So, I work at a Caterpillar/International/Cummins truck dealer in the Bay Area and occasionally have to work on these big behemoths. They are astoundingly awkward to drive. I never take them out on public roads because I only have a class C. The funniest part of this is that a full size tour bus (look up an MCI J4500)…

Bendix already has Wingman and Meritor Wabco has OnGuard. They seem to work pretty well, as we get no complaints about them (unless nobody actually uses them or I just don't see enough long haul trucks anymore). Anyway, this seems like the natural evolution of it, if it works well.

When we can we expect the full review? (Unless I somehow missed it.) I'll probably never buy one, not because I'm an Audi guy and I'm probably buying a B5 S4 Avant this weekend. I appreciate just about any car and that straight 6 gives me a... nevermind. Anyway, it's out of my realistic price range. However, I did…

My wife and I are going to get a TDI Golf, but even going to their dealer recently is awful. I talked to multiple salespeople and saying the phrase "MK7" confused the ever living fuck out of all of them. I don't want to talk to you unless you know the name of the product you're selling is. This isn't Toyota! Some of…

I really enjoyed Assemble. I was hesitant because EMH was great, but I'm really glad I gave it a chance.

Their restaurant ranks pretty highly on my wife's and my favorite restaurants of all time. The bread they make is fantastic. I really need to head out that way again soon.

I'm not big on IPAs, but their other beers are delicious. Not to mention their cheesy bread bowl thing. And everything else they make. They're one of my favorite breweries for their beer, as well as food. I really, REALLY need to go back. I'm getting hungry just talking about it and I just ate enough Chinese food to…

Their fuel system, though... *shudder*

Automated manual transmissions are fitted to most new trucks in America, too. Eaton makes most of them. Before we stopped being a premium dealer, I saw mostly manual transmissions. The only synchro is from low to high range. That's still true on the automated manuals.

Hell, American truck companies don't advertise AT ALL. Drives me nuts.

Maybe... JUST maybe, the guy with big hair from Ancient Aliens was right. And they thought we were boring. Or doomed. So, they left.

Because California emissions. Testing is absurdly expensive.

I work at an International truck dealer. Believe it or not, we've had to take a truck home before. It's usually when they ask for a 100 mile test drive and most of the guys live about 50 miles away. Normally, however, the owner is really in the loop and it's still covered by warranty. The fact they were so ignorant…

I occasionally drive street sweepers from the right driver's seat around the shop and the hardest part is that the mirrors are set for one of the seats and not the other. I also think it's funny to flip the switch to the other seat while someone is sitting in it.

Obviously we need a fastest wagon QOTD.

I wonder how fast it could destroy the differentials and transmission. 0-60 in HOPEFULLY!

That man is a saint!

I guess now we know exactly how much a shitload is.

Cool. So, don't buy a Honda. Got it.

One of the worst parts of being a mechanic is the hundreds, if not thousands of acronyms I have to learn for individual manufacturers.