The journey begins - purchased a truck.

My first superload.

Anticipated several weeks ago. Last Thursday the trigger was pulled. So - on that day . . .

• Freight bill assigned - includes all billing and estimated charges
• Control number attained from Heavy Haul - required for all moves over certain dims.
• Contacted permit company (good one that handles these superloads regularly)
• Contacted shipper, regular one that can't send pics or blueprints, but can ballpark.
• Alerted escorts.

Required for Michigan -

• Shipper letter stating dims, reason for non-reduction, and why it cannot be transported via any other means.
• Two state police escorts. Equipment subject to inspection, and 2 civilian escorts.
• Route survey - pay a car to drive route at $1.50/mile and take notes - then submit to permit co./state.

Bounce to shipper 1,000 miles. Buy tarp along the way - 40' W 60' L. $1,800.

Load piece - 52L, 16'8"W, 8'T. Tarp it, go sit outside.

Shippers letter doesn't meet the requirement of MI state - doesn't include the language of why it can't be shipped via rail/barge/sea/air etc. PEDANTICS. Also ignorance of millennial shipper contact that believes he knows everything, and has shipped superloads before, yet doesn't know how to assemble documentation. Still my fault for not having checked his work. Monday - rectify that situation, Tuesday load, Wednesday - here we are.

Late afternoon, MI approves permit, but doesn't bother to send to permit company, so it can be forwarded to LS to be signed with a contractual agreement (so the cops get paid), before any organization of state trooper availability begins - before any organization of civilian escorts begins.

So - waiting for Thursday morning for MI state employee to do her job, so LS and permit co. can do their job, and get word from State troopers so THEY can do their job, so I can inform escorts so THEY can do their job.

To be noted here, and please take your comments to the politics section of TTR on this if you wish to argue (@d o g ((mentioned for alert)) . . . . . )

When I see government employees crying about missing a paycheck or two due to a government shutdown, and having to go to a foodbank, or rely on charity - cry me a river. 4pm today till 7am tomorrow is 15 hours of wasted time and revenue for me. Just waiting for a response. Because you can't be bothered to diligently do your job with the thought firmly in mind, that a dozen people further down the chain - are waiting on you to do so.

Honest truth - at least a dozen people are waiting to hear for information that hinges upon one person in a state department to do her job, let alone me - so we can all get along with our jobs.

I needed to do this load for the educational purpose. A good driver that I asked about it said that he doesn't fool with superloads because of this reason. I would have taken his advice, had it not been for the pure reason - that if I don't experience it myself, then I can't make a rational unbiased decision. Therefore I could not comment on it, offer advice on it, or even speak about it.

Many others feel they can "Well my father-in law's brothers' cousin said that . . . " - that's not me.

I'll either learn how to operate it better next time, or I won't fool with them, or I'll have an opinion - either way, it's all about the learning.

2 escorts all the way - 3 in IL, 2 troopers in MI.

Positive notes -

• Found a permit company with an extremely competent operator
• LS HH has an individual that coordinates permit company/state police - ( the first person so far that makes me feel like the 27% that I give up is worth something)
• Some time for a reset
• Time for accounting catchup
• Nothing to get up early for.
• Knowledge of product/shipper - though 52' long, trailer needs 58' stretch to accommodate underhang. Any other unsuspecting driver would have been shanghaied or turned away.

- I'll wait till the final accounting, but roughly -

$27k total freight bill
$14k TTT all said and done escorts, permits, state police paid, and LS's cut.

Time will be the other factor - but from what I hear and see (and feel) - we're in the lean winter months where freight is depressed somewhat - so it certainly keeps me busy.

 

‘‘Twas I - Still is - should come and visit a bit.