I need a hat, a chain for my wallet & a can of snuff.

dpkimmel2001 said:
So….. Finished delivering this mornings load. It was automatic transmission fluid. The place I delivered to manufacturers transmissions for GM. Easy delivery only a few miles from our Chicago terminal.

I was on my way back to the terminal after delivering when I got the message that my Eugene load was canceled. At least for me. It’s due to this truck having these issues. The good news is that I also received an email that’s telling me that my actual truck, that’s been in the shop, has been fixed. So, I’m now waiting on dispatch to head east, to Pottstown, PA to get my truck back. They’re trying to get me a load heading that direction that will get me there by tomorrow to swap trucks again. So, currently waiting on dispatch.

In the meantime they’ve got my loaner truck back in the Chicago shop plugged back into the computer. We’ll see how this goes.
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One can only hope. :rolleyes:
 
How many times do you get this a day? I think kids have been wanting truckers to blow their horn at them forever. It was usually one the best parts of the trip when I was a boy
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Well, once again the truck wanted another regen. It’s gotta be a sensor I’m guessing. In any event, I took a detour to another on of our terminals for them to look at this truck in the morning. It did derate this time. I’m hauling an empty trailer but it’s running like it’s under load. I’m going to have them remove the faults and try to get it to Pottstown sometime tomorrow. Can’t wait to get out of this thing.
 
Still waiting on any word about this derated truck. At this point there’s no way for me to get from here to where my repaired truck is in eastern PA. Apparently the plan has now changed to me going home for the weekend and then heading East on Monday to go get my truck. After they get me rolling here, I’ll bobtail home and take a break for the weekend.
 
The diagnosis appears to be a faulty EGR valve, Exhaust Gas Recirculating. They got a new one and are installing it now. They’ll have to force a regen afterwards to clear the derate. They’ll then take it for a test drive.
 
Thanks dpk. Seeing all of the trouble you are having has made me love being retired that much more. I sure hope your other truck is more reliable for you. You definitely deserve a weekend at home after dealing with all that you have been dealing with over this annoying problem with that truck.
 
Nitro Dude said:
Thanks dpk. Seeing all of the trouble you are having has made me love being retired that much more. I sure hope your other truck is more reliable for you. You definitely deserve a weekend at home after dealing with all that you have been dealing with over this annoying problem with that truck.
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Back home now. Those issues are nothing a beer or three can’t cure!

I think our West Virginia shop nailed the issue. Seems good now.

Retirement for me some day. I’m waiting to retire when my wife’s ready. I’ll be glad when that day comes. Outside of weather conditions, I really don’t mind the driving. I get to see all of the lower 48 and all of southern Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. There’s so much to see out there.
 
WHat a frustrating time that has been. You have a good outlook though along with the enjoyment of seeing so much of the country. Retirement is good and something to look forward to. I wish your retirement dreams come true.
 
What an engineering marvel the Pennsylvania Turnpike is! Completed in 1940 and still in use today and looking good. Building those tunes was quite a feat. On another topic, hope you truck is ready and all issues squared away.
 
Whizzer said:
What an engineering marvel the Pennsylvania Turnpike is! Completed in 1940 and still in use today and looking good. Building those tunes was quite a feat. On another topic, hope you truck is ready and all issues squared away.
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Maybe you alley saw it but if not, you should look up the PA Turnpike’s lost tunnels. While not truly lost, they’re simply abandoned and unused. Part of the original layout. They’ve since been replaced by altering the route.

Here’s an interesting story about the repurposing of one of those abandoned/unused tunnels. The Secrets of Laurel Hill.

www.racecar-engineering.com

The secrets of Laurel Hill revealed

Chip Ganassi's top secret and revolutionary NASCAR aerodynamic test site revealed. Discover how it works and how Ben Bowlby reinvented the wind tunnel.
www.racecar-engineering.com www.racecar-engineering.com
 
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Back in the Saddle Again! Welp, let’s see how this goes. Got everything transferred from the loaner back to my original truck. Before doing so I took it for a little test drive that seemed successful. I hooked up to the empty trailer taking some side roads and then out on the interstate. Empty, I’m only running around 33,000lbs. Not a true test but good enough to see if the truck was shifting properly. Seemed good. Man, what a difference. Same make/model/package but my truck rides and runs so much better.

I don’t have a load until this afternoon so I was parked overnight. Tried out the auto start function and it did its job. Had to run the bunk heater last night. It caused the truck to restart a couple times to keep the batteries charged.

Next load is from Swedesboro, NJ to Etobicoke, Ontario. Only 500 miles so it’ll be a good test of the fixes. Waiting on the preloader to show up so I can get going.

Took this pic this morning of back of my truck. Swapping the equipment that hangs or is stored at the back of the rig is some of the worst parts of swapping trucks. There’s 100’ of 3” product hose, 50’ of air hose. 4 sets of super single chains. About 15 fittings I of various sizes. Several containers of windshield washer fluid, oil, antifreeze, and fuel treatments. My gloves, tools, chain straps and all PPE are also stored at the back and sides of the trailer accessed from outside. Lots of stuff.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Maybe you alley saw it but if not, you should look up the PA Turnpike’s lost tunnels. While not truly lost, they’re simply abandoned and unused. Part of the original layout. They’ve since been replaced by altering the route.

Here’s an interesting story about the repurposing of one of those abandoned/unused tunnels. The Secrets of Laurel Hill.

www.racecar-engineering.com

The secrets of Laurel Hill revealed

Chip Ganassi's top secret and revolutionary NASCAR aerodynamic test site revealed. Discover how it works and how Ben Bowlby reinvented the wind tunnel.
www.racecar-engineering.com www.racecar-engineering.com
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Great story. I recall driving through those tunnels in the late 1950s. I hated them because they were two lanes and close. My stint at driving a truck only last a few months. My downfall in that industry was no sleeper cab and so few places to stop to eat or rest. In those days it was pretty brutal to find a diner and the ones found seemed to only serve roast beef, mashed potatoes w/dark gravy and peas. I learned fairly quickly where the good ones were even if off the beaten path. Got tired of new routes that meant looking again for decent places to stop. Finding a place to pull over to sleep was not easy either. But I sucked it up and did that until I found something closer to home and my own bed at night. It might have been a much different experience had it been performed at this time with sleeper cabs, refrigerators, the internet to keep you company. Which reminds me of how spotty radio reception was. The tractor rattled so much and highways were not as smooth as they are today, those issues alone screwed listening to the radio but on the "open road" it was change the station constantly especially in the hills of western Pennsylvania just find a station to listen to to try to keep me awake. Times have changed and progress made in all areas. Just a little re-visit to my past. Don't mean to bore you.
 
Do they give you a breakdown of the things they had to do to get the truck running properly again? In are there is something you can do in the future that were not aware of before. Must feel good driving your own rig again. Safe travels.
 
Whizzer said:
Do they give you a breakdown of the things they had to do to get the truck running properly again? In are there is something you can do in the future that were not aware of before. Must feel good driving your own rig again. Safe travels.
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It was all software related except for the transmission fault. That was the right stick on the column. Apparently that was a commonly known problem at Peterbilt. They replaced it.

Yes, even though my truck is the same make/model, the trucks couldn’t be more different. Familiar in appearance only. Being back in this truck is like being back home again.
 
Delivering now. No dispatch yet but I’d imagine they’d be routing me back to Swedesboro, NJ when empty. Or, they could have me go to a local tank wash here in the Toronto area where I’d pick up a clean trailer, load locally and head south.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Delivering now. No dispatch yet but I’d imagine they’d be routing me back to Swedesboro, NJ when empty. Or, they could have me go to a local tank wash here in the Toronto area where I’d pick up a clean trailer, load locally and head south.
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When I was in my early 20’s and only had 2 trucks at the time I would load watermelons out of Florida during the season and we would deliver to the main produce terminal in Toronto. There was a little mom and pop cafe across the street that had the best cheeseburger and fries I think I have ever had. We usually spent at least 1 night in Toronto before heading back to Florida and we would go up on the top floor of the CN tower where there was an awesome disco club. That was definitely a few years and many miles ago. 😃
 
Thoings seem to be settling down in that part of their world. Maybe the BIG snowstorms are done for awhile and you'll miss all the falderal of cleanup. Anyway, safe travels and we'll be looking for pictures and reports. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. 👍 :)👍
 
Nitro Dude said:
When I was in my early 20’s and only had 2 trucks at the time I would load watermelons out of Florida during the season and we would deliver to the main produce terminal in Toronto. There was a little mom and pop cafe across the street that had the best cheeseburger and fries I think I have ever had. We usually spent at least 1 night in Toronto before heading back to Florida and we would go up on the top floor of the CN tower where there was an awesome disco club. That was definitely a few years and many miles ago. 😃
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I drove flatbed and picked up steel in Dravosburg, PA, bringing it east. Most runs were to Wallingford, CT., carrying coiled steel. My drawback was backing up as the pickup point had a deep shed covering the loading platform and closed in with loading dock on the other. On that run I traveled with a couple of others guys and one of them always had to back the full length of the shed for me. That shed might not have been very long but my memory of failing to back up and knowing I would have back down that shed - or let someone else do it for me - at that plant and the memory of sixty years ago, possibly make the shed longer, darker and more forbidding.
I went from driving a truck to selling encyclopedias door to door in Vineland, NJ. After that tried a few other things before getting a job in the plate glass replacement business working for someone else before buying a small operation and stayed in the glass industry for 23 years then sold out and expanded into other businesses.
I'm in awe of guys like DPK Nitro and StandOnIt for doing what they did and do. It isn't what people think it is. From recent reports by DPK there is a lot of anxiety and preparation to do the job and do it right. It is much more than jumping in the cab and going over th road. In their chosen professions, they all deserve recognition.
 
713 miles yesterday. In northwestern Indiana. Still have an hour before I can get rolling again. Apparently there’s weather moving into this area. 4-8 inches of snow with some isolated areas predicted to get 10 inches. I should be out of this area before it hits.

Have to go through the Chicago area during rush hour(s) this morning. I hope not to lose too much time in traffic. Wanted to get close to 700 as well today. I’ll probably end up just shy of Fargo today depending on the weather ahead.
 
Whizzer said:
Thoings seem to be settling down in that part of their world. Maybe the BIG snowstorms are done for awhile and you'll miss all the falderal of cleanup. Anyway, safe travels and we'll be looking for pictures and reports. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. 👍 :)👍
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Snow I don’t mind so much. It’s the ice. While I’m not this time, I like start my day just after midnight to avoid others on the road. That night driving is even more tricky with the ice that’s already hard to see. At least with snow, you know what your dealing with.
 
Made it to Fargo. Was able to get through the Chicago area better than expected. 730 miles today. Tomorrows goal, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Weather looks good ahead. I don’t deliver until Monday.

The product was loaded at a lower temperature than expected. I’ll have to have this load steamed prior to delivery.
 
DAMN!! Looks pretty flat!! What kind of tunes do you listen to while driving? C&W? Or rock? I'd make suggestions that will put you to sleep or make you miss your bride. ;)
 
Whizzer said:
DAMN!! Looks pretty flat!! What kind of tunes do you listen to while driving? C&W? Or rock? I'd make suggestions that will put you to sleep or make you miss your bride. ;)
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Probably would be easier to list what I don’t listen to. I’m a huge fan of a wide variety of music. I’ve probably mentioned before and maybe posted pics but I installed a sound bar and subwoofer in my truck. In the daytime I normally listen to sports talk radio from the Pittsburgh market over the factory installed system in the truck. At night I normally listen to music if I’m not listening to a game. I listen to almost anything. Below is a section of last nights playlist that includes some individual artists and some groups. This playlist leans more country if I had to label it. And yes, all those artists and groups are real. To steal a line from Seinfeld….. They’re real and they’re spectacular.

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Went through the list of musical performers and decided it is time for this old man to try to get up to date. A couple of weeks ago I sent grandson #1 an email asking him to share his musical tastes with me so I could ty to identify with him at least musically. This must be prefaced by stating, in my history, there were bands/performers I wouldn't listen to because they played a new generation of sounds and lyrics. I was always old school c&w with performers like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Hank Snow, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Sr., and in the pop genre, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, June Christy, Julie London, Doris Day. As you can see, my musical tastes were very puritan. NOW, since grandson #1 sent me his lengthy list of performers with gritty names and many of those I would have blocked out earlier in life but now I listen and hear messages for the younger generation and some of the strife and issues they are dealing with told in a song. It is an eye opener and while I have no regrets for not listening to them earlier in life, I am enjoying them now.
My musical tastes run to every venue there is, including rap, with the caveat of some lyrics are too descriptive and vulgar by my standards. Being an old fart can have some drawbacks. But music through the ages is a wonderful tool. It can elevate passions that would lead a man to war or to death and in-between, in love.
I like light classical, Broadway Show tunes, Oliver, My Fair Lady and The Music Man are favorites.
I spend an hour or two every evening after my Bride goes to bed sitting in my recliner and listening to artists my grandson sends me and sometimes I simply surf Spotify for new singers and different arrangements of a particularly special piece.
I'll check out some of the artists mentioned on your list. Heck, I might even find a few I like! ;)
 
Arrived in Edmonton as scheduled this morning. Checked in at the tank wash to have my trailer steamed for tomorrow morning’s delivery only to find out all the steam bays are filled. They said they can’t take mine until 0800 tomorrow. I deliver @ 1100. Ain’t gonna happen. The delivery will have to be rescheduled. I won’t know anything more until everyone touches base. All I do know is that I’m getting paid from the time I dropped that trailer off until I deliver this week. In the meantime I’m going to make breakfast, relax and watch some Netflix.
 
Curiosity compels me to ask, what do you prepare for breakfast. Somehow I don't see fried eggs and bacon on the menu. Inquiring minds want to know. Well, one anyway. 😁
 
Whizzer said:
Curiosity compels me to ask, what do you prepare for breakfast. Somehow I don't see fried eggs and bacon on the menu. Inquiring minds want to know. Well, one anyway. 😁
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You’re correct….. this time. Today was scrambled eggs, sausage and a slice of cheese wrapped in a tortilla wrap. Saving the bacon for a burger or two later in the week.

I carry enough food for a months worth of meals. I have a built in fridge/freezer and another larger powered cooler that can be a fridge or a freezer. I have a microwave, toaster oven, toaster, small electric frying pan and a Mr. Coffee coffee maker with me. I can pretty much do anything that I can do at home. I use foil liners in the pan and toaster oven to aid in cleanup. Disposable plates, bowls and solo cups. Plastic utensils and paper towels. I may not be the kindest person to the environment in that respect but a man’s gotta eat!
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Arrived in Edmonton as scheduled this morning. Checked in at the tank wash to have my trailer steamed for tomorrow morning’s delivery only to find out all the steam bays are filled. They said they can’t take mine until 0800 tomorrow. I deliver @ 1100. Ain’t gonna happen. The delivery will have to be rescheduled. I won’t know anything more until everyone touches base. All I do know is that I’m getting paid from the time I dropped that trailer off until I deliver this week. In the meantime I’m going to make breakfast, relax and watch some Netflix.
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Do you have to have your trailer steamed before every delivery?
 
Nitro Dude said:
Do you have to have your trailer steamed before every delivery?
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No. There’s only a few places that I deliver lubricants where they’re temperature sensitive. At this location, they want everything that’s delivered to be between 60-100 degrees. It was loaded at 70 and has since dropped to 60. Looking ahead at the temperatures along the route, we already knew it was going to be close so a streaming was scheduled via email. Apparently the tank wash later replied that their schedule was full for Sunday and they couldn’t take it until Monday morning. Problem is, they sent the email after close of business on the East coast so that word never was received.

In the past, when I delivered chemicals, they were almost always temperature sensitive. For my previous company I could run intransit heat collecting the heat of the engine coolant circulating it around the tank. That works fine for 90% of chemical deliveries and would have worked fine in this case too. Not sure why they wouldn’t utilize that method for these deliveries. Would save time and money but hey, what do I know? I’m just a wheel holder. You know what I mean.
 
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