On the Road with Henry Albert

Wheels have always fascinated me ! My baby book noted that I enjoyed any toy if it had wheels . Just think of what the world might be like if humans had not figured out how to use the wheel . If you stop and think about it , the wheel affects every aspect of our lives . The wheel does so much more than transport goods and people . Generators , water wheels and turbines all are based on the simple wheel . Drills , lathes and steel rollers also share the same roots . Gears , roller chains , and ball bearing are also part of the wheel family . Imagine a farmer planting all of those seeds by hand . Propellers on boats and airplanes are variations of the wheel , that made the world a much smaller place . We are entertained by wheels on things like motorcycles , ATV’s and race cars . The Internet that I am posting this on would not even exist if the wheel had not been put to use . I guess some credit should be given to the axle though . Because it allowed the wheel to be put to use . Without this marvel , I suppose we would be building dams like our friend the beaver . I just thought this was something interesting to ponder , . What do you think we would have accomplished with out the wheel ? Well, it is time to get behind the wheel of my Cascadia now . So , next time , be safe out there .

Over in my recent pictures there is a picture of a hub cap . Has anybody seen any of these at any of the chrome shops ? I need four of them for my drive axles. If anyone has seen them , click on the comment button and let me know where . Thanks Henry

This week , I had time to make two truck stop appearances . I spent three hours at the Bloomington IL. location on Tuesday and five hours at the Walton KY. location on Wednesday. It was enjoyable spending time with the many drivers that I met . Normally I do not have this much time to converse with my fellow drivers . I am not used to being on display at a table talking to people . It felt more than just a little awkward at first . A big thanks to all the drivers who stopped by to chat with me . The Cascadia and the DD15 engine were quite easy to talk about once I got started . During a few times when traffic slowed down a bit at the booth , I was glad to be able to take a few of the drivers out to see the Cascadia . All of the drivers walked away impressed with how well this truck is designed . One of the questions that came up repeatably was how do the doors seal up when closed . The drivers that came outside with me found out first hand when they closed the door for themselves . The doors close like you would expect on a fine luxury automobile . Everyone also wanted to know if the DD15 engine was everything they heard it was . All I can say is yes it is . With this engine there is no reason to chose between fuel mileage or pulling power. Both are delivered without compromise . It would be really nice to be able to let all of these drivers drive this truck for themselves . I wish that I could but my insurance will not allow that as an option . However you can always stop by at the nearest Freightliner dealership and test drive one for yourself . I have one word of caution though . After driving one of these benchmark trucks you will not be satisfied with anything less . In closing I would like to thank the staffs at both T/A Travel Centers for their warm hospitality . Remember Run Smart is more than a slogan . It is a way of life .

I made my first dealer appearance with the Cascadia at Freightliner of Charlotte . It was my pleasure showing the many unique features on this truck . I left the drivers who stopped by , climb in the cab and start the engine . This allowed them to see how quiet it is with the engine running . Most of the drivers commented on how solidly the door shut . Once they were inside , they noticed the spaciousness of the wider cab on the Cascadia. Most of this truck speaks for itself . Therefore , I took time to show off some of the features that are not readily apparent . For example , the main fuses are on the firewall . dash panels are screwed in the front for easy access and the quietness of the parked H.V.A.C system . The truck was parked next to the interstate so it really showed how well it is insulated . When we shut the door , the traffic noise almost completely disappeared . I also answered a lot of questions about the Detroit Diesel DD15 engine . Most of the interest was regarding the” turbo compounding “. I explained how the engine took waste exhaust heat and converted it to fifty extra horsepower. Typically , this energy goes up the stack with out being used . A question was raised on how the amplified injection operates .We discussed how the fuel injectors have the ability to constantly change their spray pattern and fire several times per combustion event . The end result is less fuel consumption, lower emissions and quiet operation . I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with my fellow drivers . It was a pleasure to speak in person with those interested in the Cascadia . Thanks guys for the great conversation and to the Freightliner dealership for allowing me the opportunity to share my impressions of the new Cascadia . I look forward to future appearances at various truck stops and dealerships.

At the end of last week,  a run came up that required me to take along another driver. This worked out great at the time, because I didn’t have another shipment scheduled for this driver. We ran the shipment from Charlotte, NC to Janesville, WI as a “Team”. I don’t normally operate as a team, so the experience was quite different. With the other driver at the wheel, it surprised me how well I slept.  I was able to sleep soundly with the curtin closed. I didn’t even hear the radio playing from the front of the truck. As I rested in the bunk, I was impressed at the Cascadia’s smooth ride. Finally, during my rest, It became clear that the Detroit Diesel DD15 engine was very quiet. In my opinion, all these factors would point to the Cascadia as an excellent choice for Team Operators.

It sure was nice to hear from the people at Overdrive Magazine, who wrote an article on Karen and I. I thought that some of you might enjoy this link to get to know me a little better . I hope that you enjoy it . Well it is time to go to Wisconsin now so I must sign off for today . Be safe out there .

I still can not believe how quiet and well insulated the Cascadia is . It almost completely isolates from the elements outside the cab . It does not seem to matter whether the truck is rolling down the interstate or parked there is never even a trace of a draft . I find myself quite surprised when I get up in the morning and find that a foot of snow has fallen . It is so nice to sleep in this truck with its parked HVAC system . I wake up totally refreshed and ready to start my day . All the features on the Cascadia keep me from being fatigued during my week at work . I wish that this truck had been around when I started my driving career some twenty six years ago

This morning is turning out to be full of good news as well as sad news . Soon after finding out that I was elected to the board of OOIDA my phone rang again . This time it was news that saddened me . A Friend of mine called to inform me that a mutual friend of ours wife had passed away unexpectedly . It was Dave Sweetmans wife Laurie . Many of you know Dave from his commentary column in Land Line magazine . Dave has always been there as a great ambassador for the the trucking industry . Now he needs our prayers as he goes through this loss in his life . I can not even imagine how he must feel at this moment . While I never personally met Laurie I know from talking to Dave that she meant the world to him . I am sorry for your loss my friend . I will be praying for you .

I was just informed this morning that I had been elected to serve as a alternate to the board of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association . My hope is that my service to this organization will benefit my fellow professional drivers . I plan to serve with the same passion that I do in my own business . It is a great honor to serve in this capacity . Thanks to all of the people who supported me with their vote .

Well its time to start the new year . It sure was nice to spend some time with my family over the holidays . I still had some end of the year things to finish , so I did not escape work completely . The time sure did go by to quick . I am looking forward to the things we will be doing in the new year with the Slice Of Trucker Life Program . The one that I am really looking forward to is the truck stop appearances that we will be doing . I always walk away with a lot of good information when I get a chance to talk shop with my fellow drivers . If any of you see us on the road or at a truck stop , feel free to stop over and chat for awhile . In closing , I hope all of you have a safe and profitable year .