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

On my first run with my first trainer, we saw the burned remains of a company truck from our company still sitting in the ditch. Found out later it was a trainer and trainee, and the trainee was from Baltimore. Never found out for sure, but I thought I knew who it was...a classmate of mine who was from Baltimore....both died.

 

Seeing all the dumb #### out here, the stupid 4 wheelers and the truckers that can manage 80 but not drive in their lane. I've been out here a lil over a year, and I'm surprised I haven't had any kind of high speed collision yet. When you think of all the stupidity on the roads and how many times a day it happens right by you, it just seems a bad accident is inevitable.

 

I always ask the guys that are pushing the limits, if those few dollars are worth their life. In the oilfields, roll overs are the most common accident, and deadly. Nodding off is a probable cause. Take care, and the unnerved part, you are human. Don't push for that extra load if you are fatigued.

 

I know I will be a lot more conscientious and cautious from now on.

It seems that every time I take an extra load or try to fulfill an impossible load plan it bites me in the backside. It's not worth it for the most part. It's not all about the money I keep reminding myself. I don't, and never did see, myself doing this much more than a year anyways. This was a means to get experience and move on. The money has actually been much better than expected and I have recouped my investment in this 5th wheel/home so that I can more than break even at this point.

 

That so nice that dispatch can now say a shipper has over night parking, even if it's on a street illegally, or there's no rest rooms.

Even though I had the hours to pick up the preloaded trailer today, and spend the night, ( the shipper needs my empty) cough coughbullshitcough.

But I decided to stay at a truckstop where I can perform my morning magic trick on a porcelon throne, worthy of a king, instead of in a bag or on a sidewalk. Not that I'm a prude, I've hung off many a bumper around home, even off a bridge on a gravel county road, just not at a customer that may have high def cameras watching.

 

Sunday night was a rough one, not much sleep as the restroom was way far off.

And the intelligent side of my brain (that I never listen to) never even suggested getting a hotel room with a toilet in it, until Monday afternoon,after I overcame the watrery.... nevermind.

 

First time in Oregon today. Got to Meacham and the chain sign was on. Kind of wish I'd had a little more training then the YouTube video I watched last winter. Made it to Troutdale anyway, but where is this Cabbage I keep hearing about?

 

Cabbage is the bug hill west of Meacham...the last hill down into pendleton ..

 

at the top going west is a scale and a brake adjustment area. At the bottom of the west side is the Arrowhead truck stop and a casino.

 

Haha, I completely disregard that nonsense, park if at customers. They don't even let me have an inverter for a microwave or fridge, so no, #### you crete, I want a truck stop with food and restrooms. They wanted me to park at a Rock Tenn the other night, the smelly one in Alabama.
Dispatch: can you park there?
Me: nope
Dispatch: info says you can, go ask
Me: *playing Pokemon X* yeah, guy here said no...

This has been a bad week for me dealing with ######## from incompetent dispatch... Today I'm stuck paying for an escort in Philadelphia because I don't have a TWIC card... I tried wiggling,out,of this one, but I was,dealing with a real winner on the QC. Well, lucky me, my 12 volt,for my cpap goes out! I can ditch it in New Kingston and get repairs. Nope. They're not clearing it. Want me,to get work done in an hour today, then deliver at 10am, haha. I'm sure the shop will get me in and finish my work within 90 minutes of,opening,today...