My Journey as a Truck Driver

Hey Logan, I do check my tachometer when shifting . . . I can pretty much do it by sound now when upshifting, but downshifting I still use tach a lot. I learned on a 10 speed, so the tach range was about 300; but on the 8 speed, I'm finding that the range is about 500 or so. That is something that I'm learning on my own, but thought a mentor could assist with. Both of them though, when I start talking about tach and rpm get a glazed look.

 

Her cooking was pretty good, especially considering out of the back of a semi, but I had a hard time knowing that she was cooking on the same surface that something else behind the curtain was going on. If I could block that thought out, I enjoyed the food, if I couldn't . . . gag!

 

Yep, that's where my handle came from. I think there's a lot of correlation to modern day society. This is kind've my John Galt journey.

 

[FONT=&quot]Sorry for my delays in posting. For whatever reason my trainer doesn't like to stop at truck stops or other places that have internet. We're always staying at shipper/receiver or rest areas. I suspect this post will make up for it though.

Journey: Left Greeley, CO with a load of beef. Had to drop/hook in the tightest yard I can imagine. Trailers were literally touching each other, got into a hole where there was about 2 inches on each side. Didn't have enough room to straight back, so it took me awhile. 3 stop LTL in Jacksonville, Auburndale, & Plant City. About 44,000 lbs.

As soon as trainer and I left the yard, he indicated to me that he was out of money, and hadn't eaten in two days . . . for whatever reasons, he does not have a credit card, or other bank card, and depends on a weekly advance from his weekly comdata card refill. Friday and Saturday I bought him three meals, and loaned him $20. I also had to immediately buy certain necessities that he did not have such as pens, flashlight, extra keys (a convenience and necessity, he's lost his original key already). Saturday he lost his $100 comdata advance at a casino we had parked at for the night, leaving him no money for the upcoming week. I had won, so I gave him $65 of my winnings. These financial difficulties for him makes it so he's not willing to pay for Cat scales to verify axle weights, etc. The very first night, we picked up a load there in Greeley weighing over 44,000 #'s, and left southbound on 85 where there is a weigh station. Since we had not scaled at the truck stop, even though we had stopped and I had given him $20, we pulled over on the side of the road right before the weigh station to guess where trailer axles need to be. Fortunately the station did not inspect us even though it appeared we were heavy on our drive axles, presumably because we were under gross.

Going through St. Louis on Sunday, where speed limit was 50 mph, I was chastised for not going faster. Having pointed out the speed limit signs, I was told that I could go faster, to not worry about it. For the sake of harmony, I did not increase my speed, but I also did not create an issue. We arrived in Jacksonville Monday night and slept at receiver.

Tuesday drove to Orlando and parked at a pay lot where trainer had a conjugal visit with his wife . . . presumably in truck. I walked the area and stayed in the drivers lounge.

Wednesday made 2nd delivery in Auburndale. On leaving, trainer was driving and incurred a Qualcomm "critical driving warning" or something for speeding around a corner too fast. What the Qualcomm does not show is shortly before, he had stopped at a red light, on railroad tracks. When I pointed out to him that a train was coming from my side, he straight backed just off the tracks. The light turned to green just as the railroad arm rails started descending because of the coming train. I didn't see it, but trainer says the arm came down on the trailer. Also made 3rd stop in Plant City. Deadhead to Gainesville, GA. Stayed the night at a massive TA/Petro outside of Atlanta.

On Thursday, things came to a head. We picked up some chicken I think in Gainesville, GA, at the base of Appalachians. Heading to Tomah, WI he informed me that we were going to go back roads, and some of the roads were 25 mph. Since he did not want to go the speed limit, he would drive. Much of the route we took had posted signs specifically forbidding semis, or specifically telling weight limits, that we exceeded. Further, many of the roads were very twisty, hilly, blind curves . . . and 45 mph. Most of the time he was driving 10-15 mph over speed limit, and at least once he completely drove through a stop sign without slowing in order to beat oncoming vehicle. After probably 90 minutes of this, he pulled over and told me I cold drive. I told him I refused to drive until we were on roads and a route that I knew we were legal to drive on. At this point, a significant verbal argument ensued, where I was threatened that he'd leave me at the next stop, etc etc. Once we got to a freeway access, things calmed down and I began driving. We had to fuel, at which time I asked again about scaling and was rejected. Later that evening, we were pulled over at a weigh station and instructed to park on the scale, and come in for an inspection. I was concerned obviously, but expected trainer to go in with me. He declined the first time, but went in the second time when I was sent back out for more documentation. Fortunately it was just a random inspection and I and the truck passed. Regardless, I was pissed, feeling that trainer controlled scaling, and having failed to do so amidst a pending inspection, did not back up his responsibility to both scale, and mentor - and sent me in alone hanging me out to dry..

On Friday we were delayed at receiver because trainer did not have enough funds to pay Lumper Fees, and was concerned about telling DM because he could only account for $200 of the $300 weekly comdata budget. I don't know how that was ultimately resolved . . . I assume more funds were loaded.

Since then we've had significant arguments re: safety, scaling, driving speeds, etc.

Total miles: About 3300. Pretty good weather until Tomah, WI encountered about 2 inches of blustery snow. About 7 mpg.

Interesting location: Florida in general. So balmy and nice in middle of January. I see why people move there.


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Deadhead from Tomah, WI to Marshalltown, IA. Have to stop at TA in Albert's Lea, MN because Check Engine light indicates a problem with Fuel Rail Pressure (2nd time actually, happened 5 days prior also). As before, replaced the fuel filter and good to go. Had to drop trailer for repair about 5 hours or so. By the time we left, it was about 6pm and temperature dropped to -2. Trailer brakes were frozen. We were dragging 3/4 trailer duals. Instead of staying at the TA and getting them unstuck (well, first we argue about which brake system. He said to not release the trailer airbrakes in winter because lines were freezing. I told him I thought it wasn't an airbrakes issue, if airlines were frozen, we'd have no braking period. By not releasing the airbrakes then the spring brakes would not activate, leaving the trailer with no brakes at all, thus nothing to freeze. His response, "What do you mean spring brakes?" - anyone care to clarify if I'm right?). Anyway, he decides to leave the TA because the lot was snow filled, and get on dry roads. I told him I wasn't willing to drive, which is always a big mistake since he'll do something more dangerous. He doesn't have a hammer, thus we can't bang them loose. He decides to get on the freeway, since its the only dry road. He drags the tires a good mile or so, nothing frees up. He pulls over to the side, and we use an old flashlight and microwave bottles of water (my bottled water incidentally) and after a good hour, finally frees the wheels.

We get to Marshalltown, IA about 11pm Friday, for an 11 pm SATURDAY pick up . . . yep, 24 hours early sitting at a pork plant . . . nice smells. Again, for whatever reason, doesn't like to stay at truck stops. Production is apparently delayed, we don't get our load until 5 pm SUNDAY. I had enough foresight to have 3 Subway sandwiches and other snacks. He doesn't have any food, by Sunday morning we bobtail to Hardees.

Sunday night hauling pork to Henderson, CO and Salt Lake City, UT and hear that I-80 is shut down. We decide to just drive as far as we can. On other side of Omaha, NE massive snowstorm hits us. I'm driving, limited visibility, 30 mph sometimes, but get through it fine. Clears up really nicely after 100 miles or so. Miss our 3 am appt, by about 90 minutes though.

Monday night in Salt Lake City. Another snowstorm down Parleys Canyon, but not too bad.

Tuesday dead head to Hyrum, UT and pick up a load of beef headed to Santa Clara, CA.

Wednesday trainer is driving because he doesn't want me driving 55 mph in California. Just outside of San Fran, he's stopped by ChP going 66 mph and driving in wrong lane. He also doesn't have his DOT medical card, and he tells me that there's a felony warrant for his arrest in Texas. Somehow he only gets a verbal warning for 11 mph over and gets a ticket for lane violation.

Stay Wednesday night at the Pilot outside Sacramento (finally). I'm able to go for a run for the first time in 10 days. As a courtesy I don't exercise unless I can shower immediately after, but I'm not sure the same courtesy is reciprocated.

Thursday, pick up frozen foods in Sacramento headed to San Antonio and Fort Worth, TX. Trainer is now in a big hurry because he has requested 4 days of "home time" in San Antonio to visit a girlfriend.

Arrive in San Antonio about 4 am Saturday. Have another big argument on the way where he threatens to "fire me" and leave me behind in San Antonio. I'm tired of the threats and told him of consequences of such a threat again . . . we'll see what happens. I think much of the fight had to do with him wanting to borrow $100 for the weekend, and my refusal.

So now I'm in this roach motel at I-10/410 until Tuesday morning.

Total miles, about 3000. 7.3 mpg.

Interesting location, San Franciso Bay, very cool seeing/driving over the bridges.