10-1-00

Do you remember back in July when I told you about a terrible wreck in Pennsylvania?  I had been trying to find out what happened and the outcome.... today I did.

UPDATE:  OCTOBER 11, 2000:  From an Associated Press article in "The Trucker", National Bi-Weekly edition, October 9 - 22, 2000.

TRUCKER HELD FOR TRIAL IN THREE DEATHS

An Ohio trucker must stand trial on charges related to the deaths of three people in an accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a district justice said September 22.

"Driver's name", 56, of Columbus was held for trial by District Justice Roger Eckels of Norvelt, Westmoreland County.

He remained free on bond on three counts of vehicular homicide and one count each of reckless driving and careless driving.

State police alleged that "driver" lost control of a truck hauling 22 tons of beer July 8th in the westbound lanes of the turnpike near the Donegal interchange.

10-7-00

I must say this week's journal is going to be very light on pictures... The batteries ran dead and I didn't want to buy any on the road.  The truckstop charges double the price... but it has been a slow and uneventful week. (which is generally a good thing!)

I was more "in the mood" to go this week.  This was probably due to the fact that I knew I had an easy run awaiting me.  I left out of Council Bluffs, IA Saturday early evening to deliver in Nashville, TN on Monday at 6:AM.  The trailer was loaded by my partner and is sitting in the yard already hooked to my tractor.  Doesn't get much better than that!  Proverbial piece of cake!

10-8-00

I am glad I packed nearly all long sleeved shirts and brought a couple of jackets (of different weights) this trip.  The weather has certainly turned colder. 

I call the receiver ahead of time to ask if I can park in their lot for the night.  They said that no, I could not, but that there was a private lot just around the corner that they referred drivers to.  I thought this was a little strange -- so many private lots hate having trucks park in them and "No Truck Parking" signs are everywhere.  I went ahead anyway and it was a Sears store lot.  There were about 15 trucks in it already.  It was about 11:00 pm and the lot was decent sized but not huge.  The back row of trucks was stuck because a second and even third row had started forming so if the drivers in the back wanted out, tough.  The chances of that were slim, though, because once a driver arrives at his/her delivery point, there's very little that would make him/her want to go anywhere.  Now, you wouldn't want to block someone in like this at the truckstop, that's a different story.  So, anyway we're all packed in like sardines but it's okay because all of us have to "check in" at the receiver at 6:00 AM anyway.

At 5:50 AM the mass exodus from the private lot into the receiver begins.  By now there are about 30 trucks and we all take our respective places in line to check in at the guard shack.  The next step in the process, once you've gotten inside the place, is to walk in with your paperwork and say "Hi!  I'm here!  Now what?"  I did my check-in and actually got a dock door assigned right away.  That's nice.  If they don't give you a door, they usually have you either:

• Wait in your truck and listen to a certain channel on the CB radio.  When they're ready for you, they'll call you on the radio to tell you your dock number.

or

• They'll be so kind as to come outside and get you... this is so much better because you can go to sleep without fear you'll be forgotten.

I have a load of produce this time.  That's unusual for me as I don't haul much produce anymore.  I used to haul quite a bit of it.  I haven't missed hauling it even a little, though. 

Why I hadn't missed it became very evident just a few hours later.  The receiver handed my bills back with notations of "DAMAGED" and "REJECTED".  Drag.  This means I have to contact my OS & D Department and deal with a cargo claim.

The receiver said that my two pallets of pears were rotten, 2 pallets of apples had not been ordered by them and they didn't want them and 3 cases of apples were damaged.  I checked the stuff and pulled one rotten pear out of one case and pulled many good pears out too.  One pallet did have some nasty rotten pear juice on it, but the other was perfect.  I ate a pear or two and they were fine.  The apples that they hadn't ordered weren't my concern.  There were 3 other cases of apples and the boxes were rather crushed, I'll admit.  My partner hadn't put any loadlocks in the trailer and the back pallets had fallen over. 

I called OS & D and reported all of this stuff.  Now the games begin.

When a shipper refuses a product, 8 times out of 10 they will end up taking that product anyway.  But first a game must be played out.  The game is "Let's Make A Deal".  While the powers that be play their games, the driver waits.  You cannot leave the property while they hash out new prices and whatever.  Eventually they'll usually settle on a cheaper price for the previously-rejected stuff and you back up to the dock once again (if you ever pulled away from it in the first place) and they take the stuff. It's almost always time consuming -- several hours or so on an easy claim.

Unfortunately, this claim was not an "easy" one.  The powers that be did not make their deal in time so the receiver made me leave their lot with the product still on the trailer.  I would have to wait until the next morning to get rid of this paltry amount of produce.  I went to the truckstop and got a good night's sleep.

I saw Montgomery Gentry's tour bus at the Pilot truckstop this afternoon but no Montgomery Gentry ... I am a country music fan and especially like seeing all the tour buses around this part of the country.

10-9-00

I returned to the receiver at 7:00 AM this morning....Finally everyone had it together and they pulled the stuff off right away.  Because I have this "weird job" this event did not cost me any income.  For a road driver who is paid per mile, though, that probably wouldn't be the case.

I had had a reload that would've paid 459 miles.  I lost the reload when I was held up in Nashville, TN.  If I were not a salaried driver, I would have been paid $60.00 for the layover.  (Note: All carriers are different in the amount they pay for layover, what constitutes a layover or if they even pay one.)

If I were paid on mileage, this is a breakdown of what I would've lost in income as a result of this claim:

If I were paid:

Pay for 459 miles:

What would have been made.

Layover Pay:

What was made instead.

Difference:

Money lost for driver for that day.

@ .27 per mile

123.93

60.00

63.93

@ .30 per mile

137.70

60.00

77.70

@ .33 per mile

151.47

60.00

91.47

It just doesn't seem fair that the driver would lose that much on something that he/she had no power over. 

This is not my load, but is a good example of a very poorly loaded trailer.  The good thing is that it is just a load of cardboard boxes so nothing will end up broken... Lightweight items are less likely to fall over than heavier items, too.

The crushed apple cases could possibly have been judged as my fault - though they were like that when I picked the trailer up.  If the company chose to do so, those could be charged back to ME.  As it was, they took them and that let me off the hook. (The boxes were in bad shape but the apples were fine inside.)  But if they had not, there's a very good chance that I would've had to pay for them.  You have to be very careful about these things -- I once paid for two cases of parsley because they appeared on my Bill of Lading as being on the trailer but they were not.  I had signed the paperwork, though, so I got stuck paying for them.  There are a lot more details and important factors here, such as your Seal and whether it's Intact, but that is a very lengthy discussion that I just can't go into here.  Suffice it to say:

• Make sure you get the freight you sign for.

• Put your loadlocks or other load securing devices in!  Damaged goods that are rejected -- and not taken by the receiver may end up YOURS.

10-10-00

I drop & hook in Murfreesboro, TN and head straight up to Indianapolis, IN.  I will drop this load there and pick up an empty trailer.  The empty goes to Paw Paw, MI to be dropped and then I'll hook one that goes back to Nebraska at the same place.

I get to Paw Paw, MI around midnight and my load isn't scheduled to even start loading until 6:00 AM so I drop the empty, go to the truckstop and crash.

About 10:00 AM or so I go back to get the load and whaddya know, it's actually done and waiting for me.  I head West.  I have been given plenty of time and I can't believe just how easy this week has turned out to be. 

This load has two drops on it:  the first in Omaha, NE and the second in Norfolk, NE.  There was some debate as to whether I'd do both drops or only the Omaha, NE drop.  My dispatcher is trying to change my "switchout" days to earlier in the week.  Personally, I don't care.  He decides that I should only do the first drop and I'm done for the week.  I can't believe it -- I was only out 5 days instead of 7.  They throw me another curve:  my former partner may or may not be returning so I now have a new partner.  He's in the yard so we get to chat about the job, truck, etc.  He's a new driver -- only been solo a few months -- and is happy about getting this "weird job".  He is somewhat ambivalent about winter driving -- but aren't we all!  I'm sure he'll do fine, after all, he's from North Dakota and those people know about driving in the snow!!!  (Yes, yes, I know, an 18 wheeler is different and all of that...  :)   )

So, my week is done and I'm home again.... maybe next week will be more exciting. 

Note:  Did you notice a new link at the top of the page?  (Photo Albums...Road Pics)  I'm working on getting more pics available -- there are several albums so be sure to check it out. 

10-19-00

I'm due to go out tomorrow so I call my dispatcher today to see what he has in mind.  I am still hoping to go to the northeast to see the changing of the fall colors... it's absolutely beautiful there.  I get some interesting news.... I'm changing partners AGAIN.  No reason why.  My brand-new-but-now-former-partner will be bringing in a load out of Illinois that will deliver in Modesto, CA on Monday morning.  Whoa.... excuse me, the WEST COAST??  I don't mind running out there but I haven't been west of Grand Island, NE since I started working here.  I guess they read my mind that I wanted to go to the northeast this time.... oh well.

10-20-00

I knew it was going to be a really rough week when I awoke Friday with some kind of cold/flu bug thing.  I ran around and got errands done and finally headed out of town.  By then I wondered how in the world I would ever make it to California.  I had a fever, headache, aches, pains, sore throat, cough, the works....  I knew this week was going to be a rough one....

When I got to the truck, my former-former partner was cleaning his stuff out.  He said he needed another half hour or so.  I was happy to go to sleep in my vehicle for a bit.  I was absolutely, positively exhausted and I hadn't done anything yet.

I got my stuff in the truck and went over to the CB shop just a couple miles across town to have them help me get some power hooked up.  I returned to the yard and on the way I noticed my right mirror was shaking really bad.  I asked the shop guy to look at it so he took it all apart, but fixed it.  I hate shaky mirrors.  I got some fuel and finally took off.  My plan was to get close to at least the NE / WY state line (400-450 miles), but I couldn't do it.  I just lost it altogether 200 miles shy of the goal and put it to bed at Overton, NE.

10-21-00

I slept exactly 8 hours and dragged myself into the truckstop to splash cold water on my face and brush my teeth.  I decided to have a little breakfast, which I don't usually do, to give my body a bit of energy to fight off whatever has attacked me.  I jump in the truck and get moving.  I get about 40 miles down the road and cannot make it one more minute because I am going to fall asleep at the wheel.  I've had 8 full hours of rest, it's a beautiful sunny morning and my logbook says I can drive for 10 hours, but here I am, unable to stay awake.  I have to start doing "tricks" to stay awake long enough to find a place to park.  My bag of "stay awake tricks" usually begins with chewing ice, then singing.  If that doesn't work, I resort to the one that always works for me:  I march.  I stomp my feet up and down on the truck's floorboard.  I've found it's impossible to fall asleep if I'm moving so I march and march and march -- sometimes slow, sometimes fast.  Sometimes a high step, sometimes a jog.  It's dumb, but it works.  I've seen too many drivers go into the ditch and I pray I'm never one of them.  I grab the next exit and park on the get-on ramp to the interstate.  I set the alarm clock for 45 minutes and am instantly lights out. 

At least when I wake up after the nap I feel better.... slightly.  I take off again and don't have to do any "tricks" to stay awake.  You've likely heard a lot about driver fatigue and it is a real problem.

There's not a whole lot of scenery in western Nebraska.... It isn't hard to fall asleep out here!

These are gates on the interstate that are used to close down the road in severe winter weather.  Sometimes there are turn around areas in front of the gates.  There are times, though, that the traffic is backed up to the extent that you can't get to the turnaround area and guess where you get to stay until the road opens again....?  Yep, right where you are.

When I cross the Wyoming state line, I start feeling like I am actually getting somewhere.  About 30 miles into the state of Wyoming on I-80 is the Port of Entry.  You are required to stop there and walk inside and show your paperwork.  The signs that are posted don't really make this clear.  I don't know why Wyoming does this -- the other states don't unless you need permits or something -- but you have to do so.  I don't mind - it's a good excuse for a stretch break.

The Port was so packed today that as I reached the door to go inside the building the DOT officer said anyone who didn't need a permit could just go on...

The weather is beautiful today and I'm thankful for that.  Wyoming can be a challenge in the wintertime.

After you leave Cheyenne, WY you begin to climb Sherman Hill.  It's about 30 miles or so of gradual climb up to the top, where there is a statue of President Lincoln.  I don't know why it's called Sherman Hill and in some places it's called Telephone Canyon. (But you'll never hear a driver call it anything other than "Sherman".)  I emailed the state of Wyoming to ask them why it's called Sherman and here's what Julie Francis, Archaeologist, WYDOT said:

The name Sherman Hill goes back to the Union Pacific Railroad built through this area in 1867.  General Grenville M. Dodge was chief engineer for the Union Pacific - he is often credited with the discovery of the route over the mountains through Sherman (also called Evans) Pass.  He was a close associate of several Civil War generals, including William Tecumseh Sherman.  I am assuming that Sherman Pass, Sherman Hill, and the now defunct town on Sherman on top of the mountains were named after him.

Lincoln's statue is associated with the Lincoln Highway - which was the first transcontinental automobile road built in the 1910's  and early 1920s.  This highway was built by local Good Roads Associations and counties before the founding of the Wyoming Highway Department.  The route of the Lincoln Highway was much the same as the original railroad grade.  The Lincoln Highway was rebuilt many times and became U.S. 30 in about 1925;  Interstate 80 superceded U.S. 30 in the 1960s.

This route was chosen because it is one of the few places where there is a gentle grade from the plains on the east to the top of the mountains at the west.  This is known as the Gangplank - you might be familiar with the interpretive sign on the west-bound lane of I-80 closer to Cheyenne.  It is the primary travel corridor over the Rocky Mountains, and there is a lot of history associated with it.

Thank you, Julie, for the information. 

Going down Sherman. (I-80 WY) This is posted as a 5 mile, 5% grade.  It's not too bad when the weather is good, but when the weather is bad (which is fairly often in winter) it can be something else...

A little farther down the grade..

Didn't know that driving a truck would make you a meteorologist, too, did you?  See how the clouds are "streaky"?  This is not a good sign.  Luckily, I made it through the area before any snow fell.  They were calling for 3 - 6 inches for the night.  This was taken somewhere? in Western Wyoming.  I have no idea whose truck this is -- it just snuck in the picture.

Western Wyoming, around Rock Springs, WY on I-80.  I love it here -- it is so peaceful and quiet.  Nature can sure throw you for a loop out here, though.  This is the approximate area that a foot of snow came down a few weeks back and stranded motorists for nearly two days.  I've spent the night out here myself, stranded when the road was closed ahead of me.  Make sure you're prepared when you come out this direction!

At least I do much better and get much farther today... all the way to Park City, UT.  I've been stuffing cold pills and Excedrin down my throat all day.  (nothing that causes drowsiness, though!)  I think I'll live, but it's still undecided.  

10-22-00

I wake in Park City, UT after 8 hours of sleep and feel just about the same as I did when I went to sleep.  Another long day. 

Just after Park City, UT, you descend Parley Summit into Salt Lake City, UT.  This is another grade that isn't too terribly bad, but can be pretty nasty in the winter.  I'm astounded at my good fortune this trip as far as the weather and road conditions go.

There is a Brake Check Area at the top that you're required to make a pit stop at.  You then see the yellow sign below.  I've seen a lot of trucks smoke brakes on this hill.... it has areas that are steep, then straighten out, then get steep again.  I know I've made the mistake in the past that when it straightens out, I grab a higher gear, thinking it's over.... but it isn't.  At the bottom of the grade you're required to exit onto I-215 and if you've come down the hill in too high of a gear, you may be "fighting" it to make the 35mph (?) exit.  (don't remember the speed advisory...)  Salt Lake City, UT is under major construction right now because they're preparing for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. (or that's what I hear anyway.)

On the other side of Salt Lake City, UT, you run across the Salt Flats.  You've probably heard of them before.

Nope, it ain't snow.... it's salt. 

The following comes from ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA.

Stretch of barren salt flats covering about 100 square miles (260 square km) in Tooele county, northwestern Utah, U.S., east of Wendover. The flats, part of the Great Salt Lake Desert, are a remnant of the bed of an ancient lake formed about 30,000 years ago late in the Pleistocene Epoch and named for B.-L.-E. de Bonneville, an explorer and fur trader. The site of Bonneville Speedway, the extremely level, smooth flats are as solid as concrete by the summer's end and are ideally suited for speed trials; several world automobile and motorcycle speed and endurance records have been established there since 1935.

Do You know what this is?  I most certainly do not ... it sits out in the Salt Flats and has been there for a long time.  The broken pieces at the bottom of the "statue" have just sat there forever, too...  Does anyone know what this is or why it's there???  UPDATE:  Thanks to a reader, there is more information available about this "tree".  Click HERE for more...

I make it to Fernley, NV where I grab a shower, food and put it to bed for the night.  My appointment is tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM local time.  (I love the west because I always gain two hours.)  I don't have to be there until 1:00 PM my time but I will leave early in the morning because I still have to get over Donner.  I called ahead to check on the weather and Donner is supposed to stay good and clear for the next couple of days.

10-23-00

I'm up and at 'em around 5:00 AM and off I go.... I don't get very far, however, because I get pulled in to the Truckee Inspection station at Truckee, CA.  I'm glad I have a big time cushion. 

The inspection is pretty short and sweet but not problem-free.  Stupid, that being ME, did not do a very good Pre Trip this morning in the dark, and Mr. Inspector has discovered I have a slack adjustor gone south... literally.

This inspection station has a bad reputation for inspecting A LOT of trucks.  My personal experience hasn't been bad, though...I've been inspected just twice here for the many, many times I've been over Donner. (Over 100 times, I'd bet.)

Guess that shows you how well I did my Pre Trip on Monday morning, huh?

Believe it or not, but this is NOT an Out of Service defect.  I was allowed to go on this way.  I received a "fix it" notice, that I will have to give to the company.  I wasn't particularly worried about descending Donner with one less brake -- my concern was more that the slack adjustor might fall off.  There was very little chance of that happening, though, because it is being held tight by the pin, connected to the pushrod.

I finally make my delivery in Modesto, CA with a minimum of fuss.  I then go to a local truck dealer and get the slack adjuster fixed.  Dispatch had been talking about sending me to Kent, WA next but thankfully changed their mind.  I'd have a hard time making it back on time if I had to run a load up there.  Instead, I am going to load in San Jose, CA the next day.  That load will go to Itasca, IL.  My partner will take it from Council Bluffs, IA to the delivery point.

10-24-00

On the Way to San Jose, CA...

I knew the traffic would be bad ... but I underestimated San Francisco area morning traffic.  I sit in yet another jam.  Here in California the motorcycles ride between the cars, such as this guy below.  I wonder how many get knocked over?

What the heck... if you just can't wait, and you're running late, say to heck with everyone in front of you and just run the shoulder.  That's what these people are doing.

Okay, loaded and rolling towards Council Bluffs, IA.  Once I finally got through the traffic to San Jose, CA, the loading was fast. (2 hours or so.)  I still feel like I am dying, but am happy to be on the backhaul, headed towards home.

Back over Donner Summit.  Eastbound on Donner is the "easy" side.  There is only one grade to descend.  If you're loaded heavily, it takes forever to go up and over Donner eastbound, though.  It's beautiful scenery through this area.

Reno, NV

I make it as far as Battle Mountain, NV before I have to shut it down.  If I wasn't so stubborn, I'd consider going to a doctor.  This flu isn't any better than it was when I started this whole trip.... Des Moines, IA seems like it must be on another planet.

10-25-00

I put in a pretty good day today and make it to Laramie, WY before I quit.  Pretty uneventful day -- the roads have stayed excellent, the weather excellent.  What more could I ask for?

Dispatch has told me that I MUST be in Council Bluffs, IA by 5PM on Thursday, Oct. 26th.  I don't see why exactly -- there will be plenty of time for the next driver to take this load on and make it on time, but whatever.... I want to be back anyway.

I-80 in Nevada is a very pretty, scenic drive, too. 

Way off topic and probably completely inappropriate, did you know prostitution is legal in Nevada?  There are laws as to how often women have to have checkups and so on but.... yikes, what does a lousy checkup prove anyway?  You hear these women advertising on the CB radio in certain places. (Which is illegal)  Far be it for me to judge, but for a little corn-fed girl from Iowa, this has always seemed WAY OUT there.

10-26-00

I wake up in Laramie, WY knowing I have to really stay with it today.  If I stop more than once or twice for anything other than a very quick break, I'll be late.

I only stop twice but I'm still late by about 1/2 hour.  It doesn't end up being important -- my partner wasn't even there yet.