The ramblings of a rookie

Does Freightliner put 12L engines in their Cascadias?

 

Got the new truck today (3-5 month loaner until new trucks arrive) and started checking it out. Wont have it under a load until monday, which is an instate run scaling around 95k gross. We will see how she does.

Hopefully it doesnt suck too bad lol. The boss says that it hasn't been "denutted" like the mega fleet trucks.

As Im spending more and more time on the road, I'm curious what others do for food on the road. I dont have an inverter, which leaves me limited on cooking options until i buy one, which will open some doors.

Right now my plan is to bring a cooler full of sandwich meats etc. and eat out when i get tired of it. But what does everyone else without an inverter do for food?

More to come later I'm sure

Stay safe out there

 

It depends on how the truck was ordered by the original owner. Some folks want fuel efficiency on flat lands and a 12 liter is fine. Others need power for steep hills and/or heavy loads.

I've driven Petebilts with 350 hp 11.7 liter Cats, if you can believe that. Bought by a major oil company that has higher driver turnover than Swift, so they don't dare turn newbies loose on steep dirt roads snapping a drive train.

For those who might someday be interested in owning your own truck, think beyond the brand. Look at the engine specifications for horsepower and torque, then the transmission gear ratios, the rear end ratio, and whether it's set up with only a power divider or if it also has full locking differentials. There's lots of variables on how a truck can be ordered. Buying a used truck you get it "as is" and hope to make no modifications to fit your needs, or spend as little as possible to make it workable for you.

 

Beautiful pic, I love that kind of scenery. I could ride up and down a desolate road with the backdrop all day/night. That's just "my kind of atmosphere"

 

Hills and mountains scare me

I’m going to tumble down

 

For the second time in my trucking career I'm spending the night at one of my favorite rest areas. Glorified porta potties featuring BYOTP. That's not the attraction. It's the sandstone rock formations. I unwound for half an hour rock climbing. Felt great and I was surprised my steel toed boots got some good traction (left my rock shoes at home).

This is about 20 miles south of Lamar, CO on US-287. Nobody but me. Should be a great night's sleep without idling, with the wind gently rocking the truck.

 

Got the new (loaner) truck out on the road. Ran a localish load to deliver, went back north to reload, and started towards central ny. Furthest ive been so far.
Truck seems... Okay... Lol. Definitely lacks power, and the 10spd auto shifts slower than id like, plus it handles reeeaaally different in all aspects compared to what ive run. BUT- its nice to just hammer down and go, and being able to stand in here really makes a difference in the off hours

More to come

Stay safe out there

 

Parked at the pilots just outside syracuse, NY for the night. What a disaster that was. Only a few spots left, so here i am blind siding into a spot with a triaxle flatbed loaded with logs that overhang. Did the old GOAL about 50 times, had it pretty close but jist not quite there. Thats when the prime driver in the next spot over jumped out to completely save my day and guide me in the last bit. Not all heroes wear capes lol.

Anybody else at the pilot just out of syracuse tonight?

 

Left syracuse this morning, went to newport, vt and island pond, vt. Headed back to the portland, me area. I parked at the oxford, me wal mart with 2 minutes left on my 14. I learned things today though.

#1: some receivers take trucks all day every day, and somehow cant explain their paperwork process to a new guy. I got through it though.

#2: this automatic does not like hills like my other trucks. Hill starts are especially rough, which was honestly where i had hoped it would excel

#3 and most important: "no truck parking" doesnt always mean no truck parking. It just means please ask first some places. I called walmart ahead of time to ask if they allow trucks. They said yes, but when i got here there is a "no trucks" sign. I parked in the back corner and popped in to the desk and they said im all good

Im learning that a lot of the anti truck stuff is aimed towards those who are inconsiderate

 

Kudos to you for calling ahead and asking. Good job.