Millis OTR journal

Not a fan of blindsiding unless there is absolutely, positively no other way to do it (Like Scientific Games in Alpharetta) so I'll use your plan A. I've got cans and bottles so hopefully they put me in those side docks to the south of the building. I suck at giving myself enough room for U-turns (A problem I had yesterday at GP in West Chester) so I'll try to keep it a little wider than usual. Hopefully those dropped trailers aren't there right in front of the west side docks like they are in the satellite view. Those are right in the way.

On the Street View there's some dropped Millis trailers outside the gate. What's up with that? I've never seen our dropped trailers at a beer distributor before.

 

Yes I would not blind side whenever avoidable.

I've never seen that many dropped trailers around the back as there are in the satellite view so hopefully they aren't there. There is also some gravel back there off the rear portion parking lot towards across from docks that extends your maneuver room a couple feet. If you zoom in you can see it.

Those dropped Millis trailers are for dunnage loads back to the brewery that Spirit & Sanzone load.

 

Question for the Millis drivers who are driving or have driven a 2016 Kenworth.
I trained in a 2019 Kenworth the shifter was on the column. My 2016 has the shifter on the doghouse. Well I was able to manually shift the 2019 going up and down grades. Worked great especially going down grades.

Well the 2016 just dings when I put it into manual. Can’t change gears in manual. I was told by a friend putting it in manual holds the gear you are in. So my question is how the frick do I go down a steep grade? Do I literally have to stop at the the top of the grade and work my way up to 7th or 8 th and then put in manual? Do I have to hit breaks right away get it to shift down then put in manual? It’s a 10 speed. Would really like to know.

Have just been running Ohio to Wisconsin last couple days so have had absolutely no grades to practice on.

 

Ya the 2016 I drove they had the manual shift locked, then they stopped doing that with the 2017s and up. But if going down a steep grade with it when you get to the top your going to already be in a lower gear. Decide what gear you want to go down it in, either slow down to get it there, or speed up a lil to get it there, and put it in manual. I only manually shift when going up hills cuz to me it waits to long to shift. But going downhill just put it in 7th or 8th whichever you went up it in and, slap it in manual, and let your jake do its job going down.

 

In my 2016 you can use your up down buttons to shift while in Drive, within the proper RPM range at least. Like others have said, get it in the gear you want for the grade then put it in Manual.

 

Very first time I drove an automatic with a load, it was a beer load that went down the WV Turnpike and across 64 down Sandstone. It was either figure it out, or die.

 

Not sure when I'll start school. I'm thinking I'll be moving back to the States at the end of June. So as soon as I can get my permit, physical, and stuff after that.

 

How did East Syracuse work out for you today?