How?


I've been running short runs with the new transmission this week; about 500 miles a day. I was about 50 miles from being done for the week and noticed something wasn't right when I was going really slow at a stop light. It was slowing me like a brake dragging, but didn't really feel like a brake. I then noticed the trans temp was about 50 degrees warmer than it was running all week. I pulled over and checked all the brakes, and they were fine. I crawled under and pulled the transmission check plug and the magnet was covered with metal shavings.

The boss brought the 567 down and bobtailed my truck home. When I got back to the yard after unloading, he said it drove fine until he tried to back up at the shop. It didn't want to go into reverse and when he did get it in something was binding again and would stop the truck without using brakes.

I get to drive that automatic again next week.
:clap:
 
I’ve learned it was very beneficial to actual read my manual…
If I was going to be stuck in this truck, that would be a good idea. I really would like to know why when it is in 13th gear and you start up a hill, it shifts to 10th, pulls for about 4 seconds, then shifts to 11th. Sometimes it stays there, sometimes it shifts to 12th only to go back to 11th. If I shift manually before it drops to 1050 rpm it will drop one gear like it should. There was twice this week I didn't quite shift quick enough, so it combined my lever move with it's 3 gear drop and went from 13th to 9th.

I’m guessing you’re one who still subscribes to the ancient believe that the engine must be running at 1500+ rpm as you scream down the road.
I was watching the rpm's closer this week and the only time it gets above 1500 is when it does that 3 gear drop if I'm not watching and I don't catch it
 
Definition of a “good time”…

Scale out at 118,000 gross…..


And then learn that the manufacturers tranny control update reactivated “eco-roll” that basically dumps you into neutral going down hill. Had a Volvo A40E articulated dump truck on the deck Monday. Let’s just say that will never happen again. A30 model, sure. But not an A40.


Um… Hello…. There’s a reason that shot was turnt off…

At least the dealer disabled it for me yesterday on my way through town.

My load takin’ me to @Injun country…

“You’ll have to drive it on. I have no clue how it works…”

Seems ADM closed the Keokuk facility with little warning. Now they’re moving rail mules around. It’s my Christmas project.

It’s called a shuttle wagon 4850. I’m 43,000 empty. So about 61,000 on the deck.
867A0A2A-70A7-43FF-B7BD-B2E6EFC4FBB8.webp
0F2340E9-3C81-4EDF-8930-ED9519BC6C5B.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Definition of a “good time”…

Scale out at 118,000 gross…..


And then learn that the manufacturers tranny control update reactivated “eco-roll” that basically dumps you into neutral going down hill. Had a Volvo A40E articulated dump truck on the deck Monday. Let’s just say that will never happen again. A30 model, sure. But not an A40.


Um… Hello…. There’s a reason that shot was turnt off…

At least the dealer disabled it for me yesterday on my way through town.

My load takin’ me to @Injun country…

“You’ll have to drive it on. I have no clue how it works…”

Seems ADM closed the Keokuk facility with little warning. Now they’re moving rail mules around. It’s my Christmas project.

It’s called a shuttle wagon 4850. I’m 43,000 empty. So about 61,000 on the deck.
View attachment 87368
View attachment 87369
Both the Millis Kenworth and my current Blue Shaker Crapcadia have that crap ..

Always going into "Coasting" Mode and Manual Mode Disabled...

But I found a "Work Around" if I hold the paddle down will hold the lower gear but I got keep it down "continuously " otherwise it will automatically "Upshift " once ya let go of it
 
I can control my vehicle….

When I’ve got the transmission setup how I want it. Not some office puke.
You have the ability to program your equipment to how you see fit. These company guys don't. Like many have written, the manual mode is locked out, so the driver has little to no control of how his vehicle operates or is operated.

With a laptop and the right software, you can set yours up to the size of your load. I'm sure there are ways to save a certain 'tune', so that you can change it as needed.
 
You have the ability to program your equipment to how you see fit. These company guys don't. Like many have written, the manual mode is locked out, so the driver has little to no control of how his vehicle operates or is operated.

With a laptop and the right software, you can set yours up to the size of your load. I'm sure there are ways to save a certain 'tune', so that you can change it as needed.
Every driver on the road has the same ability…

The power to say…

“No…”

Either give me the tools to do my job safely and effectively or I’ll go someplace else to work.

Instead, they come back and say, “give me a neutered and castrated red oval cuz damn I’ll look good with the fake ass stacks that cost you $5000 for an absolutely worthless piece of shit appearance that will get you no return on investment .”
 
Every driver on the road has the same ability…

The power to say…

“No…”

Either give me the tools to do my job safely and effectively or I’ll go someplace else to work.

Instead, they come back and say, “give me a neutered and castrated red oval cuz damn I’ll look good with the fake ass stacks that cost you $5000 for an absolutely worthless piece of shit appearance that will get you no return on investment .”
This was once covered on "Tim Riddley" Show the "Road-Dog" channel 146..

He said back in his "Cabover " Days ya drove around the Truckstop Looking"Cool" in your "Stool" way back in the day..

He also said people were not in such a Big "Hurry" back then either..

You'd sit at the Counter in the Diner okay just 1 more cup of coffee I wanna hear this guy...

5)6 cups later ya hadda Get Moving but he liked hearing all those "Old Stories" at the Truckstop Lunch Counter
 
Every driver on the road has the same ability…

The power to say…

“No…”

Either give me the tools to do my job safely and effectively or I’ll go someplace else to work.

Instead, they come back and say, “give me a neutered and castrated red oval cuz damn I’ll look good with the fake ass stacks that cost you $5000 for an absolutely worthless piece of shit appearance that will get you no return on investment .”
Okay, let's put this one up for debate.
While it's true, the driver can say "NO". But by the same token, you give some guys the ability to have an operable piece of equipment and the abuse starts. You let some of these guys go down the road in an open truck and they'll try to run 80mph through downtown (pick your favorite city). Let them control the transmission and many will be voiding the warranty by letting the engine turn 2400 going down a mountain pass. There's not always someplace else to go, though @Uncle Birchy has proven that to be false on many occasions. Yet, he's never found a place he was truly happy at.

The company has to move freight to exist. Quality drivers aren't on every street corner thanks to deregulation. If a company wants to pay the driver a living wage for his care and experience, he has to charge rates accordingly. This business used to be about service, now it's about how they can get the load covered the cheapest way.

And what's with the 'fake ass stacks'? And the picking on the 'red oval'? I know, like me picking on the vagina trucks. It's all in what you like. I do agree that having fake stacks and yes, the red oval is famous for doing this, strictly for aesthetics is a waste of money. It also adds weight and maintenance cost for nothing. Especially when the truck itself has a curved hood. I hate a curved hood. My stacks are both functional. What's even worse are the pavement burners. Somehow, a truck just doesn't look right with no stack at all.
 
And what's with the 'fake ass stacks'? And the picking on the 'red oval'?
Had a guy giving me shit because I drove a freightliner… yes, he drove a red oval.

Then he proceeded to brag ho his 12.7 L series 60 Detroit was the hottest shit on the road with his 13-speed transmission and meritor differentials…

I laughed at him and just agreed at this point…

He got upset….

Wanted to know how I’d feel if I’d drove a real truck someday…

“You mean like my freightliner with the 14L series 60 with a 13-speed transmission and the meritor rearends like that POS Red oval has as well. That hasn’t been limited by my company to 1500 lbft of torque and castrated from pulling hills with a speed limiter set on it….

You’re right, I’ll never know what it’s like to drive a “real truck”…”


Serious question…

Do you know the origin of the long black conventional trucks? At least the street claim and reason…

 
Last edited:
I can control my vehicle….

When I’ve got the transmission setup how I want it. Not some office puke.
Technically, you can control the computer that controls your truck and you are happy with that. There isn't any way for a computer to know what the terrain is that someone is driving in. An automatic will upshift at the rpms programmed into it, right at the bottom of a hill only to downshift a few seconds later. I could never be happy with that.

I drove that 567 most of the week until they got mine fixed again. It's hard to describe the relief I felt getting out of a nice, quiet, smooth driving truck and back into a noisy, shaking and bouncing down the road truck just because I didn't have to fight that transmission in the hills all day long.

UPDATE: The new trucks are built. They are supposed to be here next week or the following week. :clap:
 
I've been being promised my new truck for over a year now. They must have gotten word of my impending retirement and just figured that they will give the new truck to the new guy. I really don't want one of things that beeps, farts, grunts, slams on the brakes, and makes all sorts of strange noises when it THINKS it sees something up ahead. I'll listen to the rattles. Plus, I didn't want to have to drive up to Greensboro to pick it up. Too far!
 
I really don't want one of things that beeps, farts, grunts, slams on the brakes, and makes all sorts of strange noises when it THINKS it sees something up ahead.
My boss orders his trucks with "owner operator" specs. Many extras and no restrictions or stupid steering wheel holder "safety" systems like you described.
He doesn't hire complete morons and the resale value is higher that way.
 

Back
Top