Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Got a load assignment to bring an empty reefer to BH Groveport and pick up a trailer going to Jacksonville. So that's how I'll be spending my Christmas.

Got here, gave 'em the pick-up number, was pointed at the very first trailer on the lot. Right at the gate. Will have to take it down the yard and make a U-turn to clear the gate and get it off their lot.

First thing, I REALLY had trouble getting the fifth wheel to latch. I got out several times, checked the alignment, everything looked groovy from what I could see. But every time I'd back up and bang the kingpin, the latch wouldn't latch. I set the drivecam off about 5 times, and I smiled and waved for each one.

EVENTUALLY I got it to latch after about 10 minutes of repeatedly pulling forward and backing up. I lowered the airbags the final time, dunno if that actually had anything to do with making it work. If any of you old timers have any ideas why this might've happened or what I could do if it happens again, I'm all ears.

Once I was hooked up good and proper, I did my pretrip inspection of the trailer as I always do. And lo and behold:



It's worse than it looks. All four tires are flat. Three are completely off the bead. The one on the left is partially inflated from the TIS, but it was very much flat when I first saw it.

And, like, how does that even happen? I can't imagine a driver rolling down the freeway with all four tires flat on one side and just dropping it off here to be someone else's problem.

It's a loaded trailer. Presumably one they loaded here at BH. Were those tires flat when they loaded it? Did the yard jockeys make 'em flat somehow?

Anyhow, now I'm sitting here bobtail by the guard shack because staying with the trailer would've blocked the gate. And breakdown is trying to find someone to come change four tires on Christmas Eve.

 

@ExtremeUnction - if not for bad luck! Wow! I've had that happen on a couple trailers that had been sitting for a while. But not 4 at once!
Hope they can find someone to come out soon.

As for the kingpin issue, I've had times when I've had to crank the landing gear down and lower the air bags to get it to latch. Sometimes putting pressure on the fifth wheel helps.

Hope you get rolling soon and have a very uneventful rest of your trip.

 

Merry Christmas to all you Abilene Drivers!!!

Drove from South Florida to Charleston, SC for Christmas and I saw a few Big Green Trucks... made me wanna be back OTR again.

Hope all is well ... Stay Safe!!!

 

You must've fell and bumped your head! JK! Merry Christmas to you!

 

One of 'em was probably me. Drove from Wytheville to Jacksonville today.

Hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas.

 

U didn't stop by Exit 8 in SC and see me

Hope U are having a Great Holiday Mac Daddy!!

 

Well it’s been a year... time heals all...

Waves.... hope to see you on the rebound.

Exit 8... if there’s a Pilot there and a little mom n pop place called “Chicken Lickin” at that location, we did fuel up and eat there.

 

No Pilot there...think it's Joker Joe's at the 8

I see where U were on Google Earth, Exit5 at Hardeeville has the Pilot and the Chicken Licken

Nice to see U on here!!