My Time With Swift

Yeah, I don't know what happened to cause all of this. Last weekend, when I was actually on hometime, I had been given a couple load plans, but since I wasn't in the truck and didn't know about them (I do have the text alert on my cell phone, but I had left my phone on the truck). Kickin myself in the butt for missing them though. Started with a run to Wisconsin, then picked up a load going to Phoenix with 1700 miles. I would have had to turn it down anyway because I really needed to get the truck in the shop. The coolant leak had me concerned and I had been afraid I might blow a gasket if I didn't get it fixed soon. So far, the repairs seem to be doing well. I haven't seen anymore puddles under the truck, and there is no warning messages coming on...yet.

I'll just roll with the punches, take what I'm offered and try to make the best of it.

 

Thanks Small Time. I am feeling much better now. Back to normal I guess you could say. I know there is not much positive said about any company, but I think a positive attitude really goes a long way. This "job" has enough headaches about it, there is no point in adding to it by having a negative attitude. Not everything has been totally smooth and easy, but I have to admit that some of the issues has been my own rookie mistakes. It will happen, I guess. Just gotta learn from it and move on. Trying to keep rolling as much as I can. All in all though, it's a blast.

This "job" combines two of the things I love to do best: travel and drive. Sure, there is some work mixed in with it, but I'm out there driving and seeing the country. I've seen things I thought I would never see in my life and I'm just having all kinds of fun. Sure it gets hard after a full day of driving, but with that positive attitude, it's all good.

Been an ok week as far as milage goes, I guess. Started in Cinci, Oh and went to Indiana, then on to Texas. From Texas, I went to Alabama and took a nice drive thru the DEEP south! Quite a trip for a Yankee, lol. Then I headed for ATL, Ga where I'm sitting now at the terminal in Decatur for a 34. Leaving tomorrow morning heading back to Texas and I already have a preplan after that getting me back to Columbus for some hometime. Rollin, rollin, rollin.....

 

Busy, Busy, Busy! It's good to be home for some rest, although I did get an unexpected hometime in the middle thanks to a close-to-home delivery that I had to sit on over a weekend. After that stressfull weekend, waiting 5 hours for a load only to have to sit on it over the weekend, they have kept me running. Can't remember everywhere I've been this time out, but I've been from PA to TX, to ATL and back to TX. Picking up a load on sunday in northern OH going to South Carolina on monday. Searched for the destination on Google Earth yesterday and all I found was a forest?! There is nothing at the given address but trees. I guess I will find out monday. Seems strange for sure.

Hit a milestone this week. As I'm driving thru Meridian, MS, the truck turned over 300,000 miles! WooHoo! Only another 200,000 miles until I get another truck...maybe. LOL. So far, it has been doing well since I had it in the shop. No more issues with the coolant leak, but the air leak is still present...sometimes. I even lost air pressure while it was idling once.

Now I've got a new issue with it that is almost unnerving. When I turn, there is a loud pop and you can feel the front end kind of shift. It does it on the right side, and at first it only did it turning right and loaded heavy. In just a short time, it is now doing it turning left or right and it will do it bobtailing as well. I told my DM about itand he said I needed to get the front end greased, so while I was at the terminal in Decatur, GA I went to talk to them about it. Turns out there are no grease fittings in the front end (I was sure I didn't see any fittings when doing my PTI) and I need to get the leaf springs replaced because the noise is caused by the bushings shifting around. Oh, good. He said it's nothing dangerous, but it sure is unnerving. It will be best to get it fixed during my hometime because it will take a few days, but my hometimes are booked up for the next two months. Guess I will just have to live with it for awhile.

Looking forward to getting back out to run somemore. Had just over 3500 miles this week. Gonna see if I can top that this time out.

Y'all be safe and I'll see you on the road!

 

Are you saying to get a second opinion about the problem or about how dangerous it may be? The explanation of the problem does make since to me. After looking it over thouroughly several times, I can find nothing cracked or broken or seemingly loose. If I can get a chance, I will ask at other terminals about it, but right now isn't a good time to try to get it fixed...unless it does become a safety issue. I don't think that will be a problem. All it really does is pop a couple times when turning.