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