Driving OTR with US Xpress

Hello There.

Well, I came off home-time anticipating coming out of the gate like a being shot out of a cannon. I showed up Monday morning, the shop had finished all the maintenance work on my truck, so I loaded up with fresh provisions and notified dispatch that I was ready to roll out.

Within 20 minutes, I get a call (phone) from my old/new FM telling me that I was about to be dispatched (gotta love it).

Sure enough, DC to DC run from Braselton, GA, to Hagerstown, MD. Trip was just a tick over 600 miles, pick up immediately (pre-loaded), and drop ASAP, but still with a very comfortable margin.........oh yeah, baby.

The terminal digs up an empty for me, I knock out my PTI and start heading north.


The run is a Tractor Supply load. I've been to both DCs many times before, so it's a gravy run for me. I check in at the guard shack, and while I'm dropping my empty..............I get a check engine light.


"I'm not looking for this out of you today." was my immediate response.


Sent in a macro to breakdown, filled them in on the situation, and told them that I'm within an hours drive of Ellenwood, I could run it back in to the terminal. I've got plenty of room on this one. Within a 2 minutes I got the green light to head back to the terminal.

An hour later I arrived at the terminal, dropped my loaded trailer and my tractor was prioritized into the shop (there's an advantage to being under load if you need repairs).


Within an hour, the light was off, and was told I was good to go. Not too bad. I figure I lost about 3 hours in time, but like I said, there was room on this one so I wasn't worried. I hooked back up to my trailer and headed north.....again.


I got 1 mile up the road............check engine light..............Dang!

I turn her around and head back to the terminal. Dropped the box and in the tractor goes for more...attention. After about 30 minutes, the technician says he can't access the trouble codes and that he needs the Freightliner mechanic to get involved (we keep one of those guys around here, evidently).

"So get him."

"I can't. He went home for the day. But he'll be in at 0630."


Double Dang!


So, now that sweet run up north is going to be delayed, if not repowered. Calm......stay calm.


I jump back in the truck, the check engine light's out ......YES!..........but now, I have no 4 ways........or headlights......or turn signals.........oh, wait...........the check engine light came back on.......now I feel better..........................ARGH!


I park the truck in a slot, advise dispatch of the problem, shut down, and bring a key up to the service desk, and as I'm watching the truck...............THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON!.........What is this?.......a freakin' movie?

What's next?.........Is it gonna drive through the building?.............Chase me around the lot?.......Run me down?


That's it. I had enough for one day. I grabbed some essentials out of the truck, shut down all the electrical and headed home.


So now I sit.......waiting. There's still time to save the load, but not much. CSR told us not too worry about it because it's going DC and they can adjust the delivery times.



But still.....I'd rather be moving.



Do I have a name for the truck? No, Not really.....................but she's getting one now.




I don't know if Christine is a good idea......................I gotta sleep in her.




.................but that thought had crossed my mind.







Thanks for reading.
-Wedge