Maintain your $#!+, dammit!

[RowdyRebel]

So yesterday I was short on time and long for miles, so I had to run the big road up to Terre Haute. Get to the big super coop on 70 at the state line and they're checking everybody's ground pressure...until I get in line. Then they open up the bypass. Everybody in line is getting weighed and sent to the exit...until me. Weight was good, but I'm told to report to the inspection barn. I explain my situation to the officer as I'm handing over the required documents before he's quite able to ask for them...permit book (cab card, insurance, etc...), log book, BOL, etc...compliments me over how neat,  organized, and complete everything is. Checks the lights, and heads underneath to mark the push rods. Tells me to apply the brakes. I do. 4-5 seconds later, I hear air start leaking...and so does he. Blew a hole in the air line to my front right steer brake can right there in the damn inspection bay. Damn. OOS, but he was nice and didn't write a citation, so it only cost me an arm and a leg to have a $13 hose brought out...and the TIME. He complimented me again about the overall condition of my truck, saying that "Usually with these old Macks, we find a long list of issues."

 

I guess that was him admitting that I was profiled. They saw an old Mack rolling into their scale and they were all set to write some citations. Pisses me off, because I really didn't have the time to waste there...REALLY made for a long day by the time I got home again. Good thing I'm still on paper is all I can say about that, though.

 

I hate being profiled like that...wastes my time, and it wastes yours, too, if you happen to drive an old Mack truck AND take care of it. For those of you who don't (and I'm sure I'm wasting my breathe here...because those who don't probably aren't here reading this) TAKE CARE OF YOUR $#!+. They pulled me in because "Macks" have a reputation there for being easy pickings...so let's change that. Take care of your $#!+. Let them see us coming and say "you know, those Mack guys are pretty on the ball with their maintenance...so let's not waste our time with them". 

 

Yeah, I know...Brake hose leaking OOS. Wouldn't have blown if I wasn't sitting in their bay applying and holding 80-90 PSI in the system. I never brake THAT hard...15-20 psi max. Anyway, rant over. I'm going back to avoiding scale houses again.

[ranchhopper]

You have to letter your doors with a out of country sounding name and your guaranteed to be left alone.

[mackey58]

Don't forget to  write it on the door with a black sharpie 

[RowdyRebel]

Couple weeks ago, I had a clean level 3 by an Arkansas DOT man who randomly pulled me over...complimented my corporate logo. 

 

FWIW, I doubt I'd get the same reaction from a LEO up in the NY or NJ...but 'round here, they all dig it:

[Nobody454]

or use those black letters with the silver rectangle outline that you can buy at the hardware store

[Underdog]

Never ceases to impress me that we are allowed 14 hours a day to do our job, but it's OK for enforcement to waste an hour of a driver's time. Most days that would make the difference for me delivering a load or getting home.

[Maddog13407]

my personal favorite is the sheet of paper with sharpie wrote on it with clear package tape attaching it to the rear extended cab window of their 1 ton PICKUPS that they think are big trucks. seems to be a new thing up north here. all one tons with such and such hauling and sh*t wrong on them with a huge car carrier hauling 3 or 4 salvage cars , the better ones are regular pickups, then you get the cab and chassis ones with the huge perterbilt tank mounted sideways across the back of the frame.

[Underdog]

On 2/10/2017 at 11:21 AM, Maddog13407 said:

my personal favorite is the sheet of paper with sharpie wrote on it with clear package tape attaching it to the rear extended cab window of their 1 ton PICKUPS that they think are big trucks. seems to be a new thing up north here. all one tons with such and such hauling and sh*t wrong on them with a huge car carrier hauling 3 or 4 salvage cars , the better ones are regular pickups, then you get the cab and chassis ones with the huge perterbilt tank mounted sideways across the back of the frame.

My company will not broker freight unless the trailer has air brakes. These pickup truck rigs are generally not well maintained, and the wedge trailers you describe are notoriously top-heavy.

[dogg rescue]

Some people I know of running mack seem to mistake their ruggedness for never needing maintenance. It disgusts me to see these trucks in such poor shape. I have picked up a few of these macks over the years, and it's amazing what a $1000 dollars and a couple of days can do. The idiots that owned these trucks thought they were shot.

 

[Maddog13407]

yup, the wedge trailers with the singe rear wheels instead of duals are my favorite. we have towed more than a few off the interstate, overloaded with wheel bearings gone or better yet, wheels totally gone, bearing gone, wheel studs broke off, etc..

[Ezrider]

i maintain my equipment to a very high standard. it amazes me some of the junk that i see out on the roads.

[jackb61sx]

When I head to shows in PA I have no fear of going through the scales with my 89, she doesn't work every day now but it will pass an inspection. 

[Marcel67]

I wonder I was in Kentucky  at the  flying J  in dry ridge and wonder when I saw a Mexican convoy with old crap truck all stacked on top it each other with 3 chains and no lights can make it to the Mexican border with out  out of service 🤓