The rookie

Day 1 in the books and it was interesting... so I get to the yard and have an hour wait for the truck as the other driver was still out- Then he arrives and the truck had to be put out of service for the day as they had a issue with the lights and turn signals. They get me another and I find out my first load was a split. Luckily it wasn’t my first rodeo with a split(Thanks to ecolab). Delivered the split and was told that it was really slow around 6 hours into the shift. Finally get an assignment and the first terminal they sent me to had no allocation so they sent me to another about 20 mins away. Simple assignment until I got to the station and had to explain to the owner that what he ordered wasn’t gonna fit so it was going somewhere else. I had 8000 of 87 and 90% was about 6700. At first they were gonna take it back and try to redeliver it at night as they had nowhere to put it. And that turned into me dropping 7000 of it then heading to another station for the last 1000.The fun part was right as I started to go empty the high school right across the street let out. And it was a Fun time trying to get out of the station

 

Day 2 is almost wrapped up. Some of our trucks so I ended up in the spare truck(that truck over there works). Had some issues with our technology and me being a new driver somehow Me and another driver ended up with the same load. I pulled up and he was halfway through the unload. Got dispatched to another place station but had a shortage in the electrical that controlled the lift axles got that fixed and was on my way. First unload went real smooth. Second load went pretty easy also, went to turn into the station and some 4 wheeler that wasn’t paying attention pulled right into the path and but I crept real slow and he got the message and swerved in a panic smh. Another thing is no matter how big you truck is and how much you cone off it’s like people still somehow don’t see you. At the tankwash(truck wash , Idk why I keep calling them tankwashes like I’m still with Schneider). Got a bit of a wait and then back to the yard and home

 

Another successful day in the books had to do a Sunoco by 8 mile and van dyke went pretty smooth besides the snow that started dropping in the middle of my delivery. But the time I got to my second stop snow had covered the tanks but luckily I had done the station a couple of times before so it was no issue. That was it for the day. Also got hit with my first random drug screen so I’m sitting here waiting at the urgent care. Had a guy show up 20 mins late to his appointment spazzing out. The doctor He was supposed to see had been on vacation for the past 3 weeks. His words were “I been waiting 3 weeks to see his ### and he can’t wait 15 to see me?”.

 

Today was an unproductive day I’d say, got to marathon for my first load, went to drain down cause I trusts no one, first compartment fills the sight glass and I recognize that it’s not actually draining down. So I close up my end to verify. And walk the line, and still full of product. Had to wait in the 20 degree weather for about an hour for an operator to arrive on site. Then I get loaded to the customer and their lot is a big dirt lot, so I’m searching all around the pumps for a lid and nothing so I call another driver and he says it’s about where I’m standing...so I start stomping and believe it or not I was standing on it. Second load I got to the rack and it was about 3x3 trucks in front of the racks waiting apparently 3 of the 6 lanes weren’t available. So about an hour and a half goes by I finally get to load and it’s loading so slow like it was a real drag. I go to load the second part of my split and one of the arms gets a fault code. No longer in use, but the compartment was still tied to it so I had to call up and wait for them to work up some magic.. after all that the load was a little hike so it was my last for the day. On the way back some lady /Lyft driver Almost took her self out texting. I was merging onto the interstate a head of her pretty much onto the highway doing about 55 the entire left lane is clear but I’m still in my mirrors she still accelerating almost scraping my trailer before swerving at the last second

 

It’s been smooth sailing ,last night was my first night on nights and man it’s gravy...I got 4 stops knocked out. I’m loving how empty the racks were. It’s just straight to business. Company doesn’t bother you at all unless somethings changed with the load one thing that’s different is waiting to know if you’re loading before or after 6. Hadn’t had any stories yet it’s mostly been ghost towns. Just me and Pete

 

Man there’s no drama this way and they have us on a rotation so every six weeks you get six days off in a row , only thing to it now is to stay mistake free and earn some raises

 

At the tail end of my night .Just had our first big snow storm cars were in ditches left and right. Took it slow still knocked out 3 sizable loads with some hiking. The last station turned to solid ice so I had to locate and do a little construction to get the lids open. Currently still loving the job, it’s been a smooth operation.

 

Last night my second stop was pretty interesting. Pulled and it took me about 5 mins to locate the tanks as they were completely covered by ice and snow. After 10 mins of chiseling with the crowbar I finally get the vapor and regular tanks open(thank god I was only taking regular) so I reposition. And walk in to get a veeder root and the cashier is closing her register and the machine is inside with them. So I had to wait another 10 watching her do mental gymnastics counting nickels. Then she had no idea the machine I was talking about so I had to guide her to it yelling through the bullet proof glass to help her find the print button cause she’s never done it before. So I get out stick and get fuel going soon as I look up it’s a guy walking in looking kinda suspicious holding a cigarette and wanting to talk. Pretty much he wanted some cash, gives me the back story of how he just got out of prison, had his papers and some prison id and just needed 14$ (Specifically) which I told him I didn’t have. Then that turned into buying something for 14$ and him turning it in. He wanted me to buy cigarettes which I’m against smh I said only thing I’d invest in is some food other then that it’s a no. At that time the night time cashier had pulled in and said hi. She was nice on the eyes so of course he left me alone to go and harass.
It had gotten pretty packed too but when I was finished everybody had left. Cashier was obviously disturbed, so I asked what’s wrong and it all came venting out about the last hour. Had her sign and she asked for a hug which I told her I had salt and dirt on me from the trailer and she went for it. But man gotta love the city

 

Had my first what felt like slow night on my part but man I ran into some stuff. First load went smooth. Went to pick up my second and the route I took (the shorter route) had a train blocking the street . Had me blocked for what felt like forever and I had a car right on my cheeks so I had to wait for him to get the memo then back track the other way which in total added about 45 mins. Then I get in the rack hookup start loading and my #1 compartment starts leaking so I shut it down, and it’s still just flowing so I shut my fire valves waited for it to stop then picked up the phone and they said to wait for a operator to come in. Took him about an hour to get in and his guess was one of the hooks in the arm got jammed. He fiddled with it then hooked it up and we had no issues. But between those two I lost so much time. The load was a split too with only 3500 going to the first stop. So I ended the night pulling 1 and a split. I know I’m the rook but I’m in such a rhythm already.