 1st), move the button down, let off the throttle and move the shifter into 3rd (right next to R) before the RPMs drop below 1100-1200. Just repeat that until you go into the "big hole"(the Auto position). That's when the Auto kicks in. The tranny will automatically shift from 9th to 10th as needed and requires no button moving on your part.

It's basically a 5 speed with a hi and a low in each hole.

Downshifting isn't any different than the straight 10, just less times moving the shifter.

 

I pretty much did this got my authority and ran off the board for a large portion of the time. I had my equipment paid for and had alot of expercience hauling my own products under private tags so I had a good idea of cost and what kind of price you need to turn a profit. Im still running havent and missed a meal yet atleast not due to money. Ive had good times along with bad, made mistakes and lived through them. The business is very tough right now and can change very quickly latey it has been on a downward spiral. I dont know if I would be sinking a load of money in the equipment just yet I know the market will get better but the question is when, you throw a equipment payment into lack of experience with a struggling business the results could be bad. When you add all the little expenses that it takes to get started they add up very fast. For example sure you can pick a truck up and a decent flatbed trailer for 35-40 thousand dollars but you will find especilly with flatbedding u have just got started you will need a headache rack $800 give or take , tarps 1000 atleast to get all you need , about 14 chains and binders, #### load of straps and jacks, dunage, pipe stakes, coil racks and boxes to keep it all in and im sure im forgetting somethings then your authority, permits, twic card, drug test bs and insurance enough money to put fuel and tires on the truck after all that and cover a wrecker bill or a major breakdown. If you still are looking ive got a nice spare trailer ill sell for a decent price let me know if your interested.

 

Down was the real mess. Since I was just leaving it in high, I would give it 800 and take 2 gears down. What I couldn't figure out was, if I'm in Hi 6, and want to downshift to low 5, what's the order? You HAVE to use the clutch then right? Do I preselect, then clutch, then rev, then release clutch? Clutch, preselect, rev, release?

It wasn't something I was going to be able to figure out in downtown Charlotte traffic where the stealership was.

 

Thanks for your testimony. Sounds about right. I'm only looking to put 20k into equipment right now. That's not an end-dump trailer you have right? That's what I'm looking in to. I would have liked to do flat but I can't get any training on load securement and tarping, so I'm gonna pass for the safety of the universe lol.

 

No its a 48ft combo flat. I do have a truck that I have been waiting on a construction project to come around to do exactly what your talking about all I have used it for is moving my trailers around locally I drove it to birmingham once with no problems its a cabover with a wetline on it and can be had very cheap. Its got a 350 cummins with a roadranger 9 speed in it. Motors got 20,000 miles on rebuild. The trailer is a 95 fruehauf combo weighs just under 11000 10ft spread take $10000 for it its got new brakes all the way around on the road now and the truck is a 84 freightliner that pulled local lowbowduty since 1987 take $4000 for it take both for $12500 and ill throw in tarping and straping lessons. lol