Crete Carrier - A Year In Review - Fall 2013 Going Forward

That's weird. It was a Pilot last time I went thru there.

 

Interesting day. Headed to Sealy, TX with a WM load to deliver Saturday. My fuel solution is the Dallas Pilot, but I'm thinking I'd like to stop by Wilmer and vacuum the truck, wash it (unbeknownst to me they decided not to fix the wash bay after yet another driver destroyed it), and do laundry. I decide to skip the Pilot.

Good move.

About a mile and a half from the terminal, I hear a pop. Not a loud explosion like a full blowout, but rather like a sidewall failure. I don't see any debris...no one taking cover behind me...but I decide to hit the flashers and ease on into the yard. I get there, park next to the shop and start a walk around. No blown tires. Brake chambers seem OK, but....wait....WTH is THAT?

The right front brake drum on the trailer is shifting to the inside, and the edge is a good two inches further in than the shoe. I write it up, and catch the trailer mechanic on the way out. He looks at it and says WTH!

Turns out the drum basically split in two. Apparently, some time in the past, the brake was out of adjustment, though the trailer just passed inspection in April. Constant overheating caused the failure. I've heard of it happening, but it's never happened to me. Just glad I was where I was and the thing didn't disintegrate going down the road.

 

OK here goes...haha

I make it to KC and go to check in w/service. It's 3:45 and nobody is there. No mechanics, nobody in parts and nobody at the service counter. I wonder around and I saw NO ONE! Turns out the bosses are gone because it's a holiday. The phones and internet are down(not sure if the holiday was the reason) so the guys decided they can't do anything. I talked to a couple of the drivers and they said maybe tomorrow they were told. Finally I spotted an Acklie employee. They were on break for 30 minutes...OK fine we get a forced 30 minute break so fair enough. The service writer say he can't do anything so come back tomorrow. But wait, I have no bunk air I am not spending the night in that truck when it's this hot. So I call breakdown and they tell me if it's in the shop the terminal will have to call the hotel....."Hey man, I just told you they have no phones"..."oh yeah..hold on" So I got to listen to that awful music for about 15 minutes and the breakdown dude come back on.."Got a pen? here's your confirmation number" saweeeet! I'm here at the Quality Inn and some slooowwww interwebs so maybe it's a Showtime night.


Oh man I forgot the best part. The guy I talked to yesterday must have all of the brains because he didn't share any with the dude today. The part I need....they don't even stock it. Even if they did, they don't have a tech that can perform that operation...according to today's service writer. I wished my stomach could hold a few adult beverages because I would certainly "Tucker" a few tonight!

 

Ya just HAD to figure things were going a bit too smoothly.....but at least you're in the comfort of a motel this evening.

 

No kidding! I usually find a way to jinx myself. But really not too much is lost. They weren't going to work on my truck today anyway. Maybe "brains" will be back tomorrow and I'll find out for sure. If not I know my AM pulled Saturday duty so one way or the other something will get done.

 

I lucked out....mechanic finished my trailer before quitting time today. Have to fuel here in the morning before taking off.

 

I never had one break, I saw half a drum on the shoulder yesterday.

 

Yeah, I've seen the stray half from time to time...I'm just glad it didn't come all apart and fall off....could have gotten ugly in a hurry.

 

Turns out I didn't hang out with the Indians, this truck stop has free high speed wifi. I'm watching the 4 hour Howard Stern Birthday Bash!! About 4 gigabytes worth of entertainment, well me and this puny pint size Russian and a couple of her littler friends.

Another Waffle Taco tomorrow!!!!!!!


I hope I never get banded.

I should share this as the guy, Bill Bonner, writes a great free newsletter every day,

http://click.billbonnersdiary.com/t...ib25uZXJhbmRwYXJ0bmVycy5jb20vcG9uemk./AQ/DRTt

 

They have been changing some J's to pilot's and vice versa. I think if they have a sit down eatery they are making them J's and if they only have fast food they are making them Pilot's.