Just a Question

Barry,,,what you are seeing is part of the reason I won't lease Freightliners or Volvos. They usually come with owners that have not a clue. And I have noticed in the last couple of years that most have changed there head attire. You don't see the wraps you use to. But, the Americans that are operating these plastic throw away units are just as bad if not worse. They do not have an iota of common sense. I have had so many cut me off when i am in left lane going for a pass, I expect it and prepare. There has always been a element of stupid in our industry, on the road, I am speaking from one that started over the road in 1977, that has never been fixed nor will it but it has gotten so bad. Loves I will hardly ever stop at or use because of the 30 minute breakers on the fuel island. They try to give me a card I won't use. Hate to say it but these places need a fuel island nazi, In the old days kind of had them, they would fill it up wash windows and pull up and park for you. If you let them.

I thought the very same thing when I seen the ad on bulk loads for 40K. I was thinking look out below.

Mr. Bathrop I agree with most of your comments, but you're painting with a pretty wide brush. I believe most of the drivers doing what you describe are arrogant, disrespectful, and just plain stupid, BUT insulting a lot of good people shows disrespect and arrogance also. I understand your frustration but there are a lot of good people out here driving Internationals pulling dry vans, etc

Mr. Lentsch, I apologize if you were offended, or triggered by my comment. If you re-read my post, I was merely describing what I observed while on a trip out west. I'm not painting anything in particular. I was merely describing what I observed. I'm certain there are great people pulling dry vans. I did see several dry vans on my trip that weren't blocking the fuel island or the left lane, but they weren't being pulled by Freightliners, Volvos, or Internationals. I can only speak to what I observed during a 3,000 plus mile trip. If you pull a dry van with one of the above listed three, I would have taken note if I saw you, and given you the credit you deserve by company name in my original post. If I had seen you, it would be like having the winning lottery ticket. Before you or anyone else thinks I'm bashing Freightliners, Volvos, or Internationals, pump the brakes. I saw a hopper being pulled by a Freightliner, and an International, I saw numerous open decks, tanks, and pneumatics being pulled by the big three, however, the were not blocking the left lane or fuel islands. I am merely describing my observation....If you were the guy coming out of the truck stop with your shower bag and wet hair while parked in the fuel Island, get a Kenworth W900L, it is perfectly leagal to do whatever you want in the left lane or fuel island.. Take a 36 hour re-start in the fuel island you want. You get an I'm special card when you buy a W900L. JUST KIDDING😂

Like I stated initially, I don't typically long haul, and haven't run California in over 30 years. I realize there are way more dry vans than anything else out there but that doesn't change anything. I didn't specify where the left laners were so I will now. Interstate 10 west of San Antonio,Tx is 80mph all the way to New Mexico, where it drops to 75 all the way to the California line, all desert. I don't understand why a 65mph truck would hang out there passing no one for miles and not even consider moving right like all the signs clearly state. It seems like common sense to me that when you look in your mirror and see 10 trucks trying to get past, you get out of the way. I see no need to put myself in their shoes, if I did I would get out of the way. As far as the fuel island goes, it's pretty easy to figure out what the yellow line is for about 75 feet in front of the fuel island, and the signs also say to pull forward after fueling. I usually run Texas, to Louisiana and back. I don't typically see it as bad as I did going west. I also recently ran from Texas to Iowa and didn't notice it there either, so yes, actually it is new to me which is why I brought it up. I guess if I was a super trucker I would have known better. As far as hopper profit goes, I know the rates. I know some dry vanners, and see rates posted on DAT. I'm not saying hopper rates are great, but you can make basically the same money running shorter miles. I guess at the end of the day it has nothing to do with the equipment, it's the people. I did see some really nice Cascadias, Volvos, and Internationals, they just weren't doing the things I brought up in my initial post. As far as classy goes, I didn't call anyone idiots...It was just an observation...I do appreciate your reply. Have a good evening..

In my limited experience, yes, 6500 Gallons will be fine. More important than that, you need a trailer with in-transit heat, and a stainless steel food grade pump with hydraullics on your truck to run it. Most if not all of the trailers listed on Truck Paper are 3A Sanitary trailers. They are built for milk, juice, or water. They are not built for heated products. BIG DIFFERENCE... The food grade pump is about 12K minus the hydraullics.