Bidding Farewell...

My dearest darling Trucky will be leaving me soon. I was informed the other day that he is to be turned in by the end of the month. Trucky is a 2005 year model Freightliner Century Class that is apparently costing the company way too much mula to maintain. The company has been retiring all of the fleets' 2004-2005 trucks as quickly as they can. I had hoped that Trucky would be overlooked by some super miracle. But alas, our time together is shortly coming to an end.

I will hate to see him go, as we've been together since the very start. But honestly, it's time for me to meet someone new and exciting. Change is good, right?

Recently Trucky has been feeling ill and sluggish, anyway. I thought that the new alternator would have helped, but his condition is just not improving as I'd hoped. He has a terrible clanking noise under the hood which I am pretty sure is a bearing somewhere in there about to give up the ghost. So I suppose that our parting, while with sweet sorrow, is for the best.

I was asked today by my manager how I felt about checking out a 2007 UltraShift(TM) Freightliner Century Class. It's one of the automatic transmission trucks we have in our company fleet. Now I was reluctant to say yes right away. My manger told me that the truck had been in the hands of only one driver since coming into the fleet. But I still needed to know a few things.

1) Was the driver a smoker?

If the answer is yes, it's an automatic and definite NO. I am the worst kind of smoker there is, an EX-Smoker and I cannot stand the smell of tar/tobacco stained Anything!

2) If I get in the truck and HATE it can I re-trade for another manual shift truck?

If the answer is yes, then it's a go as far as I'm concerned. And a little while ago I got confirmation that the truck has been smoke free and that if I don't like it after I try it, I'm allowed to bail into a manual truck.

I've said since the beginning that I'd never be interested in driving an automatic 18-wheeler because I preferred to be in control 100% of the time. But knowing that if I don't like it, I can toss it like a used napkin, I'll take the chance without regret.

I'll eat my words of NEVER, but hopefully I don't have to eat anything else!

Comments

mbfirefly said…
Congratulations! An automatic! You will love it, especially in city traffic jams. I know you will hate leaving your teammate Trucky, but you're right, change can be good. :)
August 7, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Jessie Ballinger said…
If I were in your shoes I don't think I would take the auto truck. I'm sure you have encountered the sexist side of your industry and I can only imagine that you (i.e. woman) driving an automatic truck would only give the idiotic sexist drivers sometime else to look down on you about..."Look at the poor little girl trying to drive a big ol' truck...they even had to give her an automatic." Being a female in a male majority field would have to be hard enough without stacking more odds against you. Just my humble opinion, but knowing you like I do I'm sure you don't give a shit what they think :P
August 8, 2009 at 7:13 AM
Unknown said…
I've had an automatic for the past 6 years in 4 different trucks and have had very little problems with them. I do prefer the Volvo auto trans that will skip shift but the one in my current truck isn't bad. Drivers either love or hate them but I've found that most who do hate them never gave it a fair shot. I know a few drivers with 30+ years under their belts that wouldn't give up their auto trans now for anything else.

Jessie, the drivers that have that attitude are going to have it regardless of what a woman is driving. I've had it happen when I drove a Peterbilt with a 10 speed. It's actually not that common anymore and most that do spout that stuff are just trying to start an argument over the cb just to pass the time. Gi-Gi is actually more likely to get the "woman driver" crap over the company she's employed by than having an automatic (not knocking them, I'm employed by what's known as a starter company myself even though 1/2 the drivers have been here 10+years).


Gabby
August 9, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Q-Ball said…
Nobody can tell the difference between an autoshift and a manual.. so its all about preference really.

I have heard autoshifts can be a pain.. much more so than the manuals... however the auto will save tremendously on the leg for sure!

I didn't know schneider even had autoshifts.. although i'm not surprised since i've seen the Volvo 770's and Cascadias in the fleet! Those orange models are some sexy beasts!
August 9, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Anonymous said…
You do live in some kind of fantasyland. Giving your truck a name is about as corny as living in W.V.
August 9, 2009 at 7:09 PM
all things bradbury said…
sorry to hear about truckee....but you've had a great run.....i understand how easy it is to get attached to something that you've lived in, lived with and depended on every day.....as for the autoshift....like everything in life, it has it's pros and it's cons....it's great in city traffic and climbing mountains....but every one i've had has had some hesitation in shifting, and it looses some of the ability to get yourself out of minor hangups...ie, doesn't let you rock it as easily as a stick does....it will definately take some gettin used to!!...my first autoshift, i sat on my right hand most of the time to keep from tryin to shift!!...as for people givin you crap about bein a girl and needin it....well, i've never been out to prove anything....i just figure that it's hard enough out here..anything that might make it easier can be a good thing.....i'll be anxious to hear how you like it....be safe out there!
August 9, 2009 at 7:38 PM
The Daily Rant said…
I'd be interested to know what you think about the automatic - I had the same thoughts you did about driving one. I look forward to the update when you get it!

As for anonymous....he clearly doesn't HAVE a big dick since he thinks having one is a cure for a truck you hate to drive and he's probably never been to West Virginia either...or he'd know that it's a BEAUTIFUL place and likely, a damn fine place to live!
August 17, 2009 at 10:40 PM
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