Back Again...with New Problems

Hello Everyone,

It has been some time since I last posted. I am going into my 8th month as a solo driver with Prime and I have come to that point that every driver hates. My truck broke down on me 3 times already and all 3 times has been for the same thing. It a derate problem all 3 lights - check engine, stop engine, engine and the one light on the furl gauge for the def. The tank for the def reads full the code that I get is EEC 061. The has over 290 thousand miles on it this is starting to get to me...for simple reason I am making no money while I sit for the repairs to get done.

I am in Gary,In at the Petro waiting till monday to take the truck over the Frieghtliner shop. I guess I will just wait it out I only have 4 more months to make a year I think..lol I have too check on that with personal..

Any idea on my problem will be helpful and thanks again..

This is something that I've gone through too. Except its not engine problems for me, it's everything else. My jake brakes broke, my clutch broke, I have air leaks frequently and oil leaks. I got red tagged at our main terminal about 6 times now. My truck has seen a Freightliner dealership twice. It spent about 26 days in a Freightliner dealership for repairs.

Obviously engine problems are far more complex. There's very few things you can do about it. You can alwys ask for a new truck but I haven't had much luck with that.

One thing I recommend is that you ask for a loaner truck while you're doing these repairs. Just a truck you can use temporarily while yours is being repaired. I've had a loaner truck before. If the repairs will take a long time I don't think they will have a problem with giving you a loaner.

By the way, my fuel stop is in Gary, IN. At the Pilot. Ill be there tomorrow in the afternoon.

If you're saying your truck has broken down three times in 8 months then welcome to the club. There's other drivers that break down about that often - they're referred to as "every truck driver in America".

Breakdowns seem to come in spurts. You'll go six months without seeing a shop and then suddenly you're in there three times in a month. It happens that way. And 290,000 miles in a truck is nothing. It probably has half a million more to go.

I guess I will just wait it out I only have 4 more months to make a year I think..lol I have too check on that with personal..

So do you have an inside line on a company with trucks that don't break down? Because almost nobody in the industry has better equipment than Prime. You're going to be chasing your tail endlessly if you bail on a company because their trucks break down from time to time.

Listen, it happens to everyone. You just roll with it. It gets frustrating sometimes but remember you have the rest of your life to make money. Sitting in a shop for a few days isn't going to change anything. You'll make it up. Just keep a long term view and don't drive yourself insane worrying about everyday things out there. Find a good book or a fun hobby and take advantage of the downtime. Get some extra sleep. Meet some locals. Get some exercise.

This too shall pass.