Departed Michigan early Sunday morning to head over to Chicago and pick up a tanker load of dextrose bound for the Hershey Candy Company in Stuart's Draft Va, just up the road about an hour from Roanoake. Had a delivery time of between 8-10 am, and I arrived there about 9:15. Pulled in and had hoses hooked up and was pumping within 5 minutes. The silo's are near the receiving docks, I was parked alongside the docks where the van trainers unloaded. One was unloading when I got there, and after he left, another van pulled in. Tractor was a kind of ragged looking Pete 379, and i couldn't make out the name of the company because there were remnant's of at least three old logo's on the side, inexpertly and only partially removed. The driver got out of the truck, and walked back to open the doors. He was a white guy, clearly very familiar with the "all you can eat buffet" at the truckstop, wearing baggy NBA style shorts, a t shirt with the sleeves torn off, and as barefoot as the day he was born. Not even professional enough to wear flip flops when he gets out of the truck!
(Note to new drivers. If you want to be treated in a professional manner, getting out of the truck dressed like Fred Flintstone is not the way to go about it. Look and act like a professional, and your chances of being treated as one increase markedly.)
Leaving Va, I fueled, then headed back, reaching Ohio before running out of time, At the 25 mile mark on I-77, there is a Pilot station at Caldwell Oh, and i pulled in there. It's a typical too small Pilot, lousy back in's at 90 degree angles and not enough room to maneuver 53' trailers. I got there about 6:30 pm, and parked with no problems, I then did my paperwork, and since I have been at this stop before, I sat back to watch the evening's fireworks. Sure enough, a TMC driver came in, and decided to hit a spot 2 spots over from me. It took him every bit of 15 minutes to maneuver his trailer into spot, while he completely blocked all the traffic out of the station, and totally blocked all the trucks coming in. Before he was done, he had the exit ramp off the highway, the entire road in front of the station, the side road leading in to the parking lot, and all of the parking lot jammed with trucks, while he pulled up and back, trying to get his truck parked for the night. Of course, once he got parkd and the lot unjammed itself, abaout 15 minutes later someone else with similar skills came along and repeated the procedure. I know you have to practice backing somewhere, but not in a narrow parking lot on a busy night.
Once I got back to Chicago, I knew my truck needed an oil change, so I dropped the trailer and went across the street to the maintenance shop we use in Hodgkins Il. Transportation Repair Service said they could get me in right away, so I pulled into the garage and they started working on the truck. They are a big repair shop, doing trailer and truck repairs, and they do a lot of bodywork and painting for UPS located just down the street. There were several freshly painted UPS trucks in there, but one stood out. Most UPS trucks are very plain, painted steel wheels, painted bumpers, etc. This one stood out from the crowd. It was a freshly painted CH-600 Mack single axle day cab, but it had a chrome bumper, polished wheels, polished fuel tanks, and shiny quarter fenders. The mirrors were stainless, the trim around the headlights and the air intake on the side of the hood was shiny, and the truck had yellow and red flames on the hood. Obviously, Dale Jarrett must be planning to race this truck!! Since UPS has a car show coming up at their place early next month, I assume that they had the truck done up specially for that purpose. Still, it looked very cool sitting there amongst it's very drab brethren.
This Week On The Road (I Don't believe It Happened!!)
Discussion in 'Road Stories' started by Burky, Jun 20, 2007.
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I then did my paperwork, and since I have been at this stop before, I sat back to watch the evening's fireworks. Sure enough, a TMC driver came in, and decided to hit a spot 2 spots over from me. It took him every bit of 15 minutes to maneuver his trailer into spot, while he completely blocked all the traffic out of the station, and totally blocked all the trucks coming in. Before he was done, he had the exit ramp off the highway, the entire road in front of the station, the side road leading in to the parking lot, and all of the parking lot jammed with trucks, while he pulled up and back, trying to get his truck parked for the night. Of course, once he got parkd and the lot unjammed itself, abaout 15 minutes later someone else with similar skills came along and repeated the procedure. I know you have to practice backing somewhere, but not in a narrow parking lot on a busy night.
Well instead of sittin there watching the guy struggle why didnt you offer to help? Just think of all the stress you could have helped him avoid AND how much you could have helped the reputation of truckers everywhere if people had seen you at least go offer to help.
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Well thats the part ya left out...LOL, I stand corrected.........~
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In the Army you stand corrected. Somehow I don't picture you standing behind your PC. So I guess you sit corrected!
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People have to learn to do this sort of stuff themselves, there isn't lways going to be someone there to park for him
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