Why me?

[Malaki86]

Ok - why is it that out of the 100 or so trucks in this damn truckstop, the only idiot that has his truck running is parked right beside me? Not only that, but the ass has it running on high idle. At least he doesn't have a reefer too.

BTW - it's 68 degrees out and the sun is down. Plus there's a REALLY nice breeze. Well, there would be if I could open the windows on BOTH sides of the damn truck.

[wildkat]

Murphy's Law...and doncha know Murphy was a truck driver? LOL

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Ok - why is it that out of the 100 or so trucks in this damn truckstop, the only idiot that has his truck running is parked right beside me? Not only that, but the ass has it running on high idle. At least he doesn't have a reefer too.

Sorry about that. This truckstop is too quiet anyways plus I want to watch tv and my batteries are weak, got to run er' up to get that alternator spinning !

[Roadhog]

Where's a cheese burger when you really need one?

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Where's a cheese burger when you really need one?

Any food you put on my truck is going to get eaten !

[Jackrabbit379]

Well, it could be worse. It could be a long nose Pete with a set of straights, idling at about 1,000. Ooooh baby! Sing to me!!

[RostyC]

Cheeseburger!......... Cheeseburger!......... Cheeseburger!!!!

[geeshock]

probably not the case but I did idle the truck due to bad batteries. they had to jump me 4 times during the week but instead of replace the battiereis right away, they routed me all the way from portland, or to indy to replace the batteries. Every time I shut my truck off was a garunteed jump start.

[Malaki86]

Wow - I had my batteries go out on me right around Labor Day. The day before Labor Day, the truck wouldn't start. Luckily I was at a truckstop with a garage to jump me. The next morning (Labor Day) the same thing happened (again at a truckstop with a garage). When I called breakdown I told them that I wanted the batteries tested. 3 were completely dead and one had about 50% charge. The garage worked up the estimate and called Celadon, who told them to replace all 4. Total cost on the bill: just over $750.

[geeshock]

wish they would have done that for me, it would have been less expensive. seriously, if they didn't want to pay the labor they could have bought the batteries and I would have put them in to save the agravation and time lost.

[Jackrabbit379]

$750 to replace the batteries?? Dag gum!! I'd hate to have them work on something major!!

[Malaki86]

That was why I specifically said the 2nd time they went out was Labor Day. The garage was closed, so they had to pay a premium to have their on-call mechanics sent out and work on the truck.

[Malaki86]

Almost forgot another wonderful "company uses their brains" moment.

When I got the truck April 1st, it had brand new steer tires on it. The drives weren't bad, but a set of duals had a flat/bald section on it (looked like that wheel locked up). So, they put a new set of used rubber on that set of duals. Over time, it was quite apparent that the rear axles were out of alignment. It only took me 4 or 5 months of getting 1-2 tires replaced every 2-3 weeks before they finally listened to me and sent the truck in for the alignment at a Wingfoot dealer. After it was done, the mechanic called into breakdown and told Celadon that even though the drives (all of them) were still technically legal, they should all be replaced. Nope - didn't happen.

Well, because I was still driving on badly cupped tires, they just kept eating each other up. I continued for a couple more months of the same 1-2 tires every 2-3 weeks. When I went into Indy for my PM, I mentioned the tires to the shop manager and also the mechanic doing the pm. The mechanic marked all of the tread depths (which were all over the place) and noted on the paperwork that the truck needed all 8 drives replaced. They put 1 on.

About 2-3 weeks later, I had a tire that cupped itself into horrible condition. You know the feeling of a high-speed vibration (well, if 62mph is high speed). So, I go to the Waxahachie terminal where they have Wingfoot on site. They replaced the 1 tire. Not only that, but there was at least a 1/2" tread depth difference on the duals.

Fast forward another 2-3 weeks and the last tire they put on was now just as worn, cupped and crappy as the one he'd taken off. I was going into Laredo, so after I dropped the trailer I went to the shop. I had the shop foreman come out and inspect my tires - he didn't want to, but I didn't give him much choice. He took 1 glance at them and sent me directly to the Wingfoot in Laredo for all 8 tires, plus another alignment (it was in spec, but they wanted to be sure). I haven't had a tire problem since.

[geeshock]

heh, imagine that. They did the PM and told me the batteries weren't bad last night, well this morning they are jumping the truck and replaceing the batteries. Lucky for them I am still at the terminal

[Malaki86]

LOL - wonder if they tested yours the same way I've seen them test mine:

At the beginning of the PM, hook up the big battery charger and leave it run for the duration of the PM. Once done with the PM, disconnect the charger and test the battery voltage.

Ya - I don't quite think that's a proper way to load test the batteries.

[geeshock]

heh, i didn't hang around for the duration but it was hooked up to the battery charger, sure they have a good charge in the beginning but test it out 6 hours later and I'm sure they will see the difference. oh well, machines never lie right, lol. the fact that I drive the truck and turn it off then 6 to 9 hours later I can't start the truck must be user error, lol.

[Malaki86]

See - now you're learning!!!

Not sure how they tested yours after your PM, but for mine, he just hooked up a voltmeter to the battery bank. He didn't disconnect the batteries and load test each one.

The *only* thing that breakdown asked with the 2nd jumpstart was what I had left running in the truck. She didn't say anything when I said "Only the bunk heater that you installed so we don't idle."

[VPIDarkAngel]

The *only* thing that breakdown asked with the 2nd jumpstart was what I had left running in the truck. She didn't say anything when I said "Only the bunk heater that you installed so we don't idle."

That was a pretty good one.
So far, I've only had about 4 sets of batteries replaced (all on different trucks). I never had one ounce of trouble with them, save for the one truck with only 3 batteries (which seemed to be standard fare for trucks with APU's). The last guy who had my current truck, however, installed hardware for a fourth battery, so my truck has four fairly new batteries in it.
Tires, on the other hand, are a different story. The last time I went in for tires (at T/A in Greensboro, NC), it was for all four drives on the #3 axle. I was sent out with four R195 low-pro tires... Needless to say, no snow driving for me.