Greetings my friends. I managed to make it to my drop in California with only a couple of hitches, namely the flat tire hitch and the burned-out low beam headlight hitch, unfortunately noticed by the member of the Arizona Highway Patrol. So, once those were fixed, I made my way to my stopping point, amazingly enough right across from the drop point. I settled in and waited for the morning.
I was bright and early for my delivery time, and to my surprise, all I had to do was drop the full trailer at the site. Okay, no problem there, but there were no empty trailers from our company, so I had to wait until they found one for me to pick up. Which they did. In San Diego.
Off to San Diego I went, moving incredibly well over the mountains thanks to having no weight on my back end (and no trailer). I got to the pickup point, got the trailer, and waited for the load that would, mercifully and hopefully, take me toward home.
No such luck. I got a pickup in Brawley, California, heading to Denver. I sighed heavily, called in for my mandatory talk regarding the specific load I had to pick up, and called my driver manager to notify him that I would need to buy a new load lock (one was still in the trailer I dropped back in Calexico), and to ask when it would be possible to head towards home. He did some finagling, and amazingly enough, I get to have a 34-hour reset of my hours of service (which was necessary no matter what load I received as I had nowhere near enough hours to get anything moving), and then I pick up a load here, heading to Fort Worth.
Which is near Dallas.
Which is near home.
I have my fingers and toes crossed that, after delivering this load, I can finally bring the truck back and take some well-deserved home time. For now, though, I relax, make my trip plan for the load (picks up on Wednesday and delivers Monday, plenty of time to run). I may call the receiver and see if I can deliver early, if I'm in the area early. I just pray I don't get repowered. I may tell the one that tries to repower me that this is my home load, and unless they're giving me a load directly to Dallas, to go piss up a rope (although I'll put it in a nicer way).
I'll let you know how things go.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Does sightseeing count if you can't stop?
The sun is sinking low, and another 640 miles have been subtracted from my destination. I am currently in Winslow, Arizona, and much to my dismay, I can't go stand on the corner. It's about a mile or so from the truck stop I'm camping at for the night, and yet I have no way to get there, nor do I have a way to get back.
Such is the downside of the job I have. I get to go to some pretty cool places, and pass by some very interesting attractions, but I just don't have time to play tourist, nor is there really anywhere to park 70 feet of truck so I can do so. For example, yesterday I passed through Oklahoma City and went by Tinker Air Force Base. There was an air museum there, with several types of aircraft on display outside, ranging from fighter planes to one of the old jumbo jets used as Air Force One. I would have LOVED to have been able to stop and just wander for a few hours or so, but alas...
I had a similar experience when I passed through Huntsville, Alabama. I could see the Space Museum, or at least one of the Apollo-class rockets was visible from the highway. Again, couldn't stop, couldn't even take a damn picture.
I would have loved to have been able to take a picture when I saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile heading east on I-40 through New Mexico earlier today. Or maybe just some photos from one of the many tourist traps/attractions along the way, just so I had definite proof that yes, I was in fact nearby.
Maybe one of these days I'll get the chance to play tourist. It's a longshot, and would require a major lottery win, but I'd love to take someone special along with me, and show her the sights that I've seen.
And this time, we'd be able to stop.
Such is the downside of the job I have. I get to go to some pretty cool places, and pass by some very interesting attractions, but I just don't have time to play tourist, nor is there really anywhere to park 70 feet of truck so I can do so. For example, yesterday I passed through Oklahoma City and went by Tinker Air Force Base. There was an air museum there, with several types of aircraft on display outside, ranging from fighter planes to one of the old jumbo jets used as Air Force One. I would have LOVED to have been able to stop and just wander for a few hours or so, but alas...
I had a similar experience when I passed through Huntsville, Alabama. I could see the Space Museum, or at least one of the Apollo-class rockets was visible from the highway. Again, couldn't stop, couldn't even take a damn picture.
I would have loved to have been able to take a picture when I saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile heading east on I-40 through New Mexico earlier today. Or maybe just some photos from one of the many tourist traps/attractions along the way, just so I had definite proof that yes, I was in fact nearby.
Maybe one of these days I'll get the chance to play tourist. It's a longshot, and would require a major lottery win, but I'd love to take someone special along with me, and show her the sights that I've seen.
And this time, we'd be able to stop.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Just to get my mind off things
As I travel the roadways around this great country of ours, sometimes my mind wanders off to new and different locations. After the past few weeks, I decided to let it go today, mainly because any thoughts of work, or the people I work for, would be just enough to make me go screamingly insane. Okay, more screamingly insane than I currently am. And with more screaming.
As I'm heading along I-40 in Tennessee, I see this billboard advertising one of the local strip clubs. The ad has a picture that consists of a woman's arm and hand, holding a garment that could either be a segment of underwear, or possibly even part of a swimsuit. It was tough to tell because along the length of the picture where the garment was, was a big yellow bar with the word "CENSORED" covering up the item of clothing. Note that the only thing you see of the girl was her outstretched arm.
So, this got me thinking: is it against the law in Tennessee to publicly show photographs of clothing not being actually worn? And, could there be a market for a website devoted to laundry porn? You know, on the tame side, maybe show some one-piece bathing suits or pajama bottoms, get a little more risque and show G-strings and thongs, possibly some lacy lingerie ... we could do the "group" thing with pictures of clotheslines, and for those that prefer the "mature" angle maybe some photos of underwire bras and girdles.
These are the kind of thoughts that show why I have the job I do, and why I need to be segregated from the population at large.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Will this moment of truth set me free?
So, remember about how I thought I would be able to take a 34-hour restart before taking a load into Buffalo, and then getting a load back toward Texas? Guess what?
I got taken off that load, and essentially had to run through the night to deliver a load in New Jersey, in a town that isn't even listed in my road atlas. I found it, and my GPS even had a better route than the company's automated routing system. But, there was one other obstacle standing in my way.
The truck wouldn't start. Again.
After messing around with it for about two hours, I finally got it to turn over and run, but had to keep starting it repeatedly to make sure it would actually work when I needed it to. Bear in mind that I still needed to catch a nap since I'd be running all night long to make my delivery time. I managed to get a whole hour's worth of sleep, but at the cost of not being able to start the truck. Another hour later, I got the truck running, met up with the driver I was repowering, pulled next to the trailer I had to hook up with, shut the truck down for not more than fifteen minutes, and ... I think you can guess what happened, or more accurately, didn't happen.
More futzing, swearing, and manipulating, and the truck finally started, I got hooked up, and away I went to Joisey. Made it on site, checked in, and lost even more sleep because I was at least two and a half hours early. Couldn't go to sleep, had to keep the truck going you know. So, I got unloaded, drove to the nearest safe haven, let sleep overrule my brain and posted what I was really thinking on Google Plus, then collapsed as sleep finally won out.
I had a load to pick up this morning, and lo and behold, truck wouldn't start. Back and forth once again with the repair people at my company, got it started (finally), and drove to the nearest approved repair facility. They had me pull in to the service bay, and after about an hour the mechanic came over, tried to start the truck, and ... nothing. He hooks up a battery booster, gets the truck running, and does his diagnostics. Batteries are really good, alternator works fine, no loose or shorted connections, starter motor's okay ... nope, this one has to go to a Kenworth dealer. Nearest one is about an hour's drive away. Clock's still ticking on my pickup, but gotta get this problem fixed. I get to the dealer, and after checking in, I'm told the truck won't even be looked at until tomorrow and I better get a hotel room.
Great.
I call the office to speak with my driver manager. As of 4 pm Central time, I still haven't heard from him. In fact, I've heard nothing from the company at all. I don't know what to conclude from that. And, at this point, I really don't care.
I'm staying at a Holiday Inn on my own dime, and fortunately they get a reduced rate for being a customer of the Kenworth dealer. I will sleep in a real bed for the first time in a month and a half, and I will be applying to any job I am qualified to do because this is the last straw.
Maybe now, I'll get to go home. Maybe.
I got taken off that load, and essentially had to run through the night to deliver a load in New Jersey, in a town that isn't even listed in my road atlas. I found it, and my GPS even had a better route than the company's automated routing system. But, there was one other obstacle standing in my way.
The truck wouldn't start. Again.
After messing around with it for about two hours, I finally got it to turn over and run, but had to keep starting it repeatedly to make sure it would actually work when I needed it to. Bear in mind that I still needed to catch a nap since I'd be running all night long to make my delivery time. I managed to get a whole hour's worth of sleep, but at the cost of not being able to start the truck. Another hour later, I got the truck running, met up with the driver I was repowering, pulled next to the trailer I had to hook up with, shut the truck down for not more than fifteen minutes, and ... I think you can guess what happened, or more accurately, didn't happen.
More futzing, swearing, and manipulating, and the truck finally started, I got hooked up, and away I went to Joisey. Made it on site, checked in, and lost even more sleep because I was at least two and a half hours early. Couldn't go to sleep, had to keep the truck going you know. So, I got unloaded, drove to the nearest safe haven, let sleep overrule my brain and posted what I was really thinking on Google Plus, then collapsed as sleep finally won out.
I had a load to pick up this morning, and lo and behold, truck wouldn't start. Back and forth once again with the repair people at my company, got it started (finally), and drove to the nearest approved repair facility. They had me pull in to the service bay, and after about an hour the mechanic came over, tried to start the truck, and ... nothing. He hooks up a battery booster, gets the truck running, and does his diagnostics. Batteries are really good, alternator works fine, no loose or shorted connections, starter motor's okay ... nope, this one has to go to a Kenworth dealer. Nearest one is about an hour's drive away. Clock's still ticking on my pickup, but gotta get this problem fixed. I get to the dealer, and after checking in, I'm told the truck won't even be looked at until tomorrow and I better get a hotel room.
Great.
I call the office to speak with my driver manager. As of 4 pm Central time, I still haven't heard from him. In fact, I've heard nothing from the company at all. I don't know what to conclude from that. And, at this point, I really don't care.
I'm staying at a Holiday Inn on my own dime, and fortunately they get a reduced rate for being a customer of the Kenworth dealer. I will sleep in a real bed for the first time in a month and a half, and I will be applying to any job I am qualified to do because this is the last straw.
Maybe now, I'll get to go home. Maybe.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Saturday Coffeehouse Post
Okay, I'm not really at a coffeehouse, but I do have a bottle of Frappuccino, and dammit, I think that should count.
As I sit here at the truck stop, under the lead-grey skies, watching the occasional snow flurry pass overhead, I feel glad that I don't have to go anywhere until tomorrow when conditions will improve, and sad because I'm nowhere near being close to home. I've been on fifteen trips so far, with two more in line. I'm tired. I'm grateful for the brief break but know I need something longer to fully recharge myself.
I'm also concerned about the trip I've been pre-planned on for Monday. I suppose, under ideal conditions, I could make it in the time frame they set, but not knowing the exact delivery time makes it look fairly impossible right now. I'm hoping the confusion will lift once I know more about it, which won't happen until Monday.
Being up here in actual winter conditions only reinforces why I moved to Dallas in the first place. My hatred for winter knows no bounds, especially after spending a good chunk of my driving career in places like southern New England and the Upper Midwest. I'd much prefer to be in a climate where I can actually feel, let alone move, my fingers and toes. I can handle winter in small doses now, but prolonged periods, where antigel in the fuel tanks and praying the truck will start on some frosty morning are de rigeur has, surprisingly, lost it's allure.
Speaking of starting the truck, I can only hope I can do that come tomorrow morning, or else the emergency repair phone line will be getting a very heated call from me demanding that they actually fix the damn problem, instead of throwing another palliative measure at it and hoping it will carry me through.
Although, given the forecast, some extra heat wouldn't be a bad thing right now.
As I sit here at the truck stop, under the lead-grey skies, watching the occasional snow flurry pass overhead, I feel glad that I don't have to go anywhere until tomorrow when conditions will improve, and sad because I'm nowhere near being close to home. I've been on fifteen trips so far, with two more in line. I'm tired. I'm grateful for the brief break but know I need something longer to fully recharge myself.
I'm also concerned about the trip I've been pre-planned on for Monday. I suppose, under ideal conditions, I could make it in the time frame they set, but not knowing the exact delivery time makes it look fairly impossible right now. I'm hoping the confusion will lift once I know more about it, which won't happen until Monday.
Being up here in actual winter conditions only reinforces why I moved to Dallas in the first place. My hatred for winter knows no bounds, especially after spending a good chunk of my driving career in places like southern New England and the Upper Midwest. I'd much prefer to be in a climate where I can actually feel, let alone move, my fingers and toes. I can handle winter in small doses now, but prolonged periods, where antigel in the fuel tanks and praying the truck will start on some frosty morning are de rigeur has, surprisingly, lost it's allure.
Speaking of starting the truck, I can only hope I can do that come tomorrow morning, or else the emergency repair phone line will be getting a very heated call from me demanding that they actually fix the damn problem, instead of throwing another palliative measure at it and hoping it will carry me through.
Although, given the forecast, some extra heat wouldn't be a bad thing right now.
Friday, January 20, 2012
At least I'd be heading homeward...
While I never made it to Massachusetts, I did my super-early-morning delivery in upstate New York. I wasn't too pleased with this, mostly because of the monster snowstorm forecast to move in to the area, and I knew I was going to get trapped in it one way or another. Sure enough, I got dispatched to pick up a load even further north, as in right along the lake north, and it's here that we rejoin our comedy of errors.
I get to the shipper early, because the pickup time was scheduled for later that evening and I knew I couldn't get there at the time specified with the hours I had remaining for the day. I got there, checked in, and the load wasn't ready yet, as I expected. I was allowed to take my break on-site, so I parked and settled in.
I got a message from the dispatcher saying the load time had been moved to the next day, same time. Worked for me, I was already there, they bumped the delivery date up to accommodate, and all was good. Until I got called back and was told the load was back on for that night. Right around the time the storm was going to hit, naturally. Since the delivery date was bumped up, I said no problem, I'd finish my break there, stay the night because of the weather, and roll in the morning.
I did my trip plan while I was waiting. Had I enough hours, I probably could have made it fairly close to the actual delivery date. I double checked -- not happening with the hours I had left. I notified my driver manager and settled in for the rest of the night.
I got up this morning, went to start my truck -- nothing. Even though the APU (auxiliary power unit) was running and theoretically charging the batteries, I still couldn't get the truck running. I put in a call for maintenance and kept trying to start it, at the mechanic's request. I finally got it to fire and was able to get rolling with my load. I wasn't too far off the time I said I was going to be leaving. So far, we're doing okay.
I got to my fuel stop, filled the truck, parked to have a quick lunch, and sent in a request to repower the load. My driver manager called back and we reviewed the time I would have, and he said he'd see what he could do. I started rolling to my planned stopping point.
I got the message to detour to a different place for the repower. I got here, parked, and waited. The other driver showed up, and I could see he had a load on his trailer. Turns out he has two loads, going to different places in Buffalo. They both deliver on Monday. No problem, thought I, I camp here tonight and tomorrow, and on Sunday I drive the four hours or so back to Buffalo.
Then I got the preplan for my next load. Pick up in Batavia (about an hour east of Buffalo) Monday afternoon, going to Beaumont, Texas. About fifteen-hundred miles. And when is the delivery date, you ask? Wednesday.
Basically, I've been given a day and a half to run fifteen-hundred miles. A trip that takes at least three days (figuring eleven hours available to drive, it clocks in at two 11-hour days with another 9-hour day) and they want it there in a day and a half.
I can only hope this is some way to get me headed back toward home, and someone will repower this load. Or, maybe dispatch screwed up yet again, and I will have enough time to run the load. Either way, it's indicative of what I've been going through these past few weeks, and pretty much through my entire time out here.
I just want to go home.
I don't think it's too much to ask.
So, I'll watch the snow fall here in Ohio, and plan my next moves. And pray I can get the truck running when I need to.
I get to the shipper early, because the pickup time was scheduled for later that evening and I knew I couldn't get there at the time specified with the hours I had remaining for the day. I got there, checked in, and the load wasn't ready yet, as I expected. I was allowed to take my break on-site, so I parked and settled in.
I got a message from the dispatcher saying the load time had been moved to the next day, same time. Worked for me, I was already there, they bumped the delivery date up to accommodate, and all was good. Until I got called back and was told the load was back on for that night. Right around the time the storm was going to hit, naturally. Since the delivery date was bumped up, I said no problem, I'd finish my break there, stay the night because of the weather, and roll in the morning.
I did my trip plan while I was waiting. Had I enough hours, I probably could have made it fairly close to the actual delivery date. I double checked -- not happening with the hours I had left. I notified my driver manager and settled in for the rest of the night.
I got up this morning, went to start my truck -- nothing. Even though the APU (auxiliary power unit) was running and theoretically charging the batteries, I still couldn't get the truck running. I put in a call for maintenance and kept trying to start it, at the mechanic's request. I finally got it to fire and was able to get rolling with my load. I wasn't too far off the time I said I was going to be leaving. So far, we're doing okay.
I got to my fuel stop, filled the truck, parked to have a quick lunch, and sent in a request to repower the load. My driver manager called back and we reviewed the time I would have, and he said he'd see what he could do. I started rolling to my planned stopping point.
I got the message to detour to a different place for the repower. I got here, parked, and waited. The other driver showed up, and I could see he had a load on his trailer. Turns out he has two loads, going to different places in Buffalo. They both deliver on Monday. No problem, thought I, I camp here tonight and tomorrow, and on Sunday I drive the four hours or so back to Buffalo.
Then I got the preplan for my next load. Pick up in Batavia (about an hour east of Buffalo) Monday afternoon, going to Beaumont, Texas. About fifteen-hundred miles. And when is the delivery date, you ask? Wednesday.
Basically, I've been given a day and a half to run fifteen-hundred miles. A trip that takes at least three days (figuring eleven hours available to drive, it clocks in at two 11-hour days with another 9-hour day) and they want it there in a day and a half.
I can only hope this is some way to get me headed back toward home, and someone will repower this load. Or, maybe dispatch screwed up yet again, and I will have enough time to run the load. Either way, it's indicative of what I've been going through these past few weeks, and pretty much through my entire time out here.
I just want to go home.
I don't think it's too much to ask.
So, I'll watch the snow fall here in Ohio, and plan my next moves. And pray I can get the truck running when I need to.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
GOD HATES PLANS-POSSLQs PLAN GOD LAUGHS
I was amazed at how smoothly things were going on this latest trip. The load I was to pick up in Missouri was actually ready to go not long after I arrived at the shipper, and I was having no trouble making my time and sticking to my trip plan. I had a southerly route planned to take me away from any potential snowy spots, so it appeared that there would be no real delays along the way.
So, if all is going so swimmingly, why the title above?
I was enroute to my next stop-off point when I got a message to call in. They wanted me to repower a load going just over the border in upstate New York. Right along the lake. Just east of Erie, PA to be exact. It delivers at 4 am.
I've been up since 5 am, I'm not even remotely sleepy, and I'm seeing snow all along the route for today and tomorrow.
So, new plan: I'm going to do some laundry (drying now, actually), get a shower, and see if I can't grab a few hours of a nap before setting off along the snow trail to wherever it is I have to be at the crack of I-can't-freakin'-believe-this-crap.
Should I make it intact, I'll write more when I can.
PS - I can go home soon, right??
So, if all is going so swimmingly, why the title above?
I was enroute to my next stop-off point when I got a message to call in. They wanted me to repower a load going just over the border in upstate New York. Right along the lake. Just east of Erie, PA to be exact. It delivers at 4 am.
I've been up since 5 am, I'm not even remotely sleepy, and I'm seeing snow all along the route for today and tomorrow.
So, new plan: I'm going to do some laundry (drying now, actually), get a shower, and see if I can't grab a few hours of a nap before setting off along the snow trail to wherever it is I have to be at the crack of I-can't-freakin'-believe-this-crap.
Should I make it intact, I'll write more when I can.
PS - I can go home soon, right??
Monday, January 16, 2012
My gypsy road BETTER take me home...
It's been a crazy journey of over a month and around ten thousand miles. The pace is starting to take it's toll on me as well -- for the past week my normal routine (as normal as it gets out here anyway) has been flipped, and out of necessity than a desire to do so, I've been doing more driving at night. Staying up all night long with only fitful sleep during the day isn't doing wonders for my mental status. And, running flat out without a real break in the action for the past week and a half hasn't done wonders for my disposition either.
Given the fact that I left the home terminal about a month ago, I figured I'd be getting pretty darn close to the time I could return to take some much-needed time off at home. I am a creature that needs a bit of time to decompress with no real responsibilities, and I also figured that this way I could get some stuff caught up on the home front. I contacted my driver manager earlier this month and mentioned that when the time was up I would like to be sent back to the yard to begin my home time. I got no reply.
Imagine my surprise and outright horror when I learned that they had me slated to spend another whole month out here.
I give myself a lot of credit for holding myself together and not having a total psychotic breakdown. I think my reaction was more along the lines of resigned acceptance, simply saying that if I had to spend another month on the road, so be it. I figured I could break down later on in private, anyhow.
I had to call in to clear up a matter and when I did, I mentioned that I had thought that our time out was only around five weeks, give or take, but if Ihad to do another month, so be it. The driver manager I spoke to (mine no big surprise, wasn't available) said the computer had me in for that length of time, but since I'd been out here as long as I had, she asked when I would like to return home. I said anytime within the next two weeks was fine, and I was given a time of ten days from today. It may not be exact, but I can live with that. At least I have a bright spot to shoot for.
So, wrapping up the week of suck, I am sitting and waiting for the next load assignment. It's nice to be able to sit and relax for a bit. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Given the fact that I left the home terminal about a month ago, I figured I'd be getting pretty darn close to the time I could return to take some much-needed time off at home. I am a creature that needs a bit of time to decompress with no real responsibilities, and I also figured that this way I could get some stuff caught up on the home front. I contacted my driver manager earlier this month and mentioned that when the time was up I would like to be sent back to the yard to begin my home time. I got no reply.
Imagine my surprise and outright horror when I learned that they had me slated to spend another whole month out here.
I give myself a lot of credit for holding myself together and not having a total psychotic breakdown. I think my reaction was more along the lines of resigned acceptance, simply saying that if I had to spend another month on the road, so be it. I figured I could break down later on in private, anyhow.
I had to call in to clear up a matter and when I did, I mentioned that I had thought that our time out was only around five weeks, give or take, but if Ihad to do another month, so be it. The driver manager I spoke to (mine no big surprise, wasn't available) said the computer had me in for that length of time, but since I'd been out here as long as I had, she asked when I would like to return home. I said anytime within the next two weeks was fine, and I was given a time of ten days from today. It may not be exact, but I can live with that. At least I have a bright spot to shoot for.
So, wrapping up the week of suck, I am sitting and waiting for the next load assignment. It's nice to be able to sit and relax for a bit. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
It's almost that time again, I hope
I've been out on the road for the past month now, traveling hither and yon, back and forth, and truth be told, I'm getting very tired and my thoughts are drifting toward the magic moment when I can finally head home. You'd be amazed how big of a deal it is to sleep in a nice big, soft bed, in a room that seems at least ten times bigger than the living quarters I've been in for the past month with no deadlines or other pressures interrupting my sleep.
After this past week, heading home has been very big on my mind. I'm quite due for a de-stressing period, which I can never fully achieve in the limited downtime I have between runs. A few days would be good, forever would be ideal but not practical, and at this point I'll take what I can.
I finally got my load out of Alabama yesterday, 30 hours after I had arrived to pick it up. I did some figuring and if I run the hell out of it I can be there on time tomorrow; in fact I should be there obnoxiously early based on my calculations. One good thing to happen, I suppose.
I plan on reminding my driver manager about my home request within the next few days. If the timing of my review is any indicator, my time should be close to up on Friday, Saturday at the absolute latest. I'll try not to get too anticipatory about my actual return date, but I am hoping I'll get an indicator as to an approximate return date so I can get my stuff packed and be ready to hit the trail homeward.
This past month has been full of ups and downs, and while not quite at the level of an ancient Greek epic, it has felt positively Herculean at times.
I shudder to think what my next trip is going to be like. Or for that matter, what the next 35 days after my home time has in store. No matter; I will be dealing with that when it happens.
(Personal aside to Sirius Radio: I do like your eighties channel, but honestly, when I'm overtired and many miles from home, Dan Fogelburg is not a good thing for me to hear right now, kthxbai.)
In closing ... soon.
After this past week, heading home has been very big on my mind. I'm quite due for a de-stressing period, which I can never fully achieve in the limited downtime I have between runs. A few days would be good, forever would be ideal but not practical, and at this point I'll take what I can.
I finally got my load out of Alabama yesterday, 30 hours after I had arrived to pick it up. I did some figuring and if I run the hell out of it I can be there on time tomorrow; in fact I should be there obnoxiously early based on my calculations. One good thing to happen, I suppose.
I plan on reminding my driver manager about my home request within the next few days. If the timing of my review is any indicator, my time should be close to up on Friday, Saturday at the absolute latest. I'll try not to get too anticipatory about my actual return date, but I am hoping I'll get an indicator as to an approximate return date so I can get my stuff packed and be ready to hit the trail homeward.
This past month has been full of ups and downs, and while not quite at the level of an ancient Greek epic, it has felt positively Herculean at times.
I shudder to think what my next trip is going to be like. Or for that matter, what the next 35 days after my home time has in store. No matter; I will be dealing with that when it happens.
(Personal aside to Sirius Radio: I do like your eighties channel, but honestly, when I'm overtired and many miles from home, Dan Fogelburg is not a good thing for me to hear right now, kthxbai.)
In closing ... soon.
Friday, January 13, 2012
A whole week of Friday the 13th
I finally got some internet back, and since my load won't be ready until later tonight, I'm taking advantage of that to get some bills paid and get this caught up. I think the last time I was able to write, I was in Connecticut. I am now in southeastern Alabama, waiting for my load to northwestern Missouri. Oh, what a fun time I had in between. Here, let me tell you all about it.
So, I made my way to Massachusetts for my delivery. I was good and early, and had a little bit of a tough time backing in, but all in all that stop went fine. I finished there, and picked up a load bound for northern New Jersey. I got that, camped back in Connecticut for the night, and set off on my adventure early that morning.
Now, one thing I've discovered in my travels is that there are very few truck stops in New England. Actually, there's very few all along the east coast for that matter, and if you don't get into one before thee sun sets, you are either hard-pressed to find parking, or there's simply no room at all. All of the truck stops, and rest areas along the highway, are full to the rafters. Bear this in mind, it'll be important later in the story.
Okay, we're in Jersey. I need to back into this very tight loading area. And so I did ... for about an hour. A FREAKIN' HOUR. And I still couldn't get in straight. I was happy that I was able to get in to the dock door in such a way that they could finally get me unloaded. Never mind the fact that I had another load booked against me before I had even gotten close to delivering this one. SO, when I got close to being ready to unload, I opened the trailer doors and took out the load locks, setting them along the side of the building where they wouldn't get damaged. Guess what got damaged. And guess who has to buy two new load locks. Preferably before I leave here to get my current load.
Off to my next pickup, a little further south from where I was, going to Virginia. Western Virginia. My hours of service clock is getting pretty low at this point, so the only option I had was to run the load straight in to the receiver and take my break there. I was fortunate that I was able to take long enough of a break, because by the time they got me unloaded it was around midnight local time. Forget trying to find a parking spot; I tried. I parked on the side of the road near the truck stop to get some supplies (soups, snack foods, and drinks), in an area that was in no way marked as "No Parking." I'm figuring out my next trip when I see a flashlight on my windshield. Oh hey, it's a member of the local law enforcement, here to tell me that there's no parking on the road and I had better be moving before the deputy further down got to me to write me a ticket. So, with no other option, I rolled through the night into North Carolina.
I arrived at the shipper with plenty of time to spare, dropped my trailer, and played the Where The Hell Can I Park game. It seemed no two security personnel could give me the same answer and, as a result, I ended up moving twice before I found a spot I could stay undisturbed until my load was ready. My load came ready later that night, I got approval to roll (this time), and off I went to Alabama. According to the information I was given at dispatch, I wasn't due at the receiver until 6 am today. NO problem, I thought, I can camp close, and roll in about an hour before the time I need to be there. So, that's what I did, staying at this little hole-in-the-wall truck stop because there's nothing else available in that area.
Which brings us to today. I rolled in as (I thought I was) scheduled, only to be told I was late. They had the appointment time booked at 3 am. Someone lied to me, and I don't know who, but it still rankled me all the same. I got a door assignment, and surprise, there's already a trailer in there, with other truck taking all of the other available doors as soon as they came in. This is not the way I wanted to start my day. I finally got backed in to a door, got unloaded, and came down for my next load. I have about two hours left on my clock for today, so when the load's ready I will have to go in, camp until midnight when I get some more hours back, and then run all night long again, at least until the limit of my hours.
I am tired, I am not feeling all that great from not being able to eat all that well for the past three or four days, I am super frustrated, I haven't had a shower since at least Monday, and all I really want to do is go home. And, because this is how my brain works when I'm super-tired and completely frazzled, I wonder if my "home" is now really nothing more than a place to sleep for five days or so before I have to drag my stupid self back into this truck and start the madness all over again.
I should try to shower, and then try to get more of a nap so I can be ready to run all night again. Which I completely hate but have no choice, much like everything else lately.
So, until next time, farewell from Alabama, until the next time I'm able to write again.
So, I made my way to Massachusetts for my delivery. I was good and early, and had a little bit of a tough time backing in, but all in all that stop went fine. I finished there, and picked up a load bound for northern New Jersey. I got that, camped back in Connecticut for the night, and set off on my adventure early that morning.
Now, one thing I've discovered in my travels is that there are very few truck stops in New England. Actually, there's very few all along the east coast for that matter, and if you don't get into one before thee sun sets, you are either hard-pressed to find parking, or there's simply no room at all. All of the truck stops, and rest areas along the highway, are full to the rafters. Bear this in mind, it'll be important later in the story.
Okay, we're in Jersey. I need to back into this very tight loading area. And so I did ... for about an hour. A FREAKIN' HOUR. And I still couldn't get in straight. I was happy that I was able to get in to the dock door in such a way that they could finally get me unloaded. Never mind the fact that I had another load booked against me before I had even gotten close to delivering this one. SO, when I got close to being ready to unload, I opened the trailer doors and took out the load locks, setting them along the side of the building where they wouldn't get damaged. Guess what got damaged. And guess who has to buy two new load locks. Preferably before I leave here to get my current load.
Off to my next pickup, a little further south from where I was, going to Virginia. Western Virginia. My hours of service clock is getting pretty low at this point, so the only option I had was to run the load straight in to the receiver and take my break there. I was fortunate that I was able to take long enough of a break, because by the time they got me unloaded it was around midnight local time. Forget trying to find a parking spot; I tried. I parked on the side of the road near the truck stop to get some supplies (soups, snack foods, and drinks), in an area that was in no way marked as "No Parking." I'm figuring out my next trip when I see a flashlight on my windshield. Oh hey, it's a member of the local law enforcement, here to tell me that there's no parking on the road and I had better be moving before the deputy further down got to me to write me a ticket. So, with no other option, I rolled through the night into North Carolina.
I arrived at the shipper with plenty of time to spare, dropped my trailer, and played the Where The Hell Can I Park game. It seemed no two security personnel could give me the same answer and, as a result, I ended up moving twice before I found a spot I could stay undisturbed until my load was ready. My load came ready later that night, I got approval to roll (this time), and off I went to Alabama. According to the information I was given at dispatch, I wasn't due at the receiver until 6 am today. NO problem, I thought, I can camp close, and roll in about an hour before the time I need to be there. So, that's what I did, staying at this little hole-in-the-wall truck stop because there's nothing else available in that area.
Which brings us to today. I rolled in as (I thought I was) scheduled, only to be told I was late. They had the appointment time booked at 3 am. Someone lied to me, and I don't know who, but it still rankled me all the same. I got a door assignment, and surprise, there's already a trailer in there, with other truck taking all of the other available doors as soon as they came in. This is not the way I wanted to start my day. I finally got backed in to a door, got unloaded, and came down for my next load. I have about two hours left on my clock for today, so when the load's ready I will have to go in, camp until midnight when I get some more hours back, and then run all night long again, at least until the limit of my hours.
I am tired, I am not feeling all that great from not being able to eat all that well for the past three or four days, I am super frustrated, I haven't had a shower since at least Monday, and all I really want to do is go home. And, because this is how my brain works when I'm super-tired and completely frazzled, I wonder if my "home" is now really nothing more than a place to sleep for five days or so before I have to drag my stupid self back into this truck and start the madness all over again.
I should try to shower, and then try to get more of a nap so I can be ready to run all night again. Which I completely hate but have no choice, much like everything else lately.
So, until next time, farewell from Alabama, until the next time I'm able to write again.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Old (Near) Home Week(end)
Wow ... that was a fun trip. I picked up a load in Arkansas, bound for Massachusetts. After breaking down in Tennessee, I finally made it to Connecticut, where I was able to find a wifi signal and get some stuff updated, like this blog. I know you all missed me. Go ahead, admit it.
I'm about an hour and a half from anything resembling where I used to live, but it's still weird to be here. I was born in this state, I lived here for most of my life, I've driven from one end to the other, and yet, being here today, I feel like a tourist. I still recognize various things, and I can pretty much tell where I am by what exits I pass on I-95. It's still pretty cool to pass the WWE headquarters in Stamford (between exits 9 and 10, you can see it from the highway), and it'll be interesting to pass through New Haven and Hartford on my way north.
But, I still feel like I really don't belong here.
In a way, I really have no life here anymore. My life is in Dallas, as is my home and all that I hold dear. I still have family here, but we were never all that close. For all that I may want to come back for a vacation and spend some time here just looking around, I couldn't fathom living here again. Never mind the whole "winter" thing, it just doesn't feel like a place I would want to spend the rest of my life. About seven years ago, it looked like I might do just that, until events sent me out to the Frozen Tundra, and then down to the south.
Still, it's just for tonight, and tomorrow I'll be on my way back to Massachusetts. Then, I'll get another load to who-knows-where, and the cycle will continue. I'm going to see about a shower, and I need to get sleep because tomorrow I start early, if for no other reason than to beat the traffic I remember all too well around Hartford and New Haven.
Some things never change. Unfortunately.
I'm about an hour and a half from anything resembling where I used to live, but it's still weird to be here. I was born in this state, I lived here for most of my life, I've driven from one end to the other, and yet, being here today, I feel like a tourist. I still recognize various things, and I can pretty much tell where I am by what exits I pass on I-95. It's still pretty cool to pass the WWE headquarters in Stamford (between exits 9 and 10, you can see it from the highway), and it'll be interesting to pass through New Haven and Hartford on my way north.
But, I still feel like I really don't belong here.
In a way, I really have no life here anymore. My life is in Dallas, as is my home and all that I hold dear. I still have family here, but we were never all that close. For all that I may want to come back for a vacation and spend some time here just looking around, I couldn't fathom living here again. Never mind the whole "winter" thing, it just doesn't feel like a place I would want to spend the rest of my life. About seven years ago, it looked like I might do just that, until events sent me out to the Frozen Tundra, and then down to the south.
Still, it's just for tonight, and tomorrow I'll be on my way back to Massachusetts. Then, I'll get another load to who-knows-where, and the cycle will continue. I'm going to see about a shower, and I need to get sleep because tomorrow I start early, if for no other reason than to beat the traffic I remember all too well around Hartford and New Haven.
Some things never change. Unfortunately.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Pleasant (hopefully) dreams
It's hard enough for me to get sleep when I'm under a load, mainly because I'm always afraid I'll not hear the alarm and oversleep, missing my appointment time and causing a service failure, which would be a bad thing to have on my record. Not that I sleep well in the first place, as it's tough to get comfortable, but I'm hoping the pillow I bought ('cuz it was on sale) will help.
So, what I didn't need early this morning was the vivid nightmare I had about work. Only it wasn't about the work I'm doing now, oh no. This dream concerned the job I left. It dealt with the aggravation and frustration I felt, and it really got to me.
Mainly because most of the frustrations are almost the exact same ones I'm going through on this job.
It seems strange to me how my current woes are manifesting themselves in what I left behind, and are projecting that instead of keeping things in the here and now. Granted, I'm no psychiatrist, but if I were, I'd prescribe myself a lovely regimen of antidepressants and bill myself an obscene fee.
Most of my concerns are the same concerns most people have about their jobs, so it's nothing new or different, and I don't know why I am choosing to obsess over this in my dreams. Maybe it's the anxiety of always having to meet new challenges every time I get dispatched -- different shippers and receivers, traveling over unfamiliar roads far from any comfort of home, the pressure of making an effort to be on time -- that could be sparking this.
All I know is, I'm doing okay out here as far as I'm concerned because no one's called to complain about how I'm doing things. It's the old "no news is good news" thing, and it seems to be working well for me. In a couple of weeks or so I'll be able to go home and de-stress for a bit, before starting all over again.
But, for now, I will attempt to get some decent sleep tonight. I deliver early in the morning, and I have no idea what plans they have for me back at the home terminal.
Pleasant dreams.
So, what I didn't need early this morning was the vivid nightmare I had about work. Only it wasn't about the work I'm doing now, oh no. This dream concerned the job I left. It dealt with the aggravation and frustration I felt, and it really got to me.
Mainly because most of the frustrations are almost the exact same ones I'm going through on this job.
It seems strange to me how my current woes are manifesting themselves in what I left behind, and are projecting that instead of keeping things in the here and now. Granted, I'm no psychiatrist, but if I were, I'd prescribe myself a lovely regimen of antidepressants and bill myself an obscene fee.
Most of my concerns are the same concerns most people have about their jobs, so it's nothing new or different, and I don't know why I am choosing to obsess over this in my dreams. Maybe it's the anxiety of always having to meet new challenges every time I get dispatched -- different shippers and receivers, traveling over unfamiliar roads far from any comfort of home, the pressure of making an effort to be on time -- that could be sparking this.
All I know is, I'm doing okay out here as far as I'm concerned because no one's called to complain about how I'm doing things. It's the old "no news is good news" thing, and it seems to be working well for me. In a couple of weeks or so I'll be able to go home and de-stress for a bit, before starting all over again.
But, for now, I will attempt to get some decent sleep tonight. I deliver early in the morning, and I have no idea what plans they have for me back at the home terminal.
Pleasant dreams.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Back on the road
I was correct in that I received a load assignment. It came through yesterday afternoon, for pickup this morning and delivery on Friday. It's not a long trip, but it keeps me moving and will add a few bucks to the bank account.
It's been a very long, tiring day, mainly because of having to deal with not just the traffic, but the many layers of contacts at the place I work for. The more I have to interact with the office, the less enchanted with the company I become. Notice that I said "the company" and not "the job," because while the job can be frustrating at times, I still like what I do, to a point.
What I can do without, however, is the anger and frustration I get just trying to fulfill my duties as was explained to me before I even hit the road. Here's some examples:
It's been a very long, tiring day, mainly because of having to deal with not just the traffic, but the many layers of contacts at the place I work for. The more I have to interact with the office, the less enchanted with the company I become. Notice that I said "the company" and not "the job," because while the job can be frustrating at times, I still like what I do, to a point.
What I can do without, however, is the anger and frustration I get just trying to fulfill my duties as was explained to me before I even hit the road. Here's some examples:
- Before I roll on a trip, I have to place a call to my driver manager and do a verbal trip plan, and once it's agreed upon, send it back in so there's a record of it in the system. Sounds great in theory, right? Well, try getting through on our phone lines. I sat on hold for four solid hours waiting to do the verbal before I gave up, wrote up the route I planned to take (which I vetted with the road atlas, as per policy), and sent it in.
- Our computer system sends a recommended route once you acknowledge your load assignment, showing fueling locations to use and the like. This run had no fuel stops, until we went through the trip plan, after which it changed the route we agreed upon and added a fuel stop twenty miles off-route. Basically, I have to bypass my destination to fuel and head back again. And then they tell you not to gain too many out-of-route miles.
I guess it's no wonder that I'm actively looking for a local driving job. Besides the fact that the life of a road warrior gets lonely and I'd like to be able to sink into my own bed more than once every five weeks or so, dealing with this crap on a daily basis is wearing me down. And I'm far from the only one. I spoke to a driver just last week, who was only halfway through the first part of the "solo grad driver" program, and he said that as soon as he dropped the load he had, he was requesting a route back to the terminal because he was quitting.
You know it's bad when you're out getting your trailer's annual inspection and the shop manager of the place you're visiting says that he wonders how anyone can conduct business with our comany given it's next to impossible to get through on the phone. And all I can do is nod, and add, "This is what I deal with on a daily basis."
I know this turned into an anti-work rant, but it needed to be said to someone else, besides being screamed at full volume in the cab of the truck. Tomorrow I'll go to the stupid fuel stop, camp there for the rest of the day, and deliver my load in the morning on Friday. After which, who knows where the roads will lead. I will try to keep you posted.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Another post, because you can only twiddle thumbs for so long
I'm still on layover, waiting for my hours to reset so I can get moving once again. I have no idea which region I will end up in, I'm just hoping it will be one with no actively falling winter precipitation.
In a way, I think I lucked out not being able to take the last load, mainly because the entire way was snowy once you got up around Kentucky and into Ohio and north. And, to be truly honest, I can do without having to go to Maine at this time of year. Try me in late May or something, but for the next few months I'll take a pass.
Yes, I do appreciate the irony of moving south to escape the harshest clutches of winter, only to get a job that is sending me right back into the worst of it. I've been lucky so far, but I know my luck won't hold out forever. I foresee a lot of weather shutdowns and repowers in my future because I have absolutely no desire to drive in snow. Granted, I won't be a total wuss about it, but it is nice to know I have the option to not go if I don't feel comfortable doing so.
I keep searching the local classifieds for a local driving job that I can do, and have submitted applications while I've had the free time. Maybe something will come of it, maybe not, but at least I'm trying.
On the positive side: I'm somewhere warm, it's been lovely the past couple of days, and the rest has done me a world of good, along with allowing me to clean my "apartment" and get other things caught up. I probably should have brought more videos, but I wasn't anticipating this much downtime.
Tomorrow, I should have my next assignment, and will be back on the road. Tonight, I'll make the most of the relaxing I have left and figure out what the hell I'm gonna do for dinner. Wendy's is getting pretty old and I'm not in the mood for soup.
Until I write again, be well and take care.
In a way, I think I lucked out not being able to take the last load, mainly because the entire way was snowy once you got up around Kentucky and into Ohio and north. And, to be truly honest, I can do without having to go to Maine at this time of year. Try me in late May or something, but for the next few months I'll take a pass.
Yes, I do appreciate the irony of moving south to escape the harshest clutches of winter, only to get a job that is sending me right back into the worst of it. I've been lucky so far, but I know my luck won't hold out forever. I foresee a lot of weather shutdowns and repowers in my future because I have absolutely no desire to drive in snow. Granted, I won't be a total wuss about it, but it is nice to know I have the option to not go if I don't feel comfortable doing so.
I keep searching the local classifieds for a local driving job that I can do, and have submitted applications while I've had the free time. Maybe something will come of it, maybe not, but at least I'm trying.
On the positive side: I'm somewhere warm, it's been lovely the past couple of days, and the rest has done me a world of good, along with allowing me to clean my "apartment" and get other things caught up. I probably should have brought more videos, but I wasn't anticipating this much downtime.
Tomorrow, I should have my next assignment, and will be back on the road. Tonight, I'll make the most of the relaxing I have left and figure out what the hell I'm gonna do for dinner. Wendy's is getting pretty old and I'm not in the mood for soup.
Until I write again, be well and take care.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Time for a quick break
Here I am at a truck stop in lovely Houston, Texas. And, more than likely, here I will be for at least another day or so. This little break is necessary to reset my hours of service, and quite welcome after the past couple of weeks. I did some checking and it won't affect where I need to be to move ahead to the next phase of my job.
I got into town yesterday, with plenty of time to get a decent break in before I had to deliver my load. My appointment time was at Stupid O'Clock, which meant I had to be up and rolling by at least half-past You Gotta Be Freakin' Kidding Me. I was plenty early to get through the check-in, and six hours after I arrived, I was on my way back to the truck stop.
Now, every day I send in a check call which lists my hours worked and my hours available. I also have to send on how many hours I have left for the day when I am empty at a receiver. By the time I finished and got parked, I had a grand total of five hours left for the day, after which I had to shut down until tomorrow to gain some time back.
Two hours later, I got a load assignment. I had to be about five hundred miles away in Arkansas to pick up and be at the shipper by tomorrow morning. The load delivered on Saturday in Maine. While this was nice from a mileage standpoint, with the hours I had available to me it would have been impossible to do. I called in and talked to the safety department, as I have to do to discuss a trip plan. When the safety guy looked at my hours, he agreed there was no way this was gonna happen, and told operations that I need a 34-hour shutdown. The nice thing about the shutdown is that it resets my clock back to 70 full hours, and gives me a nice rest. The bad thing is I'm stuck at a truck stop in Houston, low on money (won't get paid until at least Wednesday, I sincerely hope) and with nothing to really do. I might drag out the DVDs just to kill some time, maybe get some decent sleep as best as I can.
There's wireless access at the truck stop, and I can pop in and do internetty things. I'll see what I can finagle for food (still have ramen soups and stuffing mix I can whip up) and fight the boredom as best as I can.
Until next time.
I got into town yesterday, with plenty of time to get a decent break in before I had to deliver my load. My appointment time was at Stupid O'Clock, which meant I had to be up and rolling by at least half-past You Gotta Be Freakin' Kidding Me. I was plenty early to get through the check-in, and six hours after I arrived, I was on my way back to the truck stop.
Now, every day I send in a check call which lists my hours worked and my hours available. I also have to send on how many hours I have left for the day when I am empty at a receiver. By the time I finished and got parked, I had a grand total of five hours left for the day, after which I had to shut down until tomorrow to gain some time back.
Two hours later, I got a load assignment. I had to be about five hundred miles away in Arkansas to pick up and be at the shipper by tomorrow morning. The load delivered on Saturday in Maine. While this was nice from a mileage standpoint, with the hours I had available to me it would have been impossible to do. I called in and talked to the safety department, as I have to do to discuss a trip plan. When the safety guy looked at my hours, he agreed there was no way this was gonna happen, and told operations that I need a 34-hour shutdown. The nice thing about the shutdown is that it resets my clock back to 70 full hours, and gives me a nice rest. The bad thing is I'm stuck at a truck stop in Houston, low on money (won't get paid until at least Wednesday, I sincerely hope) and with nothing to really do. I might drag out the DVDs just to kill some time, maybe get some decent sleep as best as I can.
There's wireless access at the truck stop, and I can pop in and do internetty things. I'll see what I can finagle for food (still have ramen soups and stuffing mix I can whip up) and fight the boredom as best as I can.
Until next time.
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