Originally Posted by
Racer X 69 The biggest challenge is dealing with all the inconsiderate people in cars who have no clue what is involved with driving such a large vehicle. It is about 5 or 6 times longer than the average car. At 80,000lbs fully loaded it outweighs most cars by about 26 times. So many people refuse to take an extra 5 seconds and stay behind me for the next exit, rather they insist on speeding past me and then at the last minute cut directly in front of me and stomp on their brakes. Lucky for them I am usually observant and see the situation developing and ease off the throttle so my truck doesn't smash their tiny little car and their ignorant and inconsiderate puny human body into a pancake. Or the morons who get to the and of the freeway onramp and suddenly realize there is a big truck there (if they would stop texting and drive this might not ever happen), and act like it is my fault they are rapidly running out of pavement. Hey, they are supposed to merge, not me. And if I can't get over for them, I sure as Hell am not going to give up my forward momentum. Even though the engine is large and powerful, if I am loaded heavy it may take me 5 miles to regain the speed that I have to give up so they can get onto the roadway.
Long loads like the one pictured can present challenges. A driver has to plan turns, swing out to clear signs and power poles on corners, etc. I also move wide loads, some as wide as 16 to 18 feet. That is much wider than the width of the freeway lanes. If I am in an area where there are no shoulders, I will take up two lanes. Sometimes the people in cars who have no clue will try to pass when they should just wait a moment longer.
Today's trucks get much better fuel economy that they used to, about 5 to 7 mpg. Trucks used to typically get 1 to 2 mpg. When the fuel costs began to rise, fleet owners began to demand better fuel economy so manufacturers began to squeeze more out of every drop.
All the trucks in the pictures are company trucks, that I drove for the company I work for. The blue one was my first truck, a 2005 Volvo 780. 15 liter ISX Cummins 550hp, 13 speed transmission. It had about 500,000 miles on it when I took it over, and I put about 200,000 miles on it. When I moved out of it the next driver misused it and blew the engine.
The green truck was my second, another Volvo 780, a 2007 with a Volvo D12 engine (it sucked, had no power, got crappy fuel mileage) and a 13 speed transmission. This truck only had one other driver before me, and had about 300,000 miles on it when I moved into it. I put about 140,000 miles on it, but moved out of it a year ago last December when I took a couple months off to have a hip replacement done.
The burgundy truck is my latest rig. A Frieghtlliner Columbia, 15 liter Detroit 550hp, 13 speed transmission. This truck had about 500,000 miles on it when I came back to work after the hip surgery, and so far I have put about 120,000 miles on it.
All the trucks have double bunks, refrigerator/freezer, APU and inverter. Very well appointed, comfortable and great to have while away from home. I also have a microwave, a toaster and a thing that makes hot water for coffee and instant oatmeal, etc. And of course I also have a 24" flatscreen TV.
I gotta be cozy and comfortable when I'm stuck someplace 3,000 miles from home waiting for the next load.
Some things to think about:
An average solo truck driver usually runs about 130,000 to 150,000 miles a year. A team will double that annual mileage.
The average automobile driver goes about 15,000 to 20,000 miles a year.
Average cars cost about $20,000 to $30,000.
A new truck like the ones I have driven sell for $130,000 to $150,000.
Cars have 4 tires, that cost about $50 to $100 each.
Trucks have 18 tires (including the trailer) and cost about $250 to $500 each.
A car has about 4 quarts of oil in the crankcase, and a good car owner changes their oil every 5,000 miles.
A truck has 10 gallons of oil in the crankcase, and it should be changed every 20,000 miles (although some of the 2013 engines have extended oil change intervals up to 40,000 miles).
The average car owner gets a new car every 10 to 15 years, at about 100,000 miles.
I will drive enough miles to wear a truck out in about 4 or 5 years and it will have over a million miles on it.
Oh, one last thing. Every thing you have in your home, at one time was on a truck. Some things have been on many trucks. If we didn't have trucks, we would not have the stuff that we have in our homes. Or the cars in our garages or driveways. Or the planes that we fly on. Or the trains the move people and materials.
Without trucks, America stops.
The world stops.
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