Put in the big hole and gouge on it (truck driver check in)

[drifter379 1,106]

I mean, I take it you got out of that fucking mud forest, but I'd love some pictures of that drop off site and the return if you have 'em. 

I didn’t take any other pics. It was 1/2 mile through to a clearing. Only took a 3 point turn to get turned around and back out.

[RPM 26,342]

Do you run a dashcam? I know I would just to cover my ass. I'd probably run 2 or 3.

[drifter379 1,106]

Do you run a dashcam? I know I would just to cover my ass. I'd probably run 2 or 3.

I have in the past but I don’t currently. I need a good one that I can do screen caps from. I like posting pics I’ve taken through the windshield but my new company really really frowns upon that.

I’m open to recommendations.

[RPM 26,342]

I run a Cobra, but not sure which model. I do know it's 1080p and you can spot a half inch rock flying through the air. Already paid for 1 windshield.

[drifter379 1,106]

mecca

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_80

[luke duke 6,414]

How many lot lizards does it take to service a truck stop that big?

[drifter379 1,106]

16 4x4’s
16 straps
8 chains

I don’t think it’s going any where.



Shipping racks for wind turbine motors and cones.

[Kennythetiger 9,444]

Looks to me like you got our new truck all muddy. 

[Gil Bang 26,000]

so, I spent a couple of days last week running I20 Eastbound.  I came across 2 things.  The first was an obvious fatal truck wreck. Westbound guy seemed to fall asleep (around 2 PM) and drifted across the grass median and rolled.  The cab and sleeper were crushed.  The traffic slowed, an ambulance eventually passed me on the left shoulder, and by the time I got there, the ambulance crew were setting up triangle reflectors, and were in no hurry to transport anybody.

The second thing was better.  About 100 Miles out of ATL, the aggy equipment truck was broke down on it's way to Clemson.

[Born to Run 6,569]

so, I spent a couple of days last week running I20 Eastbound.  I came across 2 things.  The first was an obvious fatal truck wreck. Westbound guy seemed to fall asleep (around 2 PM) and drifted across the grass median and rolled.  The cab and sleeper were crushed.  The traffic slowed, an ambulance eventually passed me on the left shoulder, and by the time I got there, the ambulance crew were setting up triangle reflectors, and were in no hurry to transport anybody.

The second thing was better.  About 100 Miles out of ATL, the aggy equipment truck was broke down on it's way to Clemson.

Did Large Marge send you?

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

On 8/30/2019 at 9:44 AM, drifter379 said:

Ohio.

270 loop in Columbus sucks for truckers. At least one truck involved crash a week on it. 

Edited September 10, 2019 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[drifter379 1,106]

I think I’m going to start checking out the areas I’m stuck in on Saturday’s and maybe start trying to catch some college games.

Was in Ames two weeks ago but the fuckers were off.

[Gil Bang 26,000]

West Virginia?  Watch your cornhole bud. 

[Gil Bang 26,000]

hey @drifter379 you've had that Pete for a while now.  How's it going?  Are you happy with it?  How's it pull?  Is there anything you wished you'd spec'd differently? 

[drifter379 1,106]

hey [mention=1331]drifter379[/mention] you've had that Pete for a while now.  How's it going?  Are you happy with it?  How's it pull?  Is there anything you wished you'd spec'd differently? 

Still extremely happy with it.
I68 and 179 through West Virginia last night with 34k on the deck and I never topped a hill under 60mph.

I’d like to get better fuel mileage and I’m working on that, kinda. It will never be great with this hood. It’s like pushing a brick down the road. I set the cruise but I don’t like to get passed by other trucks. Lol
I’m getting 5.4 on the average. I have a friend that bought a truck the same week I did , it’s a slope nose Pete, I can’t remember the model number but he is getting over 7 on the average. He says he regrets not getting the automatic. But he’s an old.

The only other thing really is the exhaust noise. There is none. This truck is too quite. I’m the kind of asshole that likes to rattle window a mile away with my jakes but with this truck they are no louder than the regular exhaust noise. (I’m a simple man)

[Johnny Sack 8,397]

11 hours ago, drifter379 said:

I think I’m going to start checking out the areas I’m stuck in on Saturday’s and maybe start trying to catch some college games.

Was in Ames two weeks ago but the fuckers were off.

I would definitely do that if I was in your profession.  

[Gil Bang 26,000]

I thought that fucker would be a screamer with those straight stacks. 

[Gil Bang 26,000]

4 hours ago, drifter379 said:

Still extremely happy with it.
I68 and 179 through West Virginia last night with 34k on the deck and I never topped a hill under 60mph.

I’d like to get better fuel mileage and I’m working on that, kinda. It will never be great with this hood. It’s like pushing a brick down the road. I set the cruise but I don’t like to get passed by other trucks. Lol
I’m getting 5.4 on the average. I have a friend that bought a truck the same week I did , it’s a slope nose Pete, I can’t remember the model number but he is getting over 7 on the average. He says he regrets not getting the automatic. But he’s an old.

The only other thing really is the exhaust noise. There is none. This truck is too quite. I’m the kind of asshole that likes to rattle window a mile away with my jakes but with this truck they are no louder than the regular exhaust noise. (I’m a simple man)
 

re: mileage.  My brother bought a new pete about 10 years ago.  Maybe not quite that long ago.   He drove it for a couple of years.  Then he needed to be home at night (new wife) so he took a job turning wrenches, and put my nephew in the truck.  IIRC, my nephew was getting almost a full 2mpg better than his dad. 

Driving style counts. 

[Steel Shank 9,430]

5 hours ago, drifter379 said:

I have a friend that bought a truck the same week I did , it’s a slope nose Pete, I can’t remember the model number but he is getting over 7 on the average. He says he regrets not getting the automatic. But he’s an old.
 

Those are available with an auto trans.?

[Gil Bang 26,000]

Automatic transmissions are pretty common in big rigs these days. 

 

Bryan Berg drives a semi with a 13-speed transmission, and he’s been double-clutching and shifting gears in his rig for 30 years. He’s not about to start driving a truck that shifts automatically.

“I just think it would be weird,” said Berg, who lives near Willmar, Minn., when he’s not driving. “Most of the drivers I know, they all say automatics are for people who don’t know how to drive a truck.”

 

 

 

That’s changing. The strictly manual transmission is disappearing from the cabs of semi tractor-trailers —and the strong economy is one reason why. In its place is a manual transmission with a computer that automates the shifting of gears. That’s different from the automatic transmission that’s common in cars and light trucks. Truckers tend to use the word automatic to describe newer gearboxes, however, and they have the same effect of freeing a driver from shifting gears.

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Today, the vast majority of trucks rolling off assembly lines are outfitted with the newfangled transmission, which is more efficient and quicker to learn at a time when haulers are eager to lower costs and desperate to find more drivers.

“In the next three to five years, pretty much everything is going to be automatic,” said Gary Pressley, president of Heavy Metal Truck Training in Eagan.

Regional and local trucking companies that use older trucks may hold on to manual transmissions for longer, but the days of a trucker gear-jamming down the interstate in a 36-speed are coming to an end.

Over-the-road carriers face a long-running nationwide shortage of truck drivers, and the shift to automated transmissions is accelerating thanks to the ease of training new drivers to use them.

Most new drivers didn’t grow up driving a stick shift.

“Being able to get a driver and get them into a truck and trained and up and running as fast as possible becomes very valuable to a lot of companies,” said Wesley Slavin, on-highway marketing manager for Peterbilt, which now produces nearly 90% of its trucks with an automated transmission.

The computers controlling automated transmissions can “down-speed” — lower the revolutions per minute of the engine at high speed — effectively and are thus better at controlling gas consumption and emissions.

While experienced drivers can coax close to the same gas mileage from a manual transmission that a computer can get, new drivers likely cannot.

Also, the technology has improved in recent years. Early versions of an automated transmission annoyed drivers.

The computer would shift too late or too soon, and experienced drivers wanted nothing to do with being a passenger in a truck driven by a novice software program.

“I drove one probably 10 years ago, and I didn’t like it,” said Ken Steinfest, an 81-year-old from Antigo, Wis., who still drives a semi with a 13-speed manual transmission, his white labradoodle in the cab with him.

The new transmissions now are better integrated in the trucks and the computers have gotten more precise, evaluating engine torque, engine speed, vehicle speed and vehicle angle before shifting gears.

“It just shifts and you don’t notice,” Slavin said.

Brian Daniels, manager of Detroit Powertrain and component products for Daimler Trucks North America, which makes Freightliner trucks, said automated transmissions were a niche market six years ago. But better products came on the market around 2015, and demand for them rose quickly since.

“There’s still the diehards out there, but there’s some conversion happening of the diehards, too,” Daniels said.

About 85% of Freightliner’s semis now have automated transmissions, up from about 10% four years ago.

Truckers in Europe adopted automated transmissions sooner than those in the United States. Volvo, one of the handful of large truck manufacturers in North America, introduced its I-shift transmission in Europe in 2002, and by the late 2000s about 75% of trucks in Europe were fitted with an automated transmission.

The kicker for driving instructors in the United States is increased safety, said Bill Collins, owner of Interstate Truck Driving School in South St. Paul. At a simulator at the school, one student practiced shifting gears on a 10-speed manual transmission. In a gravel lot out back, two students practiced backing up, another inspected the undercarriage of a truck using an orange pointer.

“Most of my students want to drive the manual, and I try to talk them out of it,” Collins said. “The biggest reason is the safety.”

Collins said there’s less for drivers to worry about when they don’t have to shift gears. But some companies still have manual transmissions because they don’t replace trucks as often as the big over-the-road carriers, so Collins still teaches students to drive a manual transmission.

And not all drivers are convinced that automatic is better.

Abdullahi Abdulle, from Columbus, Ohio, who was taking a break at Stockmen’s Truck Stop off Interstate 494 in South St. Paul, said he doesn’t mind shifting gears.

In fact, it helps keep him alert, he said. He’s been driving for three years and was waiting for a new load.

“Automatic, you just relax,” Abdulle said. “And when you relax, you may take a nap. On the road.”

 

Edited September 17, 2019 by Gil Bang

[RPM 26,342]

In the late 50's - 60's  they were experimenting with turbine engines in trucks, some coupled with automatics. 

 

[sidis 9,832]

interesting, i had no idea that there were automatic options for those things.  i thought they were all double clutch monsters.

great thread by the way.  i know absolutely nothing about the day to day for truckers despite them being such a critical element to our infrastructure.  this thread offers a nice glimpse into something i have zero tangible experience with.

[RPM 26,342]

2 hours ago, sidis said:

i thought they were all double clutch monsters.

I started driving trucks when I was a little kid in the 60's. My Dad taught me 10, 13, 15, 18, 4x4, 5x4 you name it. I never double clutched. Once they started putting synchronizers in transmissions it wasn't needed. Hell, I only used the clutch to start moving. After that it's all clutchless shifting.

Edited September 17, 2019 by RPM

[Jkwellborn 6,731]

I know a lot of older drivers that are going to automatics. They all say they like them.

[Gil Bang 26,000]

20 minutes ago, RPM said:

I started driving trucks when I was a little kid in the 60's. My Dad taught me 10, 13, 15, 18, 4x4, 5x4 you name it. I never double clutched. Once they started putting synchronizers in transmissions it wasn't needed. Hell, I only used the clutch to start moving. After that it's all clutchless shifting.

Yeah, I drove a water truck with a 10 speed roadranger, and I never shifted with the clutch while on the road.  If I was putting around on a construction site at low speed, I used the clutch. 

[SHOOTER12 8,826]

On 3/31/2018 at 2:56 PM, Gil Bang said:

Construction project just started near my home.  They brought in a Cat 5130 Excavator.  Mofo weighs 400,000 lbs.  

Main unit came in on a 9 axle.  The two components of the "hoe" each came in on a low bed.  They brought in a crane and two 3 axle service trucks from the Cat dealer to assemble thing.  
 

It's fucking enormous.  

This isn't a photo that I took, but it's the same type of machine.  17 feet from outside of track to outside of opposite track. 

Sheesh the tracks on that thing look insanely narrow.

[Gil Bang 26,000]

1 minute ago, SHOOTER12 said:

Sheesh the tracks on that thing look insanely narrow.

17 feet outside to outside per CAT specs

[SHOOTER12 8,826]

7 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

17 feet outside to outside per CAT specs

What is the width of the track shoes themselves though? While the track width looks massive, the shoes look tiny for that machine.

[Gil Bang 26,000]

21 minutes ago, SHOOTER12 said:

What is the width of the track shoes themselves though? While the track width looks massive, the shoes look tiny for that machine.

ok.  So I checked the specs, and I don't have the dimensions, but the tracks come in 3 widths, "Rock", "General Purpose", and "Soft Underfoot".  This was a rock job, so I assume that it has the narrow tracks. 

[SHOOTER12 8,826]

16 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

ok.  So I checked the specs, and I don't have the dimensions, but the tracks come in 3 widths, "Rock", "General Purpose", and "Soft Underfoot".  This was a rock job, so I assume that it has the narrow tracks. 

I believe you are exactly correct.  Still looks wild.  Thanks

[The People’s Elbow 707]

This thread rules.

What’s the story on escort vehicles for wide loads? Who drives them? What’re they paid? Do they have the same time limits you do? Are there always a lead and chaser, or just one? Why are lead cars sometimes super far ahead (ie a mile or so) of the truck?

[RPM 26,342]

It all depends on the load. It's been a while, so things may have changed. But most will have a route with obstructions listed. Shocker, they always miss a few. Your lead car will look for obstructions like low wires, trees, ect. The rear car is the truckers eyes for what's happening behind where he can't see like cars passing, load shifting, etc.

I worked with a girl who's little sister drove pilot car for trucks hauling wind generators to North Dakota. Don't know exactly how much she made, but it must pay pretty good because she always drove a new pickup and they were not a wealth family.

[Gil Bang 26,000]

58 minutes ago, RPM said:

It all depends on the load. It's been a while, so things may have changed. But most will have a route with obstructions listed. Shocker, they always miss a few. Your lead car will look for obstructions like low wires, trees, ect. The rear car is the truckers eyes for what's happening behind where he can't see like cars passing, load shifting, etc.

I worked with a girl who's little sister drove pilot car for trucks hauling wind generators to North Dakota. Don't know exactly how much she made, but it must pay pretty good because she always drove a new pickup and they were not a wealth family.

maybe she was blowing guys at rest stops along the way for extra cash?

[RPM 26,342]

Anything's possible.

[drifter379 1,106]

maybe she was blowing guys at rest stops along the way for extra cash?

I think I know her.

[drifter379 1,106]

Those are available with an auto trans.?

Yep.
The old autos were shit. Every time you let off the throttle the trans would disengage.
But from what I hear the new ones are awesome.
You can even have the shift points set to where you as a driver want them to be. A lot of heavy haul operations are going with them now too.

[Steel Shank 9,430]

I'm no truck driver, but I don't think I like that. For sentimental reasons.

[Archer 474]

15 hours ago, drifter379 said:

The only other thing really is the exhaust noise. There is none. This truck is too quite. I’m the kind of asshole that likes to rattle window a mile away with my jakes but with this truck they are no louder than the regular exhaust noise. (I’m a simple man)
 

How long do you think it’ll be until most everything on the road is that quiet? 

[fattyflattie 4,638]

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

What’s the story on escort vehicles for wide loads?

The amount, type, and where they are located depends on your permit, and whether you are ling, wide, tall, or all of the above.  Every state has different requirements, making interstate travel a bitch. 

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

Who drives them?

My experience (super heavy haul) it was retired drivers or trailer hands that never quite worked their way up to driver. Also wives or family of drivers was common. They would just try and get the bro in law deal and more often than not travel alongside them. 

 

[fattyflattie 4,638]

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

What’re they paid?

$400-750/night. 

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

Do they have the same time limits you do?

No. Often times they travel ahead and look for any missed obstructions before coming on shift and actually escorting the load  

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

Are there always a lead and chaser, or just one?

Depends on load and state requirements. Also very common for trucking company to have several mudflappers acting as escorts although they don’t satisfy the states 3pty requirement. They are very useful tho. 

4 hours ago, The People’s Elbow said:

Why are lead cars sometimes super far ahead (ie a mile or so) of the truck?

RPM covered this but they are far enough ahead so if you do have to stop, you can. Or better yet can stop far enough away to potentially have a backup plan. 

[Paco 1,934]

I think I know her.

20 mile Sally?

[RPM 26,342]

Fuel tank Frank?

[Lat22 4,015]

13 hours ago, Steel Shank said:

I'm no truck driver, but I don't think I like that. For sentimental reasons.

Jammin' gears has got to be a fever..

[RPM 26,342]

19 minutes ago, Lat22 said:

Jammin' gears has got to be a fever..

Cause the men become addicted to the grind. It takes a special breed to be a truck drivin' man and a steady hand to pull that load behind...

[Steel Shank 9,430]

Fuckin' A.

 

[MAUFRAIS 6,633]

[drifter379 1,106]

Terrible pics but ran up US 101 through California this week. Into Oregon and I’ll be spending the weekend in Moses Lake WA.

 

I’m pretty sure that second pic was a field of weed.

[RPM 26,342]

NorCal is beautiful country. 

[drifter379 1,106]

It is and 97 through Oregon is amazing.

[RPM 26,342]

26, 20, 97... it's all great.