Here we go... finally a lease-operator!

Wow, didn't realize that it's been this long since I updated. Since last report, I have had some amazing runs, some paying well over $3/mile. My average so far is $1.77/mile, including FSC. In the last little while, I have had to do a fair amount of stuff to the truck... wheel seals and brakes, steer tires, batteries, exhaust from the turbo to the stacks, alignment, AC repair, fifth wheel air slide cylinder, and the biggie, exhaust manifold gaskets. That one was $2788 because every single stud snapped off when the shop was removing them.

This month has been really crappy, mainly because I had family vacation booked over a year ago, and I've been getting home 3-4 days early from my last 3 runs. In fact, my last settlement I wound up owing the company $255.

I was supposed to be heading out this evening with a load going to Seabrook, NJ. I say supposed to because once I got to the yard I found out that dispatch had accidentally given away my load. Seems someone forgot to assign it in QTracs.

Because it is the long weekend, there is nothing on the board that isn't already assigned, so it looks like I'll be home another couple of days. On the 7th, a load coming from Toronto going to Moncton is coming through that's going to need a driver switch, so I'm supposed to be grabbing that to deliver on the 8th, then reload in Rexton to go to Florida. The down side is the load to Florida only pays about $1.52/mile and it doesn't deliver until the 13th. My dispatcher thinks he can get that moved up, though.

I've been home for over 2 and a half weeks this month, but like I said, that's because the family and I took our first real vacation in over 7 years. Once I get out again, I've told dispatch don't even think about bringing me home until the 23rd. Then the plan is to take 3 days, and go again until I say stop.

With any luck I'll be able to rebuild my savings in the next 6 weeks or so before I have to look at anything else on the truck. Fingers crossed!!

 

URGH... the hits just keep on coming.... I just pulled into the driveway behind my truck with Tim Horton's coffe for the wife and I, and something in the back of the truck just didn't look right.

On closer examination, the inside drive tire on the driver's side rear axle appears to have sustained a cut to the tread surface and the cap is starting to tear. I really can't afford new drives right now. There's a shop a couple of miles from here that does most of my service, they usually have used drives sitting around. Maybe they can match one in terms of tread depth. At least I noticed it in the driveway instead of having it blow out on the road, though, right?

 

I had been building an account for maintenance/buying next truck, but all the repairs in August pretty well tapped it out. The company shop has some tires sitting around that they may be able to match up. Not the ideal solution, I know, but better than nothing for now.

 

I have no idea, but I do know the job took them a little over 2 full days to do. That was at the local Freightshaker dealer, which was the only shop within 80 miles equipped to do the job. It definitely had to be done though... the #3 exhaust gasket was nearly completely blown out and I was well on my way to being deaf as a post after 2 days of putting up with it.