My PTL Experience Log

Really? That's surprising to me unless you've been in areas where there aren't many Love's. I'm a constant diamond status on Love's every month.

 

And that gash is quite a huge one isn't it?

 

Dedication or foolishness? Sometimes I wonder.

Even when I'm on vacation, as I am right at this moment, I get asked for favors. I've got another driver bringing me a load now to 'sit on' until Monday morning when I leave again. I'll be the team player & take it to its destination in SC. Of course I get a nice little bonus when I do this. It's a perk of where I live in a busy freight area I'm told.

 

So how about an update to this old thread I seldom get to visit anymore hmmmm?

Yesterday morning I pull into the San Marcos Truck Stop at exit 204A off I35 in San Marcos, TX. Plenty of room to grab a spot & the place wasn't very busy. I stop there frequently as I like to give the independent operators my business when I can. My trainee & myself hustle inside to use the restroom & grab a quick bite to eat. We are out of sight of the truck for no more than 9 minutes according to the Qualcomm. Mind you this is a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution with 14,500 or so miles on it. And right as we exit the door I can see the license plate is laying on the ground & the front bumper is shattered. Not only that. But the hood latches are gone on both sides. The hood is sitting back towards the windshield & up about 4" from normal. The gas assist hinges are also bent beyond repair too and a few stress fractures are in the hood itself. The grill & headlight surrounds are cracked as well.

Get the picture? Yep somebody backed into the front of the truck & drove off. Other drivers watched it happen too! It seems the dude got impatient waiting for somebody to move from the fuel island he was in & hastily tried to back out & go around. We got a pretty good description of him & what he did afterwords. He jumped out of the truck & looked back to see he hit mine then quickly got in & mashed on it to get out of he parking lot. He nearly front ended another parked truck doing so.

After a lengthy police report & all the other details & phone calls it was determined the guy wouldn't be caught & after the truck was judged to be drivable I was sent on my way. So after unloading yesterday & reloading in San Antonio I'm now on my way back to our shop in West Memphis to drop this load for somebody else to take. Then it's on to the dealer so the truck can go into the body shop for a new hood, bumper, headlights, & thorough check over to get it going again. I'm told it'll be early next week before it's all finished after we get there today.

All this because I wanted a biscuit & some coffee... Sigh.

 

Yeah you're right about the lack of professionals & manners in the biz. It's a big difference between now & these past two years & when I left the biz in 08.

Could be worse I suppose. They are having a new hood & bumper brought in to W Memphis for repairs there so it's off to the hotel for a few days. Gets me out of the heat for some R & R.