On the Road with Kurt Grote

hello everyone, I did make it back home for thanksgiving. It was a fun trip back I must say. I started off in lake havasu city AZ. And fueled up going in to California. I went to riverside to unload, and then I headed south to Yuma AZ. I used to pick up in Yuma a lot more than I do now. But I don’t get down there as mush as I used to. My route back to Tulsa is as follows: I-8 out of Yuma, to I-10 I take I-10 all the way to Los cruses nm. I go through Roswell and Clovis nm., I end up on I-27 into Amarillo TX where I pick up I-40 to I-44 in okc OK. I went all that way just short of 1700 miles on one fill up, could have made all the way to Tulsa but the fuel is cheaper in okc OK than Tulsa. I really like having the big tanks on this truck it allows me to have the range I need to purchase fuel at the less expensive places. Even tho I don’t get the fuel mileage the other guys are getting being able to fuel where I want is a big savings. As I told you several weeks ago I was testing some products and would report back to you. An update to that is the antisiphoning devises don’t work. I like the concept but the fact is, that once installed in the tanks, and this is on my Cascadia you cant get the fuel nozzles in the neck of the tank to pump the fuel! That was a big disappointment. I was hoping that they would actually work. Spencer and are off until the 1 day of dec. we will be up and rolling again after that. I truly hope all of you have had a wonderful thanksgiving. Until we meet again at the next truckstop, I wish you all well and safe travels.

Kurt and spencer

hello once again everyone. I have noticed that Spencer has run a muck over the blog last week. I guess I will have to talk to him about that! At any rate on to this weeks blog, the question that I have is how does a truck driver know it is winter? The answer is when an other driver tells you that the road is shutdown ahead of you do to snow, ice, and an accident. However that is 200 miles up the road! I don’t know about you but me I think I will go check it out myself. I’m not saying that the other driver is being misleading but I do have to question that driver on why he would report that. I figure that the road just might be open again by the time I get the 200 miles! I heard basically the same thing in Joplin earlier in the week. the conversation on the c.b. Was it was going to snow heavily over nite in Joplin. That any driver that needed to make a delivery should go now to beat the white stuff!! as it turned out all Joplin got was a little rain.( While the Cascade handled so well last year I anticipate the handling to be much better this year do to the fact that I have had a full year to get used to how the Cascade handles.) The c.b. Can be a very reliable tool if used properly. I try not to let the c.b. In my head when the weather turns nasty. If a driver is reporting an accident in front of you is one thing, but the other is uncalled for. At that point you have to just tune it out and pick out what is fact and what is fiction. And know your truck and your ability to handle that kind of weather. Above all you must be safe not only for yourself but the rest of us on the road with you. If you are unsure than simply park it. Another thing I don’t understand and maybe one of you can help me with it, is why would you say on the c.b. That some one is going to fast and you will see him in the ditch or median on down the road? Myself I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I for one am never really ready for winter and all that it brings, however I want to test some of the tires that Michelin has put on here for me. They are more aggressive than what I am used to running but supposed to get better tire life. I will keep you posted. Until the next truck stop all of you be safe!

Kurt and Spencer

hello everyone, I’m spencer and have decided to hijack dads computer tonite. the reason for this hijacking is because i have my chair back!! dad had gotten a new computer stand, and I’m want to tell you it is working out great!! because the cascadia is so open on the inside he can position the desk any way he wants to. which is great for me!! the other desk he had to rest it on the seat in order to stabilize it so it wouldn’t shake apart. however with this new desk the cyber trucker he doesn’t have to do that. the computer rides so much more stable with out the shaking that he doesn’t have to use my seat!! as roomy as this truck is on the inside i still like to be able to jump from seat to seat while he is fueling. i can better watch his back and alert him when someone approaches. plus it gives me something to do while he is out of the truck. to be honest i really like to antagonize the drivers next door, because they always make fun of me and harass me a little pay back if you will. the desk does take a little bit to install but it is well worth the effort!! so thanks again cyber trucker and you to dad for giving me back my chair!! until the next truckstop you all be safe!! spencer

hello everyone, i hope your week has been a safe one with all the snow that some of us has seen. i would like to lighten things up just a little bit this time. i know we have things that just get to us. i would like to give you my top 10 pet peeves. i would also like to here from you on your pet peeves. we will start off with #10-how about truck drivers that roll off on another driver. this is crazy if you where going that fast i wouldn’t have caught up with you. #9- leaving the crank handle in the crank position. what if some one happens by and runs in to it!! is it that big of a deal to pull the handle out? #8-people that just do not know how to merge into traffic. they must think that you must yield to them. #7-recaps this is self explanatory. i have never been a fan. #6-running all the way to the end of a lane closer! i don’t know about you but if they learned how to merge! #5- other drivers cutting you off. some of them i think try and see how close they can get to your front end without hitting you. #4-drivers that don’t know how to use a turn signal. i know the manufactures put them in the trucks, so why not use them. #3-”p” bottles i think there are enough places to find a restroom to use without a bottle or your drive tires. #2- any body that does not turn on their lights when it rains. if they only knew how difficult it is to see them they would turn them on. and that goes for big trucks also. and the #1 pet peeve of mine is washing a truck in the fuel island. now how smart is this? for one you get water all over for someone else to slip in and you use the same washer to wash your windows with!! therefor the rest of us has to suffer with you selfishness. i hope you have had fun this top 10. the only thing needed to correct these problem is a little thought. i think we all need to be reminded of that from time to time. until the next truck stop you all be safe!!