Peach State Freightliner

[ScurvyDawg]

So I will keep this short and to the point. Peach State Freightliner in the Atlanta area is about as bad as it gets for repairs, and specifically the Austell location. To put it bluntly, I just had a clutch go out. Managed to get it there. Almost 2 WEEKS later it was done, and they first looked at it 2 days after I dropped it off. Parts only took 2 business days to get in. I asked for the higher torque rated clutch (1850 or 2050). Simple request right? Cross checked the part number, you guessed it, has the 1750 part in it, which I specifically told them I did not want. Changed the rear main seal without mentioning it at all. And this isn't first time they have taken 2 weeks to make a relatively simple repair. And I got to pay $148 per hour for the privilege of getting screwed.

Just passing it along.

 

[GAnthony]

although i am not familiar with that place, i can at lest say this:

it is highly possible the clutch plate you wanted, was simply not available for the configuration you have.

doing a 'simple" job on a big truck, many times runs into problems. i know this, from my automotive mechanic days. not all jobs go as planed.

as far as replacing the rear seal, ok thier mistake for not mentioning it, but would you rather have the oil get all over your new clutch plate, then guess what, that would NOT be under warranty, and you WILL PAY for a new clutch all over again....

if you are an o/o and i am surmising you are, having your truck down for x number of days, let alone weeks, is costly to you, i fully understand this. however, you really need to be understanding, that not all repairs are quick, nor are all parts available that you want, UNLESS, you WANTED to wait say an additional week or two for the arrival of such, "special ordered parts" to arrive.

they may have taken what you said, saying maybe, "i need my truck back asap" as gospel from you, and wanted you on your way, asap.....and NOT delay you any longer.

do not forget as well, in ANY repair shop, none of us are the ONLY customer that must be taken care of, and a hard repair job on one truck, can spill over time wise, to take care of other customers.

in the end..??

find another shop, this might end your biotching about that place..?????

 

[8978]

That's what happens when you make fun of Swift. New clutch on my truck was $2,500 and around 4 hours. 3 people working on it. Rupp Truck repair Lamar, CO. Easy when a place has a pit to work from.

 

[ScurvyDawg]

although i am not familiar with that place, i can at lest say this:

it is highly possible the clutch plate you wanted, was simply not available for the configuration you have.

doing a 'simple" job on a big truck, many times runs into problems. i know this, from my automotive mechanic days. not all jobs go as planed.

as far as replacing the rear seal, ok thier mistake for not mentioning it, but would you rather have the oil get all over your new clutch plate, then guess what, that would NOT be under warranty, and you WILL PAY for a new clutch all over again....

if you are an o/o and i am surmising you are, having your truck down for x number of days, let alone weeks, is costly to you, i fully understand this. however, you really need to be understanding, that not all repairs are quick, nor are all parts available that you want, UNLESS, you WANTED to wait say an additional week or two for the arrival of such, "special ordered parts" to arrive.

they may have taken what you said, saying maybe, "i need my truck back asap" as gospel from you, and wanted you on your way, asap.....and NOT delay you any longer.

do not forget as well, in ANY repair shop, none of us are the ONLY customer that must be taken care of, and a hard repair job on one truck, can spill over time wise, to take care of other customers.

in the end..??

find another shop, this might end your biotching about that place..?????

The clutch I wanted was and is available, I checked before asking.

I do know that sometimes other issues can pop up, but they should have kept me informed...especially when it adds to the cost and time. The rear main seal is something that should be done if it even looks like it could fail when doing a clutch. But I would argue that I don't have an oil consumption problem, and there is a difference between a seal that is leaking and one that might be a little dirty.

The total labor time for my truck was 20 hours (according to the book they use). They were given authorization to repair my truck on a Thursday. In my opinion, that means start getting it apart then or at the very least the next day, order the parts, ship the flywheel out to be resurfaced, and when the parts come in, put it all back together. Their shop is big enough to let my truck occupy a stall for 2 business days. They didn't start the job until the parts came in. I should have been done 3 days before it was. And for the record, I never told them I needed it back ASAP, but I did tell them that did not give them license to take their time either.

I'm also aware that I'm not the only customer, but when you start on my truck, ESPECIALLY since you didn't start on it until the parts came in, don't work on something else at the same time. That's how mistakes get made.

In the end? I've been searching for a new shop near the house, but I have not gotten the "warm and fuzzies" about any of them yet. I will tell you this though, as much as I now hate Peach State Freightliner, I love Truck Center Co (a Freightliner dealer) in York, NE (next to the Petro). I'm always treated right, I have yet to wait for more than an hour or two before they get me in, they are reasonable with their labor rate ($105/hr), and the quality of the work is consistently good.

 

[ScurvyDawg]

That's what happens when you make fun of Swift. New clutch on my truck was $2,500 and around 4 hours. 3 people working on it. Rupp Truck repair Lamar, CO. Easy when a place has a pit to work from.

If I had a regular style clutch, things would have been much simpler and faster, I'm sure. The problem all started with the hydraulic part of it, which complicated this from the get go.

 

[Bored Insane]

If I had a regular style clutch, things would have been much simpler and faster, I'm sure. The problem all started with the hydraulic part of it, which complicated this from the get go.

Hydraulic clutch sounds cool, but it really sucks to have that much down time (and it sounds like it's more expensive). If there was a comprehensive list of good repair shops and shops to avoid, it would be fantastic....

 

[GAnthony]

The clutch I wanted was and is available, I checked before asking.

ok

I do know that sometimes other issues can pop up, but they should have kept me informed...especially when it adds to the cost and time. The rear main seal is something that should be done if it even looks like it could fail when doing a clutch. But I would argue that I don't have an oil consumption problem, and there is a difference between a seal that is leaking and one that might be a little dirty.

many times, a "little dirty" IS an indication of a seepage to leak situation, i know, i worked in a repair garage for many year, prior to becoming a trucker. would it be safe to replace it now, or sorry later that one didn't..??? as far as not keeping you informed, many times when you sign the work order, it does state they do not have to do so, and you give/gave an "allowance" to them, please re-read anything you sign at any repair shop in the future.

The total labor time for my truck was 20 hours (according to the book they use). They were given authorization to repair my truck on a Thursday. In my opinion, that means start getting it apart then or at the very least the next day, order the parts, ship the flywheel out to be resurfaced, and when the parts come in, put it all back together. Their shop is big enough to let my truck occupy a stall for 2 business days. They didn't start the job until the parts came in. I should have been done 3 days before it was. And for the record, I never told them I needed it back ASAP, but I did tell them that did not give them license to take their time either.

again, i worked in a garage, "book times" are for perfect conditions, like non-rusted nuts and bolts. nothing breaking, or being in the way as only 2 examples. when i "gave an estimate", i only used book time as a guide, and added "up to" 3 hours more, then adjusted the final bill to reflect any discounted prices, if i beat book time.

I'm also aware that I'm not the only customer, but when you start on my truck, ESPECIALLY since you didn't start on it until the parts came in, don't work on something else at the same time. That's how mistakes get made.

what are they supposed to do, if they are backed up with work as they waited for parts for other trucks..??? when THOSE parts come in, they do have to get out THAT customer as well. you obviously DO NOT KNOW the inner workings of ANY repair gaage, as such, your ranting is falling on deaf ears.

In the end? I've been searching for a new shop near the house, but I have not gotten the "warm and fuzzies" about any of them yet. I will tell you this though, as much as I now hate Peach State Freightliner, I love Truck Center Co (a Freightliner dealer) in York, NE (next to the Petro). I'm always treated right, I have yet to wait for more than an hour or two before they get me in, they are reasonable with their labor rate ($105/hr), and the quality of the work is consistently good.

you are on the road, they know they have to get you out in x number of hours. that's all there is to it, you are no more special there, then at a place near your home. i'll just bet, had you needed a clutch on the road, you WOULD HAVE still waited, who a re you even trying to kid here..????

 

[ScurvyDawg]

Look, they hosed me. I get all your points. They pulled my truck in the shop on a Thursday morning after I dropped it off on a Tuesday. When they pulled it in, they should have been ready to work on it after having it for 2 days at that point. Would I have had to wait wherever I went? Probably. But a clutch IS NOT a nearly 2 week job. This isn't my first time ever putting a clutch in a truck. In the 3 previous times I had to get a clutch done, it took less than 12 hours once work was started. Even if you throw in the fact that the hydraulic parts had to be changed, it should have been done faster and, according to the 3 shops I've been to our called since, done for A LOT less money. One shop told me that they could have done it for almost 2 grand less. And honestly, had I been able to get my truck into York, I don't think I would have waited more than a few days at most.

And quit trying to play devils advocate already... lol

 

[hhamp000]

I have to agree with ScurvyDawg, a clutch is a 1 day deal!! Freightliner dealers SUCK!! I haven't seen one that I would let work on my truck!!! They are on the same level as Volvo & Mack dealers..

 

[catalinaflyer]

Well a few months back I was leaving the scale at the top of Cabbage (I-84 in Oregon) and lost both rear ends with only 48,000 miles on my new truck. I knew there was a new KW dealership at the casino at the bottom of the hill. So just before I ran out of momentum I finally crested and started picking up speed. Coasted all the way down with an OD load and made it 3/4 of the way up the drive before my momentum ran out. Was able to jerk, clunk and bang the last 50 yards.

So that was late Wednesday afternoon just before closing time. With some assistance from a non-english speaking Eastern European and one of my chains we were able to get my truck popped out from under my RGN and into the shop. They pulled the drain plugs and both were full of large parts.

Thursday morning rolls around, my shop in Washington has operations convinced that replacing the rears is a week or more job. The service manager is shaking his head and telling me that I would be rolling by the end of the day Friday. So after making my ops manager call the service manager they decided to let me wait there on my truck.

Long and short, both rear ends replaced (which had to be shipped in from Portland) and I was back on the road at 2:00pm on Friday.

Of course initially Spicer tried to deny warranty citing "driver abuse". The service manager said eff em and told the mechanics to pull them so he could find out what happened. Turned out it was caused by a bronze bushing failure in the inter-axle differential that took out both ring gears. Not something that could have been caused by "driver abuse". This service manager was so confident it was a warranty issue he ordered new rears prior to Spicer approving it.

So there are some dealerships/service centers/shops that have the best interest of the truck/driver in mind. Then there are places like Peach State who DGAF. This KW shop even found a leak in my exhaust which was no where near the area of the truck they were working on but the service manager knows of this potential faulty part and without me saying anything had his mechanic check, found it was failing and replaced it under warranty while I was in there as well as clearing the buffet of codes that Paccar motors like to generate.

The culprit-

 

[Mike]

I have to agree with ScurvyDawg, a clutch is a 1 day deal!! Freightliner dealers SUCK!! I haven't seen one that I would let work on my truck!!! They are on the same level as Volvo & Mack dealers..

Dealers suck, period!