From the road...

We’re spending $6k per truck a week. Granted running team drivers in the truck nonstop from Florida to Michigan/ chicago. Gonna be a strong month for cc points haha

 

78K, western IL to Burley, ID. Then, ~70K, Burley to SLC, UT. Deadhead back to Burley. Then, 77K, Burley to western IL.

My Volvo was doing 9’s, until sensors failed, wrecking the DPF and splitting the EGR cooler. After that, the truck would only do high 7’s. It was on the trade list, so they were done throwing money at it. I got sick, during that period, and lost my job. But, all their trucks were custom programmed to be softly fueled.

Yeah, I’m not sure how these long-nosed drivers/companies are doing it, especially those still running mechanical engines, belching black smoke (unburned fuel) all over the country.

 

I drive one of those, now.

 

I’m about averaging 5.5 mpg
Usually hovering around 80k plus or minus a few k
Cat 3406
My Detroit gets 6.5 -7

 

3406?? Damn that’s what my dad’s truck had like 30 years ago. How many miles does that thing have?

 

400k on rebuild - it’s a paper log truck . Goofy specialized cab over enclosed car haulers - they only made them for a few years -

 

I knew nothing about semis when I bought mine… luckily a buddy has driven for tv trucks at races for decades. He found it, said it was it, flew to Seattle and I threw six figures at something with wheels for the first time…

I had no idea but he did… it was a former cup car rig very well cared for and built like I had no idea they did… Cat 3406 with a turbo that spun up to 30 psi with an Eaton 10 spd that auto guys glamoured over…

that rig would out accelerate and out run our team diesel pusher like it was stuck in park, out brake too… I was really surprised what a big rig could do.

Out west where there is no speed limit I’d hook up with other owner operators and travel triple digits the entire time.

best mileage I ever saw was upper sixes, usually upper fives but I was always driving the shit out of it.

 

I remember those. Short-bunk Freightliners. They were going to take over the high-end transportation world. But, didn’t. Still cool to see, because of their Euro looks.

 

Yup
Only good for owner ops - too much room for error with company drivers
You can drive it anywhere - super maneuverable
We’re the only Americans I know that run them , the Sputniks love them

 

Truck Stops Are in Decline, and Truckers Are Suffering

https://www.thedrive.com/news/truck-stops-are-in-decline-and-truckers-are-suffering

 

Just when the article was starting to dig in, it concluded. Haha. Very accurate, though. It’s a terrible industry, anymore.

 

How many does he need? 30?

 

Never enough.

 

If you visited more often, you'd get the joke.

 

Wait a minute, weren't you in that thread about 30 years of experience?