Hey shipmate,
Fellow retired Chief here. I retired back in 2003 and sandcrabbed for a few years against my better judgement. Now the contracts have dried up and I am glad I am forced to do something else.
I start school at the local community college next Monday for 6 weeks and then it's the open hiways for me too. Or maybe local stuff, who knows?
After 23 years of living in metal rooms with 75 to 150 room mates and travelling to all kinds of exotic places like Bahrain, Marseilles, Mombasa, and Turkey I think driving the truck will be a relaxing change.

See ya on the road Chief.

Jay

 

09/11/07
I called back and was assigned a load to pick up right here in San Antonio headed to Cleveland, OH. Not the longest of runs, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Just hope I don’t get sent to the North East after that.

I got to the shipper and was loaded in no time. This load looks a lot heavier than it actually is. It is only taking up half my deck space and weighs in at just a touch over 21,000lbs. This was the first time since I have been “solo” that I needed to use my chains.

I called in my loaded status and was asked how far from my home is the customer. I replied “10, maybe 15 miles, why?” Dispatch said “head home and call me first thing in the morning as we are looking for something to fill the remainder of your deck space”. Normally, sitting and waiting for something like this, (LTL freight) would not set so well with me especially since I was all geared up and in the frame of mind to run. But since it sent me home for one more night, what the hell do I have to complain about?? So off I went to spend yet another comfortable night in my bed, not to mention I won’t miss Monday Night Football.

As instructed, I called first thing in the morning, unfortunately there was no LTL freight at the moment and I was told to call back in an hour. I call back and again, no LTL freight and I was to call back in another hour. After the 3rd attempt to fill the remaining space on my deck, I was given the green light to go ahead and start heading north, north east towards Cleveland and before I get to Dallas I was to once again call in for LTL freight. So just south of Dallas I call in and yet again there is nothing. The dispatcher that handles the LTL side of the house is sharp and usually has no problems finding loads, but apparently Davis is having a hard time getting anything LTL wise out of Texas that is at least headed in the general direction I am going. So I am to once again call first thing in the morning to see if they can fill my deck.

I figured since this was my first day out of the “chute” after 6 days off, things would be a little slow and or rough going. But much to my surprise it felt good to be back on the road. Once I got off I-35 and onto I-30, it was smooth sailing and despite the fact that I was feeling good, I decided I would not push myself too hard so I decided to shut it down in Prescott, AR which is where I am at the moment hooked up to IdleAir.

 

yep I'm rollin and just updated the thread.....good luck in getting your sick baby to the docs :wink:

 

Hey Danske,

Give Pat a heads up on what's going on. Bet she gets you in sooner.

I rolled through CDA around noon. I wanted to hit the grades before it got to hot. I also wanted to get my 2 trip packs in before the deadline, Which I was informed was noon...

As soon as I rolled in I saw my old trainer rick, was good to see him again. He has a nice new truck and is on the lease purchase program, good for him.... In fact I think Im parked next to him behind the Days-Inn hotel but don't remember his truck #.

When I rolled in the shop foreman came out and looked at my truck. He told me that I had purchased the wrong radiator cap. I had a 10# cap and the truck requires a higher pressure cap. I pulled out the old one and he said this is the wrong one too.... He stuck a new one in, filled the radiator up and sent me to cat to have them fix the fill tube. Cat threaded the tube and put the cap back on.... BUT Theres more!

While the foreman was looking at the leaks he saw that my AC line was leaking, so he said that needed to be fixed.

Our yard guy gave me my snow/tire chains. I was being funny and asked where the instruction booklet for installing the chains correctly was located. He laughed and told me they are your trucks earrings.

So looks like I won't be getting a different truck after all.... Well, at this moment atleast. The shop still needs to look at a couple other things and I want them to look at the black stuff that is running down the exhaust stacks. Somebody told me that could mean I have coolant getting into the engine.

Well off to sleeper land I go....

DevilDice you moving yet?? :?:

 

even though we get pushed to the back of all the lines and the anchors are not visible on the collars any more, you know the old saying...... "Once a Chief, Always a Chief" and that's something NO ONE can EVER take away from us!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congrats on getting started. Dis you talk to Davis about getting in an earlier orientation class? They are usually pretty small, maybe 1/2 dozen at the most and plenty of room for more.

Oh, and DON'T EVER highjack my thread again!!! :evil: :evil: Just kidding...... :lol: :lol: :lol: feel free to post here anytime you want, I for one would love to hear how your refresher training and then onto Davis goes.

 

Chief,

that was and still are my exact thoughts about this industry and what we used to do.....it's a PERFECT match for us. So where are you from and where are you planning on going to school? Any companies in mind yet?

 

Devildice

Whew! I am glad that you got a load out of Texas. I was not sure how much they have going out of Texas so glad you are moving!



dewercs2, danske

In order not to high jack this thread with my stuff I will post to you guys on my thread!

Goin Fer It's Wife

 

Dewercs2/Devildice,

I talked to Sage today about my driving schedule and they changed it so I will be doing my 20 hours(This is for the refresher course; Regular course is 47 hours of one-on-one driving) all next week. This week I will spent it in the classroom. This solve the issue for me and I can still start orientation in Missoula on October 1st.

Boy, DD, are you complaining about ONLY getting a 1450 mile load from home to Cleveland? Davis is spoiling you quick with all those LONG runs!!! I don't know if I should feel sorry for that you spent another night at home while the dispatcher d*cked around trying to find a LTL load to fill out your deck. Hopefully, this load to Cleveland will put you in a lane for another great run to the Left Coast!

Chief, was that a threat about hijacking your thread coming from a taxi driver to this seagoing bellhop?!? :evil: :evil: I may have been in the Air Wing all my years in the Corps, but I don't remember ever taking any lip from a squid!! :twisted: I am looking forward to working with you, but I plan to be the Captain of my own boat this time!!

DW2, I hope Davis gets to the bottom of your problem with your truck while you are there this time. I have this fear that they won't, give you a different truck, and pass this weak sister off on some newbie(I wonder who that may be? :shock: ). No, really, I hope they fix it and make you happy as I know you have been struggling from the first day with this truck. I guess you will find out real quick if it is right on Homestake Pass.

I am waiting to hear from GFIW. I PM her my phone number, but she hasn't called yet. Maybe I can find her place by following my nose to the smell of cookies! :lol:

Night all!

 

Well I am glad things are going to work out the way you wanted.

um, yeah I guess I have gotten a little spoiled with those long runs. ops:

Just want to make note of that last sentence.......... I knew you always wanted to be a squid as SAILORS run the boats........NOT fly-boys!!!!!! :lol: :lol:

have fun in school and STOP being a "teachers pet" and leave the apple in your room :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: