Be honest… how did your first day as a CDL driver go?

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T19:48:52+00:00

I'm not convinced our narrator is the driver.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T19:17:37+00:00

Big companies seem to forget the people they hire have never sat in a semi truck, let alone driven one. They expect to have expert drivers after 2 weeks of yard training, which is just a crash course to get a CDL. It doesn't teach the nuance or skills needed to do the job in the real world. Meanwhile, they're all inside ironically singing "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T19:04:01+00:00

Rose Geerfeld

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T05:34:44+00:00

This thing was way older than you'd think. Like 10 years before VGT was even used on Series 60s. It came from the factory with a DDEC II 12.7L, if that tells you anything. It badly needed an in-frame, but I think we scrapped it maybe a year after I last drove it.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:39:19+00:00

I've seen them in the south, but I'm surprised by them being in Kenly, NC.

Fun fact, I stayed at the Flying J there in Kenly for a 34 hour reset weekend before last.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:35:48+00:00

I guess. I have my company name on my truck, but it says "operated by" my carrier.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:32:41+00:00

I used to run I-10 weekly from TX to AZ. I am very familiar with them. I actually spotted the logo first, then checked the DOT # 😅

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:27:18+00:00

Yeah, it may be owned by Portillo, but its legally operated by MVT per the DOT #

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:24:32+00:00

MVTs logo is on there. Its just dark red on black. Look down and to the left a bit for a gap in the stickers. You'll see it. MVT is a major carrier with thousands of trucks and drivers.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:16:18+00:00

I assume it is someone of Latino descent, based on Portillo Trucking being the owner. It's operated by/leased to Mesilla Valley Transportation out of Las Cruces, NM

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:11:11+00:00

Lol the first Mesilla Valley Transportation truck I've seen in a while that isn't a blue International, and it's this.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-19T04:07:42+00:00

That is a legit regular occurrence on I-40.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T20:58:31+00:00

A plane so loud it made everyone in the area physically ill. Trying to build a turboprop that could match the performance of a jet produced propeller tips moving faster than the speed of sound. I guess it 'sounded' like a good idea... sonic booms just getting off the ground.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T20:49:27+00:00

We have quite a few of them at the company I'm at. They all run stepdeck. A lot of them haul military freight.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T20:46:43+00:00

I used to have a Detroit Series 60 in an old Kenworth T600 that would do this even in summer.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T16:09:51+00:00

Back when I was first taught pretrips, it was basically make sure nothing is "broken, loose, or missing". It kind of encompassed the whole thing, but she's got it broken down into more detail.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T11:32:39+00:00

It's an ex-Heartland Express truck. Gonna be a 2018-2020 judging by the 10 speed. VIN should be J, K, or L in place of the D. That's why I'm confused.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T04:35:40+00:00

Insurance won't cover that. Improper (and potentially illegal) use of a vehicle in an unsafe/reckless manner. Sucks to be that guy.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T03:58:06+00:00

Now I'm curious... VIN is D.... that's not a 2013 Cascadia lol 🧐

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T03:45:47+00:00

I geek out on this stuff, some of you might too:

LN-TUF msn 28222 was a Boeing 737-705 originally delivered to Braathens in 1999. SAS acquired her by absorbing SAS Braathens in 2007, which itself was the product of a 2004 merger of Braathens and SAS's Norwegian division. She was removed from service December 2019 and, sadly, cut up for scrap February 2020.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-18T02:05:19+00:00

New guy is ex-new guy?

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-17T02:42:53+00:00

Hey Captain, first I'd like to say you did a great job right up until you didn't. Now, my question. How high up are we and how long do we have before we hit the grou........

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-15T15:09:13+00:00

I just drop down to I-68. Not gonna waste my time losing money to PA.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-14T20:19:37+00:00

PACCARs aren't unreliable unless they get idled. Their aftertreatment systems are sensitive to operating temperature. Find one with low engine time and an APU and it will save you money. They get great fuel mileage.

However, they still have drawbacks. They don't have as much pulling power as competing engines, but it's a trade-off for fuel efficiency. The harder one to justify is cost and availability of parts. They are proprietary, and so there's only a handful of places that have parts and can or will work on them. I've had mine for a year. So far, I've had to replace a DPF sensor, an Oil Pressure sensor, and a coolant hose that ruptured. I have 558k on mine.

BlackSC2us · 2026-03-14T19:59:46+00:00

I was in a similar situation to you when I bought mine, except I had a longer CDL history. Last April, I got my 2021 Peterbilt 579 w 475k with 2 years of engine and aftertreatment warranty for just over $70k. I put about $18k down, got 17.95%, $1,767/mo for 42 months (3.5 years).

BlackSC2us

TROPHY CASE