Running With Watkins & Shepard

Hey Chris-just getting a chance to catch up on your thread! Sounds like everything is going good! Glad you ended up getting that load! Good week for you! Keep the shiney side up sweetie and stay between the ditches!

 

Hey Sammycat, I was looking for that "Hail Mary" pass with 8 seconds left in the Bills game. Instead, 10-15 yds.
Not what I call a crowd pleaser.

 

Hey Chris,

Guess what i finally did? That's right I logged in so I too can keep in touch with you when we have no phone service. I hope by the time you get this you have made it safely to your destination for the day.

I figured it was easier here to know where you are since you log on here daily. I know it's like an addiction to twinkies, lol.

When do you think you will be gracing the beautiful state of NJ again? Saturday would have been beautiful for a bike ride. Hopefully you are back so we can take a ride before the weather changes.

Glad to see that all your "friends" here are keeping up with you and keeping you going. It's nice to know people care about you when you are so far from home.

Anyway, hope you are safe. Miss ya. Sallie

 

I just talked to Chris about a half an hour ago. He dropped the load in Portland and now is heading to Arizona. Maybe someday I will actually be able to have more than a 5 minute conversation with him before we lose service again. BTW I am Chris's new friend from NJ that he met and then had to leave a week later. All is good though. I want the best for him and he was so excited about getting OTR. I miss you Chris. Sallie

 

Hey Chris, I have aslo applied with W/S. I saw that you were or still is a MCSE. I just got my A+, Network+ and Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Tech(MCDST).

 

Hey Sweetie!

I'm SO glad you joined up here! Now I can bore you with all the dirty details of being a newbie trucker...... ......

I'm really sorry about my loosey cell phone & service. It's top of my list as soon as I start making some cash and getting caught up a little. I'm going with the Sprint Simply everything plan and a nice blue tooth. Trying to drive and "hold" a phone is WAY past my safety threshold and I just won't do it. So even if I have signal, if the wheels are turning, I'm not answering so leave a message and I'll call when I stop AND....Ummmm....actually have service........LOL

Check your PM....
I know you probably can't reply yet due to the post count but just keep posting here and it will go quick. I was going to post my reply here but.....Ummm....NOT!!!

Although honestly Sallie, the folks here really are becoming like family to me as you can see by the support I've recieved. As you know, I wear no masks and I'm not afraid of showing myself to the friends I've made here but I'll not risk the possibilty of making you uncomfortable.

 

I replied Sweetie! But the "system" here caught it and it will take a bit to show up... Also sent you a PM....

 

That's good to hear Raildawg and thanks for stopping by.

Way to go on the Certs man. Not an easy task to be sure. Congratulations!! Pretty funny how folks with our credentials are becoming truck drivers huh? LOL

But honestly, it really takes some smart folks to be truckers. Everybody thinks (me too I must confess before I went OTR for a month, and learned what it "really takes" to be a GOOD one), that truckers can be anybody. Not so man. Over the past 7 months my level of respect for truckers has steadily grown and continues to do so. Not only is it a tough life, but it's very demanding on every part of ones self. The mental, physical and emotional are challenged each day. I know it's probably tougher on me right now as I'm learning, but I used to think of myself as a reasonably smart guy. I have to say, I'm feeling a bit stupid as of late.....LOL

Driving the truck is the EASY part! Keeping all the paperwork, logs and "planning" together is not easy for sure. My hats off to all those who do it so well and seemingly effortlessly. I can't wait until I become "smart" enough to be counted among them!

Best wishes for your path with WS and it'll be great to have you join the family.

 

This is getting ridiculous!! The system has caught EVERY one of my posts....LOL....Geezzzz.....

Well, I have a LOT of learning to do tonight and I have to have it done by the morning before I roll out. So I'm gonna grab a shower, get my laundry done, grab another CUP - O - JO and then hit the study.

I'll try to post some detail of my runs but for now, The load from Dalton GA to Portland OR went on time even after all the delays from both scales and construction. The good news is that my new Pre/Easy pass is now activated. The bad news, it's useless out here where I've learned you need a Norpass...LOL...so I'm still having to stop at every scale. I never really thought about it before this but, even a couple minute stop, with the slow down and speed back up time really adds up.....

I had a blast running it and although I've been running mostly at night, the scenery is just to die for. I really loved the run on I-84 through Utah and the way it cuts through all the red mountains. The mountains through OR are quite impressive and require a fair amount of shifting when hauling some weight. I really wish it was light out as I started the decent down the western side. I could see all the lights WAY down there and I'll bet the view was really something to see.

I now fully understand WS's way of teaching shifting. "Squeezing" that fuel pedal is THE WAY to go for a much smoother transition between gears when it matters most. So for all of you thinking about going with W&S, really pay attention to that part of it. It makes a HUGE difference in climbing and descending the hills.....

I haven't "ground" a gear yet. A couple of very small little scrapes but just a small touch either up or down and she slips right in effortlessly!

I'm looking forward to this next run to AZ. I'm down for the night with about 200 miles of the 1334 total behind me. Has to be there at 08:00 Wednesday.