swift driver chaining up

I am a Swifty. The other night in Rawlins Wyoming, pulled head first into a space at the truck stop with the plan to straighten out and straight line back up into the row behind. Another driver had the same idea as I. We both got stuck on about a foot thick of ice. The other guy was a 20 year O/O, hopped out and asked if I knew how to do chains. I said this is my first winter, but we made a deal if I helped him get parked he'd help me as well. When we got the job done and our fingers and toes were pretty cold, he invited me to come in to the restaurant and buy me dinner. It was pretty cool, the guy had 1000 stories.

I left the chains on overnight luckily because I noticed everyone was stuck in their spots trying to get out of the truck stop the next morning. Guys were breaking out chains left and right lol, some who didn't have chains were breaking out the credit cards to go buy them. The CB was lit up with angry drivers because the snow/ice hadn't been scraped off the lot.There was truck stuck sideways in front of the fuel islands, blocking about 6 pumps, FedEx went around him too tight and wiped out a pump and kept going, the CBers were sure to let him know lol, another guy driving around with his front drive tires skidding along the ice, CBers telling another fellow that his chains fell off lol but he must not have had the CB on kept on going- probably mad that he can't find his chains that he just bought lol.

Moral of the story is help each other out out there. Turn on your CB, guys are trying to tell you when something is wrong. All along I-80 there were trucks in the ditch left and right. Big hurry to get home for Christmas. If you are going west, keep and eye out for stuff and tell the guys going east heads up in a couple miles for a brake check. Stuff like that.

 

Glad you found a "real" driver to help you out scottied. And what I mean by a "real" driver is just what he was a class act...one that helped you out but needed help himself and then treated you to dinner....how cool is that!!

 

Last year, a few drivers got stuck in that same parking lot. One of them happened to be a Swift. Of course, that's all you heard about for most of the day. It didn't matter that several independents were in the same boat...stuck in the truck stop parking lot. Oooohh...but here's the good part: a tow truck was there. First customer? Swift. A couple of others ponied up some cash to get out, but some o the independdents refused tp pay, insisted they'd get out on their own. That evening, I was returning the same way and pulled in to park for the night. Same independents were still stuck in the same spots. So Swift is long gone, probably delivered and under his next load and the guys who were calling him a p**** are still sitting, losing money each hour.

So...who's the dummy now?

Some people just love pointing out whenever Swift does anything. But they never have a word to say when one of their venerated independents does the identical thing.

 

Unfortunately, many other drivers have ruined it for those who honestly want to help. There are only so many times you can get treated like &#$% just because of what it says on your wagon before you get a $^*# 'em all attitude.

 

Well, if you had stated that in your original post, maybe I or anyone else wouldn't have said anything. Your original post (which, no I did not find any humor in) appeared to simply be an opportunity to bash Swift and/or Swift drivers.

 

Ya know, I drove for Swift when I first started. My first trainer was a complete idiot and jerk. I had no issues with the jokes that flew around about Swift even back in 1999. I even created a few of my own (they may have been around, just never heard them), such as Student With Idiot For Trainer.

The big bottom feeder companies have been the butt of the jokes for years. Should I get all upset because in this day of 'Politically Correct' blonds are still acceptable targets for jokes, and are even being made fun of in TV commercials? Hell No! I collect and share blond jokes at any opportunity, along with any other joke I feel like sharing. Why? Because if you don't laugh at life once in awhile, you're going to end up pretty stressed and grumpy!

 

well joke thread, honest thread, whatever...

but i will tell you what...on that TV show, Ice Road Truckers.....??

Jack Jessie DID INDEED chain up his steer tires to cross over that lake to make the fuel delivery to that small town......so "it can be done".....

now of course, Ice Road Truckers, driving ON ICE......but still.....in the "scope of things"....chaining up steers..........ain't so odd after all.....

 

We're talking about Vail pass in Colorado... to be legal when level 2 chain restrictions are up (I believe thats the term CDOT uses) you must chain both steers and all 4 tires on one drive axle. If you get stuck and the chains aren't on all required axles, plan on an expensive gift to the state general fund. $1500.

They still haven't clarified what they mean when it comes to wide singles...