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SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

I work about an hour away from where I live and it's highway all the way. I notice all the trucks that are hauling local stuff and the majority of them look like total pieces of crap compared to the long haul trucks. I just can't imagine any of them passing any type of inspection. Am I correct? Are these people masters at avoiding weigh stations. When I was first looking at some used flatbeds I was going to budget 10k until I checked some out and all I could think was that I would be a non stop target for DOT inspections.

Mackman · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 2401 Location: Concordville PA

i know your local trucks take more of a beating then OTR trucks do. With the dump trucks all you do is shift. Stop and go all day long. After awhile it takes its toll. I think the local guys run more junk because they know local techs. Can fix them at night in there own shop not on the side of the road.

hamboner · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 190

I agree....most local trucks are subject to more abuse. Weigh stations are non existent on the local routes of most of the lumber and log haulers around here. The only way these guys are inspected is if a DOT trooper pulls them over and uses the portable scales on them, but it does happen every so often.

I have a friend who runs a local dump operation, and they hardly if ever run legal weight. Heck....most of his trucks are old and falling apart, but he manages to do pretty well running about 20 trucks. He does happen to have about 5 mechanics and a good wrecker though! :wink: Quote: Quote:

Deus · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 343

I run for a local company and our trucks are very well maintained. All depends on the company, but they do take more of a beating than OTR trucks, and it is easier to get them in for service. I think most of them would pass inspections, they just don't worry about what it LOOKS like. We have a few beat up old trucks but all the critical safety stuff is very well maintained (i.e brakes, suspension, steering, etc etc)

mudawg · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 118 Location: New Hampshire

I think there is more junk on the road then there is running around home from what I see.Just look at outfits like Tiebault corp,Sams,what's left of Tufts,o/o's that haul for Brox and there are a couple other dirt dummie companies that run 100,000lbs+ that have very well maintained (weekly)equipment.
Now you look at these bottom dollar road out Prime,Swift,England etc...those trucks go upwards of 20 to 25,000 miles between lube and maintenance.

Overloaded · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 80 Location: West Virginia

Local trucks around my area seem a little ratty looking but are pretty decent mechanically, which is a wonder if consider the loads they haul. It amazes me the OTR guys are scared to death if they're 1000lbs over weight, they should see what some coal trucks here weigh. 140,000+ on 6 axles.

Jumbo · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 895 Location: Northern Wisconsin

The operation I drive for is small (4 trucks) and even we have our own mechanic. Everybody gets 1 night a week in the garage to get their maintainence, unless something else comes up that needs more attention, then we have 2 outside shops and access to the dealer garages (Peterbilt). But the moral of the story is that after 5 years (approx. 4-500,000 miles) we get a new truck and our 5 year old used stuff is in better shape than what most other people are running around in. The most important thing is a owner who is willing to spend some money on maintainence.

Mackman · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 2401 Location: Concordville PA

Jumbo wrote: The most important thing is a owner who is willing to spend some money on maintainence.

I know with alot of the smaller 4 or 5 truck companys are (dump trucks) the owners dont want to spend anything on maintainence. You can let maintainece go but it will come back to get you in the long run.

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

Jumbo wrote: The operation I drive for is small (4 trucks) and even we have our own mechanic. Everybody gets 1 night a week in the garage to get their maintainence, unless something else comes up that needs more attention, then we have 2 outside shops and access to the dealer garages (Peterbilt). But the moral of the story is that after 5 years (approx. 4-500,000 miles) we get a new truck and our 5 year old used stuff is in better shape than what most other people are running around in. The most important thing is a owner who is willing to spend some money on maintainence.

Man-I'm trying to pin you down but the 4 trucks screws me up. I was going to Guess Nowack or Albrecht but they both have more than 4 :P

Jumbo · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 895 Location: Northern Wisconsin

Yooper,

I will make it easy for you I work For Jim Ambrosius Custom Trucking. You have probaly see our trucks before. They are the red and white long hood peterbilts with the flames on the hood. Albrecht doesn't have log trucks anymore and Novaks are going mostly o/o.

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

Jumbo wrote: Yooper,

I will make it easy for you I work For Jim Ambrosius Custom Trucking. You have probaly see our trucks before. They are the red and white long hood peterbilts with the flames on the hood. Albrecht doesn't have log trucks anymore and Novaks are going mostly o/o.

That was my Guess after I posted.
I drove for Albrecht for awhile and Drove that Big Pete which was sorta a Light Purple with the Big Cat and the Brass Locomotive Airhorn.
You remember that Truck? :P
Now THAT was a Truck.
I hauled those Big Cherry Logs down to Illinois near the quad cities.

Jumbo · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 895 Location: Northern Wisconsin

If you mean the pete with the stand up bunk that is the only one he has left, I don't know who drives it though. Do you remember Jimmy joe? He works with us now.

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

Jumbo wrote: If you mean the pete with the stand up bunk that is the only one he has left, I don't know who drives it though. Do you remember Jimmy joe? He works with us now.

Name doesn't ring any bells.
Those Cherry Logs were worth a Fortune-Once in Illinois they were shipped through the Waterways to Japan so they could ship them back as Finished Cherry Wood :roll:
I'm amazed he got rid of his Log Trucks though-Always thought Mike was a Bit Nuts. :P
I see your trucks up in these parts once in awhile.
Last load I hauled for Mike was DH'ing to International Falls and Picking up Fibre Board which must have been 50' High :P
Seemed like it anyway.

Jumbo · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 895 Location: Northern Wisconsin

We have a couple jobs on the Old Beechwood Road west of town. And I haul logs down for Calumet and South Range 1 or 2 times a week.

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

. And I haul logs down for Calumet and South Range 1 or 2 times a week.

People want to Talk about Winter Driving That's PRIME Winter Driving :P
That Purple Pete with the Brass Loco. Horn was too funny-You know how quiet Laona is around 2am and I was at Albrechts Garage parking for the Night and I had just switched over to this Truck and When I was getting out of the Truck I saw all this Brass just inside the Cab on the Drivers Side and It had a Brass Switch. I'm thinking "Wonder what this is"? :P
So I Slid the Switch over and Man I'm telling you I almost fell off the Running Boards lmao.
Hey-If you're runnin' up near Iron Mountain or Picking up at Sagola L/P Mill(I live west of Sagola in the Middle of the Bush) give me a buzz and we'll have coffee at the Mini-mart.

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