Well I got out of the shop yesterday at 4:30 pm. They took approximately 24 hours to do my service, including the super single to dual tire swap, fix an exhaust leak, and install the stupid lane departure system.

They did not replace my windshield, they only filled the chip with some repair goo. That works I guess, since it now looks like a bug on the glass.

I am unimpressed with the lane departure system. It does not track the dotted white line to your left on the highway. So it rumbles at you if you stray too close to the breakdown lane, but you can run over traffic in the passing lane no problem. :roll: I also like to run closer to the right edge of the lane than it allows. The worst problem I see with it is that when entering a corner it still wants you to be centered in the lane which can cause the trailer to track over the line. So in conclusion I believe that it will be switched off more than it will be on.

The duals are decent bridgestone 295/75r22.5 low profile "fuel saver" tires. This is the same size as most steer and trailer tires. They are putting on a white powder coated steel rim on the inside with alcoa durabright rim on the outside. By the way there is a rumor floating around that they need to put on longer lug studs to accomodate the duals but that is just a rumor.

They also did replace my AM/FM radio. When I asked the Joplin shop to fix it because my CD was stuck in there all they did was remove the CD and tell me not to use it. :roll: But I got a new used/refurbished unit installed so when I get back home I can bring a few CD's along again.

The only really annoying thing that happened was that while my truck was in the shop they took my empty trailer into the shop, cut my locks off the sideboxes, and attempted to steal my personal items that I had in there. To keep my truck clean I had left my tire inflator hose, strap winder, and a bag of gloves in the sideboxes, along with my lumber tarps. I noticed that my trailer was missing just in time to rescue my stuff. So bewarned that any empty trailer in the DSM yard does not belong to you.

They did have a load for me when I got out of there last night. I went to Ipsco to get a load of steel plate headed for Indiana.

Re: Noobie
 

on the second simulation, when you come to a truck broke down in the hammer lane slow down. a couple of us killed a lady that ran out in front of us just past the truck. we had a good laugh but it was a wakeup call.

orientation is not bad at all, just be on time, do what they tell you, say yes sir no sir, and be professional. Austin, the newbie instructor, comes off as a hardass but he's a decent guy.

not nearly as bad as Randy at first :shock:

That doesn't sound right. Next time you are at the yard ask them if they can calibrate the system.

what up cad, I been reading this thread for a longtime now, on page 106 :shock: , and for a while there was really getting excited about joining the TMC family again (back in may of 2007 I was with a trainer but it didn't work out), but the hiring commitee shut me down. I enjoyed reading about rawlco, fred, BND, and the rest. Watching (reading) you grow from a newb to some of the best flatbed vets. I still have lots of love for TMC, but I just wish I could have been apart of something great. :cry:

World Pax where are you? I'm sitting here at Mac Daddy Steel waiting for a load. Thought you might be around.

Bummer, I was there the day before, and will be there in a few hours. Did you get a chance to swing by Gardner's (the super-huge used book store)?

Mac Steel in Fort Smith, Arkansas? :shock:

I work about 3 miles away from there

Nope, the Tulsa, OK location.

Haha, finally met up with a safety nazi today, unfortunately not one of the helpful ones. Total power tripper, as if he had any real power, any driver can send a Quallcom if they see something unsafe. Aparently, chaining your 4x4's as a bulkhead at the front of the trailer and leaving them there is a safety hazzard, who knew. I do that because I'm on a dedicated route and use them every other day, that's where they are the most handy.

Nazi "don't go into a terminal with those like that"

Me " I was just in Des Moines for TQM and the Safety meeting, they did an anounced lot check and no one said a thing about my boards"

Nazi "blah blah"

Me "I'll do something about it when they tell me"

Nazi pointing to some triangle on the side of his tractor (I originally thought it was a gay pride symbol, but I guess it's something else) "THEY just told you"

Haha, "THEY just told" me, what a douche.

edit: Anything said here, pertains only to the individual I met, I really do appreciate those who keep an eye out on us, and understand the spirit of their tasking.

I believe that Todd's extension is 3825 (I could be wrong) Anytime I get one of those Nazi's I just say...hey....let's see what Todd has to say about this. When I'm right I ask Todd to explain it to the safety Nazi. It's always nice to get one of them to shut up.