The Count Down Begins

HOME.  We are finally going home this weekend.  We have been on the road for 4 months straight!  I can't wait to see my friends and catch up.  But I know there are going to be 4-5 mail totes to deal with too.  Not to mention the deadly dust bunnies that are probably laying in wait under the couch and beds!  Well, let them do their best.  I have a Swiffer!

I am so excited to get home a whole week before the Jeep Blessing.  I will actually have time to recharge the vehicles batteries, clean up the house, do some grocery shopping and get my hair done before our guests arrive.  What a change.  Usually I am getting home hours before our guests land.  I am not sure I will know what to do with all of this extra time.  But I am sure I will fill it up.  I have already started a list of things to do.  Might I actually have a chance to be a normal hostess?  Nah, I have never done a normal thing in my life.  Why start now >:-)  

Friday Night Truck Stop Social

It started out Friday afternoon as an imprompto get together, but continued all weekend.  We drove down to Elkton, MD Friday afternoon for the weekend.  Yes again. When we got there we noticed another custom bunk we knew was in the shop as we headed for a truck wash.  By the time we got thru the wash and to the back of the lot to our usual parking spot, he was out.  He works for a moving company and there were several other moving company trucks already parked next to us.  It turns out we knew one of them and our friend knew the other one.   I could go on, but I am sure you are already confused as it is.  Short of it is we all got together and decided to park together in a way that would block off our section of the parking lot.  Then out came the grills, chairs, dogs and polish rags.  We had such a great time BSing and working on the trucks I forgot until Sunday night after the sun went down to take any pictures.  Of course they didn't turn out good at all.

It was such a nice weekend and couldn't have come on the heels of a worse week.  Of course, after spending so much time relaxing, I could simply couldn't care less.  I am ready for another week.  Bring it on!

What a Crazy Week

This has been such an insane week.  It started out with a kind of slow drudgery, and I have never quite gotten up to speed.  First off Monday, Randy had to wake me earlier than usual to do a random drug test.  Then of course to top it off yet another rain front was coming thru and I got yet another headache.  Of course I had to drive starting Monday evening around 1700, but it was just a short 350 mile run so we were parked by midnight.  Then when we were sound asleep the delivery decided they wanted to unload us early, 2 hours early.  We rolled with it as usual and got to our next pick up 4 hours early because there was absolutely no parking in the truckstops.  Luckily, we had Live Searched the next pick up and knew the area was mostly opened and gaurded.  So we went ahead in, thinking we would just park and catch up on paperwork and breakfast.  Nope.   As soon as we arrived they were out the door and wanting us in the dock and loaded.  Of course this didn't make dispatch happy, because this was another TVAL load and the SOP on the Qualcomm wasn't set up to start recording on their end for another 4 hours.  We had to sit there, loaded, at the pick up for another 2 hours while they got everything straightened out on their end.  Which included them trying to tell us that our trailer traks wasn't working.  Funny thing was though that they knew exactly when we had turned the reefer on and off all morning, but now they supposedly couldn't get any temp readings off of the satellite.  We knew it was working (the previous load had been TVAL as well) and had to explain to them about 6 times that the problem was on their end.  The just needed to adjust the pickup time in their system so it would start capturing data.  Of course after the 3 try Randy was completely frustrated and tossed the phone at me and told me to "JUST DEAL WITH HER."  It took 2 hours, but she finally got it right.  With TVAL loads the satellite is set up to start capturing temp data from our unit 1 hour in advance of the scheduled appointment.  It is hard wired into the system, as our customers want at least one hour of the unit at temp prior to loading.  Well anyway, once we finally got that out of the way they released us to leave.  We ran the 7 miles to the delivery.  Of course the location was under construction.  These last couple of weeks it couldn't have been any different.  There were probably 30 docks open and wouldn't you know it, they just had to have us back into the one dock that had a huge dumpster/compactor on one side and a large ellevated cement ramp for straight trucks on the other side.  Yup and of course all of the personal vehicles of the companies employees were parked right in front of the dock where we needed to be able to pull up in order to even get turned around, much less back up.  But we did it.  I tell you that $120 we spent on our little Radio Shack handheld CB was the best money spent ever!  Oh and did I mention it was starting to rain. Again. Yup. Yet another headache too.

So then after this lovely morning we deadheaded 550 miles to pick up our next load.  It was to load the following afternoon.  I got lucky as Randy drove this stretch since I hadn't had much sleep since Sunday night.  The next pickup was a usual customer of ours, but we haven't been in there for maybe 6-7 months.  So it was, of course, nice to see them again.  We played the usual musical docks before they finally decided on one.  At least we are used to this dance and just wait it out till they actually all troop outside to access the sitution and point to the dock they REALLY want.  What a hoot it is to watch.  They take it all way to seriously!

So now it is Wednesday evening and I drove 626 miles thru sunshine, sunset, rain and finally fog into the delivery.  I got there early as usual and was unwinding playing online, when the customer came out and banged on the side of the truck's cab wanting to get things started.  I swear this sort of thing is taking years of off my life.  I jumped so high when he banged on the door beside me I almost hit my head on the roof of the cab! If course this caused yet another run around with dispatch (yup another TVAL load).  They take this stuff very seriously.  Though things seemed to flow easier this time around, since it was an early unload.  Then we actually had a second drop on this load. So I ran over to the location next.  I sat there for another 2 1/2 hours so that the clock could catch up with itself. Even though eveyone was there and ready to unload.  Nope, we had to end this one on time.  So we sat till it was our confirmed scheduled appointment time.  By the time I made it to the sleeper it was almost 0900.  I was so tired of course it took me a while to settle in.  But then I was gone.

For all of about 1 hour.  ANOTHER RANDOM DRUG TEST!!!  Of course they don't care if I just collasped and couldn't legally log anytime on duty for another 9 hours.  We had one hour to find the test location and check in.  Which in Allentown, PA it takes every minute.  We ended up having to park at a K-Mart and walking to the clinic.  At least it wasn't far and wonder of wonders it wasn't raining!

But by the time I got out of there it was after 1300 and we were locked down for another customer.  So I didn't want to crash.  Of course as a result here I am like an idiot still up at almost 0500 in the morning.  Going on 40 hours here and feeling every single one.  What is that saying...?  THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!  Oh yeah.

I just really hope that this customer doesn't want us to do what I think they want.  At least not for another 12 hours.  Because once I fall asleep, I know from many past experiences just like this one.  I will not be waking for at least 10 hours.  I am NOT setting my alarm either...

106 TDOT Construction Deaths

We were driving East on 40 in Tennessee the other day when I saw the sign at the side of the highway.  At first I was both shocked and appalled at the high number of deaths.  Then I started to remember the countless number of times I have almost hit construction workers in this state.  I don't want to seem callous, but the State of Tennessee has a problem.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen workers step into oncoming traffic as if it wasn't there. Or how many times I have had to jerk my truck off the road or onto the shoulder in order to avoid hitting absent minded and careless workers.  I know all of you have seen the signs at the entrance to construction zones about years in jail and fines you will get for hitting a worker.  What they should be doing is spending money educating these morons about the danger of becoming complacent regarding their environment.  Then again maybe they are going for a Guinness Book World Record for the highest number of Darwin Awards!

Really Long Run...

We unloaded this morning at 0600 and headed over to our next pickup.  We had to deadhead a whopping 11 miles and the run was 7 miles.  So we ran a total of 18 miles this morning.  But one cool thing was we got to drive thru the tunnels at the airport again.  We do this every so often and I never remember my camera.  This time I did.

I don't know if everyone knows what I am talking about, so I'll take a second to explain.  In large metropolitan cities like Memphis and Atlanta the airports are so large that the runways need to span the roadways.  So they build a bridge and elevate the runways, thereby creating long tunnels for the roadways underneath.  What makes this so cool is when you are lucky enough to come up to the tunnel just as a plane is landing or taking off.

Today we had to go thru 3 of these tunnels in a row.  As we were coming up to them, but were just far enough away so I couldn't get a good shot, we saw several planes land and take off.  With each one I was thinking, oh no, I missed it again and there wont be another one when I get there.  But it was finally my day!  Just as we pulled up to the second tunnel a FedEx plane landed right on top of us!!!  Couldn't have planned it better if we tried to.

Down Time - Picking Up Randy's New Plow Truck

We were in need of a new plow truck when I found this little gem on Ebay.  Only catch was that we had to go all the way from MI to Rouses Point, NY.  A trip that was over 900 miles one way.  It shouldn't seem like a long trip to driver's like ourselves, and the trip over wasn't bad at all.  It was the trip back that was long.

We didn't realize how heavy the truck was when we headed out to pick it up.  When they tried to drive it onto the trailer forward the first time, it bent both ramps!  So the second time they braced the back end of the trailer with blocks so it wouldn't dip and backed the truck onto the trailer.  This worked, but the weight was all at the back of the trailer.  Effectively lifting the trailer tongue and drive tires on the Excursion.  We have a diesel Excursion and figured that it and the tandem trailer should have been fine to pull our new toy home.  It had the power alright, but was pretty squirrely on the road with all the weight being on the steer axle.  To complicate things further, we had left our Blizex tires on for the trip.  These tires are great for driving in cold icy conditions.  But put them on the road in temperatures over 40F and it feels like you are driving on jello!  When we left for this trip the weather forecast had been for cold and snow.  It turned out to be in the high 50s the whole trip.  So here we are over 900 miles from home and not able to run any faster than 45-50 mph.  Yes, it was a very long trip home.

Totally worth it though.  This thing, being a diesel, is a snow plowing beast.  Nothing you put in front of it even slows it down!  The front blade is 12' and the side blade 8' wide.  So you can plow a 20' wide path in one pass!  Sure cuts down on the time spent plowing.  That is unless you plow all your neighbors out too.

Down Time - Jeep Roll Over

This is Randy's buddy, Ed, and his girlfriend, Cathy, in the green jeep.  We were in what is called the bowl.  A deep sandy valley with steep sides about a mile from our house.  Great for playing in with 4 wheel vehicles.   They had decided to try a new run up the hill and had caught a down tree partially hidden by grass with the front driver's side tire.  It was enough of a glancing blow to throw the jeep over on its side and down into the old run, which is now more of a ditch after the spring rains.  Here Randy is helping them get out just after the accident.  The dust hasn't even settled yet.  Luckly, no one was hurt.

You can see in this photo how deep the roll cage sunk into the dirt, about 5 inches.
Pulling out the winch line in preparation of recovery.

Wrapping the snatch strap around the roll cage.

Ed tossing the snatch strap over to Randy to hook to the winch line.

The winch line was ran thru a pulley hooked to a tree and then back and hooked to the snatch strap around the roll cage.

Now Ed slowly tightens the winch to bring the jeep upright.

We position our jeep at the top of the hill and run our winch line down to the green jeep's front bumper to keep it from rolling backwards as the winch line that brought it upright is slowly released.




They slowly released the side line as they brought it forward enough to stabalize it.  Then completely disconected the side line.

Now it was time to bring it to the top of the hill.

Here we tied the green jeep's winch line to a powerline pole to lock it in place.

Now that it is at the top and locked in place it is time to see if it will run.  Unbelievably it started up on the 2nd try and ran just fine.  We didn't even go home.  We just kept right on wheeling for the rest of the day!  True to its name, ZOMBIE...

Stolen LEDs

So here were are at the Petro in Glendale, KY minding our own business.  We just had the truck washed. Then dried the aluminum, stainless and glass by hand to avoid water spots.  Of course we always miss a few and the wash is never perfect, so we end up using a little polish to rub out the inevitable drip marks on the aluminum and the remaining bug carcases from the stainless stacks.  

It was about then that Randy noticed something wrong with the dropped trailer we were parked next to.  Every single LED light was missing.   Some one had stolen all the marker, turn signal and brake lights.

We got the company name and number from the inspection sticker on the front of the trailer and called them to let them know.  It is Easter Weekend and the poor guy pulling this trailer probably wont be back to pick it up till late Sunday night.  We wanted to give them a heads up so they weren't blind sided.  After all it is going to take a little bit of leg work to find and get your hands on that many LED lights in Glendale, KY.

According to the company, their driver lived in the area.  Just as we had thought the driver had dropped the trailer to go home for the holiday weekend.  Of course they were grateful we had called them to let them know, but also suspicious that the driver had somehow caused this.  Randy explained that the trailer was dropped under two overhead lights and within clear view of the shop.  We would have assumed it one of the safer spots in the lot as well, that's why we parked there.  After hearing this explanation they seemed to relax and thanked us for taking the time to call them.

You can see the two overhead vapor lights in this picture and the shop was right behind me as I took the photo.

Such a dirty deed to do to another driver, especially on a holiday weekend!

Patience Revisited

It turned out to be a double wammy on the other trucks that just had to get thru that gate before us.  When we all got our dock assignments and were loaded we were the cleanup truck with a partial load, single stacked pallets, double wide.  The other trucks that just had to be first got their dues!  NA NA  >:-)  They got loaded down heavy with triple stacked pallets that were a nightmare inside of their trailers.  According to the drivers when they came back in, the stacks were leaning every which way, including against the walls.  Now I hate to wish anything bad on another driver, but I do recognize justice when I see it!

Now comes the icing on the cake.  We always plan our trips carefully in advance, including paying close attention to the weather and adjusting our routes and fuel stops accordingly.  This trip was going to be pretty straight forward except for the fact that we were heading into a potential ice storm.  However, if we didn't dawdle and ran straight thru to the delivery location we figured we would get there just before dark.  That way we could park for the night before the temperature really dropped and the roads turned to ice.

Worked like a charm.  We ran thru rain, sleet and snow, but the temperature stayed above 37F till we were about 10 miles from our destination.  Then it started dropping like a stone.  Fortunately we were snuggled into our sleeper, snug as bugs in a rug, by the time sunset came.  We ate supper, watched House and then went to bed early.

We got up at 0600 in the morning and were first into the dock to unload.  Those other trucks that just had to be first to load, had stopped for a LONG lunch and hadn't bothered to drive in the night before.  Rather they waited till this morning to come in, on those icy roads!  We were empty and pulling out of the dock when they finally pulled into the delivery all frustrated at the strange weather they had encountered.  They kept saying it is Spring isn't it?

Almost makes you believe in karma doesn't it?

It's April & It's Snowing!!!

It was a surreal trip.  Bright green grass coming up everywhere and pretty pink and white blooms on the trees.  It makes you think the sun should be shinning bright and the sky should be bright blue with fluffy white clouds.  Instead, it is overcast and alternating between rain, sleet and snow as I drive across Virginia and Tennessee.

Now it's morning and there are great big fluffy snow flakes drifting around us all as we are unloading.  Such a beautiful sight, except it's SPRING dammit.  Get with the program already!

Patience

We were supposed to load at 0800 this morning and had driven down last night to avoid Monday morning rush hour traffic.  We had just hit the snooze button on our alarm at 0630 when the customer knocked on the side of our truck to tell us they were ready for us.  There were 4 other trucks behind us that we were going to be loading with.  We were first in line.  However it wasn't 2 minutes (I had just started up the tractor) when the truck behind us pulled out of line and passed us so they could be first to be loaded.  Some people just don't have any patience and have to be the first ones to load and unload.  This is fine with us in this instance, because we know dispatch always offers out the short crappy paying loads first because they are harder to get covered.  Sometimes it pays to have a little patience and wait.  I guess we will see when we get to the other end of this one...

Easy Run, yeah right...

So after playing musical loads yesterday we were deadheading out of the area (we hate the dreaded triangle NJ/NY/Long Island area) when we got offered a short 100 mile hop going to within 5 miles of where we were already heading.  Cool.  So we just pulled off at the next rest area to spend the night.  

We got up at 0415 turned on the reefer (this load was running at 0F) and set the recorder.  Then we had to fight rush hour traffic thru several construction zones and detours to get the pickup.  Did I mention it was pouring down rain?

We get to the pickup 1/2 hour early get our dock assignment and are told to back in to the dock, but don't open the doors yet.  They still had to pull the frieght from the freezer and put the barrels on pallets.  They said they would come get us when they were ready to load us.

So an hour later we finally get loaded.  It only takes 15 minutes to open the doors, load the trailer and then pull out and shut the doors.  The bad news is that the guys on the loading dock have told Randy they can't believe we were sent after this load.  Usually a straight truck does this run, because the delivery dock is so tight.  OH BOY!  We have heard this many times and been able to get in the docks.  Yeah a little bit of hassle, but we always fit.  The only dock we haven't gotten into was an underground one and it was because we were too tall to fit down the tunnel leading to the dock.  But it does give us something to think on while driving to the delivery.

We get to the delivery and sure enough we have to back in from the street to get into the dock but it doesn't look to bad.  The building was in a culdesac and there was a convienetly located driveway right accross from the one we needed to get into.  So we hooked a sharp right into this other driveway and then backed accross the culdesac and into the driveway we need to be in.  Mind it is still pouring down rain and this industrial park had little to no drainage.  So the water was just backing up all over the place in little ponds about 2-6 inches deep.  (We didn't get any pictures because it was raining so hard, we both were getting soaked and didn't want to ruin the camera)  After getting into the parking lot Randy jumped out to go check in.  The person he found told us they wanted us to open one door on the trailer and back into the dock.  Keeping the reefing running meanwhile, so he could get into the trailer and check the lot numbers on the barrels.  Then we would be leaving and going to another location to unload.  This was supposed to be a one drop load!  Well anywho, I got on my rain gear (again) and grabbed the handheld CB. This was going to be a tight dock and to make it even more challenging some idiot had decided to put in three foot high cement walls on either side of the dock extending out about 20' from the side of the building!  Of course these walls just held all of that water in so I got my feet wet.  The CB battery was dead (someone forgot to turn it off at the pickup) so we had to go get the spare battery pack out of the sleeper.  Finally we got backed in.   This guy was in and out of the trailer so fast I don't think it took him 30 seconds.  Then we pulled out and shut the doors.  Randy went inside to get the next stop's address and take care of paperwork.  I didn't want to go in, becuase I wasn't sure I wouldn't be lippy with this idiot.  I mean come on, we have a ladder on the back of the trailer, along with a nice handle, that makes it easy and safe to climb  in and out of the trailer.  But no this guy had to have us back into his small, flooded dock so he could spend 30 seconds inside the trailer!!!!  Some hoops I can jump through, others just get under my skin, especially when I am standing in a huge puddle with wet feet and getting rained on!  Not a good hair day ;-)

About 10 minutes later Randy comes back out with the paperwork.  He tells me that they just told him that the next dock is even tighter and we will have to back in from the street again.  OK.  So we head over to the next location, which is only about 4 miles away.  We get there only to find it is at the end of a dead end street and there are 3 VERY LARGE dumpsters right where we need to pull up to back into this parking lot.  So out I go into the rain again.  Third times supposed to be the charm, right?

Randy did manage to pull far enough forward that he could get back into the parking lot with a little jockying of the tractor and trailer.  Once the truck was in the parking lot I went back to try and find someone at the dock.  There was a nice "big" sign (a piece of 8x11" laminated paper) saying "Shipping and Receiving" I finally found, with an arrow pointing to a door.  Of course the door is locked and there is no ringer button or call box.  I knock on the door several times with no answer.  So at this point Randy comes back to see if he can help me find someone.  The customer at the first stop said he was going to call ahead and have someone meet us outside at the dock.  Good thing we didn't hold our breath...  Finally Randy found a door in a corner behind an enclosed pipe/value house with a door bell.  This was not where the sign had pointed.

We were just about to give up, when a guy answered the door.  Of course he had no idea who we were or why we were there.    Even once we explained he had to go find his boss.  His boss in turn had to go find someone else.  Well we did eventually get the right person who said to go ahead and back into the dock.

The dock.  This one would have been a challenge for a straight truck without all of the dumpsters, cars, pickups and 2 straight trucks in the way.  Oh yeah, and there was an 8" high curb on the driver's side of the dock extending out about 20 feet.  We figured we would at least give it a try.  Big mistake!  I don't know what that curb was made of, but when our rear axle tires rubbed it, it cut into the sidewall of the tire!  End of that exercise.  We pulled out and they unloaded it off the back of the trailer in the middle of their parking lot.

This was when we found out what we had in the trailer and why the guy at the other location didn't dwadle when in our trailer.  It was a form of frozen cyanide they used as a binder in some of their plastic mixes.  It was frozen for storage and transport to make it safe.  They said that it takes days to thaw out enough to use.  So they put the barrels on a rotiseree style turner in a room heated to 135F for 24 hours to thaw it.  Apparently this is why the guy at the shipping and receiving department didn't want to be near it for any longer than he had to and why he wouldn't transport it to this other building.

What I don't understand is this.  They do this load every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.  You would think that the kinks would be worked out by now.  I guess this is a prime example of too many cooks in the kitchen.

Down Time?

We have been on the road now for 3 months and I keep thinking of all the things I could be doing when I get home.  This got me thinking that all I have been blogging about since I started this blog was pretty much trucking since we have been on the road working the whole time.  Well I think it is high time I started showing you some of what we do when we are off duty.  So I am going to do a little series of "Down Time" blogs.

Sticky Situation

This was an early morning run we did for a customer.  We even called twice to double check the directions because we had a "bad feeling" they were wrong!  Boy were they ever.

It was dark, foggy and rush hour...and here we are at the bottom of a steep hill with a 2 ton elevated bridge to our left and a cement wall dead end in front of us.  

What you can't read because the photo turned out blurry is that these are EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY  and PEDESTRIANS ONLY signs.  Of course they are posted at the bottom of the hill where they really didn't do us any good.  (I know we told them we were in an 18 wheeler/tractor-trailer)

We couldn't have made this corner if we wanted to!

The endless stream of cars squeezing past us while we wait for a patrol car and more guards to control traffic so we can back out of this lovely little spot.

He had to back up the hill (about 7% grade) weaving back and forth between the low hanging branches (he did miss them both on the way down and up, but we took out several cones).  Then blind side the truck and trailer into the highway.  All of this while me, several guards and two patrol cars tried to control both the pedestrians and cars.  The cars where easy to control. They just blocked them from coming forward with the patrol cars.  The people on the other hand, kept darting around us and into the path of the truck!  You would think all the flashing lights and the big truck coming at them would make them think twice, but nope. (more Darwin Award candidates)

If only we had come in during the daylight after the fog had lifted a little, we never would have driven down into that horrible place!

Here one of the guards helping us is taking ANOTHER call from his superior yelling at him to get that truck out of that gate.  Apparently this gate is only open to vehicles for 45 minutes each morning so all the superior officers can get to work without waiting thru the lines at the main gate.  OOPS.  Of course they wanted the names of the people responsible.  We gladly spelled out the person's name very slowly so they could get all of the credit for this morning's fine adventures!

Since we had already had so much fine fun this morning and they were already there, the patrol cars decided to give us an escorted pass thru the correct gate and on to our destination.  This turned out to be a good suggestion, because they had to have us cross several coned areas and stop traffic for us to maneuver several times.  They also smoothed our way thru all the gates and check points.  Mind before we left with them on this little trip they told us not to worry about any cones, we would be driving over a few.  UNDERSTATEMENT!  We must have crushed over a hundred of the little buggers that morning.  But they were right, there was no other way in.

The funny thing is that we ended up right below where we got stuck that morning.  This bridge was the one we were first directed to.  Only it took 5 more miles of driving to get around to the other gate and finally end up where we needed to be.  Just a few hundred feet from where we started out.

Funny how things turn out some times isn't it?