Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Wait a minute....isn't that your orientation class?

 

I can honestly say that last week was the most challenging week that I have had so far at Maverick. It was all due to the heat and the type of loads that I had. If I had just hauled coils it would have been much better. But when you start with super sacks of asphalt that the dust burns your skin, having to tarp it with lumber tarps....well, you have to walk across them to roll the tarps out. They are uneven and you sink in with every step. This puts extra stress on all of your muscles as you walk across them and try not to fall off. All the time the the sun is beating down on you. It was really tough. As I mentioned, I made about 5 trips into the cab. I did not stay as long as I needed to each time because I wanted to get moving. I stayed just long enough to cool down enough to go back out in it. All the time I was drinking plenty of fluids.
Untarping was not as bad, but it was very hot and humid down in Virginia. The next load was a load of lumber. While I was waiting at the tarping machine, there were three McElroy trucks tarping. They were really busting their hump to get done. I went out and told them to slow down that it was too hot to be going that fast. They looked at me and told me that they appreciated that I said that and slowed down.
Guys...and gals...do not push yourself too much when it is that hot. You can overheat and be in serious trouble.
Even when you are loading inside a dock, it is still dangerous if you do not take a break when you need to and continue to drink and keep yourself hydrated.
The easiest load I had all week was the load of aluminum rods that I picked up in Hebron Ohio. It was double tarped, but was able to use my steel tarps....or 4 foot drops for those that are new (lol)
My last load was two coils that I picked up in US Steel Gary. They were not skidded coils as the wo said, but were two loaded eyes to the sky. I got there just before another mav that lived in Marion Ohio. I did not know they could only load right at the spot with the overhead crane. I had pulled forward to get him out of the way and was told I had to back up. He was already in the right spot, so I told them just to load him and then I would back up after he got out of the way.
We both ended up being done with our tarps at about the same time so It did not hurt me any.
Made it home with about 20 minutes left on my clock. This load is going to Colonial Metal in Hermitage PA.
Do not know yet if I will leave out tomorrow or early Monday Morning. Probably tomorrow...but have not decided.
So after a week in the heat, it is going to rain all weekend here...but the ac feels great! Have a great weekend!

 

I thought of Sewerman aka John alot towards the end of the week. I drove around fort wayne, where he is in the hospital, and then drove through his hometown of Westville.
I used to get a rolling call from John and then we would speak first thing in the morning and through out the day. We would speak for hours every day. I am not saying that I am any good by any means as a truck driver or flatbedder....but I would not be what I am today if it were not for him. I will be passing on what he taught me to my students and will continue to do the things that he taught me to become ever more proficient at it. Please continue to keep him in your prayers!

 

That is cruel and unusual punishment if I ever heard of any!

 

Forgot to mention.....got a qualcom message from my fleetmanager..." Jim, I have not heard from you this week, are you doing ok?
My reply...."That is how you know that I am doing ok....I am low maintenance...lol"
His Reply "Ok Thanks, have a nice weekend, I will talk to you next week"
My thoughts to myself.....only if there is a problem or you call me.