Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

New diesel cars and pickups are overpriced and unreliable. What people loved about the reliability of diesels quit being a thing after the 2007 production year. Even as far back as the early to mid 90's you couldn't argue that diesels were really cost effective once the price of diesel fuel surged ahead of high octane gas. I dunno about others but the new Dodge Ram 1500's have a reputation as lemons that can't stay out of the shop. Really these new diesel pickups are little more than luxury rides. I dont even think you can order a 1500 Ram standard cab tradesman bare bones model with a diesel. And if you could it wouldn't be worth the premium you'd always be stuck paying. I have a 2007 Ram with a 5.9L Cummins. I like that truck but I hardly ever drive it. I could probably get a pile of cash for it if I sold it because it only has 78,000 miles on it. I love it when towing but when going on long trips somewhere, not so much so..

 

The personal diesel truck market died in California as soon as they required DEF systems on all new diesel trucks. Heck they even require it on construction and farm equipment. Gotta love this place.

 

I plan on keeping my new to me 04 Sierra for a while. Mint for its age and no rust. Feeling like i got it for a steal now Lol

 

Came home on the hook last week 45min from the house.



Bye bye electronic pump hello fully mechanical. Got her timed at 18° sounds really good. Instant snap. Working on the manual pedal arrangement now. Should be road worthy again next week.

 

She's snappy for sure. Guy that built the pump builds sled pullers. Told him we want about 600hp. Putting out around 550cc of fuel with some more left to go.

https://youtube.com/shorts/2dvpPs5wFCQ?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/mTMr43aospc?feature=share

Won't let me embed for some reason but here's a sound clip

 

I'm not a mechanic but that looks broken to me.

 

Yeah could smell fuel instantly and loss of power. Happened on the big hill on 380 by the 84 split so I had room to pull off. Other truck wasn't booked so i had dad come swap me out and still made jersey city on time

 

First time I’ve ever hauled produce, and you bet I used the 150 mile ag exemption.

 

Do you even need it for less than 150 mile runs?
When I do short water hauls they rarely go beyond 100 miles and I don't feel like HOS hinders me.

 

The money is somewhat smaller this week, if you try to find something on as you go basis.
There are simply not as many loads listed as before. There was a similar bump in volumes that could be felt towards the end of February earlier this year.

After I delivered my load in PA, I took one to upstate New York $1600/300 miles and there I'll pick one up for $2200/830 to IA from there $1010/260 back to IL. I still consider it good. The first two I booked last week and the last one yesterday.

I went from Harrisburg PA to Frankfort, NY. When in NY I took a rural state route. My goodness, there in upstate NY, I fell into a dream land, what a beautiful, picturesque country. For a moment or two, I wished I was one of those Amish people I saw there, living their simple lives.


There on that route towards the end of it , however, I found myself on a crazy, incredible downhill slope...that's just too steep for a loaded semi truck. If you don't slow down enough and then go less than 10-15 mph, you can really smoke the brakes, kill someone and go to hell. They should put there off ramp for trucks to stop and warn this.
BTW. Don't always trust your truck GPS such as Garmin...it has capability to put your rig on a gravel path leading up to an Amish farmer barn.