Freight Systems Inc, Agent for USX

Sorry, been busy doing the "Texas to Upper Midwest Boogie" for a few weeks, then finally broke out when it was time for hometime. Sent me from Terrell Texas, to Riverhead (Long Island), NY.

So, from where we left off, I missed the Chicago load, ended up Deadheading down to McGhee, AR to pickup going to Hagerstown, IN. 104 miles empty, 658 loaded. Another VERY tight delivery that was spoiled by a nasty accident in Illinois on I57. Sat in a 10 mile backup for about an hour and a half. Seems a large car driver hit a construction worker, then flipped over his rig. PLEASE slow down in zones guys. PLEASE.

Delivered 45 minutes late. Did all I could do. I don't fool around, especially when a load is tight. At the end of my 10hr, I go right into the 15 minute pretrip (which I've pretty much already completed anyway), then at 13:45:50, I start rolling. DT only catches up about a mile down the road, so it's safe. Picked up the next evening (early) in Henderson, KY for the Pete plant in Denton, TX.... again. Can always drop early at the Pete plant, but I blew about 3 hours anyway, because....... I was in such a rush to drop the empty, I forgot to unhook the airlines. You know what comes next, right?



DUH!!!! I'm an idiot. So, down the street to a little place to get them replaced. $150 out of my pocket. Hook to the new trailer and off to Denton. Delivered the night before it was due and hit the overcrowded TA up the road to make myself a parking lot.

Preplan the next morning from Terrell TX (again, to get me to the east coast and ready for hometime), going to Long Island (Riverhead), NY. 72 Empty, 1594 loaded. Ran like a scalded donkey up to Riverhead and staged at the Vince Lombardi Service Plaza on the NJTP. Got an extra three hours to unwind. It was very much appreciated. Got up early, ran across the bridge on the Cross Bronx Expressway, across the Long Island Expressway, and delivered on time to a place that was NOT made for trucks. It was all I could do to keep the fitness center patrons from parking me in. Nice guys unloading. Had some great conversation. Waited down the street a bit while a few other trucks brought in deliveries, then was dispatched to Jamesburg, NJ to pickup a load going to Eau Claire, WI. Of course, the plan was to pass the load off to someone else so I could get south to Charlotte. Well..... couldn't get off Long Island that night. EZPass quit working.



Was turned around at the bridge and sent back to Long Island. Didn't have any cash. I kicked myself hard for not getting cash at the service plaza. There is ONE parking area along the Long Island Expressway. I was on my way back to Riverhead to find a place to hide the truck while I took a hike looking for an ATM. By the time I got to the parking area, I had 57 minutes left on the clock. Wasn't going to make it there, and certainly wasn't going to make it off of Long Island to pickup that load by 5pm. As I was aiming for the rest area, there was a wrecker in front of me hauling a flood damaged small RV.... that was on fire. I pulled in after he did, parked, grabbed my fire extinguisher and ran to help. He had already gone through THREE very large bottles trying to put the fire out under the hood and in the drivers seat and dashboard. My little one didn't help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4d7bwcp_XI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwW2RhQps8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igHoikC6cU4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVj62ZD9vu8

Anyway, fire dept came, put the fire out, then the burned out hunk of charred metal was hauled away on a flatbed. I took a nap, got up at about midnite, then took a two mile hike down the feeder road (after jumping the fence), then under the bridge to a gas station to get cash from the ATM. Up the next morning, FINALLY escaped from Long Island, down to the Petro to pickup a couple straps, then loaded. That's when I got the message that I knew I would be getting anyway:

"Can you run this to Wisconsin, then we find you a load home to Charlotte from there?



Like I didn't know that was the plan anyway. I took it. Good miles. 120 empty, 1102 loaded. It wasn't due for four days, but I told them to call and let them know that I WOULD be bringing it in on Saturday (It was Thursday morning). Ran out my recap hours for two days, delivered 30 minutes before I promised on Saturday. Then a preplan from Atkinson, WI to Rome, GA was planned for pickup the next day. Ran up the road a little, got an extended 10hr, woke up, fueled and ran to the pickup. 201 miles empty, 742 loaded. Delivered a full day early. Just played "stupid" and went in to deliver. "We'll have to work you in since you are early". HA! As soon as I hit the dock, the forklift went into the trailer. ROFL!!!!

Up the road a piece to the Flying J for a hot meal prepared in the truck, and a long hot shower. The next afternoon (Tuesday, 3/19), got an urgent message that a load apparently needed to be rescued. Called "Small Fleet Brokers" and got the info. Started rolling before DT gave it to me. Load was already late, but Pepsi in Columbia, SC needed that Gatorade before midnite. Was supposed to be there at 7pm. I ran down to Pepsi in Atlanta, picked up, took off like a rocket to Columbia and only stopped to fuel. 73 Empty, 211 loaded. I promised to be there by 23:30, but pulled in at 22:45. Broker was singing my praises. Glad to help!

Deadheaded home to Charlotte from there, and here I am relaxing. Back out next Monday!

 

I will really be glad when FSI gets rid of these old USX Spec automatics. Got a new windshield put in when it was assigned to me and the installer did a horrible job sealing it. Underneath that plastic cover at the ceiling, the foam is totally soaked with water. This happened during a huge thunderstorm in GA while I was waiting for that last load to Columbia, SC. The other one with the towel over the wheel was the result of the downpour over the drivers seat. Figured I should try to keep the dashboard from shorting out. Yes.... that is a stolen Pilot towel.



You can see how cold it was in Wisconsin at 4am in the morning. Originally, it was down to 2 degrees while I was running down the road at 67.7mph. There was literally no heat at all coming from the dash vents. Notice the temp guage on the left. The engine was below 100 degrees.

 

Just got bought out by Celedon Group. Deal closes in 30 days. We will get all new Intl Pornstar tractors and will pull Celedon trailers. Still to be dispatched and paid out of Little Rock.

More to come as info becomes avaiable. By the way, dt is still retarded.