The book has been put on hold. Still attempting to find a publisher who will work with me and believe there is an audience for a book of "Trucker" adventures!!

I will now add "The Rest Of The Story"

When I did get back to the shop I had to go get the MANDATORY DRUG TEST! Not a big surprise but still an insult to any driver except for the ass who caused the incident!

Two weeks later the "SAFETY" team came to interview me and wanted a reenactment. The day they arrived it was storming and I agreed to the demand. The truck used was similar to the vehicle in the original incident!
Mr. Murphey was smiling upon me that day as the rain fell harder at about the same location of the incident. I demonstrated all the actions I had taken and sure enough the trailer started to slide. This time there was no loud bang or sudden jolt!!
The investigator was extremely pale and said, rather quietly, he was convinced that I did all I could to avoid a major catastrophe..
I asked him if he would like to stop and get an ice cold Coke or Pepsi to calm his nerves. We did stop to get the cold refreshing beverages and arrived back at the shop 2 1/2 hours later!

Two days later I received a letter stating that I was cleared to drive Ryder vehicles once again. The letter is now hung in a frame upside down on my wall!!!

 

Anything different on the future?

 

Depends on which future you are referring to?

I'm trying to avoid the "crystal ball" approach. It always seems to get derailed by stupid ****!!

 

Are you still working for Ryder?

 

Yes I am...

 

Oh ok. It was a dumb question, but I was curious.
Keep the stories coming.

 

An incident that occured a few days ago reminded me of a similar incident that happened way back in the last century!!

A driver jumped out of his truck and the air dryer went off while the driver was standing next to a large puddle of water!!

For the Folks who don't drive a large vehicle, the air dryer is an interesting invention created to remove moisture from the trucks air supply. Hence the "Sneeze" one hears as a truck rolls down the highway. I'll add one more thing these little critters have a very bad habit of "sneezing" at the most inopportune times. Case in point..

Way back in the day I did get the privilege of driving a GMC tractor equipped with the little beast. At first I wasn't too sure what was going on when the first "sneeze" happened. The mechanic told me not to worry the "sneeze" was normal.
OK, I listened to the sneeze as I headed towards my destination a box factory in southern New Jersey who's yard was mostly gravel and dirt.. Should have been a warning as to what was going to happen...

Upon arrival at the factory the shipping clerk told me to drop the trailer and hook to another. Worked for me, didn't have to wait for their slow assed fork-lift drivers to load me...

I dropped the empty then found the loaded trailer which, was sitting in a puddle of water mixed with mud.

Hooking complete, I stepped out to attach the air lines. One thing I forgot to mention.. The air dryer was attached to the left side of the tractor frame.
Well, I proceeded to hook up the emergency air line when the EVIL dryer went off covering me with mud and water.

Needless to mention I hauled ass back to the yard, walked into the dispatch office where June, the dispatcher, asked me what had happened. I just told her that I got tangled up with a herd of migrating pigs and got knocked into the mud hole they were searching for then I went home for a shower and clean clothes!!!

 

You don't want to be under a truck that is idling, with an air dryer. :hellno:

I don't know how many times I've stood by the truck in the grain elevators, and that air dryer sneezed. Blew that dust all over the place. If up-winded, nothing, but if you were down-winded, you were rubbing your eyes all day.

 

A rainy Friday night and another adventure in "BOB TAILING" in the rain!

I was sent out to pick up a customers single axle Navistar. All fine and good but before I left I did mention how much I enjoyed "bob tailing" in the rain. Tongue in cheek of course..

Upon arrival at the customers site I unlocked the gates and proceeded to get all ready to leave but with one minor detail that was forgotten. The driver set the theft alarm and took the remote device with him!!

Well, just as I cranked the truck up the alarm started screaming. I called the shop for any help, none was offered!! I was told just to drive the tractor back with the alarm screaming!
"Terrific!!!" I thought to myself.
I just pictured every LEO in Rocky Mount chasing me down and getting tossed in the "slammer" for Grand Theft Truck!!!

I left the customers yard with the alarm blaring and drove back to the shop. Not one person paid attention to the ruckus. I pulled into the yard and stopped by the shop door, walked in and told the Lead Tech about the problem. He just went out and clipped a wire.

Gee I wished he had told me that little feature on the phone before I drove the DAMN thing back!!!

Oh well just another fun night!!!

 

Was it the red wire or the blue wire?