"NO MERCY"

I have most definitely had better weeks.  I must warn you that the next couple of weeks of the journal are not particularly positive.  Bad weeks do tend to spawn more bad weeks, though, so I think I'm due for a turn soon..... I can only hope.

5-5-01 (Saturday)

I left out in the early evening on a 2 dropper:  drop #1 in Guilford, CT and the final in West Hartford, CT.  The trailer was loaded and in the yard.  Drop #1 was to come off on Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM, Eastern time.

5-6-01  (Sunday)

I had a pretty good driving day and covered a lot of miles, but in the evening I started feeling kind of "blah".  I hoped I wasn't coming down with something....

5-7-01  (Monday)

Upon waking in the morning, I knew I was in trouble.  I had the worst sore throat I've had in years.  It felt a lot like the flu, too, because everything was achy and sore and my entire head felt like a balloon.  I moaned and groaned awhile and finally got headed down the road.  I had kept my son home from school the previous week with a sore throat and headache so I was pretty sure where I had gotten my problem.  You never really know, though, because you come into contact with so many more germs as a driver.  You are always using sinks, toilets, payphones, etc that thousands of people have put their bacteria on....Disgusting once you think about it.

I didn't make it very far.  I all but collapsed in Milton, PA at the Petro.  I had wanted to get a lot farther before stopping, but I just couldn't.  I decided to sleep awhile there, get up and shower and head to CT in the wee hours of the morning. 

I slept like a rock but still felt as bad.... I was getting the idea this would be a very long week.  I could only hope that after Drop #2 came off that I could sit somewhere for the rest of that day, waiting on a reload.

5-8-01  (Tuesday)

I made it on time to Guilford, CT.  I was hauling nursery stock.  That's a hot thing to haul in the early spring.  It can also be a pain.  For one, once you've unloaded it, you have about 1-2 inches of dirt in the bottom of the trailer.  You have to have a washout afterwards -- and not everyplace will wash out all that dirt -- unless they're paid dearly, anyway.  For two, you often deliver directly to the store and these stores are absolutely not built to accommodate large trucks very well.  This place wasn't too bad, sizewise, though.

I was dying to take a nap and I sure tried.  Unfortunately, the Opti-Idle really went haywire.  It refused to start the truck up.  Normally you would set the temperature that you want for the sleeper and when it gets more than 4 degrees off of that temp, the truck turns on and blasts the heater / air conditioner long enough to get the temp back to what you set it for.  My truck, after first setting the idle would run for about 1/2 hour and then shut off.  No matter how hot the sleeper got, it would not come back on.  The thermostat was also showing temperatures that just couldn't possibly be right.  I discovered this when I awoke from my nap drenched in sweat, with the thermostat reading 86 degrees in the sleeper.   I hadn't had problems prior to this because I'd been sleeping at night and it had been cool, so I hadn't had to run the truck.  I hoped that this was a fluke and the stupid Opti-Idle would straighten up and fly right..... but unfortunately, it didn't.  

For the entire trip sleeping in the truck when it was hot outside was miserable and resulted in waking up drenched....  :(

I called the consignee for directions but apparently whoever I talked to didn't know right from left.  They gave me bad directions so naturally I took a wrong turn and had to goof around with getting turned around.  Their parking lot was much smaller than the first place.  The employees had to get a bunch of orange cones and block off the majority of their small lot.  We had to wait on customers to finish shopping and move their cars so those areas could be blocked off.  

I was hoping with everything I had that I wouldn't have to load until tomorrow.  It was hot and sleeping was not going to be possible until nightfall, but I was hungry and needed a shower.  After finishing unloading, I didn't do my empty call because I had nowhere to sit and do it.  Besides, I wanted to go to the truckstop and take care of me first.

So I did.  The truckstop in West Hartford, CT has a very tight and crowded lot, but I was lucky enough to find a spot and luckier still to get it in there in my current state.  I did the empty call and then got ready to go inside when the Qualcomm went BEEP.  I was surprised at how quickly the Qualcomm had spit back -- and dreading looking at it.  I was quite a mess by now.  Exhausted, sick, dirty, hungry.  I was really dragging butt, I guess you'd say.  I considered ignoring the horrible little machine, but the conscientious driver in me pushed the button.  Of course it was a load.  Of course it had to load right NOW.  Of course it was a hard run.  I damn near bawled but instead decided to just get mad.  (Anger is so much more productive.) 

I let my dispatcher and fleet manager know that I wasn't feeling well.  They acted as though I was lying.... I also sent a Qualcomm message that the Opti Idle wasn't working and the truck wouldn't stay running.  My dispatcher apparently misunderstood because she fired back a message that said, "WHADDYA MEAN, your truck won't run???"  I didn't mean it wouldn't run -- I meant the Opti-Idle wouldn't work -- but after getting my head cut off like that, I didn't bother to explain it to her.  I was told to "Do Your Best."   I also let them know that my logbook wasn't going to let all of this happen -- and the delivery couldn't be made legally.

I ran inside the truckstop, took a quick shower, grabbed a sandwich and headed to Springfield, MA to get a trailer washout and load for Atlanta, GA.

The trailer washout was $80 and took nearly two hours.  By the time I got to the shipper, it was all of 8:00 PM and by the time I was hooked and ready to run, it was about 9:00 PM.  The load was due in Atlanta at 7:00 AM Eastern time on Thursday, May 10th.  1000 miles between Tuesday at 9:00 PM (10:00 PM Eastern) and Thursday at 7:00 AM.  Yikes.

I made it farther than I had thought I could and passed out.

5-9-01  (Wednesday)

Upon waking I felt quite a bit better.  It had been cool that evening and I hadn't had to deal with the Opti-Idle problem.  After a shower I thought I might live through this... but I was still going to be late.  Even if my body held up to make this trip, my logbook said NO WAY.  Every once in awhile your logbook can be your very best buddy.  Today it was mine.  I reminded dispatch that I couldn't legally make this load on time and again heard that dispatcher mantra, "Do Your Best."

I trucked all day and went to bed about 175 miles out of Atlanta, GA.  I was still under the weather, but not quite as bad as I had been.  I was worried, though, because I was lucky that I had "bounced back" like I had and I knew if I kept pushing it, I was destined to get sick again. 

5-10-01  (Thursday)

When I woke up, I was back to feeling terrible.  No surprise.  I made it into the consignee in Atlanta about 2 1/2 hours late.  I didn't feel bad about that at all -- in fact I had to really tweak out the logbook to get there only that late. 

I thought for sure that I was now due for a break.  I had made this stupid Atlanta load and was sick again and desperately needed just a few hours of rest.  It was hot outside -- high 80s or so -- but I was so tired I didn't even care if I had to bake in the truck.  I'd get up and turn the stupid thing on every hour if I had to, I just NEEDED SOME REST!!!!  Surely my dispatcher would grant me this -- I figured she should be happy that I was doing as well as I was considering the truck problem and the sick thing, but she showed her evil side.  BEEP! goes the Qualcomm and I'm dispatched on a straight-thru 375 mile load to Humboldt, TN. 

I fire back a message that DAMN, I AM SICK (okay, so I didn't say it quite like that) and I'd do my best, but I was losing it.  She ignored me.

I got the load picked up, (drop & hook -- they're always drop & hook if you want to sit at the dock for a long time.) and was off on my merry way. 

5-11-01  (Friday)

I stopped once for a soda pop but was still 45 minutes late.  I got to the consignee around 2AM and walked in with my paperwork.  They said to keep the CB on channel 1 and they'd call when it was done.  I went back to the truck and literally collapsed.  I didn't turn the CB on because I knew that by not answering it, I'd probably get an extra 45 minutes or more to sleep.  They wouldn't make the effort to come out to my truck until they needed that dock door.  Now, this is not my usual modus operandi but we are talking desperate times now.

Around 4:30 AM someone came out and woke me.  I couldn't hardly see straight.  I pointed the truck towards the closest truckstop and finally, at 5:15 AM, it was goodnight, Irene.  I qualcommed in that I was starting my 8 hour break (Again, the logbook is my best buddy) and that I'd get with them over lunch hour.

Damn if that Qualcomm didn't BEEP! at 7:30 AM.  There is no mercy.  I ignored it and went back to sleep.

When 7 3/4 hours of my break was up, I read all the messages. (By now there are 4)  My attitude went from bad to horrible.  I am supposed to be home tomorrow.  I already have plenty of miles in.   I am sick and my truck won't work right.  Why has my dispatcher become so incredibly evil and wicked???

Three of the messages explain what I am supposed to do.  One message asks why I am not doing those things yet.  My mood is so foul that I don't dare respond.  So, at about 1:00 PM on Friday, May 11th I am given this wonderful assignment:

• Take my empty trailer to Memphis, TN and drop and hook.  (90 miles)

• Take that trailer to Knoxville, TN to drop at the yard.  (375 miles) 

• Bobtail to Chattanooga, TN.  (115 miles)

• In Chattanooga, TN, drop and hook again to grab one that is loaded for Colorado.  Take it to Council Bluffs, IA, where it will be re-powered.  (900 miles)

I made it as far as exit 235 or so in Tennessee, on the way to Knoxville, before I lost absolutely every ounce of energy possible.  I got a motel room.

5-12-01 (Saturday)

It is now Saturday and I am supposed to be home.  Instead, I am in Tennessee with well over 1000 miles yet to go.  My attitude and health are at an all time low.  I am one very unhappy, grouchy and irritated driver.  I don't talk to anyone and try desperately to just keep on truckin'.  These are the days that I hate.  I have nothing nice to say to anyone and have one absolutely wicked look in my eye. 

I get all the drops and hooks done and make it back up into Kentucky before I call it enough. 

5-13-01  (Sunday)

This morning as I feel sorry for myself for the rotten week I've had (and am still having), the thought pops into my head that: I am going into my 8th day on the road and have run a lot of miles.... and this means that I may be in trouble with the 70 Hour Rule.  This isn't usually a problem since I only stay out 7 days at a time -- but this is no ordinary week.  Sure enough, after figuring it up, I only have 4 hours driving time today.  That will get me only to St. Louis, MO -- not anywhere near far enough.  If I do this legally and wait until midnight to gain hours, there will not be enough time for the next driver to make an on time delivery in Colorado.  Hmmm.... this is a lose/lose situation.

I shouldn't admit it -- really shouldn't -- but I trucked that baby on in there, anyway.  

By the time I got to the yard it was Sunday night and I was running only on pure adrenaline, born of pure, raw, bitter anger.  I shouldn't admit that, either, but I gotta tell ya, there are times you'll feel it, too. 

Later in the week I went to the doctor and at first he said I had pneumonia.  After $200 worth of X-Rays, however, he decided I had "Acute Bronchitis".   Three prescription drugs and about two days of bed rest finally brought me back to the world of the living.

May 5 - May 13, 2001

4500 (hub) miles

(Click map to see larger version.)

5-19-01  (Saturday)

I called my dispatcher yesterday to find out about my load.  Much to my surprise and disappointment, she insisted that I was going to have to leave out on Sunday morning.  I told her that I hadn't gotten back in until late Sunday night -- and wouldn't have even done that if I hadn't broke the 70 Hour Rule, but she wouldn't give an inch.  I called my fleet manager and threw a truck-driver style tantrum.  I mean, CMON, Sunday is Mother's Day, after all, can't someone grant me just a little mercy???

I inquired about whether someone had repaired the Opti-Idle.  I was told that no one had.  I refused to go in that truck.  I was given a different truck to use.

I called my dispatcher back and she had mellowed out some.  She offered me a different deal.  She said there was a load sitting up in Schuyler, NE going to Michigan for Monday morning.  It had two drops on it:  Muskegon, MI and Bridgeport, MI.  If I would run over to Schuyler, NE on Saturday, then I could be back home on Saturday night, enjoy most of Mother's Day with my child, and run most of the night to Muskegon, MI.  The Bridgeport, MI delivery wasn't until the next day, so I could rest all day after the first drop was off.

I didn't like the plan a lot -- my usual 7 days off just got narrowed down to 5 days -- but it was better than missing Mother's Day altogether.  My son rode with me over to Council Bluffs, IA to get the truck and on up to Schuyler, NE to get the load.

When the load wasn't ready, I wasn't surprised.  When it wasn't ready 3 hours later, I still wasn't surprised.  I was incredibly disappointed, though.  My son had a baseball game at noon on Sunday and I had to have him back in time.  I had been misled, misdirected, mis-something on this one.  

We drove over to the next closest town, which is big enough to have a movie theatre, a Wal-Mart and a Village Inn.  Since I was told the load was ready, I hadn't brought any of my overnight stuff, nor had I brought anything for my boy.  By now, though, I figured that we were staying the night in Schuyler, NE -- and without so much as a toothbrush or a clean pair of underwear.  We bought the essentials for an overnighter and a computer game for entertainment.  After some food we headed back to the little parking area for drivers waiting for loads to come out of the meat plant.

This parking area is about 1/4 mile from the meat plant and operated by a private owner.  There is a very small TV area, two telephones and two showers.  They sell soda, candy, a few t-shirts, etc.  It is open 24-7.  When a driver begins his long, long wait for a meat load, he comes here.  If you tell the people your truck number and pickup number for the load, they will notify you when the meat plant calls them to say the load is ready.  They will try to call you on the CB and if you don't answer and it is daylight, they will come out to your truck.  They won't come outside to wake you at night, which is understandable, really. 

By the time my son and I returned to this lot to wait, it was 8PM.   We'd been waiting about 5 hours.  It was apparent we were going to be there awhile.  We played on the computer and finally tried to sleep.  I only had one blanket and one pillow and you have to know who got those.  I couldn't sleep.  I was just too mad.  Last week was still on my mind, too.  I had the CB on so that I could get up and go the second someone called about my load.   Some freaking idiot kept blasting Judas Priest and various others across the CB.  He'd do so for about 3-4 minutes, then the CB would go silent.  Just as you thought he was done and had gone away, here comes another few minutes of head banging rock.  I like my rock-n-roll well enough, but not like this, thank you.  This was not conducive to sleep.  Finally I turned the CB off and set the alarm for 7AM.

5-20-01  (Sunday, Mother's Day)

At 7AM the load still wasn't done.  I was a nervous wreck about the baseball game.  Finally at 8:15 AM I got the CB call that the load was ready.  I grabbed it, weighed it out, slid the axles and headed East.  As long as I went straight thru, I would get my boy to his baseball game barely on time. 

As we neared Des Moines, IA the clouds became darker and darker.  Sure enough, it started to pour rain.  The baseball game was cancelled.  All that stress.

I went home for my 8 hour break.  I got back in the truck around 8:00 PM.  My mom came over today but I was so worn out and stressed out that we didn't really do anything -- like go out to eat or whatever it is most do on Mother's Day.  The whole thing was depressing.

I made it as far as somewhere in Illinois and went to bed.  The way I figured it, since the meat plant was 8 hours late loading the load, it was most likely going to be about 8 hours late being delivered.  (The "dead" time on the load had been midnight on Saturday night.)  I was starting the week with my attitude bent out of shape.  (Not a good thing.)

5-21-01  (Monday)

I ended up delivering about 4 hours late.  I called ahead of time to make sure they wouldn't push me off until the next day.  I had to deliver in Bridgeport, MI the next day at 4:30 AM.  It came off pretty fast and I headed to Bridgeport, MI.  I settled in at the truckstop and played "The Sims" on the laptop for hours.... That's the game my son and I bought when stuck at the meat plant the other day.  It's a great game for reducing stress, even if it has absolutely no point whatsoever.  I built a "Sim Prison" and locked the Sims up and let 'em starve and drop over.  I was in a helluva nasty mood.... (Gosh, you don't think less of me now, do you?)  (Click for Sim Pics)  I had to take it out on someone.

5-22-01  (Tuesday)

Unfortunately, I stayed up too late and overslept.  I slept through my cell phone alarm as well as my wind-up clock alarm.  Upon waking, I was already 2 hours late.  I jumped into the driver's seat and took off.   Thankfully the place was just down the street but the directions were wrong.  They said to look for a "Rite-Aid" drug store and the place was beside it.  I guess Rite Aid moved since those directions were put in.  I found a parking lot plenty big to turn in, but took down a telephone or cable line.  I'll bet someone was happy.  I didn't see it at all because it was still dark out.  I heard a "SNAP!" and there it was, on the ground.  Eeeek.... gotta go.  I'm starting another day off so well....

That load came off quickly.  The people were very nice.  When I walked in I was quite a sight -- not having so much as combed my hair yet and still wearing sweat pants, but they didn't bat an eye.  In fact, the lady at the receiving desk smiled a big smile and said, "Good Morning!"  as though it really were one.  I did say a short prayer for nice people.  Some are nasty when you are on time, much less late.

From here I headed up to Remus, MI and loaded a load bound for the west coast.  I was supposed to drop it in Ottawa, IL. 

5-23-01  (Wednesday)

It was about midnight when I pulled into Ottawa, IL.  I dropped the trailer I had loaded in Remus and grabbed one bound for Jackson, WI.  I could deliver it up there anytime between 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  I delivered it at 1:35 PM.

From Jackson, it was off to Plover, WI to drop and hook yet again.  This was accomplished by about 9:00 PM and finally, I had a load with some spare time on it.  I needed it.  This load delivered in Holland, OH on Friday at 10:00 AM.  I made it to Porter, IN and went to sleep.

5-24-01  (Thursday)

I slept 13 hours straight.  I can't hardly believe I did that but I must have needed it.  It was mid-afternoon before I came to life.  I had a shower, supper and did some paperwork.  In the early evening I headed over to a little convenience store lot just on the other side of the Ohio line.  There's no truckstop or anywhere to go around Holland, OH so the closest I could get was about 65 miles away, at the junction of US 20 and OH 49.

5-25-01  (Friday)

In the wee hours I headed to Holland, OH.  I got lost yet again.  I'm on a roll lately.  The directions left out the last street you have to turn on to get to the place.  All of the sudden I'm headed into a residential area and I'm thinking.... uh oh.  When I see the signs that say, "Vehicles Over 6000 lbs Prohibited" I know I'm in trouble.  The side streets are too narrow and there's nowhere to turn around.  I decided to just stop with the four ways on before I really got in too deep.  There was a large parking lot ahead, but it appeared the power lines were much too low.  As I sat and pondered, the red and blue flashing lights appeared behind me.  My gut dropped and I hoped this Ohio policeman wouldn't be like the Jersey cop.  He wasn't.  In fact, he was absolutely helpful.  He told me where to turn and where my directions were wrong and even smiled as he talked to me.  Thank heaven again for nice people.

I got into the place and was told to take any dock.  It was a tight place.  They had five dock doors but no room in front so you had to 90 degree it in.  I took the last door -- the easiest to get into, mind you, and went back inside.  I was told I took the wrong door.  (I'm wondering how did I get the "wrong" door when I was told to take any door?)  Come to find out that only one of their docks was tall enough.  My pallets were stacked too high.   Of course there was a truck in the dock I needed.  I waited.  Eventually he left but there was still a truck in the dock door beside him that I would have to back around.  It couldn't be done.  There was just too little room in front to 90 degree around the 2nd truck.  I told the dock guy this and he said, "If you were any kind of truckdriver, you could do it."  My temper flared, because I can back like a madwoman and I know good and well that no one can physically put a tractor/trailer in that dock, around the other truck.  I said, "I bet you couldn't do it."  The look on his face was classic.  I don't think he'd ever been talked to that way.  He seemed like the type of boss that ordered everyone around and they obeyed like good children or he whipped 'em.  I told him I'd wait on Truck #2 and got out of there before I got myself in trouble.