Have to start somewhere

Ok everybody I am better now.I am in houston at the flying j I paid for my first shower I couldnt find a pilot to park at so I sucked it up spent 6 bucks and took a shower.

I like the flying j parking is a little easier then loves or pilot they tend to be on the small side.I sat all day up in witchata ks on monday then at 5 pm they gave me this load from blue ridge ks to houston tx.775 miles so it has been lots of driving that is my favorite part.

The clerk in oklahoma where I bought fuel told me maverick just got a big contract to move steel to the world trade center project if it is true looks like we will be seeing a lot of new york city.Maverick also qualcommed it drivers for a new pay scale for specialised drivers starting in january looks like they are trying to persuade mav drivers to go to glass with a pretty substantial increase I thought about it for a moment but I dont want to be out that long.Guess that is about it talk to you later

 

No fliying j for maverick and only a few petro no we maverick driver are pretty much pilot(the walmart of truckstops)or loves(tiny lots miserable parking).

I should be sleeping but I am kind of amped up again I realy dont like my new fleet manager. He seems to wait till the end of the week then sends me the opposite direction from the house maybe it will pass.

I have to be in topeka by 1500 and I only have an hour to eat three meals use the restroom and stretch my legs for a 12 hour drive.I asked him if he was hanging me out empty and he said no.I thinks he is lieing to me we shall see.If I have to spend all weekend in topeka empty I am going to be pissed beyond words.I dont mind working weekends but I dont want to be empty.

 

Well here I sit in tulsa at the flying J with a load of shiny bar on my trailer and a 7 am delivery monday morning.While I was loading last night in maryville mo. the guy next to me was getting reloaded with grey bar that broke loose on hard braking he said and went through his headache rack and into his sleeper it even broke out of the band and they where unloading it bar by bar.Made me a little nervous to think about all that sitting behind you.

I bought my first scale ticket this morning after notarps experience last week makes me a little more cautous about my axle weight.I was driving down 70 and there was a walmart that was right next to a truck stop so I restocked my truck.I did laundry at the flying j it cost me six dollars worth of quarters watch a little tv in the lounge while I was doing laundry heard some interesting stories from other driver I just smile and nod my head alot.

Thanks for the encouragement and your own experiences that means alot to know at least I am not the only one who goes through this,I love this job I just am not real happy with this fleet manager I am not sure if he knows what he is doing he is brand new to this as well and I dont think that is a winning combination.Post more later

 

OK have been out for two weeks got home empty Friday night was good to be home after two weeks I need out of the truck for a while.For some reason I am losing my car driving skills I am not sure why.Vicki and I went to the waffle house and I almost got us Killed by a big truck who was in my trunk. I forgot I was in a small car so the closer he got the more I increased my following distance.I am sure he was screaming at me.

I could not do this job with out Vicki she takes care of the bills and my life while I am gone.I got a letter from safety for fuel violations logging my time incorrectly they send these letters to the house which is really dumb to me hell they know where I am at why don't they send it in my qualcomm.so I have to go in Monday morning and talk to them.I am empty right now so I will get low miles next week I hate coming home empty.

I am still struggling with this new fleet manager I really don't think he knows what he is doing.I had an issue with him and my hours of service and going over my fourteen with his appointment times hopefully we will solve this and he will understand that I wont run that illegal.I can stretch the log book but I wont run a day ahead of it that is just to risky if it means I make less money so be it.

The weather up north is starting to get nasty I just do what the other trucks do.I got caught in the snow in Chicago Tuesday I just slow down and stay out of the hammer lane I worry about winter driving but what can you do if it gets dangerous I will stop the truck.folding a frozen tarp and rolling up frozen straps are a bit of a pain in the ##*.

I am starting to learn where the truck-stops are and where the good places to stop are at.I am seeing the same interstates over and over again.I try to stay out of the loves and pilots unless they have a big lot or I have to shower I will use a pilot in the middle of the day no waiting then I can eat some lunch and hit the road.

My backing is starting to improve hell it couldn't get much worse finally something clicked and I understand what the trailer will do now if I can just figure out how to get my setup right from the jump I will be fine.This is gonna sound crazy but my stomach muscles are starting to hurt from being bounced around on that air seat.So i will have good stomach muscles and everything else will look like crap.

I talked to a TMC driver in Michigan and it sounds like we all have the same complaints about the fleet managers they tell us we are wasting fuel with our idling and we tell them we are trying to stay warm and not freeze to death.They want drive harder we want to be safe.I also discovered the breakfast burrito from McDonald's it is awesome and my favorite thing for breakfast if I cant find a real restaurant and frequently I cant.

Maverick sent out a letter telling us due to financial difficulties and rising fuel prices there will be no end of the year bonus.which is kind of interesting because the week before they sent us a qualcomm announcing new pay rates for the glass division trying to lure drivers to the specialized division makes you wonder just what is really going on.I am 1 mpg away from getting a fuel bonus so far but I have jumped up on the seniority list. I saw another driver who was in class with me but we didn't talk he likes the sound of his own voice to much and I was in no mood to listen.

Finally my 65 mph governed truck is killing me I just hate being stuck behind other trucks but your choice is to either have a turtle race with them or shut down.I wont shut the hammer lane down if traffic is busy so I spend a lot of time reading the back of Schneider,Jb Hunt and Roadway trucks they seem to be the only thing slower than me. I kind of decided that i will stay with Maverick for a year to learn the ropes and because I don't want to be a job jumper but then I am throwing the keys on the desk and getting me a real truck With a shifter and that can pass someone and a little more style than that ugly freightliner.