ATS/school

So i'm sitting on the roadside, decided to call and see where we're at. Night shift of roadservice has no idea what i'm talking about! They had no idea I was waiting for a tow! There wasn't even anything in the computer saying I had talked to anyone, all day! Must be a glitch in the computer system or something. The lady I talked to was great! She appologized up and down and got to work right away. However, when she calls back the tow truck co. says they cant get there till 2am! Ouch, but what are you going to do. As I was settling in for a long nite on the side of the road I get a call from the tow driver, he wants to come and get me now. Cool! The truck is now at the dealer, i'm in a hotel and think i'll be here for a while. The nite guy at the dealer said they cant even get to it til Wed. at the earliest! He said it sounds like a couple of things going on at once. Sounds like the fan at least isnt working. And the EGR sounds like something isn't right. A good days work for the shop at least. As to whats going to happen, cant say yet, FM is in training. I know I cant afford more than a couple days on the card. Hotel does take Tchecks, but not the Tcheck card. Have to wait and see.

 

Still sitting in a hotel, will be all weekend. Actually thats for the best, I wouldnt be able to move without permits anyway and I cant get them until Monday. Its nicer to be in a hotel than in the truck at a truck stop! Just wish I could afford a rental car to see more stuff. I REAAALLLLYYY like this city! Hot but dry, I could live here very, very easily. Now if I could just find a job,sell my house for what I owe, etc. etc.. On a more serious note, I have started looking at other jobs available at ATS. I really need a more consistant income right now, and that hasnt been happening. Im not blaming anyone, its been a bad string of luck. My finances are just too shaky right now to take any more of it. I like the company and am happy with how they have handled everything and how I've been treated. Im just about to loose too much. I can hear it in my wifes voice now, she's been trying to do too much with too little, for too long. If I was making enough money, that would be one thing. But being gone AND not making enough, I think thats becoming too much. At least a job at Cloud would be a steady pay check. And allow me back out on the road in the future. Unless by some freak chance I love the new gig! Havent had a lot of experience in the "corporate" world, cant see me there longer than necessary. I dont always play well with others, especially when they B.S.. I hate fake people! I live along the lines of " dont p*ss down my back and tell me its raining!" Had too many people try that in construction, my B.S. detector and cynical side both work way too well!

 

So today they finally found someone to take the load. I went over to the dealer and helped swap out equipment. Turns out to be the guy I ran w/ from Laredo to MO. I thought I was getting the truck back today but still havent heard a thing. Ill call tomorrow am to see whats up. I thought they just had a final test drive to do. Hopefully they didnt find anything else wrong, I have extended the room three times now.Im not sure theres any more money on that T-check. I talked to the lady in HR today, maybe something will come of it maybe not. I just know that this being gone and still not making money is killing me! I like the job but need a steady pay check more. Ill let you know if I get rolling tomorrow.

 

I finally go the truck back, around 1130am! Obviously it wasnt as close as they thought the day before. So I went to Wally world to restock, and then back to the J to wait. Around 430 I get a load, and a trailer. Fortunately the trailer is in town. Headed to Cheyenne for some concrete "deadmen". Basically large blocks of concrete used as counterweights. Headed to Osnabrock,ND. Delivered to a new wind tower project. Well actually just the newest phase. These are the "small" towers, only about 180'. Managed to deliver a day early but am now out of hours for the day so im sitting in a rest stop. couldnt quite make it back to Fargo. Ill find out in the morning whats nest. Big Duker, had I read my mail yesterday I could have told you that yes, the truck is running great. Today, well, now my truck is telling me to check the ECU, when I do it claims to be out of calibration. Im not sure what the H*ll that means! Its still running fine. Ill have to call Maint. tomorrow and see what they want me to do. Can you say AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!! Come on, say it with me! All together now, AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! I believe i've heard a saying, something about bad luck, an dno luck at all. HMMMM.

 

HMMMMM very interesting! Im sitting in a rest stop outside of Harvard,CA. Have to deliver in Lemoore tom.. Ive got a big milk tank, used for making cheese. The tank hasnt been a problem, but the extra 2 tubes of stainless pipe are a pain! They are about 24" in diameter, and mabe 5' long. When they loaded them they were banded to a pallet. The first band didnt make it 100 miles before it worked it self loose. So I threw a 2" strap, with some nice thick rubber under for grip. Worked pretty good, but they both decided to try and slip forward. So I threw another 2' strap, only this one I hooked the flat hook to both inside edges of the tubes and ran the rest of the strap back through the tube and down to the lower part of the trailer. Hasnt moved, yet. I wont be able to get another load until Wed., i'll be out of hours after I deliver. They need to get me back home to have the truck looked at, again. I wont make it in time to see my kids with their animals at the county fair like originally planned, SLC ruined that plan. Well, what can ya do? I'll be taking my youngest son with me for at least some of this next trip. I say some because if I get close to the house and hes sick of the truck my wife will come and get him. I dont expect any problems, this kid has wanted to drive truck since he was three! He wants to drive for a race car team. At least thats what he would say when he was three. Not sure if it was the trucks or the race cars he liked most, Hell, why not have both!? Ill check in later!

 

Well, somehow, even though I called ahead, they werent expecting me! The first place I went they were really nervous that they were getting the load. That part of the remodeling was WAY to far along for them to fit the tank anywhere. They were thinking someone screwed up and that they were going to have to re-tear down some walls. Well it turned out that I had to go over to the other plant, bout a mile away. They werent much more prepared tho. Sat for a few hours while they lined up equip. etc.. Got unloaded and got the next load right away. Went to one of our drop yards, swapped out my nice new RGN for a ratty old FB. Left early am for Winnemucca,NV, Carry On Trailers. Made it to Wells and that was it for the day(can only do so much with a coloring book). Left early am today, delivered in Dillon,MT and am now at the J in Belgrade. Ill make my last drop in the am. I am supposed to be heading toward Cloud remember? I had been thinking of just not mentioning the "out of calibration" thing, since im sure they have forgotten it by now. But today my Driver Tech pulled completely out of the dash. Actually broke one of the screws and just pulled one of the others out of the plastic( the whole dash is plastic!), then broke away, pulling a piece with it. Now there is a 3" hole in my dash! Youd think someone would know enough to put a brace or reinforcement behind the mount! I may just put the bracket where I want and be done with it for now. We'll see. Ill let you know tomorrow where im off to next!