Life on the Road - Trucking News Blog

I’m not much of a “chrome” guy. I can take it or leave it. My truck is a work truck not a show truck. I bought my current truck because it looks good from the inside. The LoneStar looks damn good from the inside. Everything from the dash, the murphy bed, storage and the most important 50 degree wheel cut. A short turning radius helps immensely in getting into those tight places where big trucks probably shouldn’t be in the first place.

The only thing missing is a premium laptop holder built in or at least as an option. Between GPS, laptops, MP3 players and satellite radios and all of the other electronics drivers have on their dash now, I want as many of my devices built-in as possible or at least easy to install and hide the wires. Maybe they can put that in next year’s model.

Popularity: 34% [?]

I was blown away last month when we got a sneak peak at this truck and it was all I could do to keep from spilling the beans about it then. But now, that the day has arrived for its debut, I am even more impressed.

Normally, I haven’t been too keen on the trend towards retro styling on automobiles. It’s hard to duplicate perfection from the past using todays required technology. But with the Lonestar, it seems International has found the happy medium.

That massive grill reminds me of the Diamond T’s and other solid road trucks of the past. The chrome louvers on the side add style to functionality. The factory installed “good buddy” lights are tasteful and accentuate the stylish design of the truck.

Ya’ll check out the interior. Hell, I could live in this thing. Optional Bluetooth radio setup and optional Monsoon 11 speaker stereo with sub and amp. You can bang out some tunes on that thing. My Jetta has a similar Monsoon system installed and it is awesome.

Swivel seats, a dash that is designed for driver comfort seem to make this the perfect truck for the owner operator. I don’t see many fleets putting this to work but time will be the judge of that.

This truck could definitely be the answer to driver retention and satisfaction. I know it could satisfy me in a big way. I want one!

Popularity: 40% [?]

Disclosure: Life on the Road is sponsored by International Trucks, but they don’t tell us what to say. They did however give us these incredible pictures. (Click on the picture to enlarge) The Lonestar is a classic look crossed with the fuel efficient Prostar. Big engines will be available. This has all the chrome any classic big hood, big chrome driver could ask for. And if the aerodynamics and fuel efficiency is as good as the Prostar, it will be the best of both world’s and will redefine class 8 trucks and be the model for the rest of the industry to follow. More posts and pictures to follow.

Popularity: 39% [?]

I just got word that International is getting ready to start building a new Truck.

They call it the LoneStar

I’m from Texas so that name kind of resonates. I kinda like it. It sort of looks like a grinning shark. I wonder what it would look like in a gunmetal grey over black color scheme? Psychedelics aside though… I see one thing that I REALLY like.

The intake area through the hood for airflow…… for cooling…it looks to be huge. Us heavy haulers always have trouble with engines overheating. Lots of airflow is a plus.

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Popularity: 32% [?]

It all started with Tony Stewart. He won the Indy Racing League Championship in 1997, and decided to run in the then Nascar Winston Cup Series in 1999.  Tony won three races that year and finished fourth in the Winston Cup Championship. People the world over thought that an open wheel driver would not do well in stock cars the first year or two if ever. He proved them all wrong that first year and continues to do above average, even attaining championship status not once but twice.

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Popularity: 23% [?]

Adding your photos to a blog post, web page, ebay, etc. can be a little tricky. You cannot just upload the image file that comes right from the camera because the file size is to large to be practical. You need to downsize the image with Photoshop, Gimp, or other photo editing software. It’s time consuming and sometimes you do not get the desired results. There’s an easy way to have near perfect web ready photos and it’s free. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 37% [?]

Today is make-it or break-it day for many of the Presidential hopefuls, its Super Tuesday. Citizens in 24 States will go to the polls today to express their right to decide who will represent their views and wishes in the next Presidential election. If you live in one of these States, take a few minutes and go vote. Even if your Candidate has little or no chance of winning, let your opinion be heard. Your vote tells your party how you feel on issues, your views are important in building the parties platform for November. Don’t think that just because the media has decided who they think should win, that they are right, just ask Harry Truman.(well you could if he was still around)

Get out and vote, if you are not registered then get registered, make a difference. As long as we let the media lead us around by the nose, then nothing changes.

One other thing before I head off to the polls, if a pollster ask you how and why you voted, let them know. Tell them you are a trucker and you voted for such and such reason. We need to show that we have numbers and influence.

Be Safe and Vote.
Don

Popularity: 26% [?]

The horror:

I dunno if you all have noticed it or not but today’s truck is a technological nightmare, what a convoluted, hayseed, thrown-together adhoc mess. It would make Rube Goldberg proud. I was sitting in my lawn chair the other day smoking a ceegar and looking at my truck …drip, drip oil onto the drive way..(it’s not leaking….it’s just marking it’s territory)…
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Popularity: 22% [?]

The 50TH running of the Daytona 500 will start with the Corvette Z06 pace car out in front. Seen in the photo are Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig, The 2007 Daytona 500 Champion Kevin Harvick, Orange county Mayor Richard Crotty, and General Motors Jeff Chew.

JUNIOR JOHNSON

Driving the 2008 Daytona Pace Car will be none other than the 1960 Daytona 500 Winner Junior Johnson. Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990 and named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, the North Carolina native claimed his Daytona 500 victory in only his second season in NASCAR competition. That memorable win was behind the wheel of the No. 27 John Masoni Daytona Kennel Club Chevrolet Impala. Junior Johnson got his start racing by running from the law with a trunk full of moonshine back in the day. He now sells the stuff legally on his website. Anthough it is not the same as what was in his trunk back in the day, it is still pretty potent. Check you local laws before you attempt to get some though.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

I just ran across a study……….it’s a PDF.

If I read it right their conclusion is that “significant” increases in fuel mileage can be accomplished by improving Aerodynamics. Interestingly enough they also conclude that 60 % of the truck-trailer combination aerodynamic drag is due to the trailer.

Well that leaves me out. They’re talking about a van. I pull company trailers but they are all some variation of a flatbed.

However…this article says……” Improved fuel efficiency by 45% ”

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Popularity: 20% [?]