An old man's career goes flat, Snackbar moves to open deck

I didn't leave much on the table with my logbook this week

 

I haven't hauled slinkies, but even I know better than that. I have seen them over the top on a load that was loaded shotgun, but never on a load loaded suicide.

Must be from the same short bus seat warming graduating class as this guy

 

As fast as they were swapping out all the old equipment, I would think this trailer would have been long gone. But when I was underneath looking for a way to deflate, I noticed some newer brake shoes on the rear axle. Although, it now has another new front marker light. Was doing my morning walk around yesterday and one of the old type lights was flickering, so I wiggled the wires, and the plug came out, but had corroded off one post and the corresponding socket in the light. So I replaced both. I swear I am gonna get a tax ID for my repair services and give the company a discount on labor for simple repairs.

 

While chatting with Mrs. Snackbar yesterday afternoon, I get an incoming call with a 701 area code. Only 2 companies I know have that area code, and I don't want to talk to either one. Turns out, it was someone from Wylie calling (it went to voicemail), they were helping our HR department making sure all of our drivers were registered with the new ADT system and are ready for the weekly pay transition. I had already gone thru the registration process while I was in Arlington last week along with adjusting my direct deposits for a weekly check. And I also updated my W4 for the weekly pay. I have a little extra taken out each check because Mrs. Snackbar's employer doesn't take out federal taxes until she crosses a certain threshold (she is part time and doesn't cross that threshold until her 2nd chek in November), but when we file our taxes, her amount added to mine (without having any extra deducted) make it a close call on the amount I have paid in.

 

I looked at the manufacturer's date on this trailer...you were close, it is only 6 years old. Looks can be deceiving, just by looking at it I would have bet it was at least 10 years old if not more.

Oh, and I located the amber strobes switch...there is a lip and a contour on the back, it's under the lip on the underside of the horizontal part of the contour instead of the normal place sticking straight out where you can see it. And to my surprise, it still works. Guess I better reschedule my eye exam and hope we don't get an after season tropical storm on this hometime.

 

Got down to the Love's in Mims, FL about 8 miles from my 1st stop. About 1/3 of the lot is filled with GenOx tankers (loaded tankers based on the venting fog coming out of their trailers)... Wonder if they're hauling fuel for the next Space X launch... Other than that, I am done until Monday. Thought about going by the house enroute, but that would add over 100 miles to a 500 loaded mile run (and 600 mile deadhead to pick it up), plus a couple hundred mile deadhead back to the house. I am guessing, but I don't think they made anything on this load, so their financial sacrifice to get me home for Christmas is appreciated...I didn't want to overdo it on excess miles.

I didn't mention it last week, but when I was getting my truck worked on in Arlington last week, the guy who's in charge of approving detention, layovers and reimbursement sat down next to me in the driver's lounge and questioned me as to why I only put down 1 day layover for that long delay in N. Charleston just after Thanksgiving. I told him my PTA wasn't until Monday, I put in for a sick day when they didn't get me a load right away, then put in for 1 day of layover for Tuesday, and they found me a load on Wednesday with some deadhead miles, so I didn't think I was entitled to any more. He said 1 day wasn't enough and put me down for a 2nd layover day. I didn't argue, and thanked him.