One day last week I arrived at Brooks distrbution centre in Dayville CT, stopped at the gatehouse, was told “Door 36” and found my path blocked by a 53ft trailer with a red T2000 on the front trying to get onto door 2, after about 8 or 9 attempts a woman got out of the passenger side to assist, but it did no good, and I admit it was quite tight and dark there. The driver pulled forward to let me past, I parked on door 36 amd saw the woman walking past all the other drivers, she came to me and asked if I could help ? I took the paperwork in, paid the very greedy lumper and wandered down to door 2, the woman was now in the driving seat with no sign of the driver, she slid across and said “I’ll just let you park it”, I climbed in and looked around, I was very impressed with this very sleek, almost ‘euro style’ cab and reversed onto the door.
“where’s the driver ?” I asked.
“In the sleeper, … he is ashamed that he couldn’t do it, It’s his first drive in a T2000”
“Mine too” I grinned
It was the first US made truck I have seen that is worth a look at, VERY NICE
Mirrors That’s another thing I can’t understand On some of the straight trucks (rigids) I see here such as Hino and even Ford Cargo, why do they all have the same antique flat, small mirrors, instead of the nice mirrors the truck was designed with
Pat Hasler: Mirrors That’s another thing I can’t understand On some of the straight trucks (rigids) I see here such as Hino and even Ford Cargo, why do they all have the same antique flat, small mirrors, instead of the nice mirrors the truck was designed with
As a road service manager, I can tell you why so many companies spec those cheap, flat mirrors. It’s because if (or when) a driver breaks one, he can get a replacement at any truckstop, 24 hours a day.
In the past year, a couple of our Volvos (never more than 5% of the fleet, btw) were waylayed for a day or 2 while the correct mirror was ordered and shipped to where they were.
Pat Hasler: Mirrors That’s another thing I can’t understand On some of the straight trucks (rigids) I see here such as Hino and even Ford Cargo, why do they all have the same antique flat, small mirrors, instead of the nice mirrors the truck was designed with
As a road service manager, I can tell you why so many companies spec those cheap, flat mirrors. It’s because if (or when) a driver breaks one, he can get a replacement at any truckstop, 24 hours a day.
In the past year, a couple of our Volvos (never more than 5% of the fleet, btw) were waylayed for a day or 2 while the correct mirror was ordered and shipped to where they were.
I think this is one of the reasons why Volvo has bought Mack out, the dealer network is already there…and I’m sure they will use it to there advantage.
It seems that Renault sold it to Volvo. Mack has a good service system in the northeast and upper midwest, but not a lot anyplace else (except Canada).
AlexxInNY:
It seems that Renault sold it to Volvo. Mack has a good service system in the northeast and upper midwest, but not a lot anyplace else (except Canada).
Denis F:
erm…Volvo own most of the Renault Truck division
Volvo Trucks owns all of Renault’s truck operation (RVI). The car businesses are another story.
Incidentally, Alex, have you your drivers never heard of duct tape? Why stand a truck still for the sake of a broken mirror when you can tape another glass inside the housing to get back on the road until you reach a Volvo dealer. Perhaps US law enforcement doesn’t look too kindly upon such improvisation?
How do you guy’s think the trucker septics who “pilot” all those Peterbilts/Kenworths are going to react,when there told that in the near future rumour has it that their beloved ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ are being replaced by the new DAF “X” series engine
They’re really going to be crying in their coffee when the only option they will have is to fit a European engine
I’m just thinking, what about a “wind up” MKII over on USA Trucknet about DAF engines going into N.American Paccar trucks,Who’s game
On some of the straight trucks (rigids) I see here such as Hino and even Ford Cargo, why do they all have the same antique flat, small mirrors, instead of the nice mirrors the truck was designed with 
