It's amazing that no matter how exhausted you are, when you know you're headed home, you can (safely) push yourself. It's kinda like steering a ship out of a storm knowing you're headed to your home port. Everyone settles down and can relaxes a bit. I never would have gone to sleep if it weren't for Advil and my small bottle of low fat strawberry milk. We're good on hours and will try and get this load delivered early tomorrow so we can be home for dinner. I was watching a tape of the Chrome Shop Mafia show "Trick My Truck" and finally saw a truck that makes sense. Did you see the "Bonnie and Clyde" model? The trucks they "redo" look ok, but in the real world, they are not feasible for the work we do. The "Bonnie and Clyde" truck is awesome. I don't think I would want to back it into a typical FJ or Pilot space, but then with everything this model has on board, I would avoid truck stops and stick to public rest areas. The only thing I didn't like was the flat screen tv on the bottom of the bed - you have to have the bed in the "up" position to watch it. I like watching tv lying down in bed. And, the bed they installed (which is also a kind of mini table) looks too thin. The Mrs. in the show, who is also the co-driver - is a "large" woman (more to love?) - and I don't see the two of them in bed comfortably sleeping together. At minimum they need a queen size pillow top bed or a twin double bunk with two separate televisions. Lastly, I was listening for a few minutes to the "CB". I don't know why I turn it on, but I was curious to see what the poor folks who are so lonely and can't afford cell phone service, a tv or satellite radio, that they need to sit in a truck stop talking to other "losers". One thing that was being "discussed" that bothered me is that "local" Texas cops are stopping trucks for a DOT type inspections. That's bullshit, especially when "locals" can't stop folks and ask if they're in this country legally - and arrest them if their not. That would make sense. Stopping trucks by "Barnie" is another stupid idea in a (once great) state already fucked up. Listen drivers, "locals" should be keeping track of pedophiles, illegals, companies that employ illegals and LOCAL law enforcement issues. Locals should stop pretending to be SWAT teams and DOT officers.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Headed home #2...
It's amazing that no matter how exhausted you are, when you know you're headed home, you can (safely) push yourself. It's kinda like steering a ship out of a storm knowing you're headed to your home port. Everyone settles down and can relaxes a bit. I never would have gone to sleep if it weren't for Advil and my small bottle of low fat strawberry milk. We're good on hours and will try and get this load delivered early tomorrow so we can be home for dinner. I was watching a tape of the Chrome Shop Mafia show "Trick My Truck" and finally saw a truck that makes sense. Did you see the "Bonnie and Clyde" model? The trucks they "redo" look ok, but in the real world, they are not feasible for the work we do. The "Bonnie and Clyde" truck is awesome. I don't think I would want to back it into a typical FJ or Pilot space, but then with everything this model has on board, I would avoid truck stops and stick to public rest areas. The only thing I didn't like was the flat screen tv on the bottom of the bed - you have to have the bed in the "up" position to watch it. I like watching tv lying down in bed. And, the bed they installed (which is also a kind of mini table) looks too thin. The Mrs. in the show, who is also the co-driver - is a "large" woman (more to love?) - and I don't see the two of them in bed comfortably sleeping together. At minimum they need a queen size pillow top bed or a twin double bunk with two separate televisions. Lastly, I was listening for a few minutes to the "CB". I don't know why I turn it on, but I was curious to see what the poor folks who are so lonely and can't afford cell phone service, a tv or satellite radio, that they need to sit in a truck stop talking to other "losers". One thing that was being "discussed" that bothered me is that "local" Texas cops are stopping trucks for a DOT type inspections. That's bullshit, especially when "locals" can't stop folks and ask if they're in this country legally - and arrest them if their not. That would make sense. Stopping trucks by "Barnie" is another stupid idea in a (once great) state already fucked up. Listen drivers, "locals" should be keeping track of pedophiles, illegals, companies that employ illegals and LOCAL law enforcement issues. Locals should stop pretending to be SWAT teams and DOT officers.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Headed home...
Well it turns out we didn't spend too much time down in Laredo. The 100+ heat was a little much - especially when you have to untarp a full load. Just before we M/T'd out we received a preplan for Wildwood, FL. We should be at the house Thursday night. We have been on the road 40 days and have driven over 12,500 miles - which, for a flatbed, is a lot of road time. We stopped by Target off I35 to pick up some needed items to get us home - a few boxes of White Castle cheeseburgers, coffee creamer, plastic cups, bagels and cream cheese, and of course, another 5 pack of underwear. We will purchase more Gatorade as we move toward Florida. Water is not part of our diet. We should have stock in Gatorade. We have three medium sized transformers going to the power company for a 1pm appointment on Thursday. We really need some downtime and hopefully we can spend some "quality" time on the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. There are many errands and things we can't accomplish on the road that need to be taken care of. We need to upgrade our cell phone and get our "new" digital camera repaired - or replace it. There is a new 12 mp (mega pixel) Casio camera that we're interested in. Anyhow -just sitting in the living room in a comfortable chair absorbing the quiet, is what we're really looking forward to the most. We've had some problems with formatting which happens every so often on the blogging system. Despite this, we decided it was a good time to publish our special report on depression. Please read it and pass it along.
Monday, May 28, 2007
SPECIAL REPORT - DEPRESSION
Academy Award winning actress Cher, in the movie "Moonstruck", slaps Nicolas Cage and says "snap out of it!" She was referring to love, but many people believe that by simply saying "snap out of it" someone will "get out" of their depression. It doesn't happen that way. Depression is a subject that, until very recently, was not openly discussed. There are lots of topics bandied about by truckers, but depression is not one them. There are no available statistics regarding how many truckers suffer or are being treated for depression. Many are unsure of what depression actually is, some are uncomfortable dealing with the realities of the disease and most are afraid of losing their job if someone finds out. Untreated depression is costly. A RAND Corporation study found that people with depression symptoms spend more days in bed than those with diabetes, arthritis, back afflictions, lung problems or gastrointestinal disorders. Approximately $65 billion is lost to industry each year because of depression. $15 billion of that is lost to absenteeism. Additional loss results if a drivers untreated depression contributes to alcoholism or drug abuse.Examples of work problems stemming from depression are on the job injuries, accidents, fights, tired unmotivated workers and bad customer service. And equally affected are the innocents victims that have to suffer as well. In the workplace there are your colleagues. At home, your wife or husband, children, relatives and parents. Depression does not discriminate. Both you and everyone around you hurt. Kathleen Cronkite (daughter of broadcaster Walter Cronkite) in her book "On The Edge of Darkness" says that depression "can happen to anyone, at any time and takes many forms. It may be a lifelong problem." Depression affects about 16 million Americans every year. It is not event driven or temporary. You simply change your environment or the events around you and the depression will go away. It is not a "temporary" situation. You can be rich or poor. It is both biological, physical and painful. It negatively impacts your relationships, work, sleep, appetite and your entire life. The most important thing you must do is immediately seek out professional assistance.
If you are having any of the following or similar symptoms, discuss them with a doctor.-loss of energy, feeling run-down despite your activity level
-a change in appetite along with significant weight gain or loss
-sleeping too much or too little
-constant feelings of sadness, tension, stress or uneasiness
-marked decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
-decreased interest in your usual daily activities, hobbies or people
-feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt
-thoughts of suicide or death
Sitting down with a professional can be cathartic. There is no need for embarrassment. If you can't call for an appointment yourself, ask someone you trust to make it for you. For many, especially men, seeking assistance is difficult. Both men and women should try and understand that depression is not a personal weakness. It is not a character or personality flaw or lack of willpower. You do not have to be ashamed, uncomfortable and afraid. Depression is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, along with other factors. It is a disease and is very treatable. Many report that after obtaining help the feeling is comparable to coming out of a dark tunnel. Information and education is power. You can go online to numerous sources and support organizations to learn more about depression. The more you know about the causes, symptoms and treatments, the better empowered you are to deal with the disease. Some facts and terms you should be aware of include:
-SAD or seasonal affective disorder or winter depression. Typical with people who live and work in areas with constant dark, cloudy and dreary days with little sunshine.
-PPD or postpartum depression. Affects about 10% of women. Caused by fluctuating hormones in about half of new mothers. It can happen within a few months after delivery or within the first year after giving birth. It can interfere with the mother's ability to bond with her newborn. It is different from "baby blues" which tends to occur within a few days after delivery.
-PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Most women experience some premenstrual symptoms of irritability or depressed mood. About 5% of women who have PMDD have severe irritability and/or depression for a week or two prior to or during menstruation.
-Clinical depression is the "umbrella" term for any depression that requires treatment.
-Dysthymia or "mood disorder" is the lack of experiencing any pleasure in everyday life and continues for two or more years. It differs from clinical depression in the severity of the symptoms.
-OCD is obsessive compulsive disorder. The brain gets "stuck" on a particular thought, action, urge or purpose and "won't let go."
-GAD or general anxiety disorder is excessive and chronic anxiety which interferes with normal daily functioning.
-Atypical depression affects women and is characterized by periods of depression that seems to get better then worse. Panic or anxiety attacks, overeating, hypersensitivity and oversleeping are symptoms.
-Bipolar or manic is marked by extreme high and low "episodes."
-PSTD or post traumatic stress disorder is extreme fear and anxiety caused by an horrific intensely upsetting event.
-SSRI's or selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors are antidepressants prescribed by doctors in the treatment of depression.
Like any serious medical condition, depression needs to be treated. You can't "go it alone." Untreated depression is the #1 cause of suicide. Find out if your employers has an EAP or employee assistance program. This will enable you to seek professional assistance without anyone on the job knowing. If you know someone who you believe is suffering from depression, encourage them to seek help. Support them and and help them stick with therapy and take their prescribed medication. Understand that depression cannot be treated overnight and that you need patience. Recovery takes time. Just taking that small step to seek help may make all the difference.
RESOURCES:
http://depression.com (THIS SITE FUNDED BY GLAXO SMITH KLEIN IS AN GREAT PLACE TO START
DEPRESSION CARE GIVER SUPPORT:
support groups
DRUGS* YOU SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT:
*many drug manufacturers have their own web sites - do a Google search
Lexapro
Effexor
Prozac
Zoloft
Paxil
Wellbutrin
Celexa
Cymbalta
** The photos used in this special report are from the University of Michigan School of Mental Health web site - the words are by William Styron - please go to their web site for more information: http://sph.umich.edu/.../images/depression.jpg
Memorial Day...
BECAUSE OF OUR HEROIC TROOPS - MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN OUR MILITARY NOW AND IN THE PAST - AT POSTS WORLDWIDE - OUR BLOG DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THIS!!! - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE HONOR YOU ALL!!!
Das nationale Brett des Berichts (NBR) hat festgestellt, daß dieses blog ungültig ist und sofort geschlossen werden wird. Die Autoren wurden festgehalten. Ein sofortiger Versuch wurde gehalten. Alle sind zur alleinen Beschränkung während einer unbestimmten Zeit verurteilt worden. Wir haben eine Liste der Teilnehmer erhalten. Nationale Ermächtigungen sind für ihr Anhalten von unserer geheimen Polizei herausgegeben worden. Dieses dient als Warnung für jeden Bürger, NBR Politik nicht durch jeden möglichen Versuch zu verletzen, frei zu sprechen und ihre Meinung auszudrücken. The translation is as follows: The national board of the internet (NBI) stated that this is an illegal blog and will be closed immediately. The authors were arrested. An immediate trial was held. All were sentenced to reorientation prison for an indefinite time. A list of their subscribers was confiscated. The secret police will arrest them all. This serves as warning for each citizen not to attempt to speak freely and express their opinion.
Das nationale Brett des Berichts (NBR) hat festgestellt, daß dieses blog ungültig ist und sofort geschlossen werden wird. Die Autoren wurden festgehalten. Ein sofortiger Versuch wurde gehalten. Alle sind zur alleinen Beschränkung während einer unbestimmten Zeit verurteilt worden. Wir haben eine Liste der Teilnehmer erhalten. Nationale Ermächtigungen sind für ihr Anhalten von unserer geheimen Polizei herausgegeben worden. Dieses dient als Warnung für jeden Bürger, NBR Politik nicht durch jeden möglichen Versuch zu verletzen, frei zu sprechen und ihre Meinung auszudrücken. The translation is as follows: The national board of the internet (NBI) stated that this is an illegal blog and will be closed immediately. The authors were arrested. An immediate trial was held. All were sentenced to reorientation prison for an indefinite time. A list of their subscribers was confiscated. The secret police will arrest them all. This serves as warning for each citizen not to attempt to speak freely and express their opinion.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Buenos dias, Laredo...
Well, we left Waco about 1:30pm and arrived at the FJ in Laredo at 7:45pm - 322 miles. Along the way there were 5 separate accidents. One accident northbound I35 just outside of San Antonio involved a Greyhound bus, the front end of which, was hanging over an overpass. Did you ever wonder why buses are allowed to fly down the interstate at 80 mph with no left lane restrictions with 50 souls and a shit load of luggage (and oranges) on board? Here at exit 13 FJ, and soon T/A, has broken the back of the truck stop monopoly that Pilot has had down here for years. Pilot managed to screw drivers with high fuel prices and paid parking. Every time I pull into the relatively new FJ, I look across the interstate and remember how angry I used to get going into the Pilot. It will be good having the T/A, but I see they are installing that stupid Idle Aire. If the T/A sticks to having just a Burger King as their only meal source, I'll eat at the FJ, then park down at our terminal. Further south on I35 before the Wal-Mart, you can get a good meal for a fair price at the Golden Corral or the large Chinese buffet place next to Lowe's on the east side of the interstate.
From the southern tip of San Antonio to Laredo, I saw one border patrol car. First of all, one car sitting by the railroad tracks is worthless. Second, this must be one of the most boring jobs in America, sitting there all day waiting for some poor desperate Mexican to come running by. Can you say "really big fence?" I'd rather see that guy (or gal) sitting in front of a set of high tech cameras monitoring that fence across the border. Remember that Baghdad Bush was the governor of this once great state. Screw Laredo, have you been though Dallas lately? Check out http://weneedafence.com. In addition to "really" securing our southern border, let's start going after the companies who hire these folks! Memorial Day tomorrow - we're sleeping in late and then going shopping at Wal-Mart and H.E.B.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Chicago low clearances...
Jesus. I can't believe our last post was this past Monday. We've been on the road since April 20th - 37 days! We never made it home for Memorial Day. The Mrs. was not pleased. Dispatch asked if we wanted to take a load from Chicago to Commerce City, CO. We said ok and when we got to the shipper it turns out the load was given to another driver. Since it was late in the afternoon we shut down and spent the night in a safe spot in downtown Chicago. The next morning we got a load to Laredo from Libertyville, Ill. Right now we are at the FJ off I35 in Waco, TX. We took a break from our boycott of FJ and had an excellent dinner of steak and salad. If you're new to acourtesyflush we returned defective wi-fi product to FJ headquarters over a month ago. We've heard nothing from FJ. They owe us $90. I'm gonna get my money back if I have to drive to their corporate headquarters and make a visit to their president.I should remind you that there are many areas of Chicago that have low clearance restrictions. If you're using MS Streets & Trips, it will NOT route you around these obstacles nor advise you of them. I strongly suggest you purchase a Chicago Underpass Clearance Map for about $4.95. My tractor is (about )12' with low stacks. I drive a flatbed that is usually not loaded high - so I can pretty much get around most of Chicago without a problem. There was a rig 13' 6" high stopped in front of me. Why he was going this way, I don't know. An old guy was driving. So there he was stopped right before the bridge labeled 13" 2". He looked at me, lifted his arms, kind of asking what should he do? I did not respond. A bystander waved him under and through. He hit the rear of the trailer against the bridge. I didn't see any damage unless there was a hole in the back rear top of the trailer. What can I say? He pulled over after he "cleared" the overpass to get out and inspect any damage. I came through and passed him. I hope he realized that he has two more low clearance overpasses to get under before he gets to the interstate.
Monday, May 21, 2007
NASCAR...huge amount of Novocaine
Greetings drivers. We're here, having just M/T'd out, at the Sapp Bros. off US77 in Fremont, NE. There are long wide angled lanes for parking and a back dirt lot for additional "late night" arrivals. Another facility FJ needs to model themselves after. We just competed a 1400 mile trip from just off the Canadian border in MT. We did stop in Gillette SD and I picked up a new package of underwear from Wal-Mart. At least I'll have my "you know what" covered until I get home, hopefully by the end of this week.I spent a lot of time this weekend listening to NASCAR on Sirius 128. Are you following this whole "deal" between NASCAR, Nextel and AT&T Cingular? I'll talk about that later. This week was the $1 million dollar (no points) "all star" race at Charlotte, NC. I found the whole "affair" boring and didn't even bother listening to the rest of the race after the "Latin stallion" Columbian Juan Carlos Montoya crashed right after the start of the race. Then there is the whole "deal" between Jr. and Teresa. If you don't follow NASCAR, you really should, because it is so much more than a bunch of "rednecks" going really fast "round and round" a oval paved track.
Another driver, when I was fueling somewhere off I90, came up to the truck - he noticed my load of Canadian lumber - said "isn't that great - your delivering Canadian lumber into the US and it's going to be assembled by Mexicans." I laughed. When I pulled into the receiver in Mead, NE, I shut the engine off, opened the door, and there was Latin music blasting in the truss assembly building. All the workers there were young Mexicans. All the forklift drivers are white. I guess I really don't care - everyone should have a decent job - I just wonder where all the white non-union factory workers have gone? I can't believe they've all moved on to better paying office jobs somewhere.
So, back to NASCAR. It is the feeling of the acourtesyflush staff that NASCAR is not stock car racing. NASCAR today is like the US Department of Agriculture "racing" its fleet cars. In its effort to "level the playing field" and sell exclusive rights to Nextel, Goodyear and Sunoco, NASCAR has injected one huge amount of Novocaine into the sport. There is only one car - only the decals are different. NASCAR threw Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota in a large barrel and out came a 3400 lbs. vehicle called the "Car of Tomorrow (COT)."Even the tires and fuel are all the same. This is NOT competition! What this is, is boring! That's why the Jr. - Teresa "deal" is more interesting than the races. That's why watching a 11.5 second pit stop is more interesting.
What we need is a good ole down 'n dirty General Lee - Boss Hog kinda race. No DOT type bureaucracy where the "leadership" is more interested in inversion, restrictor plates, pit stop speed violations and exclusivity agreements for everything from cell phones, ring tones, clothing to tires, fuel and telecommunications. NASCAR is so afraid of 225 mph, just like CA and Illinois are of trucks going faster than 55 mph. With all the NASCAR crap in the cars, how many crashes were there this weekend? No more or less than if the cars were moving at 200 or more mph. I've said it time and time again, accidents will happen no matter how many rules, laws and regulations you implement. NASCAR needs a fast car using Exxon fuel with Bridgestone tires in a Chevy truly designed and manufactured by Chevy!
NASCAR is choking on their own greed. Was this weekend's race on television so truckers (100,000 or more are NASCAR fans) could watch? NO, it was not broadcast on FOX, but on Speed. I don't even know what Speed is! I asked the wife and she said we get it on our cable service (for an extra fee) somewhere in the 200 channel area. Are they kidding? Apparently not. I could listen to it on Sirius, but despite the fact that I pay a monthly fee for the service, the NASCAR channels have tons of commercials!
Nextel has one of these exclusivity agreements and was pissed when AT&T wanted to put its logo on the #31 car. Nanny nanny boo boo - waaaaaa! Nextel said we're the official cell service of NASCAR - go screw AT&T. Sat. morning a judge said it was ok (at least until another court opens on Mon.) to put the AT&T decals (which owns Cingular) on the damn car. More distraction from the races. Do the fans really care about all this corporate sponsorship bullshit. I don't know. Jeff Gordon #24 is sponsored by Dupont - a Fortune 500 chemical company based in Delaware. I don't care one way or another unless they're doing something stupid like polluting the planet. I hate Home Depot so I won't support Tony Stewart. I like Lowe's, but I can't recall now who their driver is. I use both UPS and Fedex. How could you not "like" the Army so Mark Martin is ok.
Listen, I've just got another load and perhaps I've gone on too long. You get the point, without "real" competition, NASCAR is just not that interesting. It's funny that folks say truck drivers always want this and that - what they want is to be paid fairly for all that they do. I'm surprised NASCAR doesn't charge to flush using water provided by their corporate sponsor Propel. Many drivers can't even afford to go to these races. NASCAR needs to bring back real stock car racing! What they need is a real big courtesy flush!
(photo from http://worldofstock.com )
Friday, May 18, 2007
I've been on the road now for 29 days. I am wearing my last pair of underwear. I need to stop at a Wal-Mart and buy a pack so that I will have some for the next week. I used to do laundry on the road, but no more. It is rare to find a clean laundry room. I like to wash my clothes twice to get them really clean, and it is just more economical to do it at home. I'm in good shape with pants, shirts, socks and bedding.
Yesterday, I left the Muralt's Ambest at about 6am, picked up the load and got back to the truck stop in Missoula MT around 5pm. It was 346 round trip miles. US93 is being widened and repaved so going north and south took about 8 1/2 hours. It doesn't matter because the scenery was outstanding. Too bad the winters here are so damn long, dark and frigid. There was nobody in the water which was probably in the 50 degree range.
The load CAT scaled at 80,040 lbs. with the tanks a little over a half full. The paid miles for this trip are 1684. The "real world" miles (shortest route) from MS Streets and Trips are 1950, a difference of 266 miles! Now I'm driving this company truck 1950 miles and using diesel to move the freight 1950 miles. If the carrier is charging the shipper 1684 miles then they're getting screwed, not to mention underpaying me for my professional services.
Item #2 - There is a company called Exit 39 or Exit 41 - something like that - and listen to this. They install and provide "off-site" take-out order service. You pull into a Wendy's drive-thru. You place the order to someone somewhere else - could be you're in NJ and the order-taker you're talking to is in Utah. The company says this is more efficient. The order taker will be trained to speak clearer and the mic set-up is promised to be far superior to what is presently used. They say order-takers will not be in Mexico or India. Maybe we will soon see the clerks behind the counter at Pilot and FJ replaced by machines. It couldn't any worse that things are now.
Item #3 - There are occasions, after I pay for my scale ticket, that a driver comes up to me and asks me how to get his load legal. I guess they don't cover that during new driver orientation. I drive a spread axle so I really don't care about moving axles backward or forward. My fifth wheel is fixed, so I don't care about adjusting that either. If I were to drive a box I would have spread axles, and forget about all this nonsense. As I understand it, each slot that you move the axles forward or backwards shifts about 350 lbs. of weight. I'm sure that differs from trailer to trailer. So, if you slide the axles forward (push the trailer back) you're putting more weight on the trailer axles and less on the drives. If you slide the axles back (push the trailer forward) you put less weight on the trailer axles and more weight on the drives. Just thinking about all this gives me a headache. If you have questions adjusting the weight on the steers, talk to an experienced driver for assistance.
Item #4 - Do you work for a carrier that uses a "fuel solution" type of system. What a pain in ass. On this load, the "mandatory" fuel stops are - 117 gallons at Jakes Exxon in Ritzville, WA, 50 gallons here at the Muralt's Ambest in Missoula, 128 gallons at the Pilot in Rocker, MT and finally 50 gallons at the Pelican truck stop in Laurel, MT. This system is reported to save the carrier about $30K a month.
Item #5 - Why can't you comment or send us an e-mail here at acourtesyflush? Our feeling is that you should expend your energy communicating with your elected representatives rather than contact us. Their addresses can be found via Google.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Big changes at OOIDA...
Grain Valley, MO - In a stunning early morning raid, members of PDFC (professional drivers for change) raided and took over the headquarters of OOIDA (owner operator independent drivers association). The OOIDA sign on the outside of the building was taken down and replaced with PDFC neon signs. As morning lite appeared, the PDFC ordered Jim Johnson and Todd Spencer to retire effective immediately. The 22 member board, 99% overweight old white males, were thrown out of office. All (alleged) 153,277 members were notified by e-mail that the old OOIDA is dead. The PDFC will be the new organization. Since OOIDA has done nothing worthwhile to assist drivers since the 1970's, all welcomed the change. The OOIDA has miserably failed to represent professional company drivers since the organization was founded 30 years ago. It allegedly been "in the pockets" of unions, the big 5 trucking companies and the ATA. The organization will now represent all professional drivers both company and owner operators. The PDFC will aggressively pursue the elimination of dual speed limits, moronic trucking laws, outdated weigh stations and black boxes. They will insist on the immediate change of HOS regs and insist on a Federal trucking simplification bill. They will fight to institute waiting time pay, real world miles and minimum pay of $.50 a mile. It is anticipated that membership will shortly triple. Other employees of OOIDA will be allowed to return to work if they promise to get their heads out of their asses.(important notice - this story is fake and unfortunately never happened)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Illegal vibrating condom...
Pool photo by Mike Derer. 201 people wrongly convicted of crimes sentenced to 2500 years in prison have been released because DNA evidence has cleared them. This photo is of Bryon Halsey, convicted of murdering 2 kids in NJ. His neighbor, who testified against him back in 1988, was apparently responsible. For more information, go to http://innocenceproject.org/Item #2 - We're headed 378 miles to Eureka, MT (a few miles from the Canadian border) to get a load of lumber going 1306 miles to Mead, NE. We'll try and get something in NE to get us home for the holiday weekend. As any experienced driver knows, the holiday is when you get home. If we have to be on the road over Memorial Day and get home the following week - that's fine. The only weird thing is that the load time is for 8am in the morning. I said to move up the pick time to 1pm - that way I can recharge my hours and have 70 to get us home. The answer I got was that this load was supposed to be picked up today, so I have to be there in the am. If they needed it picked up today, all they would have had to do is tell me last night. I could have picked up the load, shut down for 34 and recharge my hours and still deliver on time Mon. at 8am. Whatever. I'll probably head that way in a while and find a spot to shut down on I-90E, before heading north on US93. I'm telling you folks, even at the best of companies, the communications sometimes really sucks.
Item #3 - Do you use condoms? I heard an advertisement for Trojan condoms that employs a vibrating ring around the penis. Apparently the sale of this product is illegal in some states. Are they kidding? Why is our government (at the state level) involved in what people do in their bedroom? Another extremist conservative chicken shit Christian legislator I'm sure is responsible for this nonsense. Can you say "buc, buc, buuuc!"
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Outstanding!
On the left is left is Air Force Staff Sgt. Edward B. Albietz in his "work clothes". He recently received the Bronze Star. On the right is Maj. James Gant, of the Quick Reaction Force Battalion Transition Team. He was awarded the Silver Star. For details please go to the US Central Command website. Gentlemen, we salute you for your outstanding service to the nation.
$9.9 mil for the General Lee!
Greetings drivers from the King City, WA truck stop off US395. I'm 2560 miles from my front door in Florida. This is a beautiful area, but I've never been a "West Coast" kinda guy. Waiting for dinner, I was reading the Wala Wala real estate guidebook. I found a great house on the Columbia River for $2.1 mil! Maybe if I owned the trucking company, rather than driving for it, that might be possible. But for now we have the night off, and will wait for dispatch tomorrow. I ordered the deluxe burger (swiss, mushrooms, cooked onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo and pickles) with fries and an ice tea - bout $9 bucks. Too bad only one waitress was doing all the work. She earned her $2 tip.
Today, the "Reverend" Jerry Falwell died. I never liked him. I did not like what he stood for. I did not like anything he said. If there is a heaven, I don't think he will be welcome there. I'm sure we'll see a cover profile and memoriam in an upcoming Pilot Challenge Magazine. Anyone wonder where "Lynchburg" got its name? I'm a believer in reincarnation. Maybe this evil pasty faced fat bastard will come back as gay slug. What goes around, comes around.
It's been a month since I returned a defective wi-fi card and antenna to FJ corporate headquarters. I have heard nothing from them so far. This is typical FJ who NEVER answers customers complaints or concerns. They owe me $90. I should charge them for my time for the three weeks my laptop was screwed up by the defective software.
When I was doing my pre trip this morning I noticed one of my trailer tires had blown. I was parked at the Idle Aire free T/A at Boise, Idaho. I was in and out in about an hour. One thing about the company I work for - they don't screw around with road repairs and new tire replacement. We have a national Bridgestone account and use it.
Later in the day I stopped at the I84 Oregon scales for a visit with their DOT. Apparently my plate number showed that I did not have an OR permit. It was a paperwork error and they issued me a correct permit. At all times, everyone I came in contact with was professional and easy going. In other words, they were not anal retentive assholes like - oh, let's see - Mississippi. Driving across the Washington scales at 3 mph is, well, moronic.
Idaho is ugly. Oregon magnificent. Washington marvelous. The dual speed limits are bullshit. There is no active Pre Pass. I chose to stay at the legal limit of 55 - screw everyone else. Greyhound, Central Refrigeration, Wal-Mart, Interstate, and every other RV chose otherwise. I don't blame Greyhound from flying along at 80 - he has to stop at every jerk water town that has a bus station.
I see the fine in OR for not wearing seat belts in $97. Who came up with that figure? I think it should be $500. Why screw around?
The "company" I delivered to was nestled in between a bunch of vineyards. And guess what? The white (slave) owner with the $75K Mercedes employs MEXICANS! The supervisors are all in their early 20' s and white. They drive late model Ford and Chevy pick-ups. When the break whistle blew - all the Mexicans huddled at one end of the yard and the white "supervisors" smoked their cancer sticks* at the other. No company bowling team here. At quitting time, all the Mexicans drove off, piled into two trucks, for what I imagine is less than desirable housing at the edge of town next to the interstate or the Santa Fe tracks. The owner probably went home to his big house and pool knowing he isn't giving these folks any health insurance, 40lK's (yeah right!) or other typical benefits. Who knows if any of these workers are even legal. It' s a long way from W. Richland WA to the Mexican border.
There is a debate tonight. Who cares? It' s too early. There are only 4 "players" who really matter anyway. What's more important is 3 of our service members are in the hands of the enemy in Iraq. 4 others lost their lives in an ambush. They need your prayers tonight.
Where I'm at there are no painted lines, no Idle Aire, no local "Barney Fifs" hassling drivers, very few T/A style potholes, easy access Wi-Fi and plenty of parking - 24 hours a day. I'd like to slap the president of FJ with a damn paintbrush full of white line paint right on the side his head.
Lastly folks, the General Lee sold at auction for $9.9 mil. Can ya'll believe that? Apparently acourtesyflush can't confirm that this story is true or a hoax. We'll get back to ya'll.
* $40 for a carton of smokes - are ya'll crazy? Pilot, FJ, T/A and Love's love selling ya'll this junk. Time to call it quits was 5 years ago for goodness sakes! Cancer, heart disease and emphysema is no fun.
Today, the "Reverend" Jerry Falwell died. I never liked him. I did not like what he stood for. I did not like anything he said. If there is a heaven, I don't think he will be welcome there. I'm sure we'll see a cover profile and memoriam in an upcoming Pilot Challenge Magazine. Anyone wonder where "Lynchburg" got its name? I'm a believer in reincarnation. Maybe this evil pasty faced fat bastard will come back as gay slug. What goes around, comes around.
It's been a month since I returned a defective wi-fi card and antenna to FJ corporate headquarters. I have heard nothing from them so far. This is typical FJ who NEVER answers customers complaints or concerns. They owe me $90. I should charge them for my time for the three weeks my laptop was screwed up by the defective software.
When I was doing my pre trip this morning I noticed one of my trailer tires had blown. I was parked at the Idle Aire free T/A at Boise, Idaho. I was in and out in about an hour. One thing about the company I work for - they don't screw around with road repairs and new tire replacement. We have a national Bridgestone account and use it.
Later in the day I stopped at the I84 Oregon scales for a visit with their DOT. Apparently my plate number showed that I did not have an OR permit. It was a paperwork error and they issued me a correct permit. At all times, everyone I came in contact with was professional and easy going. In other words, they were not anal retentive assholes like - oh, let's see - Mississippi. Driving across the Washington scales at 3 mph is, well, moronic.
Idaho is ugly. Oregon magnificent. Washington marvelous. The dual speed limits are bullshit. There is no active Pre Pass. I chose to stay at the legal limit of 55 - screw everyone else. Greyhound, Central Refrigeration, Wal-Mart, Interstate, and every other RV chose otherwise. I don't blame Greyhound from flying along at 80 - he has to stop at every jerk water town that has a bus station.
I see the fine in OR for not wearing seat belts in $97. Who came up with that figure? I think it should be $500. Why screw around?
The "company" I delivered to was nestled in between a bunch of vineyards. And guess what? The white (slave) owner with the $75K Mercedes employs MEXICANS! The supervisors are all in their early 20' s and white. They drive late model Ford and Chevy pick-ups. When the break whistle blew - all the Mexicans huddled at one end of the yard and the white "supervisors" smoked their cancer sticks* at the other. No company bowling team here. At quitting time, all the Mexicans drove off, piled into two trucks, for what I imagine is less than desirable housing at the edge of town next to the interstate or the Santa Fe tracks. The owner probably went home to his big house and pool knowing he isn't giving these folks any health insurance, 40lK's (yeah right!) or other typical benefits. Who knows if any of these workers are even legal. It' s a long way from W. Richland WA to the Mexican border.
There is a debate tonight. Who cares? It' s too early. There are only 4 "players" who really matter anyway. What's more important is 3 of our service members are in the hands of the enemy in Iraq. 4 others lost their lives in an ambush. They need your prayers tonight.
Where I'm at there are no painted lines, no Idle Aire, no local "Barney Fifs" hassling drivers, very few T/A style potholes, easy access Wi-Fi and plenty of parking - 24 hours a day. I'd like to slap the president of FJ with a damn paintbrush full of white line paint right on the side his head.
Lastly folks, the General Lee sold at auction for $9.9 mil. Can ya'll believe that? Apparently acourtesyflush can't confirm that this story is true or a hoax. We'll get back to ya'll.
* $40 for a carton of smokes - are ya'll crazy? Pilot, FJ, T/A and Love's love selling ya'll this junk. Time to call it quits was 5 years ago for goodness sakes! Cancer, heart disease and emphysema is no fun.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Chicken shits! That's how I feel about the mainstream press. I'll also throw in the "media" that represents our industry. Why? Because of their piss-poor coverage of our brave service members, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. I e-mailed an editor of one of the "travel center" magazines asking if he would like to come with me to Iraq to do a story which would result in dedicating an issue or two to our troops. This chicken shit corporate pinhead never even bothered to answer me. I don't care how you feel about how we got there, what we're doing there and when we're going to leave. What matters is that our service members get 100% support from us. Let us never repeat the disgrace of how our troops were treated when they returned from Vietnam. If there is a hell, I'm sure Lyndon Johnson is there burning in eternal damnation. Drivers, I need your help with this. Get on your computers and start e-mailing the chicken shit media and tell them to do more to recognize the heroic efforts of men and women in uniform all over the world. Forget NASCAR, "green" trucks and Larry the Cable Guy for a while and help our folks come out of all this with a big win for our side!
Alright, with that off my chest, let's move forward. I,m here at the T/A in Boise, Idaho off I-84. Seems to be a nice setup, although the Internet service is too damn slow. There are way too many Swift trucks, and that always make me uncomfortable. The weigh station we had to go into about 20 miles ago was a joke. The weigh in motion system did not work, there is no Pre Pass and what the hell do we have to crawl through at 5 mph? Hey, it's amazing that when I left St. Charles, MO last Sat. morning my gross was 52,080 and here it is Mon. afternoon and I'm still about 52.080! Talk about acourtesyflush for this outdated bullshit. Also Idaho's road east of the Snake River are horrible. The dual 65 for trucks 75 for cars speed limits are not a factor since just about everyone is flying along at 80. My truck can't even go 75 so it doesn't really much matter. The rebuild rest areas are at least better than the pathetic ones in VA and NC.
I should be delivering in W. Richland WA tomorrow. I will shut down overnight to recoup hours and then be headed back to the other coast for Memorial Day. If anyone knows of a driver/team who has a Havanese who needs a new home, please contact us. On the political area for a sec, our VP has been overseas talking to a buncha folks. Say what you will about Mr. Cheney, I have a feeling he's not going to put with any BS, unlike President Bush. For example, I think the Mexicans are riding rough shot over Bush. It's almost like they "have" something on the guy. If Cheney was in charge (that is - even more than he already is) I don't think the Mexican problem would such a, well, problem! If you've been a subscriber of this site, you know we are totally against Mexican truckers in our country. We are in favor, not only of a really tall wall along the border, but also a very wide moat with lotsa hungry Florida gators swim'n around.
Alright, with that off my chest, let's move forward. I,m here at the T/A in Boise, Idaho off I-84. Seems to be a nice setup, although the Internet service is too damn slow. There are way too many Swift trucks, and that always make me uncomfortable. The weigh station we had to go into about 20 miles ago was a joke. The weigh in motion system did not work, there is no Pre Pass and what the hell do we have to crawl through at 5 mph? Hey, it's amazing that when I left St. Charles, MO last Sat. morning my gross was 52,080 and here it is Mon. afternoon and I'm still about 52.080! Talk about acourtesyflush for this outdated bullshit. Also Idaho's road east of the Snake River are horrible. The dual 65 for trucks 75 for cars speed limits are not a factor since just about everyone is flying along at 80. My truck can't even go 75 so it doesn't really much matter. The rebuild rest areas are at least better than the pathetic ones in VA and NC.
I should be delivering in W. Richland WA tomorrow. I will shut down overnight to recoup hours and then be headed back to the other coast for Memorial Day. If anyone knows of a driver/team who has a Havanese who needs a new home, please contact us. On the political area for a sec, our VP has been overseas talking to a buncha folks. Say what you will about Mr. Cheney, I have a feeling he's not going to put with any BS, unlike President Bush. For example, I think the Mexicans are riding rough shot over Bush. It's almost like they "have" something on the guy. If Cheney was in charge (that is - even more than he already is) I don't think the Mexican problem would such a, well, problem! If you've been a subscriber of this site, you know we are totally against Mexican truckers in our country. We are in favor, not only of a really tall wall along the border, but also a very wide moat with lotsa hungry Florida gators swim'n around.
Friday, May 11, 2007
I'm wired...
Greetings drivers. Let me reinforce to you that we here at acourtesyflush do not represent the "mainstream" truckers press. Been there, done that, as the saying goes. I have little or no respect for "those" folks. I do not trust them. And, I don't think you should either. My personal experience with "them" was, needless to say, disappointing. That's why you're here on this site reading this. We aren't going to bullshit you. We don't "sugar coat" anything. We don't play golf with management, we are not in the pocket of advertisers and we don't go on those little paid junkets paid for by manufacturers like Kenworth. What you read here is written on the road by truckers on the job. And, most importantly, this being Friday night, we are still on the road, not at home with our family, not fishing or hunting or going out to dinner and the movies. Today, we have been on the road for 22 days. We are not scheduled to be home until the 24th of this month for the holiday. The cute "travel center" press has no clue. They never will. And you know it.
Item #2 - What is it with all these rebates? I don't have time to screw around with filling out and mailing rebates. And the "sneaky" manufacturers are counting on that. One wonders how many of these rebates are actually claimed. I will not buy anything that is not discounted up front. $5 off Diesel Klean is from a mail in rebate. A Delphi XM satellite radio costs you $39.99 AFTER a $40 mail in rebate! A Cobra Nav One model 2500 GPS is $299.97 AFTER a $100 rebate. A $100 rebate - are they kidding? Take the $100 off at the register!
Item #3 - $8 for Gorilla tape. No way. T/A has a $6 version which is smaller than the more expensive version. I'll stick with "regular" duct tape. If Gorilla lowers its price, then I'll buy it. I've written about this before - I'm bringing it up again because I saw it (again) inside the store after dinner. I'm annoyed every time I see something so grossly overpriced.
Item #4 - We saw a multi-band 800 mhz trunk scanner - used only once - on E-Bay. We've had nothing but bad luck buying anything on E-Bay. The bidding was hovering around $80. We checked back and the final bid was $160. With shipping you would do better just buying the damn thing new or on sale.
Item #5 - If I read one more truck review written by someone who has no clue what's it's like to work and live on the road, I'm gonna puke. I drive the 2007 soccer mom version of the KW T600. In the next few days, we'll present a real-world no BS review of this equipment. One thing that really bothers drivers me is what to do with all the damn wires we need for all the equipment that does not come with the truck. I want to ask the Kenworth designers where do "they" expect us to put our cell phone, cb, compass, toaster, microwave, laptop, printer, Qualcom, canned goods, water, clothes, antennas, paperwork, guides and maps and more.
Lastly, we drove 52.8 miles today from the T/A off I70 in Foristell, MO to the shipper to load and then back to the T/A. The majority of the day was spent securing and tarping high value - right off the line - manufactured product. A hot shower, good meal with lot's of ice tea was all we had in mind when the last bungee cord was secured. Tomorrow morning, we're headed to W. Richland WA.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
We're headed from St. Charles MO over to Richland WA with a tarped load of building materials. It will feel good driving the 1881 miles as we've been short hauled to death over the past two months. We do see many drivers in the truck stops who have been sitting for days, so we're not going to whine too much. We're looking to be home for the holiday at the end of the month. The picture to your left is from the Richland WA Tri-Cities boring website. Some other items for your interest: (1) The Sirius satellite radio antenna we've had for three years broke. We replaced it with one of the new Wilson models and it's great. The cost is $29.99 on sale at T/A. It is cheaper than the Sirius replacement antenna. Too bad it was made in Taiwan and not the USA. Barjan should try and build a factory in New Orleans rather than support what is basically slave labor in the Pacific Rim. (2) We've been experiencing worsening service from Verizon. Since it was on sale at Pilot, we installed the Wilson Cellular mirror mount antenna. We'll let you know if it makes any difference. Our contract with Verizon ends this July and we're looking at other services focusing on Nextel/Sprint. I've had it with cell phones with stuff I don't need on them like the useless crappy camera on most models. (3) I'm waiting for my company to figure out why the XM radio - factory installed in the truck - does not work. (4) If Paris Hilton doesn't want to spend 40 days in jail, she can come with me and do all my securement and tarping for a few months. That'll teach her. (5) T/A should upgrade their lousy showers at their location just off I70 Foristell MO. The well water smells horrible, if someone flushes you could get burnt, fans are long overdue and the towels - well - their nasty - especially the wash cloths. On a positive note, the food at the buffet is outstanding. (6) If you use Velcro - and I use a lot of it - forget the black stuff that is sold in the truck stops. Go inside a fabric store and get the beige stuff that women use to secure their unmentionables. It is cheaper and provides a far more secure hold than the so-called "professional" material.
Jr. needs a job...
GREAT HOME TIME, BIG MILES, NO FORCED DISPATCH, SAFETY AND FUEL BONUSES, TRUST US, BE A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY, GREAT SUPPORT, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS, WEEKLY PAY, ORIENTATION PAY, 401k AND HEALTH INSURANCE, NO CREDIT CHECKS, DEDICATED RUNS, LATE MODEL TRUCKS, PAID VACATION, SPOUSE RIDER PROGRAM, SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS, DEDICATED OR REGIONAL.(photo by Amy Conn, Associated Press)
There are well over 100 items on the list...
This is just not any ordinary bus. It is an OTR driver experience simulator. Better known as OTRDES. It is designed for anyone who criticizes us, those who try and pass laws that make our lives and jobs harder and other pinheads and morons that try to negatively impact our profession.Inside there are six (6) modules. Each one simulates what it is like to drive a tractor trailer and be on the road for three weeks. When the participant is done, we can pretty much guarantee that they will experience a serious attitude adjustment. Here is a partial list of what they will experience during the simulation.
1. being forced to drive at 55 mph when everybody else around you is going 70.
2. waiting 10 minutes to enter a weigh station even though you have prepass.
3. waiting 5 hours at a T/A to get your tire repaired.
4. not being able to park at a truck stop at 9pm because the last space is run by Idle Aire and they won't let you have it.
5. being tailgated by another truck who is in a rush to go nowhere
6. being ticketed by the GA DOT because you moved into a lane on I285 where trucks aren't allowed trying to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle.
7. explaining to a new dispatcher why that trip to Indiana won't get you home to Florida.
8. being out of hours in a VA rest area with only 8 truck spaces that were filled hours earlier.
9. learning that you a being charged with a preventable accident even though the car in front of your came to a dead stop on the interstate in an ice storm.
10. waiting for two hours to obtain clearance to get into the port to load freight that is less than 100 yards in plain view from the security gate.
11. watching uninspected containers from Columbia, China and Russia leaving the port for delivery.
12. being told you can't bring your dog, your wife and son on the premises where you are picking up freight.
13. being told you need to wear safety glasses, gloves, steel toe boots, long sleeves, long pants and a hard hat to pick up freight in 95 degree summer weather.
14. being told you have to tarp a load that is sitting in the mud and will be unloaded and left in the snow until the spring.
15. being asked for your truck license, your full name and drivers license # to get into a plant.
16. not being able to take your cell phone into that same plant.
17. trying to fuel at a truck stop during a shift change.
18. trying to fuel at a truck stop when Comdata is not working.
19. trying to use your Comdata card at a FJ.
20. standing on line at Love's with your wet dirty towels waiting to get your points card back.
21. trying to get into a space at a full FJ anywhere.
22. trying to get sleep at either of the T/A's in Ontario, CA.
23. turning on the CB for road info and hearing vile nasty crude unnecessary gibberish.
24. getting the bird from the soccer mom because you're blocking her way as you try to find the truck entrance for company you're picking up at.
25. trying to get directions when your cell service keeps dropping your call.
26. watching another truck cut in front of you while you're waiting to fuel for over an hour at the Pilot in Carlisle, PA.
27. trying to get your fuel receipt and pay for a hot dog and coke while the driver in front of your is faxing 25 pages of customs documents and pays in coins.
28. being told you have to blind back your trailer into a dock built in the 1940's in downtown Chicago.
29. being told there is no freight to get you home for Christmas and you've been on the road for eight weeks.
30. being on the road for eight weeks after the recruiter told you they get their drivers home every weekend.
31. with no clean showers facilities washing yourself with Huggies baby wipes and paper towels.
32. having to transfer 53 ft of freight from the pallets they were shipped on to the pallets that the receiver wants them on.
33. having to drive off Wal-Mart property at 4am after a few hours sleep because they don't want trucks on their property.
(there are well over 100 items on the list)
Saturday, May 05, 2007
We salute you...
US Army Pfc Katie Soenksen killed in Iraq this past week. 3,353 service members have lost their lives since the start of the war. Our prayers go out to her family and all of our forces around the world.An important note: I have approached trucking magazines to dedicate an issue or two to our troops. They'd rather do covers about Larry the Cable Guy and tattooing. Shame on them and their unpatriotic editors.
Please see the incredible video "Final Salute - American Soldiers in Iraq" on YouTube.com.
If I was President and large breasts...
This afternoon we are at the FJ just south the VA WVA line. We picked up another load of steel out of Roanoke headed for a Monday AM delivery in Bridgeport CT. It will be the second time in a week we have done the Roanoke - Bridgeport trip. The weather is lousy with rain and fog. It is colder than I'd like. Last night (Fri.) I was up until about 2pm trying to relax to get to sleep. It had been a very long day.Let's talk about things. The price of a gallon of milk is between $3.50 and $4. Something I'm sure our president is completely unaware of. The reason is that the price of corn has gone up due to the demand for ethanol fuel. Ethanol, unless you've been living under a rock, is alcohol and corn based. So corn is not just used to feed the cows anymore. It has little to do with the transport of milk and the ever rising cost of diesel.
#2 - I highly recommend you purchase a pair of binoculars for your truck. Love's sells a few models for under $20. Unless you have incredible vision, binoculars really helps you see many of the stupid signs posted at shipper and receivers. Rather than get out in the heavy rain the other day, I used my pair to read the shipping/driver procedures at a large steel mill.
#3 - Passed VT (Virginia Tech) twice this week. Lots of VT students driving home for the summer. What a bummer to end the year like that.
#4 - When I was walking into the FJ here, there was a woman passenger walking back to her truck on the fuel island. Her breasts were so large (no bra) I couldn't understand how she was walking upright. Talk about jugs a flapp'n. Tough for the old lady to get back up into the cab.
#5 - Why are the rest areas in Virginia so damn small? What moron approved these designs? The truck stop lots are also too damn small. This FJ has the same stupid tight straight spaces that are pain in the ass to get into. And by the way backing into a FJ space with a 48 ft spread axle is not the same as a 53 ft box. The spreads,especially on a hot day, drift inward. It's something you have to get used to. I couldn't believe how easy it was to back up a 53 ft box. The spreads are a whole different story. The typical VA rest area has space for about 8 trucks and 25 cars. Are they kidding? Where's OOIDA on that - huh?
WHAT IF I WERE PRESIDENT!
Job #1 - Capture Osama Bin Laden - MAXIMUM EFFORT
Job #2 - Close the Mexican border for 24 months
Give local and state law enforcement the authority to arrest illegals
Job #3 - Rebuild New Orleans into a model city
(all US factories in Mexico moved to New Orleans)
Job #4 - Iraq is ours. Throw out all troublemakers. Fly the American flag.
Build casinos. Build the largest US military base outside the US.
Job #5 - Provide universal health care for every US citizen - give contract to private
firms - no government involvement.
Job #6 - Order to US auto industry to make 75-100 mile per gallon car within 24
months. Phase out all gas vehicles within 5 years.
Job #7 - Rebuild the US infrastructure - highways, bridges, tunnels, pipelines
Job #8 - Rebuild the World Trade Center NOW - the tallest building should be in the US
not Dubai, Hong Kong or China
Job #9 - Take care of our elderly. Double social security benefits.
Job #10 - Close GITMO - turn US military into rapid global strike force with the ability to
squelch any conflict anywhere within 24 hours.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
More about OOIDA...
Had an 8am "appointment" to deliver a load of steel in Bridgeport, CT. We picked it up in Roanoke, VA. Spent the night at the (way too small) rest area in Morristown, NJ off I287. Traffic over the GW was not bad (7am) and only a few times did I have to stop in traffic on I95. The receiving window for my final was 8-11am. When I got there a few minutes after 8 (bad directions), it turns out they don't go by appointment - it's first come first serve. There were 3 trucks in front of me. I got unloaded at 2pm. Yes, you just read that right, 2pm! I sat there for six freak'n hours. This is a very old 75,000 sq. ft warehouse with only 2 shipping/receiving doors. One of their ancient cranes overheated and caught on fire about noon due to the heavy work load. Apparently this happens at least once a week. The "crew" here consists mostly of Latinos, African Americans and Russians. All fine young men whose motivation to quickly unload trucks and do a efficient job is stifled by a moronic cheap pin headed management. With capital investment, which would add to the value of the property, they could unload and ship three times the capacity.
During these six hours I had the opportunity to speak with the other (company)drivers waiting around. There were about 6 trucks behind me. For those of you that think I make up all this "blog stuff" out of my head, I actually do speak with numerous drivers day in a day out to see what's on their mind. A subscriber told me I was wrong about Siricom and that he likes the service. As I'm writing this I'm actually on Siricom. It took me over 30 minutes to log on and just like FJ, unless you're parked very near the building - in this case the Pilot off I-95 in Milford, CT - the reception is poor. So, for those of you that after reading my blog care to play games or see Mary Jane screw John and Fred (or Fred screw John), you'll get it, but everything will be in 1/2 speed, like using an old modem and telephone line. If you're in the back of the lot, I wouldn't even bother. FJ tells me the FCC regulates and limits the transmission power for wireless internet. Ya know, along with OOIDA, the DOT, and ABC, bla, bla, bla I am sooo tired of "agencies" like the FCC, who claim to have "our" interests in mind, screwing around with things. The FCC is just another (boondoggle) government bureaucracy we need to cut in half or completely do away with, and let the free competitive market take its course. If Sirius and XM want to merge, they should be able to without any "government" interference.
Anyhoo, back to speaking to the drivers and what's on their minds. #1 issue is the 68 mile hour governed speed limit. I'm for it, nobody else it. #2 issue - OOIDA. Everyone agrees it is waste of money, they don't represent or "care" about company drivers - and - to quote one driver "the unions have them (OOIDA) in their pocket, they (OOIDA) are too political and they (OOIDA) are not for the drivers." I'm not honestly sure what he meant by that, but you get it unfiltered right from the horses mouth as they say. #3 issue is log books and HOS. Bring back the split sleeper birth time and create a two line only log - either you're on duty or off. Another driver said he talked to a trooper somewhere who said the whole "thing" is too complicated and he also mentioned a two line only log. Issue #4 - the minute you get to a shipper or receiver you should get paid and you should remain on duty. No more wait, wait, wait to load or unload without compensation. Again, you're either on duty or off. Sitting around waiting to be loaded or unloaded is on duty - plain and simple.
So, does OOIDA do anything right? "They sell a great jacket and I like the stickers. But I wouldn't send them a dime of my money!"
Moving along here - I wanna talk about the Pilot in Greenfield, VA off I81. So it's 10am and trucks are backed up 3 deep to fuel. This is the place where after you fuel you (hopefully) pull forward, park and have to walk about 50 yards down a hill under a metal cover "thing" to go into the building. So there are two folks behind the counter. One is a befuddled manager and the other the not so typical Pilot employee who does everything and knows everything and she does both efficiently and fast. The customer line is 5 deep and growing because the manager is trying to help someone do something. And he's doing it badly. This manager seems lost. He stops what he is doing and goes to bang on the office door - the one with a two way mirror. Inside is where Pilot employees, who should be working, go to hide.
Finally three (very overweight) women waddle out with black Pilot shirts milling around talking, in the process completely avoiding the customers. And that is what really ticks me off. It happens time and time again, in just about all the Pilot around the country. Not so much at Love's and T/A, but also at some FJ's. Now I've seen the pinhead regional managers who work for Pilot make their scheduled inspections when everyone knows their coming. They're never there when the real "action" happens. Now either their too stupid to realize what really happens or they just don't give a shit. "Their only truck drivers and bus passengers the hell with 'em." Someone has to tell these folks that the counter is not there to shield "them" from customers so "they" can conduct your personal business on company time. You are to stop what you are doing and say "welcome to Pilot, how may I help you?" Nothing else is acceptable. And drivers, you more you complain about such bad service, the more chance "we" get of changing things and receiving a lot more respect from these pinhead corporations that think they know who we are and what we want!
Here's news from the world of EZ Pass - sources tell me tollbooths that use this service will now be photographing any vehicle "speeding." So if it's posted 5 mph through the tollbooth, make sure you go 5mph. Until these "facilities" are upgrading - for example open road tolling similar to what they did in and around Chicago - crank it down and proceed cautiously. Yes, it would sure by nice if Indiana would use the EZ Pass system on I80/I90. Yes, it's too bad Florida uses Sunpass and not EZ Pass. Now, if you "speed" through an EZ Pass tollbooth 3 times, your "service" will be stopped for 6 months.
Back over in NJ, the governor left the hospital, after his 90 mph crash, being driven home at 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. His "official" vehicle was not using its "emergency" lights. We do not know if he was wearing his seat belt.
I've now been on Siricom for about four hours. I'm parking next to the fuel island in front of the CAT scale. It's 8:30pm and parking here is max'd out. They are 3 deep next to the scale, basically blocking trucks from safely leaving. This 11 Mpbs is just not enough to move through the internet fast enough. And this has nothing to do with the FCC.
During these six hours I had the opportunity to speak with the other (company)drivers waiting around. There were about 6 trucks behind me. For those of you that think I make up all this "blog stuff" out of my head, I actually do speak with numerous drivers day in a day out to see what's on their mind. A subscriber told me I was wrong about Siricom and that he likes the service. As I'm writing this I'm actually on Siricom. It took me over 30 minutes to log on and just like FJ, unless you're parked very near the building - in this case the Pilot off I-95 in Milford, CT - the reception is poor. So, for those of you that after reading my blog care to play games or see Mary Jane screw John and Fred (or Fred screw John), you'll get it, but everything will be in 1/2 speed, like using an old modem and telephone line. If you're in the back of the lot, I wouldn't even bother. FJ tells me the FCC regulates and limits the transmission power for wireless internet. Ya know, along with OOIDA, the DOT, and ABC, bla, bla, bla I am sooo tired of "agencies" like the FCC, who claim to have "our" interests in mind, screwing around with things. The FCC is just another (boondoggle) government bureaucracy we need to cut in half or completely do away with, and let the free competitive market take its course. If Sirius and XM want to merge, they should be able to without any "government" interference.
Anyhoo, back to speaking to the drivers and what's on their minds. #1 issue is the 68 mile hour governed speed limit. I'm for it, nobody else it. #2 issue - OOIDA. Everyone agrees it is waste of money, they don't represent or "care" about company drivers - and - to quote one driver "the unions have them (OOIDA) in their pocket, they (OOIDA) are too political and they (OOIDA) are not for the drivers." I'm not honestly sure what he meant by that, but you get it unfiltered right from the horses mouth as they say. #3 issue is log books and HOS. Bring back the split sleeper birth time and create a two line only log - either you're on duty or off. Another driver said he talked to a trooper somewhere who said the whole "thing" is too complicated and he also mentioned a two line only log. Issue #4 - the minute you get to a shipper or receiver you should get paid and you should remain on duty. No more wait, wait, wait to load or unload without compensation. Again, you're either on duty or off. Sitting around waiting to be loaded or unloaded is on duty - plain and simple.
So, does OOIDA do anything right? "They sell a great jacket and I like the stickers. But I wouldn't send them a dime of my money!"
Moving along here - I wanna talk about the Pilot in Greenfield, VA off I81. So it's 10am and trucks are backed up 3 deep to fuel. This is the place where after you fuel you (hopefully) pull forward, park and have to walk about 50 yards down a hill under a metal cover "thing" to go into the building. So there are two folks behind the counter. One is a befuddled manager and the other the not so typical Pilot employee who does everything and knows everything and she does both efficiently and fast. The customer line is 5 deep and growing because the manager is trying to help someone do something. And he's doing it badly. This manager seems lost. He stops what he is doing and goes to bang on the office door - the one with a two way mirror. Inside is where Pilot employees, who should be working, go to hide.
Finally three (very overweight) women waddle out with black Pilot shirts milling around talking, in the process completely avoiding the customers. And that is what really ticks me off. It happens time and time again, in just about all the Pilot around the country. Not so much at Love's and T/A, but also at some FJ's. Now I've seen the pinhead regional managers who work for Pilot make their scheduled inspections when everyone knows their coming. They're never there when the real "action" happens. Now either their too stupid to realize what really happens or they just don't give a shit. "Their only truck drivers and bus passengers the hell with 'em." Someone has to tell these folks that the counter is not there to shield "them" from customers so "they" can conduct your personal business on company time. You are to stop what you are doing and say "welcome to Pilot, how may I help you?" Nothing else is acceptable. And drivers, you more you complain about such bad service, the more chance "we" get of changing things and receiving a lot more respect from these pinhead corporations that think they know who we are and what we want!
Here's news from the world of EZ Pass - sources tell me tollbooths that use this service will now be photographing any vehicle "speeding." So if it's posted 5 mph through the tollbooth, make sure you go 5mph. Until these "facilities" are upgrading - for example open road tolling similar to what they did in and around Chicago - crank it down and proceed cautiously. Yes, it would sure by nice if Indiana would use the EZ Pass system on I80/I90. Yes, it's too bad Florida uses Sunpass and not EZ Pass. Now, if you "speed" through an EZ Pass tollbooth 3 times, your "service" will be stopped for 6 months.
Back over in NJ, the governor left the hospital, after his 90 mph crash, being driven home at 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. His "official" vehicle was not using its "emergency" lights. We do not know if he was wearing his seat belt.
I've now been on Siricom for about four hours. I'm parking next to the fuel island in front of the CAT scale. It's 8:30pm and parking here is max'd out. They are 3 deep next to the scale, basically blocking trucks from safely leaving. This 11 Mpbs is just not enough to move through the internet fast enough. And this has nothing to do with the FCC.
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