Paying it forward

Got to Loves today with plenty of time to kill before my drop and hook tomorrow morning. I see this guy struggling to move his tandems. They were stuck all the way back. So I wander over there to see if I can make things worse... Lol

His truck was jumping all over the place as I walked up. As I got to the window he looked stressed and sweaty. I asked him if he wanted some help. He says thanks and the genius I am tells him to grab reverse, get some speed and yank that trolley brake. I didn't realize he had the air release pins on the trailers slide rails, and he goes to yank and pshhhhhh his trolley brake lines blow. Oh dear, they disconnected from the firewall and coupler from under the truck and air is hissing.

I helped him get the air lines attached back to the dash, and suggest he tell his boss he'll need to address that coupler down the road. Told him to not try and use the trolley brake and he said he's never tried it before today... I was curious how he performed a tug test, but I guess he can be hard on the equipment and just tug with trailer emergency lines evacuated. Obviously wasn't his truck. He said it was his second month out and lucky him here's me only adding to his list of problems so far.

I walk back and realized his trailers air release pins... Oops.

Well, with the trailer rolling as easy as it was I suggest he adjust the brakes. He looks bewildered. I tell him to grab and 7/16 wrench and follow me. Good on him he had purchased a small tool kit. I liked this guys attitude so far. I show him how to adjust them, and we give her another go. Hmm still won't budge.

At this point I suggest he walk over to the shop and see if they let him borrow some wheel chocks. Good on him again he breaks out his own bottle of As Seen on TV PB blaster. Now, I ask him where he wants them. He grabs the cat scale ticket from his truck showing 76k gross, and 34,150 on the drives. I chuckle and ask him where he's going. He says PA. Ok, well, as far as weight you won't get hassled, but your way over bridge law. Another bewildered look ensues. Bridge law? I give him a quick lesson and of course, as fate would have it, there are the bridge law guide stickers right on his trailer. Lol. I point out the PA tenth hole mark and we slide em forward.

Felt good to help a new fellow traveler as I probably still owe from my piggy bank of favors received. Turns out he parks down the street from me in KS, and we exchanged numbers.

We keep chatting and he goes on to tell me how he's totally getting swindled by this complete expletive of a truck owner. Poor guy is doing two turns a week to PA, running 4,000 miles a week getting $750 a week. Now I'm just crying on the inside for this guy. Hopefully he rings me this weekend and we can grab a beer and I will hopefully get him sorted out.

Sorry for the long read, any more story tellers.