Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

What kind of a truck stop doesn't have laundry facilities? The one I need to have them. Boo Pilot.

 

Please don't take this as bashing, only a concerned outsider looking in

Don't know where U were yesterday but U averaged 59mph.....that's okay

Know U recently started with AMX and have been out appox 5 wks. Just take Ur time and learn their system and things will become 2nd nature to ya

Take care and be safe.......I'm pulling for ya

 

I'm home. Got here yesterday about 5pm.It was a little emotional getting greeted by one less dog. R.I.P. Honey, you were the best!

We drove straight through to Richmond when we woke up in Amarillo Thursday morning. I asked dispatch twice about dropping the load we brought in from California at the customer, one that has about 50 of our trailers onsite. The load wasn't scheduled until Monday night at midnight. I get there at 10am on Friday and the dude tells me to come back at 9pm and they'll try to get to me........right, my load home is sitting on the Richmond yard 6 miles away. I asked for the paperwork back and told the dude I'm taking it back to Richmond yard and a local guy can figure it out. He then tells me that they need the product, I then mention to him that my load home is just 6 miles away and I'm going to get it. He takes my paperwork, signs it and tells me to drop the trailer in one of the empty spots. Really? I think this could have been handled a little differently, but hey, it was all good.

I had a boatload of things to do with Carl, we still needed him to go to NYC. It was set up that he would leave out with a driver that runs to Brooklyn on a regular basis Friday night. We got him his truck assignment so he could set up house when he got back to Richmond.

We put him in the motel too rest and wait on his new trainer to show up. I had to go and get my trailer at the shipper and leave. As it all has turned out, Carl went up to Brooklyn, did what he had to do and drove out of the big city and all the way back to Richmond without any issues. That country boy conquered the Big Apple and won! He's now at the yard getting set up in his 2015 KW. I've been training here for 3 years, as far as my 38 years of doing this is concerned, and what I've been told by safety, 1 out of 10 make it. I am convinced he's going to be the one that makes it. He's a very responsible person, a great family man, and is driven to support his family. He's got the support of his wife and children, and he's got me in his corner. And if my wife and I are out of the country, he's got this forum and you folks. I put a boatload of time and energy into his training, he's done everything I've asked of him, he took notes after notes, he's asked questions, and he's practiced things he needed to every hour of the day or night. I left him with just one sentence that I've told him over and over, don't hit nothing, and it becomes a good day! All I want for him is many safe miles. Good luck my friend and be safe. Remember what I've told you, if you are unsure of anything, call me first and we will discuss it and come up with the right answer.

Now, a little story about some excitement in my life Friday after I left Richmond. I was tired when I left at 3pm. I had just enough time to make it down to the rest area in Fayetteville NC at the 48mm on 95. get there about 7pm, get parked with about 3 other trucks and get ready to eat and take a walk before going to bed. My food comes out of the microwave, I sit down on my bed with my back up against the wall. My wife calls and I talk to her for a minute. I get off the phone with her and fall asleep with my food in my lap, about 15 minutes later I wake up, reheat my food, then eat. About the time I was done eating, I hear a knock on my door. I get up, and some disheveled black dude is standing there yelling at me that someone is breaking into my trailer. Listen, I don't claim to know everything, but I'll tell you this, I heard this same routine 35 years ago running produce into Hunts Point Market in the Bronx. If someone as much as breathes on my truck I get up, breaking into the trailer without any movement? Not hardly. I open my window half way, the dude is all excited telling me that someone is breaking into my trailer, I told him to hold on, that I need to get my gun (not), then the next thing I know, dude is running through the woods. About 15 minutes later, A NCHP comes through the lot making a round. I get out and flag him down, I tell him what just happened and give him a description of the dude. About 15 minutes later, here comes the troops, lights flashing and all that good Hollywood stuff. Me, the nosy type I am, get out of my truck and walk to the back of my trailer to see the Cavalry, guns drawn, and dude on the ground in handcuffs. The NCHP who I spoke too earlier came over and asked me if that was the guy that knocked on my door, yes sir it is. Then he tells me they were looking for this guy because he pulled an armed robbery earlier in town. My take on all this? Shoot the ###### then ask questions. I went to sleep, got up at 5am yesterday and left.

 

Johnny how much experience do you need with the company before they let you train.

I'm seriously giving it some thought,never trained before but believe I have the patience for it.When people use to ask me why I don't train would tellem I'm still training myself.

Glad you made it out of that ordeal ok.

 

I'm thinking a year....

 

Glad to hear U made it home!

Congrats to Carl for becoming a solo op for AMX.....Good job

When in doubt Carl take JB up on his offer regarding advice. ....safe miles to
ya

Enjoy Ur hometime JB....was well earned

 

Do you guys have forced routing and fueling?

 

No fuel where you want as long as pilot flying j,there's a couple states they don't want you fueling in.

 

At the petro in Carlisle,got the truck washed there's nothing like riding in a clean ride.

Deliver in Bethlehem Tuesday,have home time scheduled for Thursday,need to get with my dm about getting by Richmond for a pm,and ac fix.Been a good trip about 3300 miles with deadhead,this coming pay period will be my best with Abilene so far.

 

You don't know how bad I needed to hear that. Thanks.