Underdog

Welcome to the forum, Striker. That truck looks too nice to be on container duty. I know if you serve west coast ports the trucks are under strict guidelines now though. In NJ/NY port service is the last chance for iron on the way to the salvage yard!

Sorry guys for being absent so long. I don't have much time for the internet when the weather is nice outside. Underdog, Sweet Polly and Maggie plan to be at Gerhart's on Saturday with my CX Vision. The F is currently under repair.

I am glad Lopke is upgrading their fleet a bit. Those old Diamond Reos and Autocars create a hazard pulling the hills at 20mph on I-81. Neat to see the old trucks still working though. Now if they could just paint 'em a different color...

Thanks for the heads up. What is the status on the speed limit bill in Illinois? I keep hearing about the split speed limit going away same as Ohio.

Definitely gonna be at Macungie on the 20th. If I get a few more mechanical issues taken care of, I would like to make the longer trip out to Watt's in August.

Last I checked, Oklahoma was not on the list of states allowing same-sex marriage. So for now you're safe, Rob. The mixed doubles matches are more interesting anyway. Gregg

Thanks for the offer, Rob. Daughter Maggie(age 8) has indicated somehow that this would be "Mom's" truck, though Sweet Polly has expressed the desire for auto trans and power steering. If we could be assured that the Road Kill Cafe would be open during our visit, it may well be worth driving a pink truck for several years to come. Seriously, though. In my years of working out back under the shade tree, laying paint is one thing I have never done, and I am determined to accomplish this task on my own just to gain the experience. I have always been the hard-headed sort in that regard. I'll keep you all posted with any results, good or bad.

That is very interesting, given the general consensus that Volvo wants to do away with the Mack name and serve its OTR customers with Volvo branded trucks. Popular opinion does not always dictate truth. I have faith the Mack name isn't going anywhere. Gregg

That's what scares me. More efficient for the system means some sort of price to be paid by drivers, especially owner-operators.

As usual, I haven't got as much done this winter as I had planned. Mother nature likes to laugh at any planning I may do, as I am at her mercy working on the trucks outdoors. My CX of course takes priority as it generates the revenue, but I have managed to get a few things done on my F-model. At this point I'm not too worried about how she looks, I've been doing a lot of "behind the scenes" repairs and updates so I will be ready to drive to a few shows this summer. First one is Macungie, PA. in a couple weeks (June 20) and I have no doubts about making the 40 mile trip. The most visible changes I have made are the roof and interior. I had new headliner panels made as well as the sunvisor and helper seat reupholstered. Before installing the new panels, I wanted to finish any work on the roof, including installing new horns and antennas, and restoring the original clearance lamps. Might as well paint the roof and be done with it! In photos of old trucks, I always liked the look of a white roof, but it also serves the practical purpose of keeping the interior cooler. I plan to keep the red on the rest of the cab; hopefully the rest of the paintwork will get done this summer.

I LIKE THE WAY YOU TALK...

I just watched "The Hank Williams Jr. Story" starring Richard Thomas (John Boy Walton) and there is a scene at a used truck lot full of F-models. No reference to it at all on this site. I am slightly partial to F-models...

That's not what SHE said... Gregg

The problem is not the physical size or weight of the truck. Many states already use permits to achieve longer and heavier moves. The original intent of heavy permitting is to establish that the equipment and the operator is qualified to move the load. If size and weight is increased across the board, you will see safety issues with inadequate equipment and unqualified operators. (By operator I mean driver as well as truck owner) We have drivers and companies out there now that cannot operate safely within the law. Another issue I have is with the compensation. As Mike said, we are continually asked to do more for less money. Drivers get paid by the mile don't receive any additional rate for pulling a 53' trailer vs. a 45' or 48' even though as Rob said there is inherently more work involved. I personally pull a 40' dump trailer and get paid by the ton. More weight means more money to me, but if legal limits are increased, the rate structure will adjust DOWN. I see this in NY state, where a lot of operators have permits to haul 32 ton payload on a 5-axle rig same as mine. The rates are based on your ability to haul 32 ton. Here comes ol' Underdog up from Pennsylvania, legal for only 23 ton. That leaves me a few bricks short of a full load...

We really lucked out on the trip. I left the big truck home and went with a friend on a "vacation" trip to help him deliver an antique car. (5500 miles in 7 days; some vacation! No logbook or scale houses at any rate.) We went the week after Easter and had dry roads and warm temps all week. The week after our return, parts of Montana got 5 feet of snow.

Policians don't solve problems; they contribute to it! Besides if I were president you guys would blame me for all your shortcomings. (Something about "The truck stops here" as I recall).

Sorry I've been a little slow to respond, I was tied up (let me rephrase that, Rob might get excited) I just got back from an undisclosed Midwest body shop and the smoke got to me. After deliberations with my colleagues, we have determined that, considering any coherent subject matter could not be established, that the thread must be allowed to continue at the discretion of the contributors. No fault or responsibility shall be placed, however a tax will be levied for the priviledge.

See how they are, Larry? Always blaming each other. That is what's wrong with this country. We've gone off in the ditch and nobody's responsible.

Common sense is lacking these days! I guess that is how Freightliner sells so many trucks !

Eye candy definitely raises the property value. It's the tattoo. It's got to be the tattoo. That's why the girls like you so much. LOL

Once again the thread has been hijacked and steered hard into the ditch. Now I will attempt a corrective manouver and get back onto the original course, that being the business of welcoming Larry to the forums. These guys may try to steer you in a bad direction sometimes, you just gotta be aware. So far I think you'll be OK; you got past that Mack / Freightliner debate early in your career. That shows tremendous common sense unwavered by general consensus. Gregg

I recently took my first trip over the Rockies and into Spokane, WA. I had never travelled that far west before. I have studied trucking history so I was not surprised at the lack of out west. Just regional preferences based on location of manufacture, I suppose. KW's and PETE's were originated on the west coast and still maintain popularity there. In more recent times, Mack has not had a big power engine to compete in the western mountain markets. It was also interesting to me to see the different trailer and wheelbase configurations in various areas of our country, such as Rocky Mt. doubles and triples, and truck/ full trailer combos. Quite a few cabover trucks still in use as well, probably due to the longer trailers.