Beep Beep Roadrunner

So was down all day Labor Day and the next day as well. Axle Doctor came and amputated the axle, hollowed it out and inserted a new spindle and welded it all up. Had to let it cool about 5 hours then the night crew guy who had taken it all apart the night before came in and put it all back together. Finally got out at midnight.

Company was really stressing me out, they wanted me to rent a truck and deliver the load or repower it -- get this for just under $1400 bucks against 550 miles to go. I kept stalling them because just to rent a truck would take all day to get the paper work together, insurance plus I don't think there is a truck rental place very close to Missoula and I had no wheels to go looking around.

All this stress and guilt trip that they want the load delivered and service their customers, I got the load there in Portland at midnight right when the docks open and they told me to park over inthe gravel overnight. 17 hours later I was finally unloaded. Funny when they called in the morning to check up on me, th only thing they cared about was that I was there, they did not want to hear or care that I had been sitting there 10 hours already. The only good thing that came out of it, I asked the kid if they had any shuttle runs up to the Seattle terminal and they told me to move over 3 docks and re-loaded me. Some time later they came out with paperwork and a check. No need to scan any paperwork and cash the check at any truckstop on the way up there. Sweet.

Got reloaded in Seattle bound for Indianapolis and final in Cincinatti, supposed to have a reload ready tonight for Livermore-- going home.

 

Ran pretty hard out from Seattle to Indi/Cinci using a couple 12 hour days in the mix. Dropped my trailer in the docks at Indi but they didn't even begin unloading it til 0300 am and Cinci was calling telling me my Livermore load was ready to roll. I was stressing out a little worried they might put it on another driver before I could get there. But it was a good drop hook and book sweet. Only problem was having two zeros and one 2 hour in the recap mix going back to Cali. Took me all week to get back. ]]

Been having problems with the truck batteries for several months, I don't know I guess was trying to save money by stretching them out as long as possible paying for jump starts here and there. Picked up 4 new batts at Napa in town here this morning for $350 bucks.

Getting reloaded tonight from Livermore CA to Orlando FL. Updates soon.

 

Well they added a stop in New Orleans, where I'm at now, waiting til midnight before I can deliver. Then it's on to Orlando which I'm hoping I can cover in 11 hours (700 miles) which would set me up perfect for a deadehead to Atlanta and a reload Friday night.

One other thing I forgot to mention-- while in Indianapolis terminal about 0100 AM I got up to go use the facilities, I see this driver had pulled his loaded trailer off the docks and was checking lights and closing doors etc. On the way back out I was just walking by when I heard the most gawdawfull noise then BOOM. I look over and see he had done his tug test-- completely dropped the loaded trailer on the yard cross catty wompaus blocking everybody. Oh and landing gear cranked all the way up. Wow just wow. If you see your tractor is moving 6 inches and the trailer is sitting still, there's a problem, no need to go 6 feet.

 

Well to catch up here, went in to get a dock assignment around midnight and they told me to come back at 11AM wow. Finally got unloaded in the afternoon almost 24 hours sitting there. Not the worst place to sit around, the agent carrier terminal is all blinged out with fine tile work everywhere and a nice shower and kitchen. Stepping distance to a nice restaurant where I had dinner breakfast lunch and dinner again. After unloading I decided to go for the 34 hour break right there but upon further trip planning decided 30 hours was all I could afford. Knocked out 696 miles in 11 hours and got unloaded in Orlando. Did my ten there and moved north after calling Atlanta, they did say to call back in the morning to confirm reload. I left too early for them to be open and 300 miles north called in they said they had like 20 loads and 40 trucks, don't come up. Brokered a cheap load up to eastern Tennessee about halfway between Charlotte and Nashvlle terminals. Got ahold of Ch and they did have a California run for me. Got there for the reload and about 2AM they call and say they don't have enough freight, will try again tomorrow night. Waaaay too much sitting around even for me who likes to sit around. The added day in CH screws up my delivery in Los Angeles because they are closed Saturday so will have to sit another full day down there waiting for them to open. So a 5 day run turns into 6.5 and a 4 day run turns in 6 days. Hoping to get a shuttle run north because the old lady wants me home in northern calithis week= deadheading up plus all that down time leaving my pockets kinda empty.

 

My theory is that when they changed the contract back in January to force us to run T2T more and fewer broker loads, in an effort by them to save money from hiring outside carriers to run the terminal loads, then overhiring contractors to pull T2T, sure they saved a little money but in the end when a bunch of contractors quit they will just have to go back to hiring outside carriers again and spending more money in the end.

I have heard of some contractors who are on dedicated loops like that. Also many terminals have a fleet of straight trucks which I believe are run by O/O's or their hired drivers who take our longhaul stuff and local p+d it.

No lol, but my son has this week off from school so she wants me home to watch him so she can have a break.