OFF THE ROAD

Haven’t posted for sometime since I’ve been busy dealing with problem after problem.

Since the posts about the turbo failure on Sprinter #2, a lot has happened. On his next trip out, the driver of Sprinter #2 rear ended a semi trailer at a stop light. By his own admission, he wasn’t paying attention. The driver of the semi evidently didn’t feel the impact and simply drove off. The Sprinter couldn’t give chase as it was sitting there puking coolant from the ruptured radiator. The deer bumper was pushed back forcing the coolant fan assembly into the radiator. He was under load at the time about 100 miles from his drop. Since there was no other unit in the area to repower the load, Tri-State opted to tow the Sprinter to the drop. To the surprise of both Tri-State and myself, that 83 mile tow cost $877.00. That cost is under dispute, but it was still deducted from my settlements. We managed to seal the radiator enough to get the truck back home, and the driver bore the cost of the repairs. I couldn’t turn it in on my insurance since there was no police report, and the repairs were less than the deductible.

Next, the Idlebuster was installed on Sprinter #3 and it was butchered. It has amounted to over $2,000 out of pocket in lost revenue and repairs. Add to that the $600 Sprinter #3 needed in normal maintenance repairs. Of course I submitted invoices to Idlebuster to be reimbursed for my losses. Up until last Thursday, they ignored me. After complaints to the Attorney General and Better Business Bureau’s in Ohio and Florida were completed, I had their attention. I was contacted by one of the owners and I should have things finalized soon.

I found a good driver for the International (He’s a Jarhead too, so we get along) and after a fiasco in NJ, things are working out. His first good load took him to Newark, NJ and Tri-State tried to force him into NYC from there. One was an idiotic load deadheading 41 miles into Jamaica, Queens for a 21 mile load. They tried two other loads into NYC before I finally got in touch with the fleet coordinator and made it plain that none of my trucks are going into NYC. The catch of all this was it happened after 1700 and it took until 0900 the next morning to straighten it out and a load was lost since the driver was put on eight hour refusal status.

For a brief moment there, all four trucks were running and the hope was we would stop bleeding money. I scheduled the surgery on my shoulder since it’s been in bad shape the last few weeks. Enter another problem with the Idlebuster. A fuel line pops off and stops the truck in its tracks. Repair was quick and the shop didn’t even charge anything for it, but another load was lost and another tow bill was incurred.

Think it’s over? Nope. Driver on Sprinter #3 quit the day after the fuel line popped off. So, I’m back to three trucks running and one is sitting in my driveway waiting until I find another driver. I can’t postpone the shoulder surgery since mine is the last surgery that the doc is doing until late November. Surgery is Tuesday, so I won’t be posting much if at all since I won’t have use of my right arm for about two months.

So, the ship took a couple of torpedoes but I’ve got the patches in place and the pumps are running. She’ll right herself in a few weeks. I’ll find a driver and get this shoulder fixed and be back on track.

I sure am going to enjoy those drugs tomorrow.

I'm STILL Here

Haven't had much chance to update here, so I'll bring things up to date.

Sprinter #2 gave us a few more problems after we replaced the turbo. It had a turbo lag that was just too excessive to ignore. A lot of oil got dumped into the exhaust and at first we considered that to be the problem. We pulled the Oxygen sensor expecting it to be oil fouled, but it wasn't. Computer readouts were in the normal range, but she wouldn't go over 13MPG and that wasn't acceptable.

We finally found that the turbo actuator module was failing during acceleration from a standing start. It was too fast for the computer to pick up. Changed it out and she runs like new. For an engine with almost 300,000 miles on it, that's a testament for the value of proper maintenance.

Sprinter #3 is down on the south side of Columbus having it's Idlebuster generator installed and should be completed by this afternoon.

The busy freight season has been slow to start, but is picking up. My shoulder has been an ongoing problem since it has no rhyme or reason to when it decides to flare up. I have tried to get out of here several times only to have it start up. Last week, it was quiet the entire week. I decided to test it last Sunday and went over to the truck and pulled the mattress out of the upper bunk and installed a couple of cabinets I had picked up. Got that done with no problems and came home and waited. Several hours later I had no pain and no swelling. I thought I finally would be able to take off Monday. Didn't happen.

I was loading up the Ram Monday morning when Idlebuster called to confirm the Sprinter installation and informed me that I had to be present when they finished it today to sign the final papers. When the mail showed up, I found out that I had to go to Tri-State to recertify on my TSA credentials. Just what I needed to hear.

Took off to Toledo Tuesday morning and I wasn't halfway there when the shoulder fired up. Bothered me the rest of the day. I told Tri-State to locate a same household team to put in the International since I'm tired of dealing with the shoulder.

When I drove the 20 miles down to the south side yesterday morning, it fired up again. After I dropped my driver off at the motel, I stopped at a CVS on a whim. I found a support brace that is usually used for tennis elbow but since I had gotten relief when I used an elbow brace, I figured I'd give this a try.

I put the brace on in the center of my bicep above the elbow. For some insane reason, it supports the tendon and I'm able to move the arm better. The real test will come this morning when I drive back to the south side.

If I can drive the International until Tri-State locates a team, I'll step out and have the surgery done after I'm comfortable with whomever is driving the truck. I'll probably limit my range to a 300 to 350 mile radius so I can get home if the pain gets too bad. We'll see how things go.

Sprinter #1
WESTERVILLE/ OH DUBLIN/ VA 8/20/2008
DOVER/ NJ WHITEHALL/ MI 8/17/2008
BENSALEM/ PA ALTON/ VA 8/15/2008
CINCINNATI/ OH GRAYSON/ KY 8/14/2008
CINCINNATI/ OH UTICA/ OH 8/14/2008
NEWCOMERSTOWN/ OHNEWARK/ DE 8/14/2008
MONROE/ MI FRANKLIN/ OH 8/13/2008
FAIRFIELD/ OH DAYTON/ OH 8/13/2008
MARYSVILLE/ OH LAKE ORION/ MI 8/11/2008

Sprinter #2
RAYMOND/ OH HEBRON/ OH 8/20/2008
HEBRON/ OH SALEM/ VA 8/20/2008
COLUMBUS/ OH CUSTAR/ OH 8/18/2008
ST MARYS/ OH ATHENS/ OH 8/18/2008
LOUISVILLE/ KY FRANKLIN/ OH 8/15/2008
FAIRBURY/ IL DANVILLE/ KY 8/14/2008
E PEORIA/ IL PEORIA/ IL 8/13/2008
E PEORIA/ IL AURORA/ IL 8/13/2008
COLUMBUS/ OH BARTONVILLE/ IL 8/11/2008

Sprinter #3
E PEORIA/ IL MEDINA/ OH 8/18/2008
QUINCY/ IL WASHINGTON/ MO 8/12/2008

When It Pukes Oil, Houston We Have a Problem

I'm starting to think that I'm not going to get out of Columbus. Monday, no loads were available from here. Tuesday showed promise but had to deal with a breakdown on Sprinter #2.

He was on his way to Cambridge, OH from Roanoke, VA when the engine started to belch black smoke and puke oil out the exhaust. He said that he heard a loud bang, and the truck wouldn't go over 20MPH and the oil light came on. I immediately figured it was the turbo but you never know for sure until you can check it. Since I have a complete engine sitting here just for this purpose, I told the driver to call Tri-State to arrange a tow back to Columbus. T/S totally dropped the ball on this and the driver found a local tow company that would do the job. They did manage to tear the rear bumper facia off when hooking it up though.

Went over to the shop this morning and removed the ducting to the turbo. Sure enough the shaft bearings had let go. Pulled the turbo off the replacement engine, swapped the turbos out, changed the oil and filter, test drove it about 100 miles and Sprinter #2 is going back in service tomorrow after we re-synch the turbo to the engine. I'll take the turbo over and have it rebuilt ready for future use. Shoulder is singing, but the truck is fixed. I was able to reattach the rear facia using bolts and silicone. So, was having the truck towed back here the best move. I'll put the numbers here and you be the judge.

Dealer Cost/Actual Cost

Turbo $1,767.93/$300.00 (Rebuild)
Labor 320.00/160.00
Rear Facia 122.00/0
Labor 40.00/0
Oil Change 200.00/119.00
Tow 564.00

Total $2,449.93/$1,143.00

Savings $1,306.93

Sprinter #1
Montgomery, AL/Fountain Inn, NC
TAH

Sprinter #2
MT VERNON/ OH SPOUT SPRING/ VA
Bonus to Cambridge, OH
Broke down in Ripley, WV

Sprinter #3
PONTOON BEACH/ IL GRAND RAPIDS/ MI

FedEx

Freight out of here still hasn't picked up, so I'm still at home.

FedEx recruiter called Tuesday and made this offer to move the International and one of the Sprinters from T/S to FCC.

$1000 sign on bonus for each truck. Free sign removal Free sign installation Total value of the offer came to $3,140. International qualifies for White Glove after 6 months. He went on about how FCC pays more than T/S both on the linehaul and deadhead miles, how FCC is better because they have a larger customer base and how the FedEx name is a better draw to customers, etc. Told him I'd get back to him.

Did the research.

Advantages:
The sign on bonus is attractive. Half paid at orientation, half after the 25th load is completed. Deadhead miles do pay better with FCC. They pay the FSC on all dispatched miles in addition to the deadhead pay. Customer base is larger, and the FedEx name is a good draw. Qualcomm rental is the same as T/S so that's a wash. Bobtail insurance is cheaper since they have a large fleet. 1400 trucks of all types.

Disadvantages:

Escrow is $1500 for the International, $1000 for the Sprinter. Three times what T/S escrow is. They have a new dispatch system that is totally computerized. Load offers come over the QC only they make no phone calls. You have 10 minutes to respond by QC or phone. Problem if you're sleeping and don't hear the QC beep. They list the revenue average for the International at $1.87 per mile loaded, $1.00 for all miles based on a 56% load acceptance rate. Sprinter is $1.45 loaded, $.72 all miles based on a 67% load acceptance. T/S pays by the mile. Catch is that FCC pays by percentage and since most C unit loads are B unit size freight, the International would be paid the B unit rate for most loads. The projected yearly average for the Sprinter is about 20k less than what I project it to make with T/S. White Glove prefers teams and there is a waiting list. Drivers HAVE to have Hazmat endorsements and Canada FAST cards.

I'll be staying with T/S

Sprinter #1
DECATUR/ IL LAFAYETTE/ IN
SO BEND/ IN E PEORIA/ IL
CHAMPAIGN/ IL GRIFFIN/ GA
DAWSONVILLE/ GA FT VALLEY/ GA

Sprinter #2
TAH

Sprinter #3
WAYCROSS/ GA CINCINNATI/ OH Transferred at Nashville
Bonused to Louisville
LOUISVILLE/ KY SELMER/ TN

Expo

Went to the Expedite Expo Friday in Wilmington. We were a bit disappointed with it, but I accomplished most of what I wanted to.

Disappointments:

Chrome Shop Mafia wasn't there. I assumed they would make an appearance at some point, but no times were posted. Truck they had on display was cool though.

Tri-State's booth. No handouts, and very little information available that I could see. They were a major sponsor of the event so I expected more from them. They didn't talk to us very long, and didn't treat us like I thought they should treat a fleet owner either. That will factor into a decision I will be making.

Freightliner of Knoxville. This dealer is where I bought the International. Found out that Jon Mosier, a major player in the expedite truck sales game, no longer works for them. The guy that was there was less than thrilled to be there and showed it.

If there was food there, we couldn't find it and the music outside was so loud you couldn't hear anyone talk even if they were standing right next to you.

Accomplishments:

Met the former head of recruiting at T/S. I had talked to him at length during my research of the expedite business. He had left T/S shortly before I went to orientation. He's now with RJR Transportation.

Talked with the company that built the sleeper and generator on the International. The owner had not arrived yet, but I got my point across that I was very unhappy with their generator. The rep that was there said he would have the owner call me to see what could be done to correct the situation, but I am not holding my breath.

Met with the owner and sales manager of Idlebuster. Had a productive discussion with them and was very impressed with their APU design. They apologized for not having the engine yet for Sprinter #3's unit and promised to hurry it up as much as possible.

FedEx. Talked with one of their recruiters and was impressed with his presentation and what they offer. He said they absolutely needed the International (it qualifies for White Glove)and could also use one of the Sprinters for a dedicated account that is coming online shortly. They pay quite a bit more per mile than T/S have a structured FSC. The biggest things for me was that they pay the FSC for all dispatched miles including deadhead, and they no longer charge $500. for sign installation. The only drawback is that they require Hazmat and Canada even if you have no intention of doing either.

Overall, the expo was a good experience and we will attend next year. We stopped at the Flying J in Jeffersonville on the way home to grab a bite to eat. Wife said she wanted to see a truck stop close up, so I went along. Got home around 1630.

Shoulder feels decent and I still plan on heading out Monday if the creeks don't rise and no dogfights develop.

Sprinter #1
Layover in Decatur, IL

Sprinter #2
NO KINGSVILLE/ OH FOUNTAIN INN/ SC
Bonused to Lexington, KY
Deadhead home for TAH

Sprinter #3
Bonused to Lexington, KY
Transfer load to Griffin, GA
Layover in Albany, GA

BORED!!!!!!!!!

Another boring day in the neighborhood. Shoulder improving to the point I'm starting to move it so it won't stiffen up. I found the "rubber bands" I had from the therapy on the left shoulder, and I started to use them to keep the strength up in the right. They are different tension bands that you anchor to a fixed object and then you pull on them. I'll take them with me in the truck to keep exercising.

Freight still slow but showing signs of picking up. Caterpillar is the main source for the Sprinters right now.

Sprinter #1
BUCYRUS/ OH AURORA/ IL

Sprinter #2
SARVER/ PA ITHACA/ NY
Bonused to Pittsburgh and then to Cleveland

Sprinter #3
ST JOHNS/ MI ELK GROVE VILLAGE/ IL
WOODRIDGE/ IL CHAMPAIGN/ IL

Deja Vu

What's that old saying? Best laid plans of mice and men? I can't speak for the mice, but my plan got shot to hell yesterday morning in a dogfight.

Yeah, quite literally a dogfight. I had taken everything over to the International Sunday with the exception of food. My plan was to call the fleet coordinator Monday morning and get on the board. Yeah, right.

Wife had to leave early to take her Mom to the doctor, so as she was leaving she opened the bedroom door. Dog #1 jumps on the bed startling sleeping dog #2 who was on the bed with me. I was sound asleep as well. Dog #2 jumps up snapping at dog #1 and a screaming fight ensues and they fall to the floor. With my reflexes being what they are, I came up off the bed and landed on top of them before wife could take a step. I moved so fast that I tore the top sheet and comforter completely off the bed. I was still asleep when I moved.

Somewhere in the process I sort of woke up and saw that dog #1 is chewing on dog #2's ear. Grabbed #1's jaw with my left hand and started slapping the side of her face with guess what? Yeah, my RIGHT hand. I think I startled both of them enough for jaws to open and the fight was over.

Adrenalin is a wonderful thing until it wears off. By now I was fully awake, and fully aware that my shoulder was the one now screaming. Yeah, it popped again and now I am right back where I was last Saturday, ice and pain killers. I guess I'll be here after all when the brace shows up today. I've consoled myself all day with the fact that freight is still slow and I probably wouldn't have gotten a load today anyway. Needless to say, both dogs are in the proverbial doghouse.

Sprinter #1
Waukesha, WI to Detroit, MI

Sprinter #2
Bonused to Pittsburgh, PA

Sprinter #3
Mossville, IL to Lansing, MI

Have Tags Will Travel

Managed to get the tags for the Sprinter without much of a hassle. Two phone calls to answer two questions they didn't ask yesterday and it was done. At least the title part. Then had to wait in line again to get the tags since the title work is done by the county and the tags by the state.

While I was standing in line listening to the people arguing with the clerks over one stupid thing or another, I had a brainstorm that I think I will turn into a vanity license plate.

Spell OHIO backwards. OIHO Translation: Oh I Hate Ohio. Fits my state of mind perfectly and I will not hesitate to explain it to anyone that asks.

Freight seemed to surge this afternoon. Boards were moving faster than they have all week. I had Sprinter #1 leave Louisville to come back here to Columbus initially for TAH, but he was only here a couple of hours before a load offer came through. Picks up tonight and delivers Monday. So, he'll get his TAH and a load to start the week as well.

Shoulder continues to improve and I think I can get the heck out of here Monday. The brace hasn't arrived yet, but the wife can bring it to the Expo next Friday if it turns out we meet there instead of here at home.

Sprinter #1

Van Wert, OH to Waterloo, IA

Sprinter #2

Bonused to Harrisburgh, PA

Sprinter #3

Tags in place, ready to go.

Drowning in Red Tape

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the state of Ohio??? If not, I HATE THE STATE OF OHIO. There, I feel better.

Temp tags on Sprinter #3 expire today. Bank has been looking for the title for two weeks that the aforementioned state said they mailed two weeks ago. Tuesday, the bank works some type of magic and overnights documents to that state so I can get the tags and they can continue their title fight without holding me up.

Plan was to run to the BMV where the docs were overnighted, get the tags, overnight them to the driver, and head out myself. None of that happened.

Knowing that state like I do, I called before going to the BMV and was told that they did not know what I was talking about even though I was talking to the person that talked with my bank on Tuesday. She demanded the tracking number, carrier name, who sent it, and who signed for it. Contacted the bank, got the info and called the BMV back. Oh yes, we have it they said.

I arrive at the BMV. After 5 minutes looking for the docs they said they had, the process starts. Whoops says the lady, we can't issue the paperwork for tags since the power of attorney signed by my son-in-law shows my company as the purchaser. I said the company IS the purchaser. Seems that state is the only state that requires the purchaser to be a person not a company. Then, they issue another POA transferring the vehicle to the company. I seem to remember making a comment that I wasn't surprised that state is that stupid. Result: NO TAGS and I'm still stuck here.

Got a new POA showing me as the purchaser, and I will make the trip again later this morning for the second attempt. I am not very confident of success since it took three trips to get tags for the International.

To add insult to injury, literally, I get home and the shoulder is on fire for some reason. Called the doc to see if he had a brace or something that would help. He asked a bunch of questions, I told him about lifting the tire and he said I probably tore the scar tissue on the tendon. He recommended a brace that I had to order, and taking it easy for a few days to allow it scar over again. Great, I get to sit some more. I guess I'm not losing that much revenue since it's slow. It's just the principle of the thing. I do know that I WILL get those tags.

As I said, it's slow.

Sprinter #1

LEXINGTON/KY FLETCHER/NC 7/15/08

Sprinter #2

WAYCROSS/ GA CLEVELAND/ OH 7/16/2008
CHARLOTTE/ NC FT VALLEY/ GA 7/15/2008

Sprinter #3

No Tags
Driver still sick.

New Mods

Have been home since the 4th taking care of various things. I got the parking brake on the truck adjusted so it pulls more evenly so my shoulder can handle it. Decided to stay home till my B-Day was over and to attend Tri-State's Driver Appreciation Day on the 12th. That turned out to be a good decision since we won 2 brand new Michelin radial steering tires. I'll take $900 worth of free tires any day. Like an idiot, I loaded them by myself and pulled the shoulder pretty bad. Can you say "Stubborn".

One of the other things on the International that has bugged me was the lack of cupholders. It has only one. I found a console the other day that would normally go into a minivan, but I adapted it to fit in the International. I also added a CD player since the stock radio is a cassette. I also found a holding rack for the load bars that I have been moving (much to the chagrin of my shoulder) around each time I load and unload. Pics are below.


CD Player

Console

Load Bar Holder

Freight has been slow as expected due to the auto industry shutdown, but should be picking up soon.

Sprinter #1

RALEIGH/ NC ATHENS/ AL 7/11/2008

RICHMOND/ VA COCKEYSVILLE/ MD 7/9/2008

NO CHARLESTON/ SC CHERRY POINT/ NC 7/7/2008

CHICAGO/ IL CANTON/ OH 7/2/2008

BARBERTON/ OH LUGOFF/ SC 7/2/2008

NILES/ MI TOLEDO/ OH 7/1/2008

LITCHFIELD/ MI LAFAYETTE/ IN 7/1/2008

Sprinter #2

MARION/ OH FLETCHER/ NC 7/11/2008

CLEVELAND/ OH LIMA/ OH 7/10/2008

COLUMBUS/ OH BROOK PARK/ OH 7/8/2008

SHARONVILLE/ OH ENDWELL/ NY 7/2/2008

ADDISON/ IL INDIANAPOLIS/ IN 7/1/2008

Sprinter #3

PEORIA/ IL GRIFFIN/ GA 7/1/2008

Driver has been off sick.

We plan to attend the Expedite Expo on the 25th and 26th in Wilmington, OH. If anyone is near there, come on over. It's free as is the parking. Tons of exibits, the Chrome Shop Mafia will be there, and SNI has a booth as well. Promises to be a good time.

When I Move, I Move

Four loads in less than a week. Not bad. Spent the weekend in Florence, SC as expected. Sent a QC message around 1100 Monday asking to be moved. They came back with Charlotte, so I decided to go.

I only went a few miles before they came up with a load from Lancaster, SC to Lancaster, PA. No, that's not a typo. 3100 lbs of steering rods for Mack truck. Dropped that at 0900 yesterday and shot over to the truck stop at Carlisle before my 11 ran out. There are two other T/S straight trucks sitting next to me, and I'm #2 on the board. The #1 truck has been here all weekend and didn't get out yesterday. Maybe the slowdown has started.

The Sprinters are still busy, so no complaints there.

Sprinter #1

7/1/08
NILES/ MI TOLEDO/OH
SEYMOUR/ IN AUBURN HILLS/ MI

Sprinter #2

6/30/08
DECATUR/ IL LINCOLNSHIRE/ IL
7/1/08
ADDISON/ IL INDIANAPOLIS/ IN

Sprinter #3
7/1/08
PEORIA/ IL GRIFFIN/ GA

International
6/30/08
LANCASTER/ SC LANCASTER/ PA

Shoulder really gave me problems while driving Monday night and I think I may know what tore the tendon in the first place. The parking brake handle on the International is about as hard to pull and set as it is to pull an elephant by his trunk. Now, I'm using two hands while I keep my left foot on the brake. I'm going to take the truck in to the shop on Monday to see if they can adjust the brake shoes in the drum, or lube the cables or something to make it easier.

Thanks to everyone for the comments on the blog. Glad you like it.

Back On The Move

Shoulder needs surgery, but I decided to tough it out until December or January when freight slows down. I haven't posted here for awhile since I have been busy putting together a deal to buy a 3rd Sprinter.

My son-in-law's runs have been cut and he wanted to downsize from his Sprinter to a regular cargo van. He doesn't want to go OTR, so he didn't need a Sprinter with a sleeper in it. Completed the paperwork for the purchase and was at Tri-State's base on the 19th to sign the lease and have the signs and Qualcomm installed.

The driver I had before was reinstated by T/S and is now driving the Sprinter. He got his first load on the 20th and has been running strong since. I'm glad to have him back. The other two Sprinters have been running strong as well. The numbers I crunched show that the three Sprinters will cover all the expenses on all four trucks and all the International has to cover is it's fuel since I don't have to pay myself. Something wrong with that don't you think???? Anyway, when I go down for surgery, I can let the International sit until I come back.

I'm presently in a truck stop in Florence, SC. I got a load from Columbus to the new Honda plant in Greensburg, IN. It had no address that the GPS or any other map program would recognize since it's a new road. I found the stealth Honda plant even though the exit ramp to it was closed. I engaged the cloaking device on the truck and snuck in the back way. Seemed strange that they needed wiring harnesses for cars they aren't even building yet. After break I backtracked into OH to pick up some reverse clutch sun gears going to Roanoke, VA. Went to the T/A there. After that break, I deadheaded 165 miles to Kingsport, TN and picked up 5300 lbs of coupon books for the visitor information centers in Myrtle Beach, SC. Did my break in a Wally World lot in Conway, SC and headed here to this truck stop after.

The shoulder is holding up so far but I did make some mods to the cab of the International since it is difficult for me to reach to the right. You can see them in the pics.

As I said, the Sprinters are running strong but I'm not going to post all the runs here since there are too many since my last entry. I'll start posting them again now that I'm updating regularly.

Still Grounded

Didn't get the answer I wanted at the doc's office Tuesday. Shot worked to an extent, but he's not satisfied with the strength in the shoulder. Sent me over for an MRI so he could get a look at what's going on.

Got the MRI done Tuesday afternoon and I go back to the doc tomorrow morning for the final word.

I've been a bit more active with the shoulder than I was last week and it does feel better and I can lift my arm above my head. There is only one spot that gives me trouble. When the arm is straight out from my side, the shoulder will pop and pain shoots down to my hand and up to my neck. That happens going up or down.

On the bright side, freight IS picking up. T/S pro numbers are increasing steadily, and the Sprinters continue to be busy.

Sprinter loads since 5/28:

Sprinter #1
Urbana OH to Dublin VA
Bonused to Lexington KY

Sprinter #2
Columbus OH to Brookpark OH Hazmat
Willoughby OH to Dayton OH
Dayton OH to St. Louis MO

Saw where diesel fuel jumped another $.34 overnight raising the national average to $4.77 a gallon. In NY and CA, it's $5.09. PA is close behind with $4.95. Chances of getting a load to CA are slim and none, but if I get back on the road next week I will be telling Dispatch I won't be accepting loads to NY and limited ones to PA.

Grounded

Bringing things up to date. Had to come home on the 15th for the funeral of a family member. Earlier that week, started having some pain in my right shoulder beyond the normal being old crap. I pretty much knew what it was, so I went to the doc on the 20th. Yep, rotator cuff tear. He shot the shoulder up with steroids and acid to force the tendon to "scar down". He doesn't think it needs surgery, but he grounded me for a week with orders not to use the shoulder for anything. It's feeling better, but still giving me trouble. Go back on the 27th to see where it goes next.

Freight is picking up as both Sprinters have been busy, but with fuel creeping towards $5.00 a gallon and the FSC not keeping up, who knows what will happen next.

Sprinter #1 Loads 5/14 to 5/24:

RICHMOND/ VA WAYCROSS/ GA
BALTIMORE/ MD CHARLOTTESVILLE/ VA
HICKSVILLE/ OH CHAMBERSBURG/ PA
HAGERSTOWN/ MD FOSTORIA/ OH
CINCINNATI/ OH HAGERSTOWN/ MD
PETERSBURG/ VA FAIRFIELD/ OH
JOHNSTOWN/ PA CHANTILLY/ VA
MARION/ OH BROOKVILLE/ PA

Sprinter #2 Loads 5/14 to 5/24:

DENVER/ PA GREENVILLE/ SC
ELIZABETH/ NJ LOUISVILLE/ KY
MARION/ OH PORTLAND/ PA
SCHENECTADY/ NY BEDFORD/ KY
SO PLAINFIELD/ NJ MAHWAH/ NJ
AKRON/ OH CLIFTON/ NJ
COLUMBUS/ OH BROOK PARK/ OH
SHIPPINGPORT/ PA EASTLAKE/ OH
MARION/ OH SHIPPINGPORT/ PA
PORTLAND/ PA WILLOUGHBY/ OH
CHICOPEE/ MA PORTLAND/ PA
POTTSTOWN/ PA WATERFORD/ CT
FRIENDLY/ WV LYNDHURST/ NJ

Still In PA

Still in Erie, PA. Going to move to the Cleveland, OH board in the morning. Stayed here since there were no cargo vans in the area and this truck can do their loads. Now several delivered and are available, so I'll hit Cleveland and hope for something in OH, KY, or IN.

Melted my QC keyboard telling dispatch and the fleet co-ordinator that if I can find loads on the internet load boards they can. They seem to think since I had to limit my radius they can ignore me. Waiting to see if they will let me use their authority on these loads. The dispatchers feathers were ruffled, but I don't give a you know what. They aren't paying for this truck. If they don't want to beat the bushes, I will. I've got a big stick!!!!

Sprinter #1 Load from Columbus, OH to Brookville, PA

Sprinter #2 Load from Akron, OH to Clifton, NJ

OH-PA

Got notified of a death in the family Monday afternoon, so I had to limit my range to a 250 mile radius so I can get home in time for the funeral.

Finally got a load from Perrysburg, OH to Erie, PA. Paid rather well for a short run. Sticking to plastic molding equipment for some reason. This was a 3700 lb mold for a plastic company.

I noticed that diesel took another price jump. When I left OH last Friday it was $4.19. Here in PA it's $4.63. It's up to $4.41 in OH.

I think if it hits $5.00, I'm just going to take enough loads to cover the truck payment and insurance. I'm hearing a lot of talk on the CB and in truck stops that a lot of O/O's are parking because they can't afford to buy fuel.

Sprinter #1 small load from Cincinnati to Columbus OH

Sprinter #2 Hazmat load from Columbus to Cleveland, OH

OH-IL-OH

Picked up in Dayton Friday morning, two large vacuum testing machines going to CAT in Mossville, IL. Dispatch called with a second load while I was enroute to Mossville going from Willowbrook, IL to Fremont, OH for Saturday delivery.

Arrived at CAT at 1630 Friday. Got hung up there because they couldn't find a FORKLIFT. These machines were on wheels and I thought about using the liftgate to get them off the truck (no dock available) but since they were valued at $87,000 each, I wasn't going to take the chance of them falling off. They were 85" tall and top heavy. Finally got out of there at 1800.

Deadheaded 137 miles to Willowbrook, IL arriving at 2030. The load was a 3500 lb. machine used to stamp out plastic spouts for plastic gas cans. Their forklift wouldn't START so they ended up pushing it on the truck with a towmotor. It was in the center of the truck slightly to the left. I didn't like the position, but they couldn't move it any farther forward. I spent about a half hour blocking and bracing the thing and noticed that it was leaking oil on the floor, so I had them get me some rags to put under the leak. While I was doing this I heard a noise and turned around to find that a raccoon had come into the truck and was staring at me. He left without any argument. Left there at 2130 and went down to the weigh station on I55 for the night as I was out of hours.

Delivered in Fremont at 1400 Saturday and went over to T/S in Millbury. Met up with the driver of Sprinter #1 and we grabbed a bite to eat. He went home for mothers day, and I'm still sitting here as I didn't want to burn the fuel to go back home.

T/S had an orientation class for tractors that finished up shortly after we got there, and the class starting Monday has 12 straight trucks, 8 cargo vans, and two tractors in it. T/S must have lost a lot of trucks recently. With gas now pushing $4, the cargo vans are starting to feel the heat like the rest of us.

I have another bone to pick with T/S Monday. They zapped me $582. for that service call and two batteries last month.

Ready to Roll

Truck and generator have been serviced. Found a good shop just over a mile from the house. Very good work and very thourogh.

Discussed what to do about the generator engine vibration with the owner of the shop and I think we came up with a good solution. When I get back in town for the Memorial Day holiday, he will attached a steering dampner shock to the bracket on the top of the motor normally used to lift it, and the other end to the back of the case. He will also add new isolators to the base. He also informs me he can install an invertor and deep cell battery and relocate the 12 volt side of the sleeper to the deep cell. This will keep the drain for that and the invertor away from the truck batteries. Of course all this depends on how the month of May is profit wise.

Decided to leave the International with Tri-State at least for another month. We'll see if they can put their money where their mouth is. Did get a phone call today from some company in SC wanting me to sign on. They supposedly have 48 state authority, but they obtain their loads strictly from the internet load boards. Not going there. Too much of a risk.

So, we'll see how May goes.

Sprinter #1 Load from KY to OH

Sprinter #2 Load to WI cancelled Dry Run

IN-OH HOME

Left Indy at 1500 Friday after no loads materialized to OH. Arrived around 1900 at the storage lot and 2000 at the house.

Haven't decided yet when to go back out. Probably Thursday or Friday depending on how fast I get things done. Truck and generator need serviced and I need to decide if I will actually move the International to another carrier.

Right now, I'm just kicking back and trying not to think about anything at all.

Sprinter #1 at home, in transit for a Monday delivery in NC

Sprinter #2 at home.

PA-IN

Left the truck stop in Danville, PA and drove 146 miles to another truck stop in DuBois, PA. for the first leg of my trip home. I had only been there for maybe 30 minutes when dispatch called with a load from Emporium, PA to Indianapolis, IN

I accepted the load and when I got to the pick up it was only one skid at 919 lbs. A van load. I wondered at the time if T/S was trying to appease me or if there actually weren't any vans in the area.

Drop was scheduled for 0700 on the 24th, and it was a 501 mile trip. I kept it legal by split logging so I didn't run out of hours until around 0900. I stopped in Sunbury, OH (about 25 miles from the house) to get something to eat and sleep a few hours. Left there around 0330 and arrived at the dock at 0657. Unloaded and arrived at the truck stop where I am now at 0845. Fifteen minutes to spare.

Now it gets weird. I sent a QC message advising dispatch that I was out of hours until 1800 Thursday, and that I planned to go home and to get me an OH run if available. Went into the diner and took advantage of the breakfast buffet, came back out to the truck made a couple of calls and laid down around 1030.

Dispatch woke me up at 1500 with a load offer to TEXAS. The spelling for OHIO must have changed while I was asleep. This load picked up today at 0600 for Monday delivery in Hildalgo, TX southeast of Laredo right on the Tex/Mex border. It paid well but when you consider that I would have to deadhead out of TX, probably into AR or MS, whatever profit I made would be dented by the fuel costs to deadhead, and the time involved to do that. Turned it down restating that I wanted a load to OHIO.

It wasn't five minutes later when another dispatcher called with a load from Cincinnati to WI. There we go with that pesky spelling of OHIO again. She said that it picked up at 1830 for direct delivery. I laughed and pointed out that my DOT break wasn't up until 1815 and that I was fresh out of rocket fuel so an 1830 pick up wasn't going to happen and that I wanted to go to OHIO not pick up from there.

So after sitting with no load for a week, they throw two at me in the space of five minutes. I'm sure it's a reaction to the conversation I had with them the other day, but come on, a loser load and one I couldn't do even if I wanted to.

It looks more and more like I'll have to change the signs on this truck.

Sprinter #1 got a great load from WI to NC that delivers Monday.

Sprinter #2 is at home.

Still in PA UGH!!!!!!!!!

Still sitting in Danville, PA.

I'm going to move tomorrow whether I get a load or not. I had planned to be home this weekend anyway, so I just might call it and come back out earlier than scheduled.

This week has been disturbing given what the fleet coordinator told me yesterday. I still get phone calls from recruiters and FedEx called again today. I plan on spending some time to evaluate what to do with the International. The Sprinters are ok, but T/S is not getting me enough work to cover expenses on the International much less make a profit. I may have to make a move with it.

Sprinter #1 No Load Still in Davenport, IA

Sprinter #2 Transfer load from Evansville, IN to Nitro, WV

MA-PA

Left Plainville, MA around 1500 Friday since it was obvious I wasn't getting a load. Deadheaded to Danville, PA to spend the weekend with my daughter. Parked the truck behind her vet clinic.

Got in the truck yesterday morning at 0800 and it was deader than a doornail. Put jumper cables from her truck to mine and got the generator running figuring it would charge up the batteries. Wrong.

Long story short, I had one battery that was shorted, and it took the other one with it. Had to call in for a service call and they showed up at 1115. The truck started immediately when he hooked up his cable, so I followed him back to his shop to get the batteries replaced.

Left there around 1300 and as luck would have it, I passed Dr.Zebra from PD.com as he was getting on I80. I stared at his truck looking for it's number, but couldn't see it. He called me on my cell before I had a chance to yell at him on the CB. We stopped at the Petro at the next exit and had breakfast and a really nice chat, and it salvaged a really bad day.

Left there and went back to Danville. Thankfully, this Monday ended without any further problems.

No load today, but I called the fleet coordinator at T/S and found out that business is really bad. So much so that other owners are parking their trucks or getting out all together. He also told me that T/S has laid off some office personnel as well. All this due to fuel costs. Not a promising picture overall. This repair bill is a kick in the shorts, but that's part of the game.

Sprinter #1 No load, bonused from Lincoln, NE to Davenport, IA

Sprinter #2 No load, bonused from Memphis, TN to Evansville, IN

MA Day 2

Made a corporate decision today. No more loads to New England unless there is a load back out waiting for me.

Woke up this morning and went inside the "truck stop" building. Emenities included one vending machine for candy, one for soda, and an ATM. The lot was a joke. I've seen firebases after a mortar attack that looked better.

Waited until 1500 without getting a load and decided to drive 50 miles southeast to a Citgo Travel Center in Plainville, MA. This one is fairly clean and at least has a store and diner. Had to pay $6.00 to park, and diesel is $4.60 a gallon. This is starting to become insane.

If I don't get a load out tomorrow, I'm biting the bullet and heading west to PA and visit my daughter. At least she won't charge me to park the truck.

Sprinter #1 didn't get a load either.

Sprinter #2 load from Peoria, IL to Iron Mountain, MI

PA-MA

Got a load from Bridgewater, NJ to Chelmsford, MA. Dropped it at 2355 yesterday. I can truthfully say that I do not like this part of the country.

When the dispatcher said that she was going to include $25 to cover the tolls, I figured I was in big trouble. Not to worry, my map program has this little button that says "Avoid Toll Roads". It doesn't always give me roads I would go on, but in this case it gave me interstates all the way. I thought all is good. Then I cross the Hudson river and have to pay $13.50 for the privilege.

Then I get up here and there is no place to park for the night. I mean no DECENT place to park. I wound up at a hole in the wall truck stop in Peabody, MA Couldn't even find a Wally World. Nope, you can have New England.

Sprinter #1 is doing a transfer load to IL

Sprinter #2 didn't get a load today.

Still in PA

Still stuck in PA hell. No load offers today, but both Sprinters moved.

Sprinter #1 got a Hazmat load from Columbus to Cleveland and another load from Ravenna, OH to Dayton, OH. Not huge, but it still made money.

Sprinter #2 loaded in Columbus to Champaign, IL. Decent paying one, and he's in a good area for today.

If nothing happens here for me by 1500, I'm going to shoot north 90 miles and visit my daughter.

OH-PA

Friday was a much better day as far as my relations with dispatch are concerned. They called about 0900 with a "Good morning, how are you today" Guess what my first reaction was. However, I repressed it and said fine, how are you?

They had a load picking up in Orrville, OH going to Mack Trucks in Macungie, PA for 0700 Monday delivery. Paid well and I figured this will give me a weekend at home as well. Made the pick at 1100 and headed home.

Left the house about 1900 Sunday and stopped at the J in Carlisle for chow and sack at 0100 Monday. Left there at 0500 and dropped at 0700. Headed to the truckstop in Kutztown, PA for my DOT break.

Dispatch called at 1430 with a load I could pick after I got off break that delivered today at 0900 in Glouchester, MA. That one got cancelled. They called back with another load that picked up at 0900 today dropping at 0900 tomorrow in Dover, NH. I lost that one since the shipper increased the size of the load to require a 24' truck.

Hopefully, they'll come up with a load today that will stick.

IL-OH

Yesterday had to be the strangest day I have had with Tri-State dispatch since I started with them.

Dispatch calls at 1630 with a load that they want me to transfer in Toledo. It was going from Mt.Zion, IL to Carlisle,PA for a 1300 delivery. I said why can't I take it the whole way. I can split log and make it legally. Nope, won't let me do it. So I get to the shipper and the clerk has no idea what I'm there for. After several calls, he finds the guy that knows. He loads it, some strange metal box that looks like an apartment dumpster, and I take off.

Still don't know where in Toledo I'm supposed to go. I'm about an hour into the drive when the QC beeps and then the phone rings. Seems that the driver in Toledo refused the load and I now have to take it to Garfield Heights, OH which is near Cleveland. No sweat, it pays me more that way.

I get to the transfer point at the arranged time of 0715. No transfer driver present. QC'd dispatch, answer: He's off on another load. We'll try and find another driver. Finally get the transfer completed at 0930, and I'm in violation of my 14 by a quarter hour. I shoot down here to the truck stop which was only 10 miles away and park.

I go into the Wendy's and get some biscuits and gravy and come back to the truck and start to eat. QC beeps and phone rings. It's dispatch with a load. Before she can say anything else I said that I have no hours to run anything until 2030. She goes off saying that I should have sent a message saying I was on break, that she is a dispatcher not a mind reader, and I was the fourth driver she had called so far. I returned the favor telling her that if I'm the fourth driver she called then she has a crap load that nobody wants and I would have turned it down as well. I'm not driving this truck to lose money for her or anyone else, and if she would take the time to read my dispatch screen she would have known that I just completed a load and was out of hours. I mentioned that it was a dispatcher's job to know the DOT regs and she would be breaking the law right along with me if I took the load. I also said that the break message was only required if you wanted to be unavailable for a period of time and had nothing to do with them knowing I was on a DOT required break. Hung up on her.

Finished breakfast and went to bed. Woke up about 1430. Sat here for a minute and got something to drink. Fired the engine to charge the batts since I wasn't running the generator as I didn't need it. The QC beeps. I read the message offering another really good paying load to Yorktown VA. that could be picked up after my break. Next message stated that I had been put on 8 hr. refusal because I had not replied within 10 minutes. I went off. I asked them why they didn't call. They said that they did and I didn't answer so they left a voicemail. I told them that the phone didn't ring and I had not gotten any voicemail, and even so they had always called again. She said that it wasn't her job to make more than one call. B O O M. Told her to get her supervisor NOW.

I'm reading the riot act to the supervisor that how can I respond if I don't know about the offer. The QC did not activate like it has in the past, and given the often time unreliability of cell phones why is a second call unrealistic? In the space of a few hours, they try and pass off a load that would have been illegal for me to run, and then don't make a decent attempt to contact me on a good load, and both times I get attitude from the dispatcher involved. I had also looked at the load more closely and it was too heavy for the truck. I pointed that out to her and asked why her dispatchers were not looking at my dispatch screen that has all the needed information on it in regards to HOS times, load capacity and dimensions of the truck on it. I told her to please have her dispatchers do their jobs so I can do mine.

She put me on hold and came back a few minutes later and apologized for the mixup. I said that since the one load was too heavy I couldn't have taken it anyway, but if it would not have been I would be very upset at the loss of revenue and am still upset about the constant attitude I get from the dispatchers and left it at that.

I figure that with the high cost of fuel, they are getting quite a bit more refusals than they are used to for runs that have low revenue due to contract deals that were made before and are taking it out on the drivers. Too bad. I'm not running this truck if it loses money. If they can't understand that, then they need to find another type of work.

Just another day in the life of an O/O.

IA-MO-IL

Dispatch called about 1000 Monday with a load from Lincoln, NE to St.Louis, MO delivery time 0900 Tuesday.

Picked up 8 crates of used industrial ink rollers going to a metalizing company in St.Louis. I assume they are going to rework them somehow.

Drove as far as Booneville, MO and shut down for the night. Headed out at 0600 Tuesday for the last 140 miles to delivery. Did my 10 in the sleeper so I would have the full 11/14 available.

Came in on I70 to 40 to 64 only to find 64 closed between 270 and 170. Had to go up 270 to 70 and back down 170 to 64. Still made the 0900 delivery time. Dock was one of those old block the street to back into it type. It was right under 64, so the building had been there for some time.

Went to the truckstop in East St.Louis, IL from there. Still had several hours left, but didn't get a load out. Hopefully today.

Sprinter #1 got a load from Columbus, OH to Champaign, IL that delivered direct.

Sprinter #2 didn't get anything from Cincinnati, OH and headed home to Columbus, OH as it is a more active board.

34 Hour Restart

I figured I'd be here in Council Bluffs for the weekend. At least it was a nice day (65 degrees) and I made the 34 hour restart time so I'll be starting with 70 hours available. For those of you not familiar with the DOT Hours of Service rules a restart is just that. You have a 8 day week, 70 hours available. Each day you can't drive more than 11 hours and be on duty more than 14 hours. You can split log to extend that, but it's too complicated to explain here. It would take all night and no one would understand it. I'm not sure all the time that I do either.

Anyway, the 34 hour restart means that you are off duty or in the sleeper berth for 34 straight hours. Then you start off with a new 70 hours available. It's like those that work a 5 day week with the weekend off. Since expedite freight is slow to non-existant on the weekends, it's easy most of the time to reset.

Turned cold after the sun went down and is presently in the 30's. I checked the boards and I'm the only straight truck in IA and NE so I should have a decent chance of getting a load today.

Haven't been here before, so I don't know how the Omaha board moves. I'd like to get out of the IA-IL rut though.

IL-IA

For once the Peoria board was slow during the early part of the day. Didn't get a real load offer until 1700 just when I figured I'd be sitting there for the weekend.

Picked up in south Chicago, times like these I wish I had a .50 cal mounted behind the grill, pick up time was 2000 and I got there about 1945. Clerk said the crew was on lunch. I sat in the truck doing my log watching some of the crew played soccer in a vacant lot and the rest of them made drug deals with the dealer that showed up shortly after I did. Loaded two skids of transmission gears weighing 4000 lbs. Took off to Shenandoah, IA and a 1000 delivery time.

Stopped outside of Des Moines, IA at the Flying J for some chow and sack.
After I got off of I80 onto US59 I drove through 30 miles of corn fields to get to Shenandoah. Arrived at Eaton at 0935 and unloaded without any problems. Shenandoah is a nice small town, big enough to have a Wally World and a McDonalds. Seemed strange to have a massive transmission plant in the middle of all those corn fields.

Drove north to a truck stop in Council Bluffs for the weekend.

IA-IL

Made my drop at CAT in Peoria at 1530. Drive was uneventful.

One Sprinter took a box of circuit boards from Rochester NY to Erie PA and the second Sprinter loaded up with 15 boxes of Bleu Cheese from a cheese factory in BFE WI to New Berlin WI. 290 mile trip from north to south WI. Wonder why they needed it so badly. Maybe they ran out of bleu cheese dressing at the salad bar.

Sitting at a truck stop in Bloomington, IL. Finally got my microwave working properly after it refused to work Wednesday. I had turned down the idle on my generator engine and it apparently lowered the generator's output enough that it wouldn't operate the microwave. Turned the idle back up and now the microwave works. Nice to have a hot meal again. I had turned the idle down to stop some of the vibration put out by the generator engine. The company that installed it didn't put any insulators on the engine, so it vibrates the sleeper a bit. I've got it to where I can live with the vibration until I can install some insulators.

And some people pay for a vibrating bed.

OH-IA

Got a load from Van Wert, OH to Dubuque, IA that delivered yesterday morning at 0600. Filled the tanks ($356.00) and kept the mileage computer readout on the whole way. Stayed between 58 and 60 MPH and averaged 8 to 10 MPG on the flats. On hills it dropped to 4 to 6 MPG. Completed the run (614 Miles) and the tanks show 1/4 left.

Found a little truckstop north of Davenport and pulled in there rather than stay around Dubuque. Dispatch called with a load from Joliet, IL to BFE WI that I turned down since the deadhead was 150 miles and the run was only 143 and chances of getting out from that far north in WI are slim. They called 5 minutes later with a load from Savanna, IL to CAT in Peoria that picks up at 1300 today. It pays less but will put me in better shape to get a load Friday, and hopefully something over the weekend.

Both Sprinters are moving and one got a strange load from Chicago this afternoon. A Hazmat load that turned out to be a canister of liquid Nitrogen that contained Bull Sperm. It had been shipped to Argentina, refused and returned. Guess the bull wanted it back.

Home Sweet Home NOT!!!!!!!

Well, here I still sit at home. Been here since 3/5. Boy, do I need to get out of here.

I thought February was bad but March sure beat it hands down. Three weeks of a bronchial infection that turned into pneumonia, and a bout with the flu that I got from being in the doctor's office around the other sicko's.

Went back on the board last Monday and didn't get a load, and then on Tuesday find out that my driver got in a pinch and T/S disqualified him. Dispatch called 10 minutes after with a load that I had to turn down since I had to go to IL to pick up the Sprinter.

Pulled a 1070 mile round trip marathon from OH to IL and back that my body apparently wasn't ready for, and I got the flu AGAIN!!!!

So now the friend that qualified with T/S in February is running one Sprinter and took his first load out this afternoon, his son runs the other Sprinter and is on his way to NH, and I'm back on the board and should get out today sometime.

Tired of the mountains, need some flat roads for awhile.

OH-Ding, Use Porta-Potti-Home

Woke up last Wednesday morning at the Pilot in Richfield, OH feeling lousy. I had been fighting a cold for a couple of weeks or so, but this wasn't a cold. My head was coming off and everything, including my hair, ached.

Stood up, ding, use porta-potti. Ate a donut, ding, use porta-potti. Took a couple of sips of a Sprite, ding, use porta-potti. Is there a pattern here???????

Decided I'd better get home before I got worse, so I got dressed, advised dispatch of the situation, and while standing in the sleeper putting things away, the truck lurches forward nearly knocking me down.

My first thought was Boy, I'm sicker than I thought. Then I realized the truck had been hit. I looked out the drivers side window and there was a trailer up against my left rear corner, (I had pulled into the spot rather than backed in).

I threw my boots on, grabbed Betty (Kabar) and went outside. This idiot had backed into the truck while trying to back into a parking space. Never mind that the six spaces next to me were open and I was in the corner, he still managed to hit me.

He's out there spinning his wheels on the ice trying to pull away when I got to his door and asked him what he thought he was doing. We exchange a few words before he finally gets out of the truck. He had the whole lane blocked, so there were five or six trucks backed up waiting to get by. The first two drivers had already gotten out of their trucks and walked over.

I walked back to my truck to see if there was any damage. Luckily, he had hit the dock bumper on the left side and there wasn't any damage. He had come up behind me and said See, I didn't even hurt your damn truck. I'm sick, he hits my truck, and gives me attitude. Sick or not, this won't fly.

There was quite a back up by now and the fuel lanes were blocked, so the next thing I know the manager and a security guard are standing there. The other drivers told the manager what had happened, the security guard separates me from the idiot. After a short discussion with the idiot, the manager asked me if I wanted to press charges. I said no since there wasn't any damage and it wouldn't qualify for a DOT report. The manager then told the idiot to get off the lot. He left, but I have his plate number and carrier information just in case.

I get back in the truck, ding, use porta-potti, fire up the truck to let it warm up and take off for home about 45 minutes later. Stopped at every rest stop on 271 and 71 plus a few exit/entrance ramps, before I finally got home.

Go to the doc and find I had a sinus infection, ear infection, and bronchial infection. The antibotics are winning, but I still feel like crap.

So if all this wasn't enough, mother nature decides to add her two cents worth. Starts snowing Friday night and doesn't stop until Sunday morning. There was 22" in the front yard. Biggest snowstorm in the history of the state.

So, how did everybody else's week go????

IN-OH

Left Gary, IN at 0600 to pick up in South Bend, IN. Bought some fuel at Gary, $3.54 gal. Made the pick in South Bend at the scheduled 0730 time, bought some more fuel at the Pilot on RT 31 $3.65 gal.

Hit snow on the Ohio Turnpike east of Toledo, rain just west of Cleveland, and freezing rain right after I turned onto I 480. No real effect to the roads but the front of the truck was coated in ice.

Made the drop at 1345 and headed to the nearby Pilot. Still freezing rain until a few miles after I left the drop. Temp popped up to 35, rain stopped and the roads were dry. Got to the Pilot and parked. Went inside to drop my paperwork in the Trip Pak box and it starts the freezing rain crap again. Has continued all evening and I understand Cleveland is a mess. One of my Sprinter drivers had a load to drop and one to pick up near Cleveland and he had to stop before he even made it to the drop. It's a mess.

Oh, the fuel price at this Pilot? $3.84 gal. I'm going to have to start getting picky about what loads I take if I expect to make any money. Will have to start passing on loads T/S has FSC deals with.

At $3.84 a gallon, it will cost me $55. for every 100 miles to run the truck. To fill my tanks, $384. Considering having a bank loan officer follow me in a chase car.

IL-IN-OH

Remember when I said not to take a Ford load?? I didn't take my own advice and let greed get the best of me.

I took off this morning from Whiteland around 0400 since my restart ended at 0315. When I started the engine, the QC starts beeping like crazy and there were 4 messages starting at 0000 wanting to know if I was heading to my delivery yet. I know that those messages originate from T/S customer service and not dispatch but come on, who would believe that it takes 7 hours to drive 191 miles?I hadn't gone 300 yards before it beeps again with the same message. I answered them saying yes, I was on my way. They came back with "The customer is calling, there is a production line down waiting for your load, and they are tracking you on our website." I simply said that I was on my way.

Arrived at the plant at 0615 instead of the 0700 appointment time. Guard tells me that the plant is shut down today and there is no production, and they are not aware of any scheduled deliveries. Why was I not surprised. They had me go to a holding lot about 1/4 mile away on the side of the plant.

Sent a QC message to dispatch and it wasn't 2 minutes before they called. When are you going to arrive at the plant? We show you 20 miles away. I told her what was going on, and she said again that they show me 20 miles away. I said I didn't care what the QC said, I was 1/4 mile away from the gate looking at the employee entrance to the plant. 45 minutes later I get another QC message saying please sit tight. I answered "OK, President, Ford Purgatory Assoc. Chicago Branch"

They finally get it straighted out and I hit the dock at 0730. Think it's over?? Ha, you don't know Ford.

I walk into the plant and they won't let you cross a painted line to go to your truck. I figured, ok you open the door and remove the load bars, fine with me. Nope, all of a sudden it's ok for me to cross the line. Opened the door and removed the bars and the forklift driver says to get back behind the line and proceeds to start to go into the truck. I told him that his forklift was too tall to clear my door, but would he listen, nope. I let loose with my best Gunnery Sergeant yell before he hit my door and he stopped and looked. Hey, you're right, glad you yelled he says. Not as glad as I was. Sooo, does he use the smaller forklift parked right there??? Noooo, we get in a locker and pull out a cable with a hook at either end and drag the cages out. What can I say, it's Ford.

So remember boys and girls if you have a load to a Ford plant, remember the following and plan ahead.

F Fustercluck
O On
R Receiving
D Deliveries

Thus endeth the lesson.

I'm picking up a load later this morning at South Bend, IN and taking it to Warrensville Heights, OH.

No MI

Change in plans. I was calculating my hours and found that I could not do the run to MI legally.

If I had drove to Hebron, IN today like I planned, I would have had 20.75 hours left on my 70. No problem there. To make the delivery in Chicago at 0700 tomorrow from Hebron I would have had to start my 14 and ll hour clocks at 0530. The pick up in WI was for 1800 tomorrow evening. I could have played with my 11 hour clock by split logging, but I couldn't do anything about the 14 hour clock running out at 1930. Add to that the load was due in MI at 0400 Tuesday and it would have been a 7 hour drive from WI. If the truck could swim, I could have gone across Lake Michigan instead of around it. Both clocks would have been blown, and Tri-State matches your log books to the QC messages and location times so they know if you aren't legal.

I called T/S at 0900 this morning to confirm my figures and to give them time to get another unit on the load if needed. They confirmed my calculations and pulled the load.

I stayed here at Whiteland, IN and did a 34 hour restart so I wouldn't have to do it midweek. I'll have to leave here around 0300 to make the Chicago delivery tomorrow, but that's trucking, and there went $600 out of my pocket.

Ain't it fun!!!!

TN-IL Then IL-WI-MI

Dispatch called at 1500 Friday with a load from Clinton, TN for Monday delivery to Chicago. Pays well even with the 120 mile deadhead. Pick up time was 2100.

Made the pick, body panels for Ford, and went to the Pilot in Williamsburg KY for the night. Drove to Whiteland, IN Saturday as the first leg, and dispatch called with a load that picks up in Sun Prairie, WI Monday at 1800 going direct to Romulus, MI.

Apparently, it's some type of part that's being made for a company in Canada. One of their trucks is meeting me at a dock in Romulus to transfer the load. This one should be interesting.

OH-TN

Finally a decent load I didn't have to deadhead over a hundred miles for. Went only 14.

One pallet 1136 lbs. (Too tall for Sprinter) from Macedonia OH to Smyrna TN.Arrived at the consignee at 0000 this morning with 15 minutes left on my 14, 30 on my 11.

I 65 through KY is the worst road I've been on lately. I bounced more than I went forward. They actually have signs posted warning motorcycles that the pavement is uneven. Cheaper to post signs that fix the road I guess.

Fuel prices are nuts!!!!!! $3.75 in OH and $3.57 here in TN. Gas prices are dropping and diesel prices are going up. Won't be long before we won't be able to run unless the FSC is increased right away. It's my understanding that diesel fuel is a by-product of the gasoline refining process. In short, diesel is what is left over. Sure they add additives, but not to the tune of charging $3.75 a gallon to cover it. The one sure way for one of these presidential candidates to get elected is to reduce the cost of gas and diesel and then freeze the prices. Let the oil companies choke on it for a while. If there is a oil company executive that reads this blog, don't complain when prices for everything goes up. You caused it.

The Federal and State Governments should also back off with the taxes on fuel. If they don't tourism will drop because no one can afford to travel, and prices across the board will go up since the trucking companies will have to increase freight prices to cover the fuel costs.

This time last year, diesel was around $2.35 a gallon. That's almost a 62% increase. No company, especially one like mine, can survive very long without a rate increase.

Presently at a truck stop in Antioch, TN. It's near Nashville. Raining here now but that is much better than snow. Warmer too, but still have the space heater running.

OH-WV-OH

Another long deadhead to pick up a load. Picked up in Eleanor, WV 173 miles from the house. Going to Brook Park, OH for a 0500 delivery today.

Stopped at the Pilot near Caldwell, OH for the night and left about 0200. Roads were bad due to ANOTHER winter storm. Snow covered all the way to Brook Park.

Arrived on time only to find out that the receiving dept. didn't open until 0615. Could have had another hour of sleep. This place was a pain as you had to check in at one building and drive to another to unload. Tough to do in 7 inches of snow at a major auto plant that is more like a maze than anything else. Didn't get out of there until 0830 as they had trouble unloading the truck. Their fork lifts were too tall to get the front four pallets off, and they hit my door pulling one of the rollers off. I fixed it well enough to open and close until I get home to replace the roller.

Presently at a service plaza on the Ohio Turnpike out of hours until 1900. Almost got a load from Johnstown, PA to Lockheed Martin in Bridgeport, NJ but it was too heavy for my truck. One reader of this blog will be interested in that once he reads it.

Will probably be stuck here for the night unless dispatch comes up with something.

The Adventure Begins

Got a load, Got a load!!!!!!!!!!!

Ran a intrastate run this afternoon that brought me right back to Columbus. T/S pumped up the load rate and gave me full bonus for the deadhead mileage. Truck gets around 8MPG, at least according to the onboard computer, so it right around where I expected it to be.

It's easy to drive and since I'm familiar with Allison automatics, I pretty much knew when it was going to shift. I was comfortable driving it and by the end of the day I had gotten rid of the Sprinter's tight turn habits and back into the habit of driving a bigger truck.

All three trucks were moving today, so I hope the soft freight period is over. Need to catch up.

Now it's snowing again with freezing rain and sleet in the forecast as well. Sure will be glad when winter is over.

OK, So I'm Still Here!!!!!!

What do they say about the best laid plans? Didn't get out of here like I wanted to since I didn't have the Comdata (fuel) card for the truck and I didn't want to mess with Comdata checks. The card finally arrived in the mail Friday, and I had spent the time waiting putting the finishing touches on the International.

Weather around here just plain sucked most of the week with snow and ice storms every other day. Didn't miss driving in it.

Tri-State's web portal is down so I can't read the load boards or tell where my other drivers are. Hopefully, it will be back up tomorrow so I can tell what's going on.

With any luck, I'll get a load out of here.

Sprinter Left Home

I had planned to get over to the International early and complete my changeover from the Sprinter but someone, who will remain nameless, was several hours late arriving to pick it up. Had to stop what I was doing and get him in the truck and going. As luck would have it, he gets a load to MD 10 minutes after he gets in the truck. Looks like the decision to put him back in the Sprinter was the correct one.

Went back over to the International and stayed there until around 1900. Got the desk built and installed it and the sink. They fit perfectly side by side on the drivers side of the sleeper, and the TV will sit on the raised portion of the desk. All that's left is to install the laptop stand and CB. I would like to install the CB in the factory overhead console, but I don't see how to get power up to the CB. I found the holes in the console to route the antenna cables, but there is no power supply unless I tie into the overhead lights.

Started snowing on the way back home and before I got halfway there, I found myself in blizzard conditions. Couldn't see more than 20 feet so I pulled off onto an exit ramp berm to wait it out. Twenty minutes and 2 inches later it slacked off. Made it home without any further problems. Can't remember when I last saw it snow that bad around here.

My plan is to get the International done tomorrow and head out Wednesday.

Teardown

I removed all my stuff from the Sprinter save a few things under the bed and loaded them into the Ram. It's packed to the gills, so I'll have to make two trips to where the International is parked. Supposed to rain tomorrow so I'll be dodging raindrops but once I get everything into the sleeper, it won't be an issue. The only outside stuff I have to do is mount the CB antennas.

It was painful to remove all the stuff I added and reinstall the passenger seat, but I keep telling myself it's for the best. I will enjoy all the room I'll have in the International, but I'll still miss the Sprinter.

Generator Runs!!!!!

Spent part of the morning working on the International's generator. The radiator was leaking at the rear seam. It's obviously a small one, about the width and height of a phone book. The low coolant sensor was preventing the motor from starting. Added coolant and she started after a couple of pre-heat cycles.

While running I added Prestone's sealant product and let the motor run. The slow stream of coolant leaking from the seam slowed to a drip and then stopped altogether. Radiator built pressure normally and the leak is stopped. Topped off the coolant and oil levels. If the leak returns, I will remove the radiator and have it recored.

Today, I plan on removing my personal stuff from the Sprinter. The frustrating part of it is that I spent several months adding the sink, closet, desk, and other additions getting the truck the way I want it. Now, I have to remove all these items and put them into the International. I will get everything out of the Sprinter, but I may not get everything installed into the International by Monday.

I purchased a small student desk, and when I install it and the sink the 60" of blank wall on the driver's side of the sleeper will be filled. I also have to purchase a power inverter to power my laptop when the generator is not running since there is no inverter system in the truck now. I plan on installing a seperate inverter system and deep cell battery similar to the one in the Sprinter just not as large.

I'll probably be adding stuff for months as time and funds allow.

IL-OH The Easy Way

Dry roads. You take them for granted until they are gone. Waited until 1500 for a load to take me back east, but nothing was available.

Deadheaded home using those wonderful DRY roads versus the snowy, icy roads of Tuesday morning. Took me 10 minutes to knock some of the ice off the nose of the truck.

Now I will start a new phase. Driving the International. Will be spending the next few days getting things transferred from my Sprinter to the International and working on the generator. I'm going to miss my baby. I'm the only one who's ever driven her. She kept me warm and safe and she never let me down. Any dents, misuse, abuse, etc will be met with discipline up to and including death. Driver thinks I'm kidding.

OH-IL The Hard Way

Finally got out of the house, but in a way I wish I hadn't. Started snowing about 2200 Monday night. Dispatch calls at 0500 Tuesday morning saying a van driver had spun out and hit a retaining wall on I70 near Springfield, OH and can I go meet her and transfer the freight.

Take off about 0600, roads are a mess all the way to Springfield. Go to the van at a Ford dealer where it was towed. Transfer one 150 lb. box and take off for Springfield, IL. Ran through snow, ice, more snow, until I finally hit dry pavement outside of Decatur. Dropped the box and headed to the truck stop in Williamsville.

While all this is going on, my driver in the International calls to advise me he had a death in the family and needs to head home. No problem, but he wants to transfer from the International back to a Sprinter, so I am giving him my Sprinter and I'll drive the International. It's probably a good move since he can run harder and make more money when he's not hampered by the HOS. May end up putting a team in the International if I have the same problem.

Had to scramble to find a place to park the International since it will in no way go in my driveway. Located that without too much trouble, so he is coming through Columbus tomorrow and dropping the truck off so I can start transferring my stuff to it and do some more work on the generator when I get back home. He's going to get a rental car to get the rest of the way home, and I'm splitting the cost with him.

Sure am glad I've got a headset for my cell phone otherwise I'd be writing this from a ditch instead of the truck stop parking lot.

OH-HOME-OH-HOME

I had moved up to #1 on the Dayton board Thursday afternoon, but there was little chance of getting a load late in the day. I had been watching the Columbus board, and it was moving to the point that I figured I might get a load by Friday. Shortly after I left the Dayton area my wife calls saying that she had just come back from the Ohio BMV trying to get an Ohio title and tags for the International. They told her that the lease with Tri-State had to be in our company name before they would issue the title. It made no sense since the lease has nothing to do with the title. We had already jumped through one hoop getting an "official" Ohio inspection form filled out.

So, I called T/S and advised them of the problem and arranged to go up to Millbury on Friday morning to sign the corrected lease. The T/S folks were great and the lease was ready to sign when I got there. Faxed it to my wife and she went back to the BMV and FINALLY got the title and tags.

I would have gotten a load out from Columbus Friday had it not been for all this nonsense. Now, it will be Monday or Tuesday before I do get a load.

Truck #2 was dispatched on two loads Friday, but the first ended up being a dry run, and the second was moved back to a 2300 Sunday pick up for delivery in Hebron, KY

Truck #3 had a couple of load offers that either were too heavy, or were too long to fall under the HOS rules. They moved him from MD to the Harrisburg,PA area where he is now.

Hopefully, all the crap is out of the way and we can run without problems next week.

OH-MI-OH

In a rut. Starting to know every bump and pothole in I-75 from OH to MI. Picked up a load in Cambridge, OH Tuesday afternoon for Wednesday morning delivery in Wixom, MI. Dropped at 0900 and went to a truckstop near Ann Arbor. Was eating breakfast when dispatch called with a load from Melvindale, MI to Franklin, OH direct. Picked up at 1200 and dropped at 1605. Now at a truckstop south of Dayton. Decided to stay here #2 on the Dayton board rather than drive the 90 miles home and be #5 on the Columbus board. Will see how tomorrow goes and will decide to stay here or go back home.

Second Sprinter has been busy. On Monday he took a Hazmat load from Columbus to Cleveland, a second load from Cleveland to Akron, and a third load from Akron to Cambridge. All in one day, all in OH. He picked up a load late Wednesday from Zanesville, OH to Evansville, IN where he is now.

The International finally got the generator fixed, and took a load from Peoria, IL to Chillicothe, OH. Two CAT engines for Kenworth weighing 3000 lbs each. He's now on his way to Hagerstown, MD with a load from Powell, OH.

Busy week so far, thankfully. Will help recoup the start up costs on the International.

OH-MI-OH-MI-OH-IN

Wild couple of days. Dispatch called on Wednesday morning with a load from Raymond OH to Grass Lake MI. Initially turned it down as it did not pay enough to make it profitable. Dispatcher got nasty saying that I would have to talk to the fleet coordinator for not accepting the load. I advised her that this is my business and I will not accept a load that means I will operate in the red just to make her job easier, and if the fleet coordinator wanted to talk to me about it he has my number.

She then apologizes and says that I am the only one available and it is a shipment from one of the company's steady customers. I asked her why she didn't say that in the first place instead of trying the intimidation tactics. I told her ok, I'll take the load and I expect her to remember that I did it to help a steady customer.

I was on the way to the pick up when I got another load offer from Coldwater MI to Anna OH. Pick up was 0200 Thursday deliver by 0600. This was from the same customer as the Raymond shipment only a different plant. Made both deliveries with no problems and went to the J in Beaverdam OH after dropping in Anna. Initially stopped off at the Speedco in Beaverdam to get the oil changed in the truck and the Idlebuster serviced. I got there 30 minutes or so before they opened, so I was waiting in the back for one of the bay doors to open. Shortly before they opened, a kid arrives and starts to open the store. He came out a few minutes later and tells me that they don't service Sprinters, that it's company policy. I asked for the manager, and he said he wasn't in. OK, we're not done with this.

Went over to the J and got some chow. Came out to the truck and called Speedco's main office in IN. Spoke with the district manager for customer service in charge of the Beaverdam location. He confirmed that Speedco will not service the Idlebuster on the Sprinter vans, but had no idea why I was told they wouldn't change the oil on the truck and asks me to hold on while he calls Beaverdam. He came back and apologizes for what the guy said and he hoped I would go back over and get the needed service. I said I would think about it. Hit the sack for a few hours. Got up about 1300 and since I was #3 on the board I decided to go back over to Speedco and get the oil changed on the truck. They did the service and took $10 off and will take $10 off the next one I have done there. Dispatch called about 1500 with a load from Van Wert OH to Detroit MI picking up at 2200 delivering at 0600 Friday. Picked up at 2200 and drove to the rest stop in Monroe MI to sleep for a couple of hours. Woke up to heavy snow, but made the delivery on time. Was #3 on the Pontiac board, but decided to head south as I didn't want to get snowed in. Went to the Pilot in Monroe after fighting the idiots on 75 in 6 inches of snow. Ended up being #7 on the Toledo board. Hit the sack figuring I wasn't going to get a load. Dispatch calls about 1330 with a load from Gibsonburg OH to Rushville IN. picking up at 1530. Had moved up to #4 on the board, but the other 3 vans were still there, so I figured it was the load size. Sure enough, it was three pallets of crankshafts that would not have fit in a regular cargo van. Dropped in Rushville at 2052. Headed home from there rather than sit in the truck over the weekend. Four loads, won a partial victory over Speedco, and will start the war with Idlebuster next week. Right now, I'm tired.

My other Sprinter is back in service and has already run it's first load and has been dispatched for its second load for Monday. A Hazmat load from Columbus to Brookpark OH.

The International's generator is finally fixed an the truck is ready to roll. Lost a week getting the generator fixed, but it had to be done.

I've noticed that I am spending more and more time on the phone taking care of little things related to the trucks. Hopefully, this is just start up pains with two new drivers and a new truck and will subside soon.

KY-OH

Well, when the guy from the Kidney Foundation banged on the truck and asked me if I had any used clothing or household items I would like to donate, I decided I had sit there too long.

Asked dispatch where I should go and they came back with Mansfield, OH. That was stupid since the Mansfield board is just as slow. They knew I would head home since Mansfield is only 50 miles from there. I had planned on going home anyway since the Columbus board had been moving all day. I just wanted to see if they would pay for the trip. Arrived home at 1600 and was #2 on the board so I will most likely get a load today.

The trouble with the generator on the International was the starter and the one the shop put in yesterday was bad as well. See how my luck runs!!!! Hopefully, the next one will work and the truck can get back on the road.

My friend and his son will complete orientation today and the 2005 Sprinter will start running again as well. It has been a trying couple of weeks as I expected. Adding another truck is always troublesome. The only thing left is to transfer the title and get the tags for the International. I'm sure that the State of Ohio will add to my headaches as they always do with some type of off the wall unforseen requirement before they issue an Ohio title.

My Old Kentucky Home

My friend and his son are FINALLY in orientation. He called me last night and told me they both passed their physicals, so that hurdle is out of the way. So the 2005 Sprinter will soon be back in service.

Neither the International or I got a load today but I did find a place to get the generator serviced on the International very close (721 yards) to my driver's house. Once that is taken care of and the title work is completed all we'll have to worry about is loads.

I am somewhat concerned that I have sit here at this truck stop too long since a postman tried to deliver mail to me yesterday. HMMM, do I see a white picket fence and lawn chairs in the near future???????

NC-TN-KY-WV-KY

Dispatch called out of the blue yesterday at 1500 with a load offer from Maryville, TN to Milton, WV. The two oddities were that it was a Sunday 0600 delivery, and the pick up was at a private residence. Who cares?? It was a load.

The pick up was in BFE TN. The roads I was on were little more that cow paths. Fully expected to come up against a low bridge or cow at any second. Pick up was scheduled for 1800 and I arrived at 1758.

Took off and stopped at the J in Cannonsburg, KY for chow and sack. Left the J at 0500 for Milton. Arrived in the Milton area at 0530 and after several phone calls trying to locate the guy that was supposed to meet me, he finally showed up and took delivery at 0605. He didn't have his cell phone turned on. It's not like anyone was trying to reach him or anything.

Turns out the 20lb box I had was a metal sleeve of some type related to a conveyor system. The company the consignee is repairing this for was losing $10000 per hour as their conveyor was down.

Went back to the J in Cannonsburg #3 on the Huntington, WV Board.

No Load from NC

Sat all day and didn't get a load. Moved from the rest area to a truck stop on the edge of the Great Smokey Mountains. Will probably be stuck here for the weekend, but that's happened before.

Not much else going on other than it's supposed to warm up a little today. Hope it does so I can stop running Buster to keep warm and save some diesel.