JCT

My gut tells me they were probably company drivers somewhere running at the most 500 in a day and when they get hit with 700+ days they can't handle it. I have a 09' 387 and I run 65-70 and still get 6.5 mpg or higher, but I also use progressive shifting, for you that are not familiar with it, I slowly accelerate and shift no higher then 1300 rpms plus I will try and keep my rpms below 1350 when cruising, I also watch my turbo boost when I hit the hills. So you can drive fast and still make good fuel mileage. But I've met people who say they run 55-60 but if you follow them they race from light to light and hammer it down the entrance ramps therefore blowing the fuel mileage.

 

Yea I'm thinking its the way the JCT trks are spec'd. In order for me to get 6.5 and above in my 07 t600 I do combo of progressive shifting and cruise around 1250 rpm. I might go get my charge air cooler checked out. Also I got some crappy firestone drives with awful rolling resistance. After I wear them down some more it shoyld go back up again.

 

I typically run 68-70. I like having that cushion to hammer on it if I need to. My truck is back down to getting the fuel economy I'm used to. I average about 5.3-5.5. However, I know something is wrong with my engine. I can outrun just about anything up a hill without thinking about it. I came up Cabbage this past week at a touch over 80,000, and topped the hill at 45. However, whatever is giving me unbelievable power is killing my fuel economy. I ran about 500 miles empty or near empty in Oregon. Never got the truck above 62. My average fuel economy? 5.6. That's one of the reasons I don't worry about running with my foot on the floor. I don't lose hardly any fuel economy. (Again, something is clearly wrong with my engine. The black smoke it dumps and has left streaks everywhere let me know this that much more! LOL) The key to running with your foot on the floor is more miles. You have to push. For me, I'm used to working 16-17 hours a day and running WAY over 5000 miles per week. (where I was before JCT) I've been taking it easier, and still covering a whale of a lot of miles. However, I hardly ever actually take 34 hours off. I rarely even actually take a full 10 hour break. (I get stir crazy. Even when the load has time, I can't handle sitting still.) I rarely drive less than 700 miles per day. I've refused one load since I started. I was tired, and didn't feel like driving. I had already told dispatch that I wasn't taking another load once I was empty. They sent me a load anyhow. I refused, and it turned out fine.

If you want to run hammer down, here's my tips.

1. Accept EVERY load. Get there early, and try to hand it off. This keeps you rolling and making money.

2. Keep fuel expenses down. Pay close attention to how much you pay per gallon and where you're buying fuel. This doesn't mean trying to buy fuel for each load. If you know the next load is going to be high in fuel prices, but it before you get the next load. (this may hurt a single paycheck, but pay off on the next one..)

3. Don't expect to be able to log 100% legal. It's not going to happen and make money. This is a HUGE choice. You either log legal and pay attention to fuel economy, or drive like a mad man and log craziness. Not the same.

4. Don't figure out how much you're making per mile. You will get depressed. (guzzling the fuel comes STRAIGHT out of your pay!!!!)

5. Don't go home. Forget about it. I figure it costs me about $200 per day that I go home.

6. Pay close attention to your truck's maintenance. Tires are EXPENSIVE. If your air pressure is off by even a touch, it can RAPIDLY wear the tire out. Every detail to the truck that seems insignificant can multiply into HUGE costs down the road.


Most of those tips relate straight across to anyone considering leasing or buying a truck, regardless of how you plan on running. I'm not going to post what I've done over the last couple weeks, because I've been stretching those miles a lot further than I have previously. Speaking of which, I need to quit being lazy and see if I can figure out how to log what I've done this week...

 

does anyone know how long they keep you in orientation?

 

it starts on monday morning and ends thursday afternoon

 

are you already driving for them or are you going to orientation soon?

 

It sounds like JCT keeps you goin.I like the sound of that a lot!I have been reading over many of threads in order to get a feel for JCT.Strongly looking at them for my next job,and I like the fact that at the end of the lease the truck is yours.Called yesterday,spoke to a recruiter,and was told the next orientation available was in the first week of July.Out of curiousity,why are the classes filled up so far in advance?I mean NO disrespect to any JCT driver on this thread,yet are the classes full due to popularity or due to not having enough openings and availble trucks,or is there a really high turnover rate setting up the "revolving door" scenario???Again I mean NO disrespect to anyone,but I'm doing my research and lining my ducks in a row.I've spent the last 6 years hauling cars & with the way things are,looking to get back into hauling reefer with a good company.Thank you to those whom posted threads,they do help give some insight into the experiences at your company.Have a nice day & good travels.

 

a friend of mine from Lakeland,Fl and I are going the 29th of June can not wait , this thread has been very helpful in deciding to go with JCT