Search results

I have a question, raised by the opening post. You're signed on as a driver, and therefore not responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle? Pardon me, but isn't one of the driver's responsibilities to be doing a pre-trip and post trip inspections of the vehicle? Maybe it's not your job to pay...

Re: Forget I bothered Mental note: If I choose an avatar, I should be careful what I use. Considering the nature of this thread, an avatar that makes me look like an incurable Scrooge-- not a good idea. OVM, I'm looking at your avatar.

Re: Forget I bothered If you're that short of cash that you can't afford the tip, then don't go into the restaurant unless you work there. OK. Tips really shouldn't be part of the deal as a requirement. Restaurants should pay their people enough, but the reality is that they don't. They pay...

Re: Forget I bothered General note, attn: everybody. First impressions are everything. What you say and the way you act can be the deciding factor in what happens next. In the example in this thread, we have a waitress who has made such an impression on me that I would never knowingly set foot...

Re: Forget I bothered Act, I said you have a bee in your bonnet and you most certainly do. This whole thread is about nothing else but the buzzing of that angry bee. Heck, even the chosen username is an attempt to shame us into behaving the way you want us to behave. You're not my mother. I...

Re: Forget I bothered I generally don't eat at truck-stop restaurants. For one thing, dollars aren't as common as you seem to think they are, and for another I'm generally trying to move when I'm on the road. At home, I don't go to restaurants period. I came here and just got another reason...

The desk job does have a steady paycheck, paid holidays and paid vacations. All things we don't have on the road. Since you're an "Independent Contractor"--- all those things are something you don't get. On the flip side, some desk jobs-- not all, but some-- are soul-killing jobs I wouldn't...

Like others say, it varies. A lot. Based on things that you may have no control over. I operate out of the Chicago area, for a company that typically has us van drivers drive out loaded/come back dead-head. Loaded miles paid, dead-head on your own hook. This only works because I'm in the...

In this business, it seems any van that can't get over 400K is a lemon. A 2008 with 180K is still a pup, believe it or not. Right now, I've got a 1998 Chevy 2500 with 197,000 on it as I write this. It's got a few bugbears, but nothing you can't live with and the powerplant/tranny combo is...

Quickie update here. I've just heard from the mechanic, it should be ready tomorrow. He tells me the shaft broke inside the turbo, and I reckon that fits the way the vehicle felt. I've had the turbocharger go off before when a hose split or came off, so I know what it feels like to have no...

I drive for one of the smaller companies mentioned, operating out of Chicago. Outbound loaded, deadhead back. The upside is that I am home frequently, the downside is that approximately half of my mileage is non-paid deadhead miles. So, if you have your heart set on that it can be done. Just...

I know. I've been lurking here for a couple of months, and his advice does look to be sound. As to the wisecracks--- you don't have to be crazy to be in expediting, it offers on-the-job training.

Turtle, your last post caused me to look up Sprinter transmission troubles. I bought this one used, it had 183,000 on it when I bought it so, unless Carfax might have something on it, I'll just have to guess on the tranny for the moment. I can report that this one has a "hole" between second...

I hope I've finally touched bottom on this one. Today, after another blizzard of phone calls, I found a garage in Palatine, Illinois that can do it and furthermore, according to the lie he told me, he has the part in stock. Will wonders never cease? Installed for just over eighteen hundred, and...

Sorry about my previous posts here yesterday, I was having a bad day and I think the negativity kind of shows. I really don't want to open up here that down on everything, sure the economy is bad but there are possibilities. Maybe somebody here can help with a word of cheer.

Listening to the news: We're in a lot of trouble. It doesn't seem to matter what you do, the Market is falling and they're worried about "another" recession. So, whether you do expedited freight or work in an office, we're all in the same boat. Just keeping a roof over our heads is going to be...

I started with a Sprinter. It's presently in the shop causing me more worries than I need. Monday, I was two hundred miles from home with this thing, watching the mechanic call just about everyplace he could to locate a turbocharger. Good luck. One can be found if you're willing to wait and if...

I got that "Weird duck" phrase from a Texan. He had a lot of sayings like that.

I suppose a little quickie history is in order. I've driven something commercially now since November of '87. First it was large semi, then I stepped down to package delivery in my vehicles since Sept. of '89. Most of my time up to about four months ago was spent in the Chicago area in...

This is my first post here, but I've been reading here for a couple of months and I'm not exactly new around forums (as a Google of my user name would quickly prove). Right now I'm at home, with a breakdown/possible vehicle replacement. I drive a 2005 Dodge Sprinter and I had the bad luck to...