On the Road with Gina Stumborg

Slice Of Life Truck

Hello Everyone,

This adventure began back in ’09 at the M.A.T.S. in Louisville,Ky. I test drove the Cascadia truck at the show and never thought it would have taken me down the road it did. Here is the story.

I found out about a contest that Daimler Trucks North America was having and it was an essay contest. The prize was the privilege of driving a Cascadia for a year and blogging about the experience. So I entered the contest not really thinking I would win; but I did. Out of 400 entries my essay was chosen. What was it about you ask? Well it was simply about my career and all the turns it had taken up to that point and why I love driving so much.

Summary is 18 years driving and everything from student to company driver onto a trainer and even a dispatcher for a while to finally be back on the road to become an owner-operator. I Love driving because I can drive down the same road everyday and look at the same tree and it will be different. You just have to take the time to look.

So on June 3, 2010 I was given the truck that I was going to be driving for the next year. It was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to get this adventure started. I asked for a mountain scene since I was raised in Colorado and I missed the scenery. I couldn’t have asked for a better mountain scene than Vomela, the vinyl graphic company,  gave me on the truck. I had the truck set up with an UltraShift and super singles. I had never had either, so that was going to be something new too.

As the program got started I was introduced to so many people in the industry and learned so much from them that it would take way too long to thank them each individually; but they know who they are and thank you.

Since the start of the program my life has changed I got married to my best friend and I am now running team with him. We are loving being together however that being said running team does not leave much time for the Slice Of Life program. I feel that if I cannot give the program my 110% effort than it is time to say good-bye to the program so this will be my final blog.

New Freightliner Cascadia

It is now time to move onto my next adventure running team in my new Cascadia that Don and I had built and took delivery of on the 1^st of this year. We will still be out here running down the road and truly believe in the Freightliner brand. Keeping in mind that 11 years ago I would not have stepped foot on a Freightliner property. I was a Kenworth girl all the way. I will say this Freightliner is not what they used to be from customer service in the shops to the way the trucks are built now. If you have not driven a Freightliner in a while you need to. You may just be pleasantly surprised just like I was.

Thank you again for the wonderful adventure to Freightliner and Daimler Trucks.  To those of you reading my blogs and coming to meet me at the truck shows these past 2 years. I will never  forget what a privilege it was to be in the Slice of Life program. I always end my blogs with a saying the reason I do that is to me there is nothing more important than family. I love mine and the support that they have given me over the years in the Trucking Industry. So until I see you out of the road at some truck stop be safe and make it home to your families.

Gina, Don and She-La

Hello Everyone,

Well the truck is set up and we are ready to get back on the road on Saturday. It is really amazing how long it takes to set up a truck and get the lettering done and ready to go.

Don and I have been off for three weeks so getting back into the groove is going to take a couple of days.

We put the airtabs on the truck, and we replaced the seats with some leather seats. We have the custom mattress in and the television from ASA electronics.

Until next time be safe and make it home to your families. I will have more to report after the weekend with the new truck.

Hello Everyone,

A New Year and a time that I look back at what I achieved last year. I never tell my New Years resolutions, I keep them to myself. I do not even tell Don and I tell him everything.

There was a lot of changes in my life this last year with getting married, buying our home together, taking the snowmobile for a flight over a set of railroad tracks. Even though I do not think I did that on purpose. Don said I went about 8 feet in the air though, not a graceful landing!!!! I learned what it felt like to be hit with lightening, which I never want to feel again. Nor do I wish that for anyone else.

I met so many people being in the Slice of Life program and I appreciate Daimler Trucks for the opportunity to be in this program I just have to say thank you to them.

Looking forward to this year is going to be great too. Sometimes you have to say goodbye to somethings to say hello to the new. I am doing that with the truck that I have been driving for the Slice of Life program.

New Truck just arrived

Don and I are waiting for our new 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. We will still be blogging on the technology of this truck. Right here. The new truck has a 505 DD15 with 1650 torque. 342 rear ends and a set of dual tires instead of the super singles. I think it will be a good chance to compare the fuel differences. The dual that we put on the truck are the michelin energies 22.5′s. It also is  a 13 speed manual not ultra shift. We stayed with the aluminum fifth wheel since I really like the fact how cleans it stays and the weight savings. We are picking up the truck from River States Truck and Trailer in La Cross, WI. on Tuesday night and hopefully will be rolling down the road in the new ride on Thursday.

One more thing that I am looking forward to is the electronic logs that our company is putting into the trucks this year. I know most of you do not like these; but to me this can work for us or against us. I do not have to worry about my company but I know there are some out there that tend to push their drivers harder than they should. I believe this is the biggest reason for trucks having accidents at night. Falling a sleep is a big problem and since I drive the night shift now I am looking forward to that fact that at least I will know that the drivers out there will not be driving more hours than they should be. They are not all good; but there are some good things that I believe the electronic logs will do.

Happy New Year to all of you and to all of you I hope this year will be prosperous for you and your families.

Until next time be safe and make it home to your families.

Gina, Don and She-La