My new experience with Gordon Trucking, post-buyout

Code:

I'm still in the Heartland HQ maintenance facility. The truck inspection showed three "flat" tires on the trailer so I'm getting them replaced. Today. Right now. After this, it's into the shower for this truck and maybe knock some of this road wash off--that will be a chore, I'm sure. They're still looking for a part to make my inoperative windshield washer work again; that's the only hold up so far.

 

Edited to remove some information.

 

Of course I did.

 

In all the, um, 'excitement' of the past couple of days, I forgot to mention that I've received phone calls from the Operations Manager in Pacific (who was going to talk to us in orientation, but got pulled out to handle a critical matter) and my DM's boss, the Fleet Manager. I told the Ops Manager a bit about me - like I can never have too much information, love automation, and have no need to chat on the phone, so using the QC as the primary means of communication works for me.

I told the FM that I am a 'company guy' and will never decline a load for any reason other than HOS, and my two DM's should know they can send me anywhere, but that I really, really, really don't want to be stuck in the Midwest Regional fleet; I signed up for the US fleet for a reason. I like I-65 but not as a regular part of my diet, which it has been for two weeks. He said while I was talking he was looking at my record and see that I've got hometime scheduled pretty far out, so as soon as all these maintenance issues I'm having are resolved, he'll have my DM's work on sending me West. Works for me.

I'm sure the sun still rises and sets - though with all this ugly cloudiness we've had for a couple of lifetimes, I can't vouch for it - and I would love to see one of each again.

So far, so good. I'm still making "new guy, first time here" mistakes I knew I would - like divulging too much of the wrong information online - but it's exciting to learn a new way, which I am. And I got treated very, very well here at Heartland HQ. But I did discover my driver door leaks when power water is forced upon it...and, apparently, so does my fuel tank because I also now have the "possible water in the fuel" caution light on the dash.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

 

Kool Aid is good, especially the multi-colored kind. And frozen! Yum.

 

And all good things come to those who nuzzle up to their DM and "complain" to the FM. Next load: 1,716 miles from West Branch, Iowa, to Hermiston, Oregon.

nice!