mercer transportation

Got a 1500lb load going to Kent, wa. Hopefully you got a load by the time I get out there... If not, I may just have to come down and say hi

 

Yeah whatever spyder... You're soooo old... Haha

 

Why do us new guys with new trucks always have to defend our purchases? Why does it seem like everyone who doesn't buy a older pre egr truck is going about it all wrong? Why is it that the first things out of other people's mouths is always "how much did your setup cost?" And "sure glad I don't have your payments"??? I have never asked anyone except for friends how much their stuff costs. Why is it anytime someone says they like to run west, everyone posts about rates suck and "I don't go to California"??? I don't care what you drive, where you run, what fuel mileage your truck gets, how much your stuff costs or your opinions on emissions!!! Just because I have new equiptment doesn't mean that I'm broke... New trucks have warranties and very little out of pocket repairs and guess what?, in 4 years I'll trade this truck in (OMG!!) and get another new truck. Maybe I'll even sell this trailer and get a step with one of those horrible good for nothing here at mercer Conestogas!

It's frustrating when I read on this website ( not just this thread) a future o/o asking about trucks and the very first thing said is to not buy new. I got a new (had 90k on it) truck the day I turned 23 and paid that truck plus another one off in 7 years and then bought this truck. If I can do it at 23, a lot of other people can too!

The older drivers here always talk about us younger ones not having a clue about anything, I'll admit that my 9 years out here is a fraction of what some of you guys have done and I'll admit that I need to improve my load securement skills but when it comes down to equiptment, I know what I'm doing and I have a hard time listening to a older driver who drives some beat up and worn out FLD about how I'm going at this all wrong.

Ugggghh! None of this is personal to any of you, I'm just ranting about what I've experienced lately. I think that people have done the same routine ( running regionally, buying older trucks, etc) for so long that they have forgotten that some of us like to do things that you hated to do at one time. For the past 9 years I've been running up and down, back and forth across this country. No same route twice because I love it out here. Running in just one part of the country would feel like prison to me. I am most happy not when I'm at home but when I'm out here rollin' down the highway. Sometimes I even choose loads based off of where they're going, not just how much they pay. I like to drive and I like to and can afford to drive nice trucks.

Rant over.

 

..bu, but.. I am relaxed. Lol..
it's all for the giggles. I like how your situation differs from mine and I like where I'm at. Hard work just on its own won't make you successful, I've learned you have to be at the right place at the right time and have a way of thinking to be able to receive it.

I'll refrain from advicing the new on comers on Mercer from now on, you guys are way successful than I am, y'all can advice new peeps on how to be that successful.

Good luck to all, keep shiny side up.

 

I'm over at the loves had to get a trailer tire fixed yesterday and maybe 1 more today yesterday was a valve core and free of charge. but I got one of my drives loosing air now too. Had to disconnect my crossfire can't find anything poking into the tires either tire so gotta figure out which one is loosing air.

 

Being probably the newest guy here, I like hearing from the new and old timers. The fact that everyone is making this work differently is motivating to me. I have a lot to learn and I feel like I learn from both realms. The old timers set in their ways and the new breed carving out new paths. So old and new please keep the helpful post coming.

 

Check the crossfire hose. I've had a few go bad on me.

 

I am a old retired trucker, bought several trucks. Always bought NEW... I don't remember paying one off.. I was always looking to replace my truck around 400,000 miles... I loved running coast to coast, and didn't want to breakdown out on the road..
Most of my trucking life was on open deck freight... Leased to International Transport... Made pretty good money, especially before deregulation...

I retired from trucking when I was 55 and have lived pretty well up to now.. I'm in my 70's but still enjoy reading how truckers are doing today... Haven't been inside a truck since 1997.. Even today, still miss trucking..

I still believe even today, there is NO one way that works for everyone.. Find what works for you...

Never drove one of those def trucks, so won't comment on those.... Never had a cell phone, GPS, or computer on the truck either..
You guys have a lot more stuff to make you life a little easier on the road... I did have a black/white 9 inch TV for entertainment thou... Didn't use it all that much...

I can say, don't think I would like all the Regulations you have put up with today.. Can't understand the reason for 11/14/70 hours and 34 hour reset..
We had a 10/70 hour if I remember right... Also had 55MPH speed limit. Some may have fudge those limits thou..
Carter was my least favorite president for that... Along with the so-called fuel shortage...

I can say, we had better truck stops that treated the driver right, CB's that we used for information.. Trucker use to help others when we saw a truck along the road broke down...
What happened????

 

Only in comparison my young friend. How the hell you been man? Glad to hear everything has worked out for you. When I told my wife what happened with that new truck of yours she almost cried.

On topic: kona, there is nothing wrong with having a new truck, it's more the attitude of you HAVE to have a newer truck that some put out. Especially when they are"advising" a guy that's never been in business before. It's a step learning curve, need to stack the cards in your favor as much as possible.
I've owned brand new, and I've owned thirty years old. Never once had a customer pay more for driving a new truck.

 

spyder , I think you nailed it. I think that's the difference between us older and newer drivers . my first truck , a 1976 international transtar cabover with a 290 cummins , no a/c and no power steering cost me 1250 bucks and I ran it 4 years.

kona is the exception.

I rank recommending a new first time owner op getting a new truck to start with just behind the "get your own authority" spiel you hear.

its regardless of experience level, ability , or anything else.

old guys give advice based on hard experience, it was gained the hard way. young folks have to remember, when I tell ya not to do something, I have already screwed up successfully , not once but twice, what you are simply thinking about doing.


does anyone ever wonder how some old guys can fix or figure out anything that comes their way?? its because of obstacles they encountered and took care of.

its an age old battle, youth versus old. what old guys try to convey is when you are young you don't know jack but you think you do, its only when you get old that you can look back and realize you didn't know jack.

thays all we are trying to tell ya youngsters, you don't know jack, and wont realize that til youre old, lol.