THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE - DFO gets a truck and hops on Schneider's IC Choice Program

Don't think that was me, don't remember seeing another SNI around pretty much the whole way down there.

 

Just got back to the house. I'd been watching for something from Statesville or Charlotte today or tomorrow, not much that I wanted. I was going to start running recap hours, but decided since there wasn't a load that I wanted today or tomorrow I'd go back home for a restart. I went ahead and booked a real nice load out of NC headed down to Savannah on Wednesday. I can't believe how cold and nasty it is up here in NC now. Unreal.

 

Been raining for 2 days in Ga.

 

........It seems like it's rainin' all over the world.......

http://www.metrolyrics.com/rainy-night-in-georgia-lyrics-benton-brook.html

 

Hey DFO. Great thread. Heading up to Green Bay for Mondays orientation. Transferring from company side. I can honestly say that I've learned more reading this thread about choice than all of my questions elsewhere. Keep writing and thanks.

 

Looks like I will be joining as well, but haven't set a date yet. Just got off the phone with SFI and got approved for a new or used truck. I'm leaning toward used, but haven't gotten the email yet with the available trucks yet. I'm leaning toward a cascadia or possibly a kenworth as long as it doesn't have that dang paccar in it lol. Thanks DFO for all the info you have provided. Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks ya'll, glad this was a help that's why its here. Any more questions just ask, and let us know how it goes!

Picked up my load in SC just south of Charlotte today and brought it down to Savannah. I really like that customer but rarely am I able to snag loads from them. Super light, very fast load times and no goatpathing to the delivery!

Sitting at super secret parking spot now, looks like it's gonna be a really nice night. Have a pickup tomorrow AM that I'll bring back up to Concord, NC. Time to hit the load board and see if there's anything I want to grab after I deliver tomorrow. Good chance I'll be at the Charlotte OC tomorrow if anyone is gonna be around there.

 

Well out of all the cascadia's they had available have the tripac e apus. Not sure if I want to go that route. Narrowed it down to a 587 Pete with an isx cummins 2012 model or a T700 Kw 2012 model with a cummins as well. Don't know too much about the 587 Pete, but both have the tripac diesel apu. Never had any dealings with an electric apu, so I'm not sure if that should be a deal breaker or not. I want the best fuel economy truck I can get. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to weigh in. Sorry for the rambling lol

 

I'm sure you know this but you need to look at the ECM reports very carefully on both trucks. That is a good starting point and will help you get an idea of the general condition of the engine, the life of your truck, the biggest part that will make or break you. If the Pete is the same one CW looked at, there is likely an issue with the aftertreatment system that is clogging, or has already clogged the DPF up completely. You wanna get your hands dirty and fix it? Go for it. Want to take it to a shop and get charged $120 an hour for removing a clamp? Hope you got a lot of savings.

Any newer diesel will get you good fuel economy, all just depends on how you drive it and how the truck is spec'd. My truck is geared a little lower than many, so while I can pull hills with the best of them, trying to run higher speeds (65-70) will tank my mileage because I'm running higher RPMs. It takes a lot of diligence on my part to just SLOW DOWN, but at the end of the day its extra money in my pocket. You'll find that as a choice driver you're no longer chasing miles, but instead how much you can make while spending the least amount of money.

I wouldn't want one of the electric APUs but that is just me. Seems like they go through batteries like nobodies business, and they're only really designed to run for 10 hour breaks. I like knowing my diesel APU can keep me comfortable for the entirety of my 34 hour restart in the hottest or coldest weather while I watch movies or play games on my laptop which draws an ungodly amount of power, without having to ever start the trucks engine. During the winter the diesel APU also circulates (slightly) warm coolant through the main engine block making cold starts not-so-cold starts.

The T700 is probably the most aerodynamic trucks of SNI's current offerings.

 

Hey DFO, is your APU also set up as a battery charger/maintaner?