I hope you're all having a wonderful Labor Day holiday off from whatever it is you do. Mrs. Grumpy today, is, well, grumpy. The woman is getting on in years and soon I'm afraid, I'm just gonna have to take her out back and shoot 'er - put 'er out of her misery, just like an old achy sagg'n horse that doesn't move. JUST KIDDING! Man, am I gonna hear about that. Moving on. So what about me this weekend? Glad you asked. I've been in the truck since Friday. I drove a little - about 40 or so miles away - 160 miles round trip from here in Lincoln, NE to Valley, NE to get a loaded trailer with 7 stops, then back here to Lincoln, NE where the first stop is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I know you don't, but I'll ask the question anyway. Do you have any idea what it is like to spend 3 1/2 days in a truck? The temperature outside is 103 degrees. Yes, the air is on and the truck has been idling (no APU - wasting fuel) for 3 1/2 days to keep it cool. That's other than the times I went inside for a shower and to eat dinner. Then, I shut it off. Breakfast and a light lunch for 3 1/2 days have been in the truck. I could, for all purposes, be in an Apollo space capsule orbiting the Earth, the moon or maybe even Mars. I imagine Mars though, is much more exciting than where I am. The space shuttle, by the way, has a lot more room than my truck, which is why I say it's more like the old Apollo capsule than the newer shuttle crafts. It's certainly smaller than the typical jail cell, although I do have the key, but has no toilet or sink or live tv. And nobody brings me food, or does the laundry. About 100 yards from me is the Cobbler Inn motel, which if I was "Diesel" Dave Sweetman, who makes a fortune hauling richie rich folks automobiles around, I would be in a large king sized bed or in their pool. But then I'm me. No, no, I don't want you to feel sorry for me. Well, maybe just a little. Thanks. Hey, really, I just want you to understand what a lot of truckers do on many holiday's including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and yup, even Labor Day. The photo is of ("snores ville") truly boring downtown Lincoln, NE. There is nothing to do. I already went to Wal-Mart. I did have a great shot of an old horse with a hat, but then I'd never see home again. The Lincoln photo credit is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska ** And, one final important point, although I will probably be paid layover and holiday pay, there are a lot of others around me here in this parking lot and around the country, that will not. And being that my government considers me "unskilled" labor and despite the fact that I'm not driving, I am in the truck while it's running completely responsible for it and the load of someone else's valuable product. And, although, I am totally responsible for the safety of all 80 feet that which is under my butt, I'm am not getting paid an hourly wage, overtime or time an a half for the holiday. Rolling somewhere, I would probably make about $350 for 2-3 days driving. Sitting here, I'll be lucky to pick up about $75 for 3 1/2 days, which folks is about $ .90 cents an hour. Ok, now you can feel sorry for me. Hey, Lockridge, you hear that bud, $.90 cents an hour! Now that's depressing. I need some fried chicken. Diesel Dave, can I just jump in the pool for a quick dip? Pleassse?
Monday, September 01, 2008
$.90 cents an hour!
I hope you're all having a wonderful Labor Day holiday off from whatever it is you do. Mrs. Grumpy today, is, well, grumpy. The woman is getting on in years and soon I'm afraid, I'm just gonna have to take her out back and shoot 'er - put 'er out of her misery, just like an old achy sagg'n horse that doesn't move. JUST KIDDING! Man, am I gonna hear about that. Moving on. So what about me this weekend? Glad you asked. I've been in the truck since Friday. I drove a little - about 40 or so miles away - 160 miles round trip from here in Lincoln, NE to Valley, NE to get a loaded trailer with 7 stops, then back here to Lincoln, NE where the first stop is scheduled for tomorrow morning. I know you don't, but I'll ask the question anyway. Do you have any idea what it is like to spend 3 1/2 days in a truck? The temperature outside is 103 degrees. Yes, the air is on and the truck has been idling (no APU - wasting fuel) for 3 1/2 days to keep it cool. That's other than the times I went inside for a shower and to eat dinner. Then, I shut it off. Breakfast and a light lunch for 3 1/2 days have been in the truck. I could, for all purposes, be in an Apollo space capsule orbiting the Earth, the moon or maybe even Mars. I imagine Mars though, is much more exciting than where I am. The space shuttle, by the way, has a lot more room than my truck, which is why I say it's more like the old Apollo capsule than the newer shuttle crafts. It's certainly smaller than the typical jail cell, although I do have the key, but has no toilet or sink or live tv. And nobody brings me food, or does the laundry. About 100 yards from me is the Cobbler Inn motel, which if I was "Diesel" Dave Sweetman, who makes a fortune hauling richie rich folks automobiles around, I would be in a large king sized bed or in their pool. But then I'm me. No, no, I don't want you to feel sorry for me. Well, maybe just a little. Thanks. Hey, really, I just want you to understand what a lot of truckers do on many holiday's including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and yup, even Labor Day. The photo is of ("snores ville") truly boring downtown Lincoln, NE. There is nothing to do. I already went to Wal-Mart. I did have a great shot of an old horse with a hat, but then I'd never see home again. The Lincoln photo credit is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska ** And, one final important point, although I will probably be paid layover and holiday pay, there are a lot of others around me here in this parking lot and around the country, that will not. And being that my government considers me "unskilled" labor and despite the fact that I'm not driving, I am in the truck while it's running completely responsible for it and the load of someone else's valuable product. And, although, I am totally responsible for the safety of all 80 feet that which is under my butt, I'm am not getting paid an hourly wage, overtime or time an a half for the holiday. Rolling somewhere, I would probably make about $350 for 2-3 days driving. Sitting here, I'll be lucky to pick up about $75 for 3 1/2 days, which folks is about $ .90 cents an hour. Ok, now you can feel sorry for me. Hey, Lockridge, you hear that bud, $.90 cents an hour! Now that's depressing. I need some fried chicken. Diesel Dave, can I just jump in the pool for a quick dip? Pleassse?
