Running with JCT, Part Deux

Happy New Year everyone!! Like Macho, I'm glad to see this one in the rear view and looking forward to a fresh new year. :smt045 Not that last year was terrible, but last quarter has been a beeyatch on the wallet. All my technology is broken down and I got it strung together w/ Band-Aids that are unreliable on a great day and me struggling for just ONE MORE call (or connection or boot) before you die completely, as the norm. To the point I have been running totally old school this last week. No GPS (it's on my phone - which crapped out), rare phone (when I could get the battery and cable to hold in JUST THAT PARTICULAR POSITION for a few minutes - and by a few I got like 3 minutes max), and my dumb arse put my "lunchbox oven" (you know the 12v ovens that look like a lunch box - I got two) on the top bunk where I set it when I parked home for Christmas.

Bobtailing to my daughter's the day after Christmas (the Grands LOVE to see "Pop-Pop" rolling into the yard and a toot-toot on the air horn gets the HUGEST smiles). I have to hard break because some holiday suburbanite shot straight through a stop sign, and the oven comes straight off the top bunk (where I completely forgot it was) and lands one corner straight on the face of the QUALCOMM on the floor (where my dumb arse had it - again, just hometime) and busted the living crap outta the touch screen. I mean it looks like I took a ball peen hammer and smacked it a good one. The voice (I nick-named Nancy); starts going "Home, Home, Home, Home . . . on and on and on - and ON and ON and ON. The Home button was stuck, but BELOW the level of the outer button itself.

I pulled over and yeah, the screen is totally shot. You can see some things but any input is totally out of the question, as is reading any message; but the SOFTWARE is still working. I know this because I finally got it to shut UP w/ the "home, home, home" by banging the snot outta the back of it. I know, I know but hey; it's FUBAR anyway. Banging wasn't gonna tear it up worse than it was. It shuts up but starts it's mess all over when on the way home, Nancy informs me that I have exceeded my maximum 2 hour Off Duty Driving time (because I could not change duty status from my initial OFF to OD change) and throws me on the drive line and then on the On line when I stop back home - with no way for me to input any change. Shattered touch screen, but underlying software working fine.

First call is to my DM; Got voice mail. I explain. "Qualcomm shot out. It's broken. Falling object has smashed the screen. NO QUALCOMM. I'm calling Logs then Breakdown. When I come out of hometime you'll have to call me on the phone w/ my outbound load. Plus my phone is screwy now so here's my wife's number in case you cant get me on mine." Next to Logs. Cool. "Yeah I see what you're saying (she was looking at my e-logs) and (by then) in violation and now ON, so OK, we don't normally do this but the data is backing you up so I'm logging you OFF and just run paper until you can get it fixed."

"Cool. Thanks. Can you transfer me to Breakdown please?" I'm figuring I still got a couple days till I come back out, I can get it fixed during hometime. Breakdown says NO! They don't fix busted Qualcomms on the road. Tell my DM to route me to Sapulpa. "Really? Why?" "I don't know. We just don't. Get your DM to route you to Sapulpa and we'll fix it here OK. If that's all, I got another call waiting OK. BYE."

So it's been me and my RMN MC Atlas (probably my best, truest, most constant and unwavering friend EVER in the last 17 years chewing asphalt), calculator and pay phones or borrowed phones on paper logs since coming outta hometime. Just like '97 and a few after. Made me realize just how "lazy" and dependent upon technology I have become. Took me a day or two to get back in the Old School Groove, but it has been very refreshing to find out: I STILL GOT IT!! A TON of dispatch craziness has ensued. Suffice it to say JCT system get's freaky deaky (DM's have to think outside the just plug it in the computer stuff boxes in the system, and most of the one's I've dealt with were in grade school during Old School) when the Qualcomm goes kaput - but we have managed and I'm very proud to say; OTD all loads despite challenges, and my hat is off in a big way to my DM for struggling through the "Man, this AIN'T in the system like this , but lemme see if I can (tap, tap, tap); yeah! Got it. Got you loaded! What'cha need now? OK. Address of consignee is . . ., D/TOD is . . ." "Got it! Can you" CLICK - my phone dead.

No phone, no lights, no motor cars; not a single luxury! Just like Robinson Crusoe; Primitive as can be.Only, rolling in one of the most sophisticated "E-Trucks" on the market - LOL. Lap top giving me fits too. Guess it's time for a Tech upgrade, though I dread it. Not so much so since this week, but still. New year, new tech, learning new software and such. 2015 promises to be an interesting year to say the least.

Been good for me, though. Not doing Old School in Jersey woulda been nice but I reckon the Great Spirit has a reason for everything and we managed that OTD too despite those challenges added to the mix.

In the spirit of staying upbeat and thinking positive; A lot of great things happened. I got to see my only son marry a wonderful young Lady; my teenage daughter put teenage angst and rebellion aside and expressed sincere love, my wife dodged a bullet on breast cancer (Thank you GOD for that) and I came to JCT. I was reminded in a very real way that; I have people that Love and care about me (the communication thing has been rough on Mrs. Aminal too - she got used to the technology too), all of the challenges were overcome with thoughtful determination and teamwork and I have been reminded in a very real way that: as long as I have a home fire burning somewhere, my boots, hat, jacket, gloves, a RMN MC Atlas, a good DM with a good company and some wits about me; WE STILL GOT THIS!

2014 has been full, to say the least. It's the last mile in the rear view now and I am TOTALLY looking forward to charging hard and strong into 2015. Winter thus far has been a bit tame. It means the Lion is about to awake and roar hard. That's Ok. I got some Old School Schnizzle for IT too!!

Happy and safe New Year everyone!!

 

Hmmm. Going to Stephenville, Tx from Lemoore. Should I run the 40 across to 84 to 20 or go ahead drop all the way down and run the 10 across to 20.

Don't much like the current weather across 40, but should be clear as I would be coming in on the back side of the snow and stuff. There is only a 64 mile or 43 min difference between the two routes.

 

Think I will just go ahead a take the southern route. Warmer temps cause I am tried of the cold. 62 miles ain't gonna break me or make me late and I can maintain 57mph all the way.

 

Good choice since they are saying 40 is closed or was this morning pretty much from Kingman to NM then spots in NM all the way across. Texas is all fouled up as well. Both on 40 and 10/20. Reports of ice and snow all the way down to San Antonio. TX Dot is advising no travel on 10 and 20 due to ice and black ice.

Been trying to get to AR and was told to take 10 and hit 20 and snake my way to Clarksville for my 0500 delivery. Got mileage adjusted for new route and so far today I have already encountered 1 delay of 2 hrs due to a wreck on 10 due to ice. But oh well nothing I can do but take my time and hope someone else don't decide we need another unscheduled break.
You all be careful out there and be safe.

 

I figured the roads in Texas should be good by the time I get over there.

 

If you are coming thru tonight you are better off stopping before Van Horn. Roads get super nasty and have a heavy freezing fog and ice is getting thick again.

 

I will be going through on Saturday.

 

LoL Lucky you. Hopefully I will make my Sat delivery. Still have 900 miles to go.

Oh and Aminal..... Remember this line?
#Winter thus far has been a bit tame. It means the Lion is about to awake and roar hard. That's Ok. I got some Old School Schnizzle for IT too!!
I'm blaming you for current conditions. LMAO

 

Well, best of luck and be safe. I'm droppin' down from the Appalachians to Dallas for a 21:00 delivery tomorrow. I guess Go Cart Mozart here should be checkin' out the weather charts to see if it's safe outside down yonder. Supposed to be loading for Sapulpa after that to get my busted Qualcomm fixed.

VA and TN were clear except for some ice spots on US 29 and US 460 in VA early this AM. Mostly just the thin "roll it and crunch it" stuff. Some pretty good thick spots but just a quick "float and roll" and done. Not a single trace of salt or sand, though. You know, VA, MD, TN and KY DOT have a saying about snow and, most especially ice, in the mountains. "God put it there, let God get rid of it. We ain't messin' with it."

I gotta admit, though; VA has sunk a ton of money into road resurfacing and that new blacktop they are experimenting with is supposed to be "self de-icing". If that's what the new blacktop on 460 between Lynchburg and Roanoke is; I think they're onto something. It was a real nice ride compared to what it used to be. That old concrete used to get slick as snot and in all the wrong places; sharp curves at the bottom of a steep hill. Today was a gravy run, even at 79,720. The thick ice spots were few and easy roll overs on straight road. I'm gonna do something I never thought I'd do:

Thanks VA. Good job. I forgive you for your past and signs that read: "Virginia State Line. Trucks Not Welcome". We've come a long way Baby. Let's keep it rolling!

 

You got lucky then. Play the lottery or something! The shop guys were pulling their hair out over them boat anchors.