it.


Perfect answer!

Pete 387's have lots of front of cab room and drive much better than the "classic" trucks.. and you can actually see the road in front of you.

Volvo 770's 880's *drool*

The new model freightshakers are actually really nice from what i've seen. Downside of course.. you're driving a freightshaker.

The old pete 379's have very.. houselike sleepers. Feels like a whole separate room (the big ones).

The new kw's are copies of the 387 or visa versa or something.

Whatever you get into you will learn to love or hate. If i were starting out (or even now) id go with a 770/780, pete 387, or the new freightshaker (columbia????) in that order. Or anything Without a governor no matter how oldk, beat up, rough running and rusty as first choice.

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For a new driver such as yourself with no experience your two best friends will be a Volvo 660/670 and a FreightLiner Columbia. You will like these the best because they are the easiest to maneuver both forward and backward.

Some new guys that are given the option will go with the long hood trucks just because they look "cool", but they soon realize they do not have the skill to drive those long wheel base trucks properly.

 

Give me a long nose Pete, this is my 1st choice I like the solid mount cab, no leaning in the corners. 2ND the w 900. I haven't been any place I could not back into with a long wheelbase, this is what you are trained for. Stop, look and listen and you will be fine!! Don't let ANY truck scare you!!!!
I was unloading at a wire company somewhere in LA one time with a 48" trailer and a 260" WB 359 Pete, when the trailer was snug with the dock, the tractor was at a 90 deg angle with the building in front of the dock with a foot of clearance. Just remember, where there's a will, there's a way so don't let long wheelbases scare you!!!! Or anyone else for that matter!!!

 

That is very good advice outlaw, but we have all seen some of the people out there that have a hard time backing a volvo into a DC dock. I would hate to be the truck at the door next to them, let alone have to watch them try and back a long nose in. I myself have driven both long nose and snubs, and I still stick to my thoughts that new drivers should start out with a snub nose until they feel comfortable with driving a vehicle as long as their houses.

 

I'm a little embarrassed to say this but I never understood what people were talking about when mentioning wheel base. What exactly does that mean?

 

Nothing really to be embarrassed about merrick, what we are talking about is simple. There are two main wheel bases on class 7/8 trucks, they are 215" and 245" with some being shorter or longer. The wheel base is nothing more than the length from the front center hub to the farthest center of the hub on the last axle. The inches between the two is the wheel base. The shorter the wheel base the easier it is to back a trailer with "usually". There are other things to consider as well, like where the 5th wheel is located on the frame, and how far front or back the front axle sits. Both of those things will increase or decrease the length of the pivot point between the tractor and the trailer.

 

I see what you are saying jegzus, I think if a driver be he new or seasoned, cant pay attention to what is around them, they don't belong in a truck. To all the new drivers, go slow and watch, and if you need to get out and look. I think we BABY new drivers too much, like with transmissions and short Wheelbase trucks, just prolonging getting them experienced. I do understand what you are saying though...

 

Listen to me. If you want to do it right you need two trucks. One American and one European. That way your arms will tan evenly.

 

I agree Outlaw, the industry does baby new drivers way to much. But on the other hand there are a lot of people driving truck that I per se wouldn't let drive a pick-up. But the companies do this because they need drivers, and to facilitate the people with out the natural talent they use these snub nose trucks as well for the fuel millage they get.

But personally if I go back to driving full time again I would love to drive a rig like those at TMC, they are just secksie.

 

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