Way Cool (NOT!) Waco

DATELINE: WACO, TX, 9:00 p.m. CDT

Miles Today: 540

This was my first day running in my new truck, and (just about) all I gotta say is, "SUH-WEEEET!" Runs like a dream, nice 'n quiet, not clutching is nice, and not shifting is gonna let my messed-up right shoulder heal some, I think. The automatic shifting took just a bit of getting used to, as it's not as quick and smooth as happens in a car with automatic trans. As this thing shifts, it hesitates a bit, about as much as a manual shift would take. And it takes off more slowly from a dead stop than I could manage in my old truck, so I just have to keep that in mind when deciding when to turn across oncoming traffic.

Oh, and this one doesn't have a governor set at 63 MPH; I can run faster than that. YAHOO! Good for when I have a long way to go and not much time to get there. But most of the time I'll keep my speed to around 65, I think, in order to keep my fuel efficiency above the company's goal. I'll need a few days to see what kind of mileage this beast gets at that speed.

I did figure out my lighting issue that I mentioned yesterday, or, rather, it worked itself out. I don't know why the lights wouldn't work yesterday, but they're fine now. I also had a glitch with my APU when I arrived here in Waco (at the Flying J)--it kept quitting and giving a system error message. (Remember, the APU runs the cab's climate control systems when I'm parked so the truck's engine doesn't have to.) I searched the system manual for help, found where it said to press the "Engine Reset" button (the APU's engine, not the truck's), then had to find that button. I finally did, tucked into the luggage compartment accessible through a hatch on the outside of the truck, and everything's working just hunky-dory now. Which is essential 'cuz it's fierce hot down here. It was probably only in the low-to-mid-90s this afternoon, but Texas heat just feels hotter than the same or higher temperatures elsewhere. Probably has something to do with the angle of the sun beating down on everything.

Anyway, I'm staying up too late now...need to get to bed so I can get up and rolling early again tomorrow. I expect it'll take me only another 5 or 6 hours to get to Laredo and drop this load at our terminal there. I'll be a day early, so I can get another assignment and back on the road for some more paying miles.

Thanks for the good wishes and congratulations about the truck from those who sent them. I gotta say that, as much as I do like this truck, (and these trips out to the southwest), I'd still rather be home with y'all. But if I gotta be out here, this is much nicer than old 7630. (My old truck's number.)

Thanks for glancing this way today, please send me lots of questions and comments, and keep on truckin'.