Apply Now!

2025 Locations & More..

RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Been a good and odd weak willed with short runs. Longest load is this one delivering Monday in Luddington, MI. 224 miles. Pretty sure I was only in Michigan and Ohio this week.

I had a PM done on my APU Friday, so of course now it's leaking oil. Pretty sure it's coming from the drain plug. So either not tight enough, or cross threaded is my guess. And figures, I have no tool large enough to fit the bolt. Not a 911, but probably will be a return visit.

Also, had another issue pop up with the truck that will need to be checked out. I'm thinking I will never get through a month with out having a maintenance issue.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Ragman
brokcanadian

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Well this is interesting. Wife took van out to see family, dropped 3rd/overdrive

She limped home about 3 am with me needing to leave for work with it at 7 am

By 4 am with a dealer level chinesium tool, I saw it was commanding 3rd, transmission was selecting third, and rotation was freewheeling both above and below targets (in other words broke)

For the first time in 18 years I made dispatch's life easy and rented a van

Did find a rebuilder with units in stock, that also did the updates. They don't really cost any more but cure a host of ills

Why did I scope out a transmission for a 13 year old van with 450,000 on it?

The rental was a Promaster. Hard nope :)
 
  • Wow
Reactions: RoadTime
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
brokcanadian said:
Well this is interesting. Wife took van out to see family, dropped 3rd/overdrive

She limped home about 3 am with me needing to leave for work with it at 7 am

By 4 am with a dealer level chinesium tool, I saw it was commanding 3rd, transmission was selecting third, and rotation was freewheeling both above and below targets (in other words broke)

For the first time in 18 years I made dispatch's life easy and rented a van

Did find a rebuilder with units in stock, that also did the updates. They don't really cost any more but cure a host of ills

Why did I scope out a transmission for a 13 year old van with 450,000 on it?

The rental was a Promaster. Hard nope :)
Click to expand...
Ugh, that sucks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brokcanadian
brokcanadian

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
RoadTime said:
Ugh, that sucks.
Click to expand...
It.does

But after viewing a YouTube video, it's no different than the last 8 I did.

2nd February transmission change in driveway. Now it's a tradition

And it will probably rain like last time and freeze in the dark if I take too long, fun times
 
  • Like
Reactions: RoadTime
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
APU leak repaired it was coming from the drain plug. Probably could off saved me trip for that one if I had the right sized tool. It just needed to be tightened. My other issue was a air leak, and was a simple fix as a quick connect came loose. Thankfully, a no cast TA fix. Sometimes I feel pretty stupid when it comes to mechanical or even basic repairs.

Stressful day, this was going to be my last load today. Still might be. Another attempt to leave this business, but know I don't know, I'm burned out and very stressed out. I need a break.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brokcanadian
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
brokcanadian said:
It.does

But after viewing a YouTube video, it's no different than the last 8 I did.

2nd February transmission change in driveway. Now it's a tradition

And it will probably rain like last time and freeze in the dark if I take too long, fun times
Click to expand...
I couldn't even image taking on a project like that. I wish I had the knowledge to even think about a project like that.
 
brokcanadian

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
RoadTime said:
APU leak repaired it was coming from the drain plug. Probably could off saved me trip for that one if I had the right sized tool. It just needed to be tightened. My other issue was a air leak, and was a simple fix as a quick connect came loose. Thankfully, a no cast TA fix. Sometimes I feel pretty stupid when it comes to mechanical or even basic repairs.

Stressful day, this was going to be my last load today. Still might be. Another attempt to leave this business, but know I don't know, I'm burned out and very stressed out. I need a break.
Click to expand...
Breaks are good, as long as you can support it without digging a hole.

Just consider the rest of the job market before burning bridges. If US is anything like here, the jobs market is a dumpster fire

Making less than minimum wage, really less than living wage is unacceptable however. But leave TO something rather than just leaving, if you do. My 2c
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charity's Van and RoadTime
brokcanadian

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
RoadTime said:
I couldn't even image taking on a project like that. I wish I had the knowledge to even think about a project like that.
Click to expand...
It's really simple to swap an entire unit

Rebuilding isn't, but if you have a step by step manual that's simple too. I have collected a 16x20 garage full of tools without room for anything else over 35 years so I might be an exception

I bought a sprinter in transmission limp mode and fixed it, never looked back. Transmission can be built for $300 in the past, closer to $700 today - but I view it as a $120 an hour hobby and I know it's done right

The ATSG is the association behind making the automatic transmission mystery voodoo even to otherwise qualified mechanics. Its a lie.

All that being said I'm swapping in a used unit because being back on the road earning pays more than farting around with snap ring pliers. I can keep the old unit and rebuild if I wish, as a spare, but that Promaster I rented got me 21.75 mpg over 700 miles carrying 1500 lbs, and it's occupying my mind....
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: Charity's Van and RoadTime
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
brokcanadian said:
But leave TO something rather than just leaving, if you do. My 2c
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, and I do have something lined up. But in typical fashion, I talked myself out of it yet again. I think it's time to give up on ever going back to Tractor Trailer, no matter how much it bugs me. At least not with the Werner position I told you about. Although, I have 2 weeks to keep flip flopping back and forth lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brokcanadian
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Camping out at a Ohio Toll plaza. Delivery in Indiana on Monday morning, then I may head home to take care of some things.
I finally made it through a month without a truck repair bill lol.
Although, I did drop $500 to have my APU PM service done for the 1st time, but I'm not going to count that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brokcanadian and OntarioVanMan
RoadTime

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
It's that time of the month again haha. When I get to have that horrible pit in my stomach as I go over last months numbers.

The good news: 2nd straight month with a net profit.
The bad news: That's nothing to get excited about.
So far this year, my monthly net profit average has been $2,000 and that's before any taxes.
There are a lot better ways to make that much or more and be home everyday with no financial risk. But that would involve work and a real job. I haven't had a regular J.O.B in over +15 years, so nothing I happily want to do, but running on a shoe string budget isn't fun either.
Maybe things will get better? Isn't that what we have been saying forever?
 
  • Like
Reactions: OkieSprint
OkieSprint

OkieSprint

Active Expediter
Owner/Operator
Just want to say as a fellow Load One driver (o/o Transit van) I really appreciate you posting your experience here. I didn't even bother trying to work the last few weeks due to the winter storms, and I think that was probably for the best. Though my wife might disagree

So fires, floods, storms, pandemics, strikes, and now tariffs...and I thought the oil field was a fickle place to work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RoadTime
Hyfield Trucking

Hyfield Trucking

833-493-4353
Advertiser
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top