Indiana Continued

Here is another shot of the windmill/turbines. I know the pictures don't do them justice at all, but the overall look gives you a tiny glimpse of the beauty that is America. I am finding beauty in so many places............today I was in Kentucky and crossed the Ohio River. It was incredible. The huge steel bridge that I crossed gave me a fabulous view. Breathtaking!!!

 

Yesterday I was in the mountains of West Virginia and Maryland. My previous travels have given me only a brief pass through both these states but this trip allowed me to see a whole new view of both. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I only wish I had taken some photos, but the grades I was on required my full attention. This ole truck was really put thru a workout, but came through.

Today I am in Mount Vernon IL. This is a nice place, very unlike my last trip to IL when I went through the heart of Chicago. Happy to say that Chicago doesn't represent the entirety of IL. This state really does have some beautiful areas. - As with everywhere this time of year, the temperatures are a bit on the "warm" side. It's no different here. The truck said the outside temperature was 103, and guess who didn't have air conditioning??? ME!!! Yep, the ole heffer decided not to put out any cool air!!! I messed with it for over an hour and finally, the cool started to blow. I am thankful and am going to try and not turn the truck off again, so as not to risk loosing my air. I went to the store today and got an additional key made. They had given me only one so every time I left the truck, would have to turn if off and lock it up. Now I can leave it running and still lock it up. YEAH!!!

Got my next assignment just a bit ago, am staying in the area for a short run from IL to IN tomorrow. Hopefully they can find something with a little more miles after that. Will keep ya posted.............until next time...............keeping it between the lines...........................

Indiana Beauty

As I was traveling along the countryside of Indiana, I came upon another windmill/turbine farm. These just fascinate me. With the sky as a beautiful backdrop to these majestic monsters, just had to snap a picture. Hope you can make them out.

 

Back in the Saddle

Ahoy!!! Writing you from the bunk of my "replacement" truck while in VA enroute to PA. YEAH.....................back on the road! This has surely been an experience and one that keeps on going. I am praying that things will continue to improve and am thrilled to get back on the road.

To follow up on my truck going into the shop ......... had to take it to the Volvo shop where we were in hopes of a firm diagnosis and easy repair. Yep, trying to look at things in the "half full glass" viewpoint. NOT!!!The Volvo shop said they could not even LOOK at the truck for another day and a half. After that, there was no way to know when or IF they would get the truck back to me in any reasonable time frame. I called my Fleet Manager and Begged again for a replacement truck and shared the news of the pending unknown time frame for repairs. He agreed that enough was enough and went to work finding another truck. In short order I heard back from him that he found a Freightliner in Loudon TN. He was arranging to ship me out via bus - OH YEAH you know how I LOVE the bus trips - to pick up the truck. He said I could drive it back to SC where my Volvo was and get my gear. I was excited at the idea of getting something going. Fortunately for me, Mom and Gene are INCREDIBLY supportive of me and insisted on taking me to get my Volvo unloaded and then drive me all the way to TN to get my new truck. Am I one lucky person to have them or what??? Off we went to unload my truck and take off for TN and the "unknown". For some reason I was very nervous about the new truck. I found out it was a 2007 model, a year older than my Volvo, but didn't have any idea what it would be like. I had only driven a Peterbuilt and a Volvo so Freightliner was an unknown to me. Still, just being able to get back to work after all that had happened was exciting.

The closer we got to our destination, the more apprehensive I became. Finally, we arrived in Loudon TN. There it was............yep, just as Randy had guessed, it was RED!!! HA HA HA. Wonder how he guessed that?? As I opened the drivers door............my heart dropped to my toes and tears began to flow. Yes I know, truckers don't cry, but this one has had way too many problems to hold them back and they came in buckets as I gazed upon the most horrendous, nasty piece of filth and destruction I have ever seen. There was dirt in mounds on the floorboard. EVERY surface was BLACK with filth! What kind of nasty pig could possibly live like this??? NOT ME.........no way, no how. After the shock, I was able to get my dust pan and broom and get started. Mom and Gene - GOD bless them - jumped in without hesitation and reassured me that all would be fine. Just a little scrubbing and we could get it fixed up like home. I didn't share their optimism but tried. YUCK YUCK gag me... It was sickening. We finally made a bit of headway and were ready to start bringing some of my things in, that is when I realized that "PIG PERSON" had also cut one of the closets in half and ripped it out! Nope, no joke! Half of one of the storage areas was GONE and the doors were gone as well. I am in total disbelief at this but am numb from the initial shock.

Fast forward, we got the truck as clean as three people working like mad could possible do. All we had was paper towels and Windex. It looked better then when we found it that's for sure. I then sat in the drivers seat and was looking at the console which was totally foreign to me. Switches and knobs that I had no clue what they did and I was praying again that I would be able to figure all this out. I did recognize the knobs for both the tractor and trailer air brakes and reached for them. POW, the Trailer knob came off in my hand. I looked at it and realized it was broken completely off.....There is NO WAY that PIG PERSON could have driven this with this problem. You couldn't use the breaks for the trailer. NO breaks, no go!!! OH MY GOSH, here come the tears again. Will I ever get out of this HELL???? I get a bit of composure and go into the shop (think I forgot to tell you that Loudon TN is the home of the terminal for TOTAL TRANSPORTATION, USX sister company) to let them know that this truck is totally inoperable and I need their help. The shop people were gracious and kind and quickly jumped on this for me. They did have to go into Knoxville for parts to fix it but they didn't hesitate for a minute to get moving. Hallelujah!!

Looks like we are OK for now....then....OH PLEASE!! Mom is in the passenger seat cleaning and tries to open the door - IT WON'T OPEN!!! Will I ever wake up from this nightmare????? I go outside and have to open the door from the outside. There is no way to open from the inside as the latch is at the bottom of the door. You would have to stand on your head out the window to reach it. OK, will tell the shop guys when they come back to fix the broken knob.

Finally get everything moved in and it's time for Mom and Gene to go. They are doing their very best to put on a happy face and tell me that all will be fine. GOD bless them. What in the world would I do without them??? Thankfully, I haven't had to find out. I waved good-bye through tears and came back into the truck and talked to myself and told myself to toughen up. This was just one more step but all would work out.

I held off calling dispatch to make them aware of my availability until the repairs were made. I wanted to be ready to roll when I called them. Finally the shop fellows got back with the part and had me bring the truck into the shop bay. They had to take the entire dash off to fix the knob. They also fixed the door and were kind enough to hook up my CB radio too. OK, I thought! I am ready to go!!! This can really work....can't it???

Called into dispatch and let them know I was ready for assignment. WHAT THE HECK................they had no clue that I was even in this truck. OH PLEASE! My Fleet Manager didn't "seat me" in the new truck. I told dispatch to check my old truck #. That was an invalid truck too, he DID take me out of that one. Here I am, floating with no valid truck. This of course means they can NOT give me an assignment until I am "seated" in a truck in the system. BREATH, BREATH....it will be OK. The very kind dispatcher was a trainee and couldn't do what had to be done to get me fixed up. His supervisor was at dinner and would have to handle this when he returned. "OK, that will be fine. I'll be here.." While I'm waiting for this to be handled, I decide to look through all the messages on the truck computer and fix my logs for the many days I haven't worked. Thankfully this computer works, have already checked that out.....OH NO!!! What happened???? (I know you must think I am kidding, I assure you I am not!) The computer will not come on! Evidently, something went wrong when the guys were putting the dash back together. It is now after 9pm and the shop is closed and everyone is gone. I will have to get some help in the morning.

Dispatch calls back and at last has me in the truck and ready for an assignment. I tell them about the computer but assure them it will be taken care of ASAP when the shop opens @ 7am. OK, at long last, I am going to rest. I know tomorrow will be a better day.....then @ about 10:30 my phone rings. It is another dispatcher. He wants to see if I would consider an ASAP load. He says he knows I probably have been up all day but just wanted to run it by me. It is 350 miles, shipping from Knoxville to IN and has to go strait through. My calculations tell me it will be about a 6 hour trip. That would put me up for well over 24 hours even though I haven't been "on the clock". I tell him that my computer is not operational and while I desperately want the run, I don't think I can do it with no sleep. He is gracious and agrees. Oh gosh, can't believe after all this I just turned down 350 miles! Oh well, I have got to get some sleep. Then, the phone rings again around midnight. It is my dispatcher. He has a load for me that needs to be picked up in Cleveland by 10am the next morning and be in PA by Friday at noon. THIS I CAN DO!!! AND it's a 600 mile run!!! YEAH!! I am happy I turned down the previous load. Maybe things will turn around after all.

At a couple minutes after 7am this morning, I am in the shop asking for assistance with my computer. He tells me that there are only two of them and it will be a bit. NO problem. I have some time and still need an empty trailer for my run. He asked if I had reset the computer by going under the bunk and disconnecting and reconnecting at the black box. Nope, didn't do that but sure can.....wa la...it works. Don't know why I didn't think of doing that...Now I just need the trailer and my Fleet Manager is on that. I realize that the terminal has full driver facilities and make a mad dash for a shower. Maybe this will be a good day after all.............Finally get the call on my empty trailer and off I go.....fast forward to pick up and drop n hook and I'm rollin!!! YEAH................oops, the cruise doesn't work. Double oops, the CHECK ENGINE light is coming on. I don't have anymore tears. Let's just roll on and see what happens. The light isn't staying on.......like Scarlet O'Hara, I'll deal with this problem another day.

Now, here I am with only 175 miles to my destination. All is well and I am ready to get some sleep. Doug - my Fleet Manager - has agreed to check into getting my Volvo back once and if it is fixed. Music to my ears. But for now, I am working and I am happy!!!

That's it......until next time..............keeping it between the lines..............

Truck Troubles

It seems that there are some evil forces circling my wagon to keep me from running and working like I would like to. Picked up my truck from the shop where it was undergoing "treatment" for the continuing "CHECK ENGINE FAULT" message. I picked the truck up this morning and got, let me think, all of about 5 miles from the shop and had the warning code again, immediately followed by a complete shut down of power. What the heck??? After several calls I turned around and went right back to the shop. They found a couple more issues but none that they believe to be the cause of this severe issue. They believe it is a larger issue and we will be taking it to the Volvo dealership for diagnosis there. I am to the point of a major decision and one that I don't want to make. This isn't working to do nothing but running this machine back and forth to different repair shops. There is the potential to get another truck to get me back on the road. I have been pushing for this but has fallen on deaf ear so far. All I know is something has to give................until next time - sitting on the sidelines......watching the lines

My Driving Companion

With all the "drama", there is something I keep forgetting to discuss. My lovable companion - Tom Tom. Yep, my Tom Tom keeps me amused and is great company. You probably think I have driven a couple too many miles to think of my Navigation system as a companion but let me explain.

If you have a system like this you know that you can download preferences for color, vehicle type and voices. I customized mine to have a Semi tractor and the navigation voice is none other than Bart Simpson. Let me explain further - Bart Simpson was a hero for my brother Greg. Greg would be wild over this and I can just hear him laughing in hysterics over the things Bart says. When I arrive at my destination, Bart says: You have arrived at your destination - you can hold your head up high cause you are a genius! Another one I am particularly found of is - make a sharp right ahead - steering maneuver. Steering maneuver is said in a tone like - big deal!!! HA HA HA!! This thing is a riot!!! I know it may sound crazy - but this stupid little thing gives me the joy of thinking of Greg when he was so silly, and boy could he be silly! I just know that he would love this!!!!

Since coming out from my home time, have been working a lot in KY, TN and SC. I did make a run to IL as well. I have a deeper respect for Sissy #1 Wendi. She travels to Chicago weekly I believe. I managed to get lost in none other than the heart of the city!!! My company gave me a highway to look for that didn't exist! Fun!!!! There really is no good way to turn 70+ feet of vehicle around. Even getting off at an exit and getting back on the highway is an adventure. City streets are just not made for 70+ feet long and 110"wide vehicle. Bart didn't say it but - Steering maneuver for sure!! HA HA!

I have just got to figure out how to add some pictures to this blog. Would love to post a picture of the loading dock ramp I had to back onto. The craziest thing I have ever seen in my life. The dock itself was too high so the idea they had was great but the engineering was greatly lacking. They made a ramp for the tires to go on so that the back of the trailer would be even with the dock. The problem is - the ramp they made was actually two ramps, one for each tire. Not a complete ramp all the way across - no that would be too easy to manipulate! They probably had 4 to 5 inches on each side of the tire width! Don't know about you, but that was just a little tight for me. Thankfully, the loading dock man was extremely nice and helped guide me!

Well, I am sitting at a customer site waiting to be unloaded and my appointment time is here.

Until next time ....................keeping it between the lines!

So Much Time....................

So much time has passed since my last update and with the time, an unbelievable amount of miles (aka Travels) and bumps (aka Travails). At times it is very hard to remain optimistic and upbeat, I keep telling myself, things will get better.....I guess if I tell myself this enough it will surely happen - right????

Since my last post, I stayed in Independence MO for a total of 5 days while my trainer stayed out on what turned into a workers comp claim for her hand. It was a difficult week knowing the holiday was in full swing - Memorial Day - and I was losing a week of training time to boot. I was grateful for a little down time but it brought my morale down too.

A REAL PLUS and highlight came in the form of some time with my sis Michelle in Texas. Wow, that was awesome!!!! Actually, I not only saw her once but TWICE!! Each time was very short but MUCH MORE than had I not seen her at all. Michelle has lived out of state for her entire adult life and it was such a joy to visit her in her home with her own family there.

As my training continued and concluded I visited a total of 13 states. Pretty impressive huh? FINALLY - on June 17 I returned to Tunnel Hill GA to complete the process and undergo the testing that I had been preparing for. I took one day off for myself to "re-group" before going and spent it with my Mom and Gen-o. Did me a WORLD of good and recharged my battery. Mom even quizzed me on the written test - just like the old days of school - more years ago than I care to admit! HA HA!

My testing consisted of a 50 question written test, a simulator test with 4 different scenarios, a road test - about 45 minutes of driving, backing of 45 and 90 degrees, blind side and straight line and mapping out a specific route with mileage and fuel stops noted. Believe it or not, I PASSED!! They said I missed 1/2 pt. I don't know what I missed, after all that, I really didn't care. Probably should have checked it out but the instructors seemed very happy so I didn't inquire.

Immediately following the testing I was sent to the equipment manager for an assignment of a truck. Before I could blink, they had me on a bus (oh for joy!!) to Birmingham Alabama to pick up a 2008 Volvo. Wow!! I couldn't believe this!!! This company was actually going to trust me - ME with a piece of equipment like that!!!!! I know I have worked hard and proven myself, just seemed like - WOW!! I MADE IT!!!!

The truck was at a Volvo Truck dealership that stayed open until midnight. I arrived in Birmingham and taxied to the dealership arriving @ 11:50pm. I was met with the keys. That's it. The keys. I know NOTHING about this truck, where I am or where I'm going. I don't know the condition of the truck - mechanically or otherwise. I know I was fortunate enough to have brought a light blanket with me as there were no sheets, pillows, etc. My first SOLO assignment was to pick up a load that was for repower. That may be a common term in trucking but I had never heard it so had to ask for an explanation. Another USX truck was not able to complete a load assignment due to a breakdown. The vehicle was in a locked fence with the bills locked inside. The trailer was outside the fence so I hooked up and made my way to McDonough GA with my first load. No matter what I tried, it turned into a full scale mess as hours and hours were spent waiting for the bills to come from the shipper. The original arraignment was for the USX driver to get the bills out of the truck and fax them to the destination company. I have no idea what happened but do know that the papers were not faxed. My appointment was for 7:30am. I was on time but my papers did not arrive until after 5pm. What a horrible first trip. Actually, it was just a beginning to what was nothing short of a difficult, long, stressful and "WHY AM I DOING THIS" solo journey. I couldn't seem to get home but instead further and further away from home. I was still interested in the awesome places I was going but after 2 days shy of 8 weeks on the road without home time, it was hard to appreciate some of the beautiful places I was visiting.

During my solo trips I went to an additional 9 states. That's 22 states I have worked in since starting my "Travels and Travails" journey. Holy Cow!!! Hard to believe!!!

One of my trips was to Westfield MA. The route I was given was to follow I95. Well, I always check out my route before blindly following but somehow, didn't check it completely as I "surprisingly" found myself in the heart of NY. Yep, that's right. I95 takes you straight into the Bronx. Yes, I said THE BRONX!!! H E L P!!! I am a new driver!! Someone must be laughing like crazy over what they did to me!!! This is NUTS!! Then I see the signs for the Holland Tunnel. WHAT???????????????? And now I'm on the George Washington Bridge! Surely this is all a cruel joke!!!! Further north on I95 is New Rochelle. If I am not mistaken, Rob and Laura lived there. You remember them of course! The Petree's on The Dick VanDyke Show.

Finally, F I N A L L Y on the eve of 6/28 I got to come home. It was for about 11 hours and then I had to complete the last leg of this trip which was to SC. I was so exhausted and the receiver took over 5 hours to unload my trailer. It was more than I could handle. On the way back I was 40 minutes away from home and could go no further. I had to pull off in a rest stop at 3am to take, what I had hoped to be a 30 minute nap. It turned into 3 hours. Guess I was a bit tired.

I took my truck to the Lexington terminal for a check up as some warning lights had been coming on. I left the truck with them and came back to pick it up on 7/2. I got an assignment and realized then that the issues I had taken the truck in for had not been repaired. Crazy me, I did not check some of the obvious things when I picked the truck up, like the navigation system. I was so anxious to get back to some home time that I failed to follow safety procedures and take care of business and not just "trust" that someone else would take care of what was important to me. So, off I went on this assignment with a broken/not fixed navigation system. I was no more than 20 minutes from home when a horrifying event happened to me. I lost total 100% power to my truck. No steering, no brakes, nothing! I was so horrified I could hardly breathe!!! I was going into a slight curve when this happened and just before a bridge that is known in the area to be one that needs to be repaired. I had to fight with all my power to get this beast off the road and stop my shaking! I didn't know whether to stay put or continue my trip which was to go to Charlotte, at the SC line. I did continue on and lost power many more times. I became aware of what to look for and could recognize when this was going to happen. I made it to Charlotte and picked up my load and was coming back toward Lexington with Raleigh as my destination. I could not go more than 5 miles without a power failure. It was miserable and of course I am aware, dangerous. I finally got the the LX terminal and they took a look at it. They found some issues and fixed them. Within a little over an hour I was back on my way toward Raleigh. No longer had I started to relax but - boom - another fault code and here we go again. I lost power again. I turned around at the next exit and went right back to the terminal. That is where I left the truck overnight and the entire next day. They were not able to find anything wrong after running every diagnostic test possible. I went with the tech for several test runs with different scenarios. We ran bobtail and then went back to get a trailer trying to recreate the fault code but could not get it to fault. Took it back for the maintenance history to be run and found what had been done and I got the mileage for the coming PM work. Got two new rear tires and my navigation system repaired. After a little over 9 hours at the terminal, I called into dispatch to make myself available. I am pooped but need to get back out on the road. No miles equals NO MONEY!! Doesn't take lots of thinking to figure out that I have to get back out on the road. So, with all this time today, thought I would try to catch up on updates to anyone who may be interested. I am hoping for a brighter journey this coming trip out. Wish me luck.........until next time................keeping it between the lines.............