Recent content by jr4488

I currently run a dedicated route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Two round trips a week. It’s 640 miles each way. Plus, Tesla just opened a supercharger “truckstop” in Baker, California that would work perfectly for me. I usually buy a new tractor every five years for about $130,000 and...

I know a 40,000 pound load will get me 7.2 mpg. I know a 35,000 pound load will get me 7.4 mpg. I know a 20,000 pound load will get me 8.2 mpg... Jack

Walmart doesn’t “lie” about their numbers, indeed.com does it for them. Walmart is currently recruiting new drivers on the radio offering first year starting pay over $80k plus full benifits including medical from day one. The commercials direct listeners to Www.drive4walmart.com I drove...

When I have 35,000 pounds in the trailer: -my engine produces 570 hp going up a grade and gets 1.8 mpg -my engine produces 87 hp on flat pavement going 65 mph and gets 7.4 mpg -my engine produces 40 hp on a downhill grade and gets 13.5 mpg - my engine engages the “Jake brake” on a steep...

Lots of old, wrong information in your post. Average truck driver pay at the mega carriers is $56k annually. Private fleets like Walmart average $90k annually. Owner operators average $141k annually. https://www.truckdriverssalary.com/owner-operator-salary/ Wages are rising because of a...

It’s a metal barrier between the cab of the tractor and the trailer. It helps prevent the cargo from breaching the cab in an accident. They use to be required. However, the mega carriers lobbied and got the regulation changed. They didn’t like them because they cost money and add weigh to the...

I am not a smart man. But I know who stole my house and destroyed my business... The Great American Bubble Machine - Rolling Stone Jack

Point well taken. It’s actually worse than you think because I also throw chains rather than park. I did it four times last winter. I carry time sensitive, high value loads and the brokers expect me to run if the roads are open. Some trucking companies (like Fedex) require drivers to throw...

The speed limit differential of 15 mph on interstate highways in California is what helps to make it the second deadliest state for truckers. Three years ago, I got a ticket for 61 in a 55 outside of Barstow. It was $400 for the ticket and $4,000 in increased insurance premiums. Now, I run in...

Goldman Sachs Finally Admits it Defrauded Investors During the Financial Crisis Just because there is no regulation against it, doesn't make it right to steal peoples homes. I guess we'll agree to disagree... jack

I'm new to the forum and I don't know how to edit out the mistake in my post! It should be six tons. I've been in a jackknife situation several times and was always able to recover. It's usually in Wyoming on I-80, late a night, below zero, strong crosswind, steep downhill grade, light...

Jackknifes can happen in many ways. It is usually caused when the weight of the trailer overcomes that traction on the drive tires and pushes the tractor out of the way. It can also happen with strong crosswinds on slick pavement or even loss of traction on the trailer tires. There are...

The data is 20 years old and no longer valid... jack

Lee Iacocca revived Ford and later Chrysler by investing in non federally mandated safety equipment and designs that costs more money at the time. Tesla can easily do the same thing because they will me the only truck manufacturer with a low cost electrified drivetrain for a few years. Under...

When I was a driving instructor, about 1/3 of the new driver applicants would fail a drug test (even knowing ahead of time that they would be tested). These people never get their commercial license. Mandatory random roadside drug testing is performed on all drivers regularly in the United...