so my first full week as a oo down.

[firebird_1252]

got though my first week. took me a while to get the hang of freight again! i've been running US mail for the past 4 years. anyway, its not such a bad gig. i'm running rail work right now. its really not bad at all. the people are really nice and i seem to be making out ok.

i find that what the other drives call "not worth their time" i'm finding it to be gold. i got paid a rounder to go from harrisburg to hagerstown md. bob tailed down. brought an empty up. so, i saved fuel bobtailing, didnt burn much coming back up with an empty. did a load down to fredrick md (same day) from harrisburg. there was no emptys to take back so i went back to hagerstown to pick another empty up. got paid for the rounder from harrisburg to fredrick, then got paid another rounder from harrisburg to hagerstown, but i went from fredrick to hagerstown. so bobtailed over picked it up and went back. so what they say isnt worth it, i'll sure as hell take it.

my truck seems to be doing great. my fuel milage is anywhere from 5.5mpg-6.3mpg. when i fill up monday i'm really curious to see what its getting. according to my fuel guage (which has been a bit flaky) the guage is reading closer to 3/4 then half tank on 740 miles. i didnt believe it so i checked the tank and it looks damn close to it. the truck specs are: 04 columbia, C15 435 hp cat (single turbo MBN motor) which by the way people say is a bad motor. i put close to 5000 miles on it since i got it and this thing is rock solid. amazing down low torque... 10 speed, 3.73 grears with low pro 22.5's. i normally run anywhere between 65-67mph.. sometimes (Very rare) 70.as i said before the truck is averaging 5.5-6.3 mpg. well my rambling is done! lol!

[solo379]

The friend of mine doing rail, making a good money. Personally, i just don't like "details" otherwise i'd do it. If you want a fuel mileage from your kitty, don't go over 1400 RPM....

[Bigmon]

Charles Schwab built a great business taking account nobody wanted. Something to be said for doing the opposite.

[firebird_1252]

bigmon you are very right on that!

solo with the 3.73's its a bit rough to keep it under 1400. normally keep it at 1500-1550. seems to be working pretty well. i have to have it in to have the rack run in a few weeks.

[solo379]

solo with the 3.73's its a bit rough to keep it under 1400.

I know. But do you really need that 65-67mph?

[classictruckman]

Maybe loose the lopro's

[solo379]

Maybe loose the lopro's

Or at least go to 24.5...

[firebird_1252]

i plan on losing the lo-pros.

[firebird_1252]

got 6.5mpg today.. pretty damn happy! but today i did a s-load of idling.

[Bigmon]

idling is cheaper then a visit to the ER for heat stroke.