up here all scales have to have gov sticker on them to be legal, well three trucks roll the scale in Yorktown, all over weight, so say dot. the three truck drivers said OK, which of you two is lying because they had just been loaded, over a gov stamped legal for trade scale, and were under weight, so dot rode with them back to said scale, reweighed. yea they where legal, dot went back to there scale, popped the lid, there it was a great big crack down the side. scale closed for the summer

 

Dont pay for the fancy ones. Have a decent gauge mounted in-line with the air bags on your trailer and drives. You can calibrate them and stay pretty close all the time. Im sure there are more than enough flatbedders on here that have the same set-up.....simple, yet effective.

 

I have a gauge in the truck but I'm not sure what it actually means. I assume it's connected to the drives? My trailer is on right now and it reads 15. I've seen it go as high was 55 to 60. Don't know how to interpret it though. My trailer is a 10' fixed spread so I'm assuming I can be 20k right across the boards?

Putting up with the sub last night I think was worth it. I really needed some solid food to get my system going again. I feel much much stronger today.

I think my 5th wheel needs to be rebuilt when I get home. They tightened it all the way the last time I was home and it still has a lot of play in it. I said before my truck was using oil and and that has stopped also. I'm assuming I had an oil leak that only leaked under load???? They tightened down my valve cover and oil pan the last time because of a leak.

Also, the last time my truck was in I had them flush the coolant and asked to check for a leak. Once I saw a little green drop of fluid on the battery box but couldn't find where it was coming from. They ended up replacing MANY coolant lines and said when they pressurized the system there was quit a few leaks. I guess it pays to have preventative maintenance done instead of paying for it on the side of the road.

The last time my truck was in it had a PM level B done. I don't have the list but I'm curious if they would have pressurized the system and found this problem had I not asked for them to check for a leak? I wish I could find a mechanic that would take a personal interest in my truck. Someone who wasn't a robot but actually went through the truck like I would if I had a clue as to what I was doing.

I must be better, coffee tastes good again today!!!! Funny how that's one of the first things to go when your sick is the taste of coffee in my case.

How can so many of these truck drivers look like SH%^. I'm guessing at least 95%. I mean they are totally filthy and need there whole head shaved. I know one thing, none of them are on this board. I knew exactly what to expect when Tootie and her husband showed up, clean, well groomed and manors. Don't get the wrong impression from this board people. You are the minority for sure!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in a T/A in Indiana right across from a Pilot. I got my sub and immediately put up my privacy curtain to shut out the outside world.

The load I'm hauling today is what the broker calls a double blind load. When I pick it up I will not get the shipping papers from the mill. I have to stop soon after and tell the broker I'm loaded then they will fax me the papers so the mill doesn't know where it's going. The same when I drop it off, the wood shop I'm bringing this to won't know where it came from. This way they can't cut out the hardwood broker. I actually know where the load is going without them telling me since I buy hardwood at this place. I'm assuming it's the same place, small town. I wouldn't dream of telling them though.

Well, that's about all the news for now. I think with my prepass I won't be pulled into any weigh stations anyways so I should be all set but I will go get scaled.

 

double post

 

One does not need to have designer duds for this line of work, but you need to look and smell clean and tidy. Whenever I am at one of my shippers I always have my shirt tucked in a clean pair of jeans , and clean shoes/boots. I also shower everyday. If you look and act like a pro, you are a pro.

 

Yes TF, I agree as your aviatar shows!!! LOL...kidding.

I do the same thing TF. I have an electric razor I use also if I don't shower that day. I put on clean clothes even though they will probably get pretty dirty loading or unloading. I have 5 pairs of jeans and will probably buy more.

Anyone use google maps and get a satelite view of there destination? I just did and it's pretty cool. I can zoom in all the way and see the stacks of lumber in the yard. 729 Mason St Elkhart, IN

 

I'm trying to determine if they want you to come in from the north of the west.

 

Rt 20 to 19
Franklin st
Harrison st
8th st
Mason st

 

Made it to the customer site OK and it's just like the satellite image from Google. Glad I called for instructions as my GPS would have taken me down different streets and this place is right in the middle of a very large residential area. Using there instructions it was a piece of cake. My GPS kept complaining when I didn't turn where it wanted but I could see the street on the display that my instructions said to take so that really helps.

The trip over here was pretty slow. It's snowing pretty good and at least a few inches on the ground. Once again, I was the slowest person on the highway. I'm empty so I'm sure it was the right thing to do. Brakes seem to be slow to respond when it's cold out or not used for a long period of time driving. It's like you need to wake them up once in a while and ride the brake for a bit......Is that true?

I'm glad I made it here OK. Makes me feel that much better and more confident that I negotiated the residential streets, slick conditions and snow. Screw EVERYONE behind you, slow and easy is the trick and keep your distance from the car in front.

Time for a big cup of coffee. I called the guy going to load me and he's going to be late due to the snow and his house. I said, take your time buddy, I'm taking it EASY today!!!

 

Steve, as far as the gages go, weigh your truck and trailer a few times with different loads and look at your axle weights. You will learn that the different lbs readings will coincide with different axle weights. Say you have 60lbs reading, maybe you will have 33k to 34k on that tandem and so on. You just have to get a feel for the gage. Once you get the feel of your gage, you will have a good idea when you need to weigh or not, and when you are close or over on your weight... And yes, you can run 40k on that spred axle.