Trans Am Still

BTW, finding out what a small world this is. Seems that the badger and I both know the same person. Least I think so. Am hoping I have her correct name.

 

I know ....I just didn't realize that everyone knew!

 

In Warrenton, Mo for the night. Should be home Monday first stop is Sunday. Wife might meet me Sunday night and do delivery with me Monday. We will see everything changes quickly in this business.

Was nice to meet passport. Very nice person and way to kind about how I look.

This industry has always had struggles with shippers and receivers and the times there but with E-Logs the industry has changed drastically so there needs to be a change for us also. These places should be required to provide us a place to park if they take over 2-3 hours to load or unload or there should be a provision in our log books that would allow us to find a safe place to park. I bet if the shippers and receivers were held liable for any accidents from their ineffeciencies at the dock they would be way faster. We should have a minimum pay for being out here but none of this will happen without action. Maybe we should all go home at the same time for 4 days. I bet that would changes things quick. Remember when Hurricane Sandy hit the North East 1 day no deliveries and they ran out of gas had to deregulate for gas haulers so they could gas up cars. 1 day, imagine 4. Would never get 100% of the industry to do it but even at 60% it would change this industry dramatically.

jungho anyone who would be negative about you is crazy cause this industry is not easy for drivers or their families. The ups and downs affect us all and without a great support system we as drivers are sunk.

Flash the insurance raise is from the mega carriers to try and push out the little guys. Then they would control the rates. When I first got my CDL little truck companies and owner ops made up roughly 80-85% of this industry. I believe that % to be down to between 50-60% an enormous drop in 12 years and going down by the year. I read an article not to long ago about most injury lawsuits not being over 1.5 million when it was all said and done, I think the % was less than 3-4%. Just something to think about.

HTQ you are the best. flash and Cranky are old men who may be a little senile when it comes to you.

Be safe out there

 

Most of you know that last month the King traded "Mighty Whitey" for the little red truck. What most of you don't know is that two weeks ago on I 44, 15 miles from home, another semi passed him and the other driver forgot how long his trailer was. At 70 mph. he got 3/4 of the way around the King and came back over on top of him. There was only so much road the King could give him before he ran out of options and the other driver's trailer came on top of him. It rolled right over the step of the truck and scraped across the driver's door and the fender of the truck. ....It is hard to describe. The King says it was a solid wall of trailer scraping against his driver's door. The little red truck and the King were battered and bruised. A visit to the emergency room, a little duct tape and bubble gum to hold the truck together, a night at home and the King climbed back in the truck finished his run. He has been in a loaner truck since then, "Mighty Mouse", that has given him nothing but fits. He has had to sit everyday and do a regen on this truck. One of the regens burnt a hole in an air line to the air bags, etc.etc.. It has been a slow week!

As I said before, we have all been where you have been George. So now let me tell you what I am thankful for .....it was the red truck that got hit. I know, I know....you think the Queen's mind has finally deserted her! The "Mighty Whitey" was just that, huge, it had a much larger presence on the road. The other truck's trailer rolled onto the step and across the driver's door ....in Mighty Whitey he would have already been into the cab of the truck. The Mighty Whitey was all fiberglass and plastic, it would have broke apart. The red truck is far heavier duty, it was peeled like an apple in places but it didn't break apart. So while the King woke up every night for a week mad that his truck was damaged, I thank God he had traded trucks and was in this truck.
It was so hard for him to climb back in the truck and finish the load, hard for him and hard for me and the girls.....but he probably needed to. While this loaner truck was a real dud and he lost many miles because of it, it also was probably not a bad thing....he needed some slow time.

Sometimes, there are reasons things happen that we don't understand.....but I have come to believe that many times they are for the better good. We just have to try our best and go on faith.

 

Sorry to hear your husband was in an accident but happy to hear he is ok.

There is a CRST truck that goes in and out of Ca. that has done the same thing. He did it to one of my students while I was in the jump seat. I pulled the airhorn but the driver still came over. My friends just had that happen to him and by CRST going out of Ca. I am just assuming of course that it is the same guy.

 

That reminded me, jaso ....I forgot the best part. The other driver had no idea what he hit .....he knew he hit something, but he kept going. It destroyed the tires on his trailer and folded the rims in half .....and he drove down the road another quarter of a mile before he pulled over to look!

 

jdmredneck,are you doing alright? I haven't seen you on the forum today.

 

Queenie, yeah you are right I have not experienced anything like that yet. The King's experience that you have described puts things in perspective. Glad he is ok. I look at my time with TransAm as two good months (June and July) two average months (August and Sept-slower freight months) and this month a decidedly poor one due to my truck issues 8 nights in a hotel.

Yes, I have faith that November and December will be much better months. Definitely looking forward to better paychecks too. Time will tell. Though this period was a reality check, I remain confident and glad that I have chosen this path. When I am rolling, I enjoy my work more than most and I get to share my upbeat personality with my shippers and receivers. I have yet to meet anybody with a nasty disposition towards me or their job. I have been lucky!! I look forward to more of the same and must say I am pleasantly surprised by this aspect of my job.

I still enjoy the lifestyle, seeing the country and meeting people. I couldn't have picked a better career for myself. It has EXCEEDED my expectations despite my recent struggles. I have been in transportation for the last 16 years, 15 of those as a dispatcher and now one as a truck driver. I find driving to be less stressful and more enjoyable. Driving down the highway with my 50s music playing channel 5 on Sirius satellite radio is absolutely blissful. Yeah I am 53 years young (most would say I look decidedly younger-hair dye helps and shaving regularly) but love that music.

Not sure what my future holds, but leaving TransAm is in the cards. The medical insurance offered is for someone younger than me and Jungho. That is the biggest reason there. Secondly, I still believe that the lease drivers will get preferential runs given similar levels of dependability. I chose not to lease because I feel no need to own a truck, I like going home at regular intervals without having to worry about making a lease payment. With a car loan and Jungho's student loan, I don't want that Albatross too. Finally, a more pet-friendly policy is something I desire.

The day I leave TransAm (projected spring/summer of 2015) will be bittersweet indeed. TA let me make a few mistakes along the way while teaching myself to drive a truck. Yes I had trainers at Abilene and Howard, but going solo has been the best training for me. For better or worse, by nature, I am to slow and stubborn to learn from someone else and that is my cross to bear. The experience I have gained here has been fabulous.

The people here at TransAm (Olathe office/shop) are terrific folks indeed. I think this is a really good place to get your experience. Wish they would consider more than 11 days training, but thats best left for another day. If and when I do leave, you can count on me to be a GHOST OF TRANS AM PAST. I truly believe this is the best blog going on this website (of the ones I have read-let me know if you find one better). Its kind of the CHEERS bar of the blog. Where everybody knows your name. Queenie, I still say TA should put you on the payroll. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

I have not gotten through it all but this is a very interesting document. Who knew in '99-'00 there was a "Used Truck Price Crisis".

 

I am not even sure what this means Cranky Buddha. Either I should be very frightened or should be looking forward to the greatest joy in my life.

In New Mexico now. These California runs make me feel like I am running away from home.

I will try to catch up with the Cranky Buddha for a meal while I am in California or maybe someplace on I-80 on the way back to TransAm's normal world.