An old man's career goes flat, Snackbar moves to open deck

New batteries, check. APU service, check. Gonna get a new bracket for my one twist-lock OD flag(the new bracket is there, but the little pin that the flag locks into disappeared after that OD load that delivered inWichita. Not gonna be able to get the truck serviced today, said go ahead and get it on the road since it isn't quite due yet (1500 miles to go). My travel agent said I am covered on a Dogwood load...not sure what that is, he is waiting on specifics before he sends it to me. It'll be weird not having to sit here an extra day waiting on a load. And it is a truely gorgeous day up here in the PNW...white fluffy clouds and temps in the low 70's...beats the tripple digits I have been seeing.

 

30 hours, and already a main seal...holy crap.

Still no word on my load as of their quitting time. Whatever it is, wherever it's going, I hope it delivers by Monday.

I looked at the new trucks up here. I have to say, not impressed in the least. That little dinky step box will hold what, a couple gallon jugs? And they got rid of the box between the frame rails. I honestly don't think that enclosed headache box makes up for what storage they eliminated...I could be wrong.

I got here just in time. The guy who does the APU services was just about to pull your old truck in and start decommissioning it when I showed up. I am parked next to it now. I hope whatever it's issues are aren't contagious

I did notice something on the window sticker of the new trucks...it says it's a SPD/E.W. Wylie truck.






I know we're partnered with them, but it seems it is starting to feel more and more like a takeover to me.

 

Well, the Dogwood load didn't pan out. So now I am on a container load.(a legal size container). It delivers Monday south of Nashville to a construction site that has yet to be issued an address, there are just GPS coordinates on the bills. A local driver dropped it on the yard this morning and I got rolling on it after I corrected a few issues...


For my fellow open deck drivers, if a driver brought you a load that was secured like the following pics, would you think something wasn't right with it's securement...or am I just being paranoid?





3 of the 4 hooks of the chains holding this on were backwards (hooks facing away from the chain, making only contact on the end 1/3 of the hook), plus the one strap was actually overlapping the chain in the back. And some of the chains only went under 1 spool before hooking to a stake pocket. Also, the straps had a 1/2 wind twist on one side of the trailer, but not on the other. Am I just being anal retentive...I was always told that chain hooks were supposed to either hook back to the chain around 2 hard points or hook on a securement point on the trailer with the hook facing back towards the chain so it is in the meat of the hook, not facing away.


And today is my Fleet Manager's last day in operations. He is taking a week of vacation then moving to the safety department. I'm gonna miss him as my dispatcher...he had his #### together better than any of the others I have had here.