This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things-SMH

Was it a motor coach,school bus or rapid transit bus? I’ve seen a few rapid transit buses in the area being delivered from the New Flyer bus factory up in St. Cloud,Minnesota.

 

It was a full size school bus full of gamblers. I was too pissed off to ask why he was parking at the TS when the casino was just down the road. Oh well, some people's kids. I swear.

 

This is why you never drive a new truck. You drive a POS that has 700K miles. Peace of mind.

 

We don’t keep ours that long. Usually the trucks are retired and sold around the 400,000 to 500,000 mile range when the warranty runs out. Most of the senior drivers like myself are given a new truck after about every 2 1/2 years or around 300,000 miles in the previous truck. The old trucks are given to the new hires.

 

I only hauled a van once. Got pretty spoiled dragging a 45 foot tank with the axles set at the back.

 

Actually this was the first time I parked at at a truck stop. Usually I slept at the dairies , but most of the time they are way off the beaten path.

Drove an hour and a half from the dairy out in The country in Darlington to Beloit Wisconsin so I could get a steak and a beer.

Caught the last parking spot at the J and struggled to get in it but the guy next to me came out and spotted me and they me some advice.

This was my first day with my Western Star 4900 60 inch bunk and only been driving 3 weeks and my previous truck was a kenworth 6800 with a 36 inch bunk.

So a bit of a learning curve because a Western Star does not cut like a Kenworth or Frightliner.

Cops came and I filed a report for work. No camera footage at the J and it was 500 feet from the highway so quick escape.

Pissed me off because all work did was hang new mirrors and a stack.

I buffed out the paint but they left the cracked fender and dented and bent air cleaner.


I hate my stuff looking Ghetto

Oh and the guy that helped me get into the spot the night before is the one that hit me. Some Sub contractor driving a dirty ragged out old Chicago truck.

Tiger Logistics was the name but it didn’t exist according to my work who followed up on it.

 

Tiger Logistics?I think they’re a can hauler outfit. I see their reefer containers in railyards around Chicago all the time.

 

Several years ago there was a nice fellow, a civilian who started a conversation over in the truck stop thread. He is a successful real estate developer who has built several trucking related facilities, mostly terminals. He has been working on a concept called Line Haul Station a combination drop lot, nice parking areas, clubhouse with eating area, showers, fitness facilities, truck wash, tire and repair shop. In short, everything except the fuel, but located in the most convenient spot in any given market. Keycard in and out, 24/7 staffing to keep the riff-raff out. Plans on many of these things, also equipped for the future if needed, EV, Hydrogen, autonomous trucks whatever might happen
He has approached all of the Megas, major shippers, everyone in the business. They all love the idea, no one will spring for the dough to get it started. They would rather have their trucks hit every single night instead.
If you want more info PM me.

 

Some of the new Loves have actually put in a dog park It's a move in the right direction. Now these places are brand new. I wonder if they will remain that way, or just become another holding lot for piss bottles and urine stained parking lots.

 

Yeah, the Loves in Berthoud, Colorado, has a dog park. It was really great the first six months or so. Then everyone discovered it and it turned into the usual, unfortunately. They do pretty good keeping it clean, but who are the people that have to tear stuff up in the restrooms and showers? I just don't get it.