Profile For Sgt. Diddly

G-Town,

My “hate it” response is just a personal opinion based on the ten speed manuals and the auto in the pro stars. In no way an attack on anyone’s preference of make, driving, or transmission preferences. In the last six months, which granted isn’t much experience, I’ve come to greatly dislike the cascades auto transmissions mainly due to the mentioned third gear issue.

The trucks and themselves are certainly not junk, quite the opposite in fact. My response was strictly aimed at my dislike for that particular quirk in the transmission.

I will be sure to curb my enthusiastic response in the future as to not rub members the wrong way.

I hate it! Have you had the 3rd gear issue yet? The international autos are 10 times better. Still prefer a good ten speed manual though

This may have been beat to death in other posts but I did not see any, just wanted to give my honest opinion after having driven one for awhile. Driving a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia with the highly touted, and supposedly best, first transmission to be build from the ground up to be automated. In Summary, I do not like it. I would borderline to say they are dangerous.

Pros: A perfect shift every time, easier on the leg (I never considered this an issue but I've talked to some older guys that mentioned this), the Jake is my new best friend. That's about all I got to be honest.

Cons: It is buggy at low speeds (jumps around in the gearing ALOT), can't lock it in a gear for climbing or downhill (This may not be true and if I am wrong, please correct me and tell me how. Please.), the massive lag between hitting the throttle and the transmission trying to remember that it is a transmission (This is the most dangerous thing to me as the delay varies alot and if you are trying to get moving, for some reason that's a necessity, I've just sat there for as long 3 or 4 seconds while it tries to decide what it wants to do.), the fuel economy I'm experiencing is less than .2 difference in favor of the auto while having way more headaches.

I'm not enjoying this change, and it is almost enough to make me consider jumping companies if I could find one who would guarantee me a good old cog box. I probably wouldn't cause I have a degree of loyalty to a company that has treated me well in every other department, but still.

Nice. I’m working out of the same DC. I rarely leave bob tailed from there u less I’m headed home. Trailer in, trailer out lol

Wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t despise Arby’s. There’s a tractor shop just down the road that I’ve parked at and they don’t mind as long as you stay off to the side.l and keep it clean. Might be helpful if the event the three stops there are full some time.

I understand the point of reserved parking, but to the point of literally half the lot is ridiculous. I figured at that point some of the guys were saying screw it and just sliding in. It’s the TA west of Columbus Ohio off I-70. It’s just crazy

I'm at that TA right now and it does get crazy. I've been working out of that Target dc right there for almost a week so I've parked here each night. Luckily I leave the dc bobtail and they have separate bobtail parking.

I do it off and on. Just be sure to google earth your stores to make sure you are going in the best and most practical ways. You want to try and time it so you aren’t going in at peak hours as well.

Anyone here currently running the Target account? I got one of their loads last week out of the West Jefferson (Columbus Oh) dc and liked it and asked them about joining the account. Since the first run went well they said they're basically giving me a trial run. They won't officially add anyone to the account until after the 1st once they get through the holiday surge. They said they typically don't put a driver on this account until they have had six months experience but since I'm already running it I have a good chance. I like it though. Wasn't sure what to expect running reefer but I like the fact that I get to get out of the truck and do something other than drive during the day and I get to interact with a handful of people. Plus it's regional. Being from the Detroit area I'm never really more than half a day away from home. Plus I can take my resets at home if they have a load that will get me there.

Everything has been great so far outside of one difficult back. I had my first blindside 90° back where I had to wrap it around a wall into the dock between some poles and a trailer. Took a few extra pull ups and a bunch of GOALs but I got er done lol.

Anyways just wondered if anyone out here in TT land has any experience with this account they would like to share.

That’s why I try and park at the pilots. I hate fast food and like to shower at the same time. I’m on a target account now out of Ohio so I’m slowly learning the “hidden” spots. I haven’t ventured out too far from the big five much mainly because I’m worried I’ll use up my last hour trying to find an off the path spot that’s not there anymore. But I guess that comes with experience of the lanes you run.

BTW, why be fixated on parking at the Big 5 chains? There are plenty of smaller chains (Wilco-Hess is common in the Southeast, QuikTrip), mom-pop, and of course rest areas, and even maintained Truck Parking areas.

I rarely spend my 10hr at the Big 5. And I nearly always find a "real" spot, without having to park next to the scales, etc.

Once at the end of my shift, I fueled at a TA and watched what seemed a race for the last spots. I crossed over the freeway to a Shell, where there were easily 6-8 empty spots.

Exactly Errol. Which is why I tend to park at alternative locations unless there's no other obvious choice. But for those drivers who may need the info on how to reserve a spot...

All the Hess-Wilcos that I know of in the southeast, were unfortunately bought by pilot and subsequently ruined by removing the existing restaurants and putting in a Subway (yuck) or even worse, a Cinnabon (the smell gags me).

I love the little Mom and Pop places myself. The larger chains are a complete cluster fck with drivers literally parking anywhere, including blocking the entrance and exit, the scales.. it's ridiculous.

Don't be that inconsiderate driver. Unfortunately, since I fuel at those chains, that's where I shower (but I do love pilot/flying j shower heads) so I tend to shower during my 30 minute breaks.

100% agree. If possible, I only fuel at pilot/flying J and try to take my tens at Petros w iron skillet or Pilot with Denny’s. When those aren’t available and I see a Country Pride I’ll always try and find a spot but that’s about it for TA

T/As have stopped giving points and shower credits for service. I have heard they are cutting it out for fuel too. They are increasing the number of paid spots in many of their truck stops. I have heard they are testing no shower truck stops. My company reimburses us for paid parking. We fuel at Pilot. To me, I feel the truck stops are forgetting who keeps them open.

At least you have a great attitude about it. Good on ya.

I understand the point of reserved parking, but to the point of literally half the lot is ridiculous. I figured at that point some of the guys were saying screw it and just sliding in. It’s the TA west of Columbus Ohio off I-70. It’s just crazy

What’s up with half of the parking in TA’s being reserved? Do people just move the cones or are they actually paying? I’ve seen tons of drivers just get out and move them and I’m genuinely curious.

As for pay, I really don’t know. I agreed to help out with the option of bailing after the first day if it wasn’t for me. One person I spoke with that has been doing it a while said he grosses 1400-1700 per week tho.

If you don't mind sharing, how did the pay breakdown? Was it paid per case, or by stop? also, how much was it per case, or stop? Also, what was CPM? do they have any sort of pay guarantee ( say 800 per week) or anything?