What a week!!!

This is sort of a typical week for me. I don't have problems every week however in this industry there is always something.


805 picked up reefer load on Friday Nov 5th. Two stops one in Atlanta GA the other in Adel GA.

Delivery in Atlanta with no problems proceeded to Adel Ga.
Stopped at a rest stop on i75, 1 hour from delivery, truck wont start.
After half an hour we got a boost from the repair shop and he was on his way for last delivery.

Got unloaded in Adel GA and proceeded for pick up in Stilmore.
Arrived in Stilmore sat all day waiting to be loaded when we were told that the plant ran out of product come back in the morning.

Left the plant and 805 headed for a truck stop on i16. Wed morning arrived in Stilmore and after sitting for 3 hours were asked to back to a door. While backing up driver got into a verbal argument with another driver. The other driver was yelling and asking why he was being loaded first and that he can't do that, during this time the plant manager came out and explained to the other driver of his decision. My driver informed me of what has happened. He told me that he was at a door however the other driver was not happy and stil very pissed. I decided to call the General Manager of other trucking company and explained to him that my driver was there for over 30 hours and left last night so that he can have dinner and take shower and if he could speak to his driver

By late morning 805 was fully loaded and proceeded to Columbia SC. During a fuel stop the driver called and informed me he has a few problems. 1) Truck won't start again 2) the reefer won't start. I explained to him our priority was getting the reefer started. I asked him if there are any codes coming up "Yes...Starter Fail" I asked him to grab the rubber mallot and hit the starter while he was cranking. Within a few minutes the reefer was up and running.

The truck was a nother story. Within 30 minutes a repair truck was there and another 30 minutes passed by when my screen showed "805 engine on". After $278, 805 was on his way home. I spoke to the driver and asked him not to shut off the truck until he gets back to our yard and to leave the reefer on "Continues".

Thursday morning I got up at 5:30am and checked where all of the trucks were. My biggest concern was 805 she was sitting on hwy 19 in WV ideling for 9 hours hours and 8 hours from the border. During this time I spent the entire day calling customers trying to find loads for my trucks for next week.

At 1:55 pm 805 driver reported in that he was at secondery inspection however they wont take him. I was told because of the November 11th holiday they closed at 10:00am, I'm glad somebody told me.
During this time 801 came back from his trip. I had to go inspect the truck before the trip to Toronto next day. After 3 hours of crawling under the truck finding no problems I adjusted the brakes, tire pressure and did a grease job.

Now back to 805 starter issue, I decided to swap 805 with 803. I jumped behind the wheel and off to the Can/USA boarder. As I approached the border there were at least 200 trucks in front of me. Seems that the public has priority over drivers who are trying to make a living. My phone rings, it's my wife she told me the load for Tuesday from Va to Toronto is cancelled. That sucks. We need to find another load to come home, however we have planty of time.

Driver from 805 calls again with some bad news, reefer won't start. WTF? how can it stop while running on "Continues". Not a problem I told him I will be there within the hour.

After an hour I cleared the border and after 15 minutes was pulling besided 805. Tried to start the reefer and no luck. Tapped the starter and same. I removed the starter and moved the gear a few times and after a few tries the starter came to life. Installed the starter and crossed my fingers, after a few seconds the reefer roared to life.

I drove my driver home with 805 and gave him the keys to 803. I got home around 7pm and removed the starter from 1888. At 10:00pm my wife and I with a spare starter drove across the border to see if the reefer was still running. To my delight she was and holding temp at 24F. No need to replace the starter and by 12:30am we were back at home.

Next morning I was up at 5am and in the yard working on 805, trying to figure out the starting problem. At 9:00am my phone rings, my wife informs me that the pick up in Toronto was for the next day, great my driver sat there for 3 hours before somebody realized the mistake. The driver showed the paper work stating the pick up was today not tomorrow. Shipper apologized, said there is nothing they can do and asked us to come back tomorrow.

After another 2 hours working on 805 and no luck I had to divert my attention to 802 pulling in. Driver informed me all is fine however he would like 4 new drive tires and the truck has a problem. Problem being loss of power on upshift.

I Jump into the cab and retrieve the code from the ECU, code flashes "Speed Sensor" There is nothing I can do until I purchase a new one from Freightliner. I also decided to replace fuel filters just in case. During this time I realized that the problem with 805 could only be the starter. However I wont have enough time to replace the unit and decide to take to a shop. Called Freightliner who wanted 4 hours for the labour which comes to about $420. I said no thanks and called another company I deal with who told me that they charge $120 to change the starter. I booked the appointment for 7am.

During this time 803 pulls into the yard, driver tells me no problems however the trailer needs a wash on the inside. I asked the driver if he can pick up the load from Toronto for me the next day. He said it should not be a problem. My phone rings again, wife tells me that the load from Va to Toronto that we booked yesterday was cancelled because they decided not to load a reefer.

Drive 803 to the truck wash across the street and after 1 hour the trailer is clean on the inside. Once back at the yard I have to tackle the inspection of 802 before she leaves for the pick up next day. One and a half hours the inspection is done. By 6pm I head home for my first meal of the day.

By 5:30am Saturday morning I'm up and off to the yard with my son to start 805. With no luck I hook a tow rope to my van and 805. With my son driving the van we tried to pull start 805. With multiple attempts, nothing and by now I'm out of air and brakes came on. That's not good, I don't know why but I turned the key a few times and on the 3rd try she fired up, WTF? Not going to complain. With the truck at idle I go home and pick up my wife, she is going to follow me, I need the van to pick up parts. My wife drove to Freightliner to pick up a new starter and speed sensor for 802, with $600 less in our pocket she arrived to the repair shop. While waiting for her the mechanic and I started 805 at least 30 times, WTF? Mechanic told me he would have a close look at the problem. I decided no matter what to replace the starter.

My wife and I decided to go for breakfast. This is our first time going out in 4 weeks. After breakfast We picked up some parts that we needed including a tire for 805 and a starter for the reefer.

By 12:30pm we arrive at the repair facility and was told the starter was replaced however there was no problem found. The mechanic did mention that there was a poor connection on the positive terminal inside the solonoid and this might have been the problem.

I paid my bill and was heading to pick up a few more parts when my wife called. 801 came back to the yard and that reefer failed to start. WTF? I was thinking "Why are we having all these problems with reefers starting.
I asked her which trailer? She replied "1888" Darn it wont start because I took the starter out to replace the faulty one. With all of the trailers sitting there why did he take that one and why did he not do a pre trip on the reefer before he left the yard. Now I have to rush home and get the reefer going.

I got home and got into my work clothes, with rain pouring and after 1 our I had 1888 up and running. Just as I'm closing the reefer doors 802 pulls into the yard with no complaints I have a quick walk around making sure there is no noticable problems. Plus this time of year night fall comes pretty quick. Before I leave I turn on the bunk heater on 805 and the dome lights. By 6:00pm Im in the house soaked to the bone ready for my second meal of the day.

Around 10pm I take a drive to the yard to ensure that both reefers are running. I glanced at 1006 and she was holding temperature at -20F. Walked to 1888 and I see a few red lights, "Out of range, Start fail" WTF I did not dress for this I open the reefer door and start priming the fuel again. Maybe I did not prime it properly the first time. After 15 minutes of priming and now it starts to rain she finaly started.

As I'm leaving the yard I notice an older gentlemen standing on the street. I asked him if he needed help "Yes" was his reply. He told me his truck wont start, plenty of power however nothing from the starter. He needed to get back home to Ohio and then he was going to replace his starter. I told him if he wants I can give him a push. I jumped into 801 and backed 1888 to the back of his trailer and with a push his engine came to life. He thanked me and asked me how he can pay me. I told him not to worry about it. Again I came home soaked to the bone.

Sunday morning I look out of the window and it's pouring rain and Im off to the yard to replace tires and speed sensor. First I drove to 1888 and she was running and holding temperature # 55F next I drove to 1006 and glanced at the reefer and she was off and temperature was # -18F. Now I walked to 805 and jumped into a nice worm cab inserted the key waited for 15 seconds and turned with no hesitation she roared to life. "Yes...!"

With the poaring rain I changed the one tire on 805 and proceeded to change 4 drives on 802 and speed sensor. After 2 hours tires replaced I slid on my back under 802 to replace the speed sensor. To my dissapointment my sensor had three wires and the new one had four, WTF? Nothing else I can do I headed home for lunch.

After lunch I headed back to the yard to wash two trucks and trailers before they headed out. By 4:30 the driver for 803 showed up and after 20 minutes his truck was clean, he left on his run and I headed home again soaked to the bone.

By 5:30 I was having a quick dinner and headed back to the yard to take 805 to Erie where the driver was going further. I brought the drivers car back to the yard. 802 was gone with the frozen load to Montreal and 801 was leaving at midnight for Chicago with his load. It is now 10:00pm I'm sitting here typing this thread, watching to see if the pars have cleared for 2 trucks coming back from their runs.

Tomorrow is Monday and I start all over again.