I had clutch go out on me just as I passed into the East Spokane, Wa (Post Falls, Id) Port of Entry. This type of problem has happened to me before. I had just left a P.O.E in Colorado going East on I-70 when I blew a turbo. This time I actually did have problems before arriving at the port. I stopped at the Flying J in Post Falls to check my load before going on into Spokane to spend a day at home before deliverying this load in Bremerton, Wa. I had trouble getting the transmission into gear at a dead stop. I was on a slight hill so I rolled down hill and was able to synchro it into gear. I held the clutch in and was able to stop without any apparent slippage. Thinking it was a fluke deal I went on to the port and then encountered the problem after being instructed to park and bring paperwork in.

I have to say, that the DOT officers were a good bunch of guys. I came back after discovering the problem was definitely more serious than I had first thought and after I passed a level 3 inspection (paperwork, logbook, permits, etc). They were very helpful and gave me permission to park it for the night if needed.

I worked on it and via qualcomm, talked the problem over with our Over The Road department and I decided to leave the truck there until I could go and get some brake fluid to add to it. Yes, it was a tad low. Not low enough that it should be a problem, but OTR said that it was a common problem in regard to Volvo’s.

Next day I tried various methods including the addition of the brake fluid to no avail. Thinking I’d have to call a tow truck or at least road service, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried one thing that had not occurred to me until some continued discussion with OTR. I was able to shift into gear with the engine off. So….. I was able to get the tractor and loaded trailer into Spokane without having to fork out $300-$500 for a tow.

That next day, which was Sunday, was a day spent trying to figure out whether the load I had would be repowered (having another driver finish the delivery) or rescheduled. Work could not be done on it till this morning. Weekend dispatch is over whelmed, having to deal with all sorts of issues, very similar to this one. Always wise to take care of business before the weekend. And I’m lucky to have a good dispatcher that plans for his drivers weekends.

So, I am waiting to get the tractor back so I can finish delivering this load, which is rescheduled for delivery on Tuesday morning in Bremerton. I have been busy while at home and will get a podcast together and up as soon as I get back into the groove of things. It will be interesting to restart, for I have received a sony stereo microphone from TruckerLlew. This definitely shows me that he is serious about taking a fairly lengthy hiatus from podcasting. Fear not though, I’m certain he will be back with his dulcet tones passing over the cyberwaves to us podcast listeners sometime in the future. And I will ship him back this microphone when that time comes. Anything I can do to encourage Brian to get back on the cyberair is a definite must. But in the meantime… I have the pleasure of being able to use this nice little mic.. and not a moment to soon…. with my other microphone shorting out.
[GP:East Spokane]