The misadventures of a rookie tanker yanker

Made it to Sidney Nebraska. I'll deliver in Salt Lake Wednesday and then beat feet to Markham Illinois by Friday. A little over 3700 miles in a week is more than I normally run as a tanker.

I'll probably reset over the next weekend at the Best Western.

I did message an old Army buddy and his wife with a breakfast invite for in the morning. It is last minute since I didn't know if I would make it here. He's a local LEO after retirement from the Army and she works for the school, so odds are slim. Maybe on the return trip since I don't have to rush.

 

Got to chat with my old Army Buddy. They got in late and he has work in the AM.

After I unload on Wednesday, I'll come back here and we'll get together to swap old and new stories alike. Gotta love how some things just work out. Haven't seen them since Oct of 2002.

 

Busted hub seal. It's why we pretrip. Waiting on shop to open.

 

Good grief, might have to get a hotel. Mack parts are hard to come by in Sidney Nebraska. Waiting on an appointment to take it across the street. Loves can't do the work. Floyd's, which is across the streeta, can do the work but might not have parts.

Glad we get breakdown pay.

 

Figured out the cause of the death wabble. King pin is literally snapped in two. I'll be here for at least two days.

In other news, the load ahead of me, mine, and the two after me are all being diverted back east, probably to Bowling Green.

It all works out: no late delivery, truck gets fixed, I get a couple of thousand loaded miles dragging this tank around, hotel stay, and two days breakdown pay. Oh, and my buddy took me out for lunch and tonight we'll do dinner at his house since I'm not going anywhere

 

Ok, things change. Mack doesn't sell the king pin kit separate from the front axel. Total time is an estimated 2 to 3 weeks for shipping and repair.

Company is cool. They're working a plan to get me home and paying me 200 bucks a day until I am home. Once the repairs are done, they'll figure out a way to get the truck. Load has already been resued.

At the earliest, I get out of Sidney on or about Saturday.