Running produce to Alaska

Anything that does go East or South we cross dock in Washington. I don't think any of us want to go to the East coast and second we make our money running North. If you would take a load East you loose your spot going North. The freight does not pay that much going East and nothing pays going back to the West coast. Also I like my ten days out and four days at home schedule. I can actually plan some stuff ahead and have somewhat of a life.

 

Happy New Year to everybody.

I just got back from Alaska last night. Dropped truck at the farm and trailer at Utility for some work. The roads going North are terrible on the equipment and the maintenance and repair budget has to be pretty big.
I had switched trailers with my boss in Alaska and was miffed that I had another broken slack adjuster that kept backing off. Come to find out my buddy/boss got the short end of the stick pulling my trailer home. He had a set of wheels come off as he pulled out of the Esso in Ashcroft, BC. We just had the brakes redone a couple of trips back and the spindle nuts had backed off.
He was lucky he did not loose the set the night before or cause a serious accident. I told him with my luck I would have had them come off going down the Fraser Canyon and bounce right down to the bottom of the Canyon. Also they would have hit the CN train and caused a hundred car derailment in the canyon.

 

I picked up the trailer last night and they actually now have the inside wheel mounted on the outside and there is not a drop of oil on that rim. I would have expected to see oil slung everywhere too. I did not pick the trailer up at the shop and did not see the old parts. I will torque check the lug nuts before I take off for the next trip North since I had my share of wheels come off in the last year.
I always hate when you get surprises like that which cannot be explained easily. I guess that is trucking and there is never a dull moment.