Over The Road Repair Shop Guide

donnalou
sure could use the freightshaker site
thanks

 

to go along with brickmans post on how bad TA's are we have one right down the road in pembroke ny (exit 48a off of I-90) took them 27.5 hours to change the drums and shoes on the trailler.... if you think im kidding try it your self

 

one thing i have found out bout t/a if their mechanics couldnt make it as a burger flipper so they gave them a wrench and told them to just go fix it
boy what a joke imho

 

Ive used the NTTS Breakdown site a couple of times. A few of the times i was in places where i thought there wasnt going to be anyone close to help me. Called the wife (dont have internet in truck) and was able to find someone within a few miles.

 

From my experience T/A is hit or miss. I have been to some good ones and Ive been to some bad ones. T/A in Baltimore Md has got to be the worst, The Conley Ga was a close 2nd. For the most part it seems like T/A doesnt really care one way or the other about my business that is the shop, restaraunt, fuel etc. I primarily use the T/A shop for emergency tires or PM if they are not too crowded. Most of the time I prefer Speedco for PM because they seem to care about my business a little more "attitude wise" than T/A and they are able to get me in and out of the shop a lot quicker. I drive a Volvo with a Volvo engine so I generally go to the Volvo dealer shop for Volvo specific problems and or maintenance. I have also been to some good Volvo dealers that care about my business "Vanguard in Atlanta Ga, Sweeten in Houston Tx, Volvo of Denver in Commerce City Co, Nextran in Orlando Fl" do good work, and stand behind their work but there are also a few I will never go to again "Shealy in Duncan SC, Westphal-Odell in KC Mo, Volvo of Charlotte in NC". Everytime I go to Shealy Truck Center in Duncan SC, closest Volvo dealer to my home, they fix the problem I came in with but mysteriously I end up with another problem immediately after I leave the shop and they charge to fix the mysterious problem they either purposely or negligently caused.

 

NATIONAL TRUCK & TRAILER SERVICES BREAKDOWN DIRECTORY.

http://www.nttsbreakdown.com/ntts/programs/main/home.php

I'm sure most of you have it, use it, enjoy it...remember its a Directory.......so theres lotta good shops and theres lotta bad shops.....i like to use it for trailer washouts since i do lotta Nursery stock...but it has pretty much everything!

 

www.truckdown.com

 

So far with my experience stay away from Martins Peterbilt in London, KY. Had them do an oil change and that is what they did... no filters etc.... I had them do a DOT inspection and the tech just walked around th truck and handed me the card. I refused to pay for it and went elsewhere. Now I am using Glades Springs Peterbilt of Bristol, TN. Exit 29 on I-81 in VA. They are very reasonable on rates. I asked them to check my rig out and they found all sorts of little issues that I have fixed on my own. I had them install an inverter (basically I had them make the cables and connect it to the battery) Their tech took 3 hours to do it while he was doing something else for me and the shop manager only charged me for an hour. I was heading out on a trip and lost an airbag on the sleeper, stopped in and in 20 min. I was on my way, they only charged me for the part and I hit the road. They are about as honest as I have seen and are there for your businss not just to turn a profit. They are open from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm M-F and Ithink they are open on Sat too. There is a Petro at that exit as well.... I try to use hem as they are 20 min from the house in VA so it is also very convenient for me for regular service type stuff.

 

Well I've been a OO since 1979 and I can tell you that there is going to be good n bad with every chain whether it's a dealership or a truckstop or a mom n pop place !!! The best thing I can tell you is to ask questions a lot of questions about cost n price n time ect ect ect before you put it in the shop n then if it's all good hold them to their story !!!! I prefer Petro for most of my tire n lube stuff but I don't buy tires from any truck stop. I keep 2 spares with me all the time n run on my own..

I shop the truck papers for deals on parts n service ect ect !!! I use Heartland Peterbuilt in Effingham ILL and use those rules on them with no problems. They treat me good and are only 30 mil from my house. I used to change my own oil at home but there is a place in Indianapolis Ind at ex#4 on 465 called Mr Fuel that has a self service oil change facility and supplies all the tools n oil n filters ect ect and you can stay in there all day greaseing your truck in the process if you want . It cost me less than 100$ to do the complete service there !!!!

I also just had a complete rebuild done on my 3406 CAT (more than a inframe) in Atlanta Ga by Southern Truck Parts for less than 12,000$ . They did what they told me they would for the agreed upon price without any games !!! You can't ask for more than that . They are on the SE side of Atlanta across the st from that old TA at ex 53 !!!! The truck runs GREAT !!!! I also do all my own brake work and anything else not too major . I have a local guy in Marshall ILL that does tire repairs or mount service for 20$ a wheel !!!

I order the tires out of the truck magazines for a price that includes shipping n have them delivered to his shop n go by for him to put them on !!! He takes the wheels off when I want to do brakes for 20$ a axle !!! LOOK FOR DEALS N HOLD PEOPLE TO THEIR AGREEMENTS N SCHEDULE SERVICE IN ADVANCE instead of waiting till it breaks !!! ALLWAYS ALLWAYS GET A ESTIMATE BEFORE THE TRUCK GOES IN THE SHOP !!!!