Stopped at a truck stop in Ohio last week and saw a mechanic rebuilding a Detroit 60 series with zip ties and duct tape holding the valve cover gasket in place

Has anyone else run into these shadetree field repairs on fleet trucks or is it just me seeing this stuff more often?

3 comments

3 Comments

Was the truck actually running like that or was it just sitting waiting for parts? I've seen some stuff on the road that made me question whether the driver had a death wish.

phoenix_singh2514d ago

The part about making you question whether the driver had a death wish is exactly what got me thinking, @felixhenderson. I used to assume trucks seen in that condition were just parked up waiting, but last month I drove past a logging truck on the highway that had a cracked frame and one tire visibly wobbling like it was about to come off. That ride was definitely hauling at 55 mph, and I couldn't believe someone was willing to risk it instead of pulling over. Changed my mind completely about what people will put up with out there.

jenny_lee14d ago

Ngl, I used to think the same way you did - figured most beat-up rigs were just parked waiting for repairs. But seeing one wobbling at highway speed completely changed my perspective on what some drivers are willing to risk. Honestly makes you wonder how much pressure they're under to keep moving no matter what.