*OFFICIAL* RIU TRUCKER THREAD

[Fogdog]

Oh yeah i got this belt I wanted to tell you guys about too, it is the best belt ever I am 100% satisfied with it

It's from a company called Groove Life and made in USA in Tennessee. It's made from some kind of stretch material so it doesn't ever need adjusting throughout the the day and has a super secure magnetic buckle. They have so many different colors and buckle combos, I got the Mossy Oak belt and gunmetal buckle combo

Check it out
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And there is plenty of extra material to find the perfect fit
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Nylon Webbing Belts

Discover the perfect fusion of functionality and style with our Nylon Webbing Belts. Robust, comfortable, and versatile for all your adventures. Shop now!

groovelife.com

hey blu,

happy new year and I hope you are safe out there.

 

[blu3bird]

Aren't interstate trucks required to carry chains? Saw a video of trucks stuck on I 95. I know they check trucks for chains in the winter going over the Sierra's.

Yes absolutely there is chain laws in some states

I just have "socks" on my truck, they are legal. All i have to do to be legal is carry them on my truck somewhere, I just keep mine in the cab behind passenger seat. It's just a Kevlar slipper basically that you put on the drive tires. I will never use them, because boss says if it's that bad that you need to put on the socks, just shut down and wait out the weather. No freight is worth risking a life over.

DOT absolutely does roadside checks to make sure you have chains or socks on the truck in states that do require it.

Here's what the socks look like and you can only drive no faster than 20 mph with them on

 

[blu3bird]

Heading back to the yard from Manistee, MI yesterday morning driving on solid sheet ice


My favorite

 

[ttystikk]

I got a new truck too
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Some odd n ends in my truck, I finally have an APU on this truck, my old truck didn't, no more idling all night. This Thermo King unit kicks ass, I can get it hot enough in my cab to sit around in my underwear. I just might do that tonight for fun. The Tri Pac sips fuel from my main tanks and is super efficient, it heats and cools I love it
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My ex-wife used to call those "Flatliners" because of their poor reputation for reliability. That was a long time ago and your new rig is proof they're definitely upping their game. Nice digs!

 

[CatHedral]

Yes absolutely there is chain laws in some states

I just have "socks" on my truck, they are legal. All i have to do to be legal is carry them on my truck somewhere, I just keep mine in the cab behind passenger seat. It's just a Kevlar slipper basically that you put on the drive tires. I will never use them, because boss says if it's that bad that you need to put on the socks, just shut down and wait out the weather. No freight is worth risking a life over.

DOT absolutely does roadside checks to make sure you have chains or socks on the truck in states that do require it.

Here's what the socks look like and you can only drive no faster than 20 mph with them on
View attachment 5060323

20 mph beats stationary all hollow.

 

[blu3bird]

My ex-wife used to call those "Flatliners" because of their poor reputation for reliability. That was a long time ago and your new rig is proof they're definitely upping their game. Nice digs!

Freightliners have Detroit Diesel engines, they are good engines. My new truck only has a DD12 in it though and my old truck had a DD15, so it's taking getting used to a little bit still. New truck doesn't have the horsepower to climb hills as good as the old. I do get a lot better fuel mileage in the new truck though and it's an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission is not my favorite and I still find myself reaching for the shifter once in awhile and there's nothing there lol. I'll get used to it and be comfortable with it eventually

 

[blu3bird]

20 mph beats stationary all hollow.

Yes it does

Just having them in my possession on the truck whether I use them or not beats getting a fine too, I'm pretty sure it's a $500-1000 fine that I get not my company

I know for sure the states that require chains/socks are -
Colorado
Wyoming
Oregon
Montana
Idaho
Utah
California
There's probably a couple more states that do also

 

[blu3bird]

Here's a pic I forgot I had. I know this in Michigan last fall sometime, was a cool looking sunset

 

[ttystikk]

Have you seen the subreddit called r/idiotsincars? It's full of dashcam clips of people doing stupid shit on the road, often in front of semis. If you don't have a dashcam, you definitely should. Got any choice stories or even video?

 

[blu3bird]

No I haven't seen that Reddit forum

I do have a cam in my truck, our entire fleet does....only thing is the cam is monitored by a security/surveillance company, I don't get to see video unless I ask

I am allowed to get and use my own personal cam though and I will soon so I can upload to YouTube and then post my video footage to show you guys some of the crazy shit I see all the time

 

[blu3bird]

That's a big 10-4

 

[blu3bird]

Checking in, Im out of work early today so I can get my 34 hour reset in before I head out early Sunday morning. Gonna do a relay to FLYING J at LAKE POINT, UT !!!!! I haven't seen any of Utah yet, so I'm pretty pumped up for this lol

Been so busy at work here in Michigan running local this last week and also been taking care of my best friends plants so him and his wife could go to Jamaica for vacation. It's been rough working 14-16 hour days, I had one 17.5 hour day last week too and then going spending 1-2 hours every night taking care of 120 plants, I've been getting only 3-5 hours sleep each night. So damn glad he's back now lol

This isn't the best pics, I have to keep zoomed out to get my whole route so you can see, but this is the path I'm taking. Pretty straight forward just staying on I-80 most of the way





Ok, let me explain real quick the difference in mileage between the two pics. First pic is in air miles, second pic is when I create my route I'll get actual hub miles

Anyways, going to fix supper have a couple beers and start packing up my clothes, then I need to make a grocery list of food to bring with me because I'm going shopping early tomorrow morning

 

[blu3bird]

Getting ready to head out this morning, I want to be rolling by 330-4am. I'm running a load of transmissions going out to a Tesla plant in Fremont, CA and another stop in Herlong, CA to a military base.

Not sure what I'm going to bring back to Michigan when I swap trailers with our other driver, I'm guessing produce or fruit because he's coming from California somewhere

I have like 36,000 lbs in my trailer so I'm not real heavy or anything and I know all my axles are on weight and not over, but I'm still going to hit the CAT scale at the truckstop before I even leave Michigan to get a scale ticket for the other driver

I'll get some pics of the freight when I get up to the yard. The transmissions are packed up nice in metal containers with air pressure and humidity gauges. The military is obsessive how these transmissions are loaded, each one has to be secured and strapped in my trailer....but then they'll drop these in remote locations out of a plane or helicopter lol

Oh yeah, I'm making pancakes for breakfast before I head out

 

[ttystikk]

Getting ready to head out this morning, I want to be rolling by 330-4am. I'm running a load of transmissions going out to a Tesla plant in Fremont, CA and another stop in Herlong, CA to a military base.

Not sure what I'm going to bring back to Michigan when I swap trailers with our other driver, I'm guessing produce or fruit because he's coming from California somewhere

I have like 36,000 lbs in my trailer so I'm not real heavy or anything and I know all my axles are on weight and not over, but I'm still going to hit the CAT scale at the truckstop before I even leave Michigan to get a scale ticket for the other driver

I'll get some pics of the freight when I get up to the yard. The transmissions are packed up nice in metal containers with air pressure and humidity gauges. The military is obsessive how these transmissions are loaded, each one has to be secured and strapped in my trailer....but then they'll drop these in remote locations out of a plane or helicopter lol

Oh yeah, I'm making pancakes for breakfast before I head out

As far as I am aware, Tesla does not use transmissions in their cars. Maybe for their upcoming semi tractor or supercar?

 

[blu3bird]

As far as I am aware, Tesla does not use transmissions in their cars. Maybe for their upcoming semi tractor or supercar?

I did not know that about Tesla not having a transmission in their cars, maybe what I have is for the semi trucks or something else?

Here's what is in my truck though






My scale out this morning, I have the CAT app on my work tablet. I'm all good on weight




Here's my BOL (bill of lading), whatever it is some of this definitely going to Tesla

 

[BarnBuster]

Man, those are some heavy duty shipping containers! Looks like that company deals in plastics mfg.

"Thermoforming (Custom), Plastic Injection Molding, Robotic Plastic Trimming, Mold Manufacture, and Long & Short Runs"

 

[ttystikk]

I did not know that about Tesla not having a transmission in their cars, maybe what I have is for the semi trucks or something else?

Here's what is in my truck though
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My scale out this morning, I have the CAT app on my work tablet. I'm all good on weight
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Here's my BOL (bill of lading), whatever it is some of this definitely going to Tesla
View attachment 5072511

Who knows? Maybe you're carrying parts for their next secret project...

 

[raratt]

Man, those are some heavy duty shipping containers! Looks like that company deals in plastics mfg.

"Thermoforming (Custom), Plastic Injection Molding, Robotic Plastic Trimming, Mold Manufacture, and Long & Short Runs"

Those are 100% military shipping containers, humidity sensitive contents also.
NSN is national Stock number, "FSC 2520 - Vehicular Power Transmission Components"

 

[ttystikk]

Those are 100% military shipping containers, humidity sensitive contents also.
NSN is national Stock number, "FSC 2520 - Vehicular Power Transmission Components"

Soooooo maybe they're power controllers- electronics, rather than transmissions in the traditional, mechanical sense.

 

[shrxhky420]

Getting ready to head out this morning, I want to be rolling by 330-4am. I'm running a load of transmissions going out to a Tesla plant in Fremont, CA and another stop in Herlong, CA to a military base.

Not sure what I'm going to bring back to Michigan when I swap trailers with our other driver, I'm guessing produce or fruit because he's coming from California somewhere

I have like 36,000 lbs in my trailer so I'm not real heavy or anything and I know all my axles are on weight and not over, but I'm still going to hit the CAT scale at the truckstop before I even leave Michigan to get a scale ticket for the other driver

I'll get some pics of the freight when I get up to the yard. The transmissions are packed up nice in metal containers with air pressure and humidity gauges. The military is obsessive how these transmissions are loaded, each one has to be secured and strapped in my trailer....but then they'll drop these in remote locations out of a plane or helicopter lol

Oh yeah, I'm making pancakes for breakfast before I head out

When I go into the office, I drive right by Tesla, and head to the next town up. Hayward. Have a safe trip

SH420