Career Change at 53

Wasn't taking any thing as negative, **** happens where ever you go and it is only as negative as one makes it, My motto is "LIFE'S TO SHORT DON'T TAKE THINGS TO SERIOUSLY" This has kept my stress levels way down during the down fall of my business/previous career. And now will make the transition into the trucking industry easier. I love to drive, and more importantly I love to drive cross country enjoying the sights. (Just hope swift does not mind to much if I stop to smell the roses once in awhile. )
Tight quarters in the KW but really nice truck!!!

 

Thanks for the encouragement chompi, and yes driving safely should be everyone's first priority.

 

So we dropped of the drop deck trailer, picked up a skate board and headed for a truck stop for a shower last night.

10 am today we get a pre-plan for a load that requires a 102 inch flatbed and of course the one we picked up last night is a 96 inch so, off we go trying to track down a 102.

The load picks up in San Diego (at a drop yard 1/2 mile from the Mexican boarder) tomorrow at 8 am, it is a load of lift gates going to 5 different consignees two in Utah one in Montana and two in Wisconsin.
I will try to get some pics of the load when we pick it up, we will be swapping our empty trailer for the loaded one, hope they know how to strap loads in Mexico.

Almost 2000 mile trip should be able to get some experience driving in snow.

Every time I think swift is going to let us sit for days, they come through with a load and if there are no flatbed loads we grab a van load. So far it's been great I haven't sat for more than a day so far.

Looking forward to this one!

 

Pick up our load of lift gates and dropped off the empty.
The lift gates were chained through the rub rails and the stake pockets instead of around the spools.

We made it to Cedar City Utah last night and arrived in Salt Lake City Around 12:30 today, just as luck would have it, first stop was closed most likely for the holidays so, stuck here until Monday Such is life.







And of course it has to be cold and snowing brrr..............

 

I sat in Salt Lake City for the holidays, talk about boring!

Sunday my mentor decided to go to speedco for an oil change and a DOT inspection, seems swift requires one from O/O every 90 days, well the right rear drive axle brake was out of adjustment so, off to freightliner to get it adjusted so we could make our two drops on Monday. (if not for bad luck I think I might not have any luck at all)

Turns out not to be out of adjustment but rather the bracket holding the brake chamber in place broke off. We ended up spending the night in the parking lot in hopes of getting it repaired first thing in the morning unfortunately it did not get repaired until 3 in the afternoon, (took a while to get the part from Kenworth) we were able to make our first stop delivery but, the second stop had to wait until yesterday.

Made it to Montana last night made our delivery in Billings this morning and are now on our way to Wisconsin, we should be able to make our last two stops on Friday.

Good news is we have a load waiting for us in Gary Indiana going to Nogales and I have my 50 hours in with my mentor next to me so, we should be able to drive as a team.

Have some pics from Yellowstone park will upload and post later.