Calex Express....My New Home!

Well here's a rather long update. I dropped my trailer at the consignee Wednesday around 5pm and headed to the truck stop to shower and do my paperwork. Louie called me before he went home to tell me I had 2 p/u's, one in Kirkwood NY and the other back at Pittston on Thursday. I've done these before and it's a real easy deal. I have two drops, one in Stockton, the other in Sacramento, both for Tuesday. I spent the night at the Petro and had it planned to be at the terminal at 7am on Thursday. I finished my write up sheet for some minor issues with my new truck. My right front tire was out of balance, I needed my headlights adjusted up so I could see more than 25 feet in front of me. My right headlight was blown out, and I had a fault code showing a couple of tires were a little low on air. Plus I needed a service. I figured all this could be accomplished in a short period of time in order for me to do my pick ups. I woke up early Thursday, had breakfast then tried to leave.

I started my truck and put it in gear only to have a transmission fault code pop up telling me the transmission ECU was having a nervous breakdown. It wouldn't go into gear. I tried it a couple of times and finally it went into gear. I was only able to drive to the terminal in 6th gear. I parked right in front of the shop doors and got a mechanic to check it out. First he took care of all my write-ups then serviced the truck. After that was done he hooked up the truck to the computer to find out the ECU needed to be reset. This happened once to my old truck and I had to unhook the battery cable and wait about 15 minutes then it reset and I was good to go. Not this time though. He did the same thing and the problem was still occurring. He then hooked the computer up to the truck again and found out the tranny ECU was fried. Not looking good. I told Jim in safety what was going on and could he get me a loaner truck to go do my pick-ups while my truck was being fixed. He did and I was on my way to Kirkwood. When I got there and was getting loaded Jim called and said that the ECU was fried and that because it was under warranty our Volvo dealer had to replace it at the dealer. Only problem was they had to order the part and it won't be in until Tuesday.

I was now very pissed, my wife cooked all my food while I was home knowing I was going to California and I told Jim that I needed a truck with a fridge to be able to save my $200 worth of food in my truck. He told me he would find one and that he would call me back. He called back and told me that he got me a team truck that was only 5 numbers older than mine and that he would have it detailed and serviced by the time I got back. Let me tell you, when I got back the loaner truck was serviced, detailed and snow chains in the side box for the Sept 1st chain law out west, plus the fridge was working. Thanks Jim! I ask for nothing here, all I want is a truck that works and a loaded trailer at all times, but when things like this arise it's good to know that people step up and do their part. My only real complaint was that I had to move all my stuff out of my new truck and into the loaner truck, and I'll have to do the same thing when I get back from California. Moving is not fun, especially 3 times in a month. I moved everything out of my truck and put it in the loaner then hooked up to my trailer and went to the Petro to set up house. It took me a couple of hours and I was done around 8pm. I decided to sleep there and get up around 5am to leave.

I left Friday morning right at 5am and made it to Gary Indiana and took my 10 hour break. I woke up this morning and made it to Lexington NE where I'm at right now taking my 10 hour break. I will be able to make it to Fort Bridger Wy tomorrow, then onto Sparks Nv Monday where I'll run out of hours until midnight when I'll pick up 5 hours to finish this load. I now have to do a little biotching just to be able to vent. I had a migraine headache all day Thursday and part of the day Friday, not because my new truck had broke down, hell, it was better to break down in front of our shop then in the middle of Nevada with my thumb stuck in my ear. My complaint is about following procedures. I learned a long time ago that policies and procedures are in place for a reason, and that's so certain issues that arise don't become one persons problem, for instance, our procedure is to fuel our truck up as soon as we get to the terminal. Before I went to the shop Thursday I fueled my truck up. When I got into the loaner truck to go pick up my load the idiot light was on telling me the truck was low on fuel, so now I have to fuel this truck up. Then when I got back and moved all my stuff into the truck I was taking to the west coast it needed to be fueled. So with all the B.S. I went through Thursday, I had to fuel 3 trucks. My biggest problem in life is that I follow directions, I figure if I have too why shouldn't anyone else.

One little funny thing happened that I'll share with everyone. Usually when I get to the west coast and take my reset I'll do my laundry to kill some time. The last time out I didn't so I took it all home with me and did it at home. Well Monday on my way up to Orlando my wife called and said I left all my underwear in the dryer. She said that she would drive up to Orlando and bring them to me. I told her that between the gas and tolls it would be cheaper for me to stop off at a Wal-Mart and buy new ones. I had one clean pair in the truck so I was able to wear them, the second day I went without, so yesterday at 6:45am I was in the underwear department at Wal-Mart in Bloomsburg Pa Buying new skivvies.

Gary is also on his way out west. He's got 2 drops in Denver on Monday and finals in Reno on Wednesday. I'm sure we'll catch up with each other somewhere near Salinas. That's it for now, actually that's enough for now, goodnight all!

 

Good for you! Enjoy your home time. I'm on my way to California so I'll see you when I get back.

 

Congratulations and welcome aboard. Get ready for a very laid back orientation.

 

Well I'm here in Sparks taking my break. I am 190 miles to my first drop and 45 miles from there to my final drop. I got here with an hour and a half left on my clock, and I pick up 5 hours after midnight. I'll get up around 3am local time and head over the hill to Stockton and get there around 6:30 for my 7am appt.

Yesterday was a practice run in Wyoming to get ready for winter and road closures. As I got to Cheyenne the overhead sign flashed a message about the road being closed due to a fire that jumped across the highway going over the Sisters at the 28 mile marker. I figured that by the time I got to Fort Bridger at the 30 mile marker they should have it out, anyway has anyone ever taken notice of the sage brush and scrub brush along the highway in Wyoming? I was quite sure it would burn itself out in the 5 hours it would take me to drive there. Not quite, they closed the road at the 34 mile marker and every truck stop and off ramp was packed.

I decided to drive as far as I could then stop when I had to. I got to the 36 mile marker and came to a dead stop. They had the gates down and had everyone getting off the exit and turning around to go back east. I waited my turn and kept watching the smoke plume get smaller and smaller. Right at the off ramp my idiot light came on telling me I was low on fuel, I literally was able to see the T/A sign 3.6 miles ahead so I decided to get on the shoulder and wait it out without having to turn around and waste fuel. It sounded great to me but the Highway Patrolman that came up alongside of me didn't think so. He told me to get moving or he would write me a $236 parking ticket. I got out to explain to him my fuel situation and he told me he didn't care and to leave.

I told him fine and got in my truck and took my sweet time coming off the shoulder, then idled down the off ramp and came to a dead stop and waited a few minutes. As I turned off the off ramp and went back under the highway they opened the ramps and the highway. So all I did right there under the bridge was make a u-turn and got back on the highway. I made it to Fort Bridger, fueled, showered and called it a night. I was on the road at 4am this morning and hauled tail 618 miles here to Sparks. Time for dinner and sleep. Be safe all, God Bless!

 

Well I'm empty and in the middle of my reset. I left Sparks at 2am local time with a cup of coffee and headed over hill to Stockton. I had 193 miles and 5 hours to get there. I was wondering where all the trucks were and found them all sleeping at the brake check area at the top of the hill. I found a spot among everyone and stopped to check my brakes and tires. All was good and I continued on to my first drop.

I arrived at 5:45 am and checked in. When I arrived there was 2 other trucks there sleeping alongside the curb. I was given a door immediately. I told the receiver that there where 2 other trucks outside ahead of me and he politely told me that if I could check in on time without a wakeup call so could they, and anyway he was to busy to go out and give them a personal wake up call. Also we are there every week with the same load and we have a standing appointment. I backed in and was unloaded with my 27 pallets of freight and on my way to Sacramento to Fed-EX with my last 3 pallets before 7am. Oh, the other 2 trucks, they were still sleeping as I left, so I gave a little toot on my horn to wake them up.

On my way up to Sac. I called Louie and asked him where he wanted me to go and take my reset. He told me to go to Santa Nella to our fuel stop and to call him tomorrow afternoon for my reload info. I got up to Sac. and checked in at Fed Ex. What a place, huge. They gave me a door as soon as I got there. This place is so big that my door number was 798. Here's how this place works, you back in, they have absolutely no one on the dock, you use a pallet jack to take the 3 pallets off and if you can't find anyone to sign the bills you sign them yourself and leave. I was there for a total of 20 minutes. I left and had just enough time on my clock to get to Santa Nella which is where I'm at right now relaxing. I'm only 50 miles from Salinas so I'll splurge tomorrow night and get myself a motel room here.

I spoke to Gary today, he got his 2 drops off in Denver and was on his way to Reno for his last drop for tomorrow. Louie told him to head to Santa Nella also when he's done with his reset in Reno and that he would reload on Friday.

 

Got my reload info from Louie earlier today. It's a one pick up load of carrots in Bakersfield going to our customer in Milton PA for 5am Tuesday. My reset is finished at 11pm tonight so I'll fuel and leave 6am Pa time and drive the 185 miles down there and load in the morning. I got this bug splattered truck and trailer washed today here at Santa Nella, it looks pretty good if I do say so. I'll take some pictures and upload them later. I spoke with Gary earlier and he got his reload info. He loads in Firebaugh tomorrow and delivers in Milton on Tuesday also. We plan on meeting in Barstow and head east together. Talk soon all.