Mad as hell!

Item (1) A fellow company driver wanted to talk. His is fighting with his dispatcher. He is a lease operator and "can't take it anymore." He claims to have been lied to, verbally abused and "screwed" out of detention and layover pay. I asked him whether he called the operations supervisor. He said "no." Why the hell not? "I just can't, I'm just not comfortable doing it." So, you just want to quit, turn in your truck and get on another Greyhound bus for two days, take another road test and physical? - without - even taking the next (small) step and make a telephone call that might solve all your problems? "No." YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

The driver continued: "Listen, I was in the military. One time I complained and I lost a stripe. I just don't feel comfortable making the call. Going somewhere else is just easier." Did you even say to the dispatcher, you have a problem with him? "Yes." And? "He said I must deal directly with him and he wouldn't give me the extension of the operations supervisor." Listen, here is the name and extension of the person you need to talk to - make the call! No wonder there is 135% turnover with drivers. Drivers, stop being wimps and talk!

Item (2) Why is the speed limit on I-40 westbound from Needles, CA (still) 55 mph? This is pure bull. Where are the old farts at OOIDA on this? Where is the lobbying effort to force that idiot Schwartzenegger to change this law!? You drop from 75 mph in AZ to 55 in California. Do you think the big companies would have any balls to fight to change this law. I don't think so. Just the like the crap that is surrounding the "black boxes." CA statewide interstate speeds should be 70 mph for ALL vehicles - 60 mph within the city limits. On the big hills leave the speeds as they are now.

Item (3) Why did I have to stop at the eastbound AZ weigh station to show my registration and IFTA card? I have Prepass and I want to know why I didn't get the green light? What a complete waste of time! Prepass is another organization that chooses not to answer e-mail.

Item (4) When is OOIDA going to change their name and mission to attract company drivers? I have called them twice and spoke to some old lady who doesn't seem to like company drivers. Did you ever pass their headquarters? No truck parking! I've said this before, but I think that Idle Aire should install their nonsense in their employee parking lot. I think they should be called the National Professional Drivers Association. I hope NASCAR isn't using the name.

Item (5) Advertisers - as long as you think of me in stereotypical terms - meaning that I'm some dumb redneck driving a truck listening to Jerry Reid - I will NEVER buy your product. I will never buy Mobil Delvac. Their commercial features the retired driver telling me how great his truck ran for 30 years on their oil. Who cares? This is 2006 not 1976.

Great news drivers...

Another terrorist (skum) killed by British forces (see next item) in Basra yesterday 9/25. For the details go to http://www.foxnews.com We must do everything possible - full court press - to capture Bin Laden and bring him back to NY for trial.

For more information on the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment "The Tigers" please go to http://www.123pwrr.co.us/

Why?

Why do (you) drivers keep parking in handicapped spaces? Are you just plain stupid? You're only going to get chased away or given a ticket. Here at the FJ in Kingman AZ the staff spends more time asking drivers to move out of the 4 handicapped spaces than trying to cook food that has any taste. I think these 4 spaces are absurd.

I don't know any handicapped drivers. I read about them, but I have never seen any. I can support 1 disabled space, but not 4! I am opposed to handicapped spaces anywhere because of all the abuses. My home base is in Florida where just about everyone has a handicapped sticker. My local Lowe's store has 16 handicapped spaces. The people that park there are fine - no wheel chairs, no portable oxygen tanks and walk without a cane.

*** My Highway Watch training material www.highwaywatch.com is still sitting in an envelope in my truck. "They" even sent me a nice Highway Watch pin I haven't opened yet. I'm still wondering if Al-Quida has any desire to steal my load of pipes, lumber or steel. From my viewpoint right now a lot of folks in this truckstop look like terrorists. Holy racial profiling Batman!

It's the weekend

For all Jewish drivers at home, or away from family and friends, happy Rosh Hashanah. Yes, Jews drive trucks! For my fellow Christians, if you don't know what Rosh Hashanah is, Goggle it. Turn off the stupid CB and learn something.

Headed with a load of PVC pipe from the remarkably boring Oklahoma City to Kingman AZ. My dispatcher is taking a well deserved week off - but I'm going nuts dealing with her inexperienced backup. Driver turnover? What about the high turnover inside the operations department?

We're at the FJ tonight right off I40 in Sayre, OK. You asked for it and I delivered - check out my new blog at http://vgrumpytruckstops.blogspot.com

I skimmed a (Werner advertisement) piece by J. Klepper in the Sept. 15-30 "The Trucker" re: blackboxes. What a shitty idea. Another example of OOIDA asleep at the wheel. Don't bother writing your "representatives" A black box to them is something to get porn with. And, Jim, I don't give a crap what Werner does.

Check out Dave Sweetman in "Roadstar" this month and every month. Did you ever see a Yellow Freight or Roadway driver not on the cellphone? I haven't. I'm a libertarian, so the government needs to get out of our lives. So I'm against any law prohibiting cell phones. But, drivers, use your head, buy a hands-free device. And stop driving in, out of or through truck stops and rest areas while using a cell phone, please!

And finally, this week's most annoying commerical is by no other than that county music crooner - the annoying Trace Adkins - for the equally annoying boondoogle Idle Aire. As Adkins travels first-class in his multi-million dollar custom designed Prevost coach - he really gives a flying wazoo about us poor drivers and Idle Aire - yeah right!

On the road again...

I took some time off. For all of you who constantly switch jobs - the longer you stay with a company - duh - the more paid vacation you get. You job changers must love those Greyhound rides, road tests and physicals. Anyhoo - it's always interesting how irrelevant many things become when you're off the road at home.

After only a few days back - this is what comes to mind - (1) The worst drivers are truckers and every asshole that "rides" a motorcycle. (2) Flying J buffet food truly sucks. When a buffet manager stuck his finger in the dried out string beans and pulled one out to taste it, well, I'm leaning more and more to eating out of my truck all the time.

I'm working on an editorial called LEPER COLONY. Stay tuned drivers. And for those of you writing to tell me "you seem so angry." I'm passionate. I'm committed. I'm tenacious. I'm driven. I'm a fighter. And, I'm focused. Don't misinterpret that as "anger".

So? I'm here!

I'm having a life. Keep reading and listening to all the shit they feed you drivers, then come back here for the truth. Christmas coming soon - save your money - Wal-Mart has dropped its layaway service. Bastards. Shop at Target - it's so much better and cheaper. H.E.B. is excellent place for your groceries. The Laredo TX store is outstanding.