Watkins shepard

I have a picture looking down the snow covered street and the Orderly Bld in Thule Greenland with the Mail Flag up. I wll bring it if I can find it because I used to keep it on the wall in my office with the Quote written on it. "If You Don't Like It Here, You Could Be Back In Thule"

I was there from Nov 62 to Sept 63 when I went down to Goose Bay Lab to cover for a guy who went AWOL. The day I was processing out of Goose JFK was shot.

Check Out http://www.accuweather.com/world-in...yadc=0&traveler=0&zipcode=ARC|GL|GL001|Thule|


Burrr

Arkie

 

Well, I finished my ten days and then something happened. They sent me to Kent, WA (I live in Longview, WA) with another driver who was hauling Rocky Mountain Doubles on a dedicated route. They gave me a key to a certain truck that would be over there and planned on giving me a load that night to my neck of the woods so I could spend the weekend at home. Everything was planned nicely. BUT, when I got here the truck was not here (it was in Helena, MT), I had to spend the night in a Motel, and the truck that they meant to give me was keyless. They couldn't track down the key for it so they sent me home for the weekend so they can figure it out. Tomorrow I head up to Kent to start driving. It really isn't that bad, but I just wanted to let Johnny, Jon, and Raak know what's going on in case they were curious. The guy that drove me up here said that he had given a lot of guys rides to their first truck and this had never happened so don't worry. Good news is that I'm getting truck 1969 for awhile.......nice.

 

Wow that sucks Mike. But as you said at least now you get 1969 for a while. That should be a nice truck. Certainly up there in the new numbers. Is that a Volvo or Freightliner? Glad you dropped in here to post. We have been wondering about you. We figured you and Ken would be through here soon. This week we head out for our student trip but hopefully we'll be here when you roll through.

I agree with Jon that I am glad that I made this choice. Now I hope that the after-school experience with W/S is what I have come to believe it will be. You all coming in the next class will hear all the stories here in the driver's lounge like we have been. Most all good. A few complainers in ever group though. I am figuring that those of us in this class, that will be running this side of the country, will be through Missoula terminal from time to time. If I come through during your class I'll be sure to introduce myself. As Raak as well as Jeff.

 

I hear those 1969 models are good, I love them old trucks.
smile
I know that is a higher number in the truck numbering system. I wonder how high the numbers go considering they are suppose to own 700 trucks

I look at all the trucks that park across the street from our RV Park and noticed a new looking Freightliner Columbia, and what surprized me was the plate on the side of the hood (Mercedes Powered)

I sure hope I can bring my truck home sometime, everybody else from 5 companys do here.

I myself would love a Classic Freightliner and if I ever get as far as O/O that is what I would buy.

One step at a time. Testing on Thur and that squating for 3 minutes is the hardest part I have tried so far. Makes my leg muscles burn. Lifting 60 lbs up to my chest is easy. And when I crawled thru the motorhome my wife thought I was nuts.

Thanks for the updates and let us know about the big trip down into LA, Take your ball bat and chains. I had a lady friend who lost a truck in NYC but she lived.

Arkie

 

1969 is last years model I believe. Ever since we've been here there's been about a dozen new Volvo's roll through, and there's about a dozen more down the street at the Volvo dealer waiting to come through here. They're numbered up to about 2080 so far. We've heard that there will also be about 25 or so new Freightliner Cascadia's coming in after the Volvo's are assigned. That will put them into the 2100's easy. All the company trucks seem to be numbered consecutively, with the lowest numbers getting sold off when their service time has been reached. Not sure what that time is, but it seems to be around the 700,000 mile range. As for the Mercedes power, Freightliner's parent company is Daimler, so they've been moving towards that in the newer models.

We leave on the trip in the a.m., but we didn't have loads for all three trucks to L.A. so we're being sent to Salinas instead. Won't be as long a trip, but a lot of the route is two lane, so it should be more fun. We'll let you know how it went.

Take care,

Jon

 

Regarding our conversation this past weekend about HazMat

Batteries filled with acid are NOT considered HazMat provided they meet certians provisions. You'll be provided with a printout of this during your time at Missoula.

I had additional questions regarding this after we spoke, and called safety to provide the answers.

The particular load I was dealing with, did not meet those provisions. Therefore was a HazMat load.

Under the provisions, an endorcement is not required. Nor are placards. Provided the requirements are met.

 

I went to the Freightliner web site and looked at the Cascadia's and it said they are powered with a line of Detroits. Nice looking truck. Probably saving them for the Christmas Class.

What model of trucks are you using in school?

Looking at the weather it looks like alot of snow from the 10th on to the 19th. Get the snow plowed before we come because I can't get anymore in my bag let alone a snow shoval. Still looking for a 30 inch Crow Bar, Do we really need one before we get our own truck?

Be Safe

Arkie

 

To answer any questions, 1969 is pretty new. I actually got it with 61007 miles on it. It's a Volvo as well. I'm in the middle of my first trip as a truck driver. I'm hauling some stuff for Home Depot from Lacey, WA to Great Falls, MT. I'm stopped here at the Missoula terminal for the night. Was hoping to see my old classmates, but I guess they're on the way to LA or Salinas or wherever. Oh Well.

 

Nice. Hope I get one with that low of miles. BTY:

-- Last Online: 14 Hours Ago 02.53 AM
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-- Location: Longview
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You need to change something.

 

HopFrog

Do you remember if they make you squat down in one place for 3 minutes?

That hurts but I been practicing at 4 minutes now.

Schneider makes you squat two times down and up because it represents squating down, looking at something under the truck and back up. Squat down again. But not for 3 minutes, just down and up twice. It is shown on their web site.

I wonder if that is what W/S wanted the testing center to do or if they are just doing what they think they want.

What about the BP test, Do they give you more than one till you pass like I heard they did someplace else?

I go tomorrow morning for my test and DOT, then next Wed I go for my CDL test in Kingman AZ.

Arkie