Wow, what a concept. I've been sitting around so much I'm getting sores on my behind. The new seat "they" gave me isn't as comfortable as I thought. Anyway, I delivered to the Atlanta airport on Wednesday morning. I got to the airport at 7:45am, cleared two security checkpoints, then sat in the "bone yard" until they found an available lift and spotter. It was 3pm. Did you get that? There at 7:45 am and unloaded at 3pm. That's 7 freek'n UNPAID hours! Did you say detention? Oh, please my stomach hurts I'm laughing so hard.
The only good part of this was watching the jets takeoff on two parallel runways. I was parked right in between, and could see the faces of the crews and passengers as they lifted off the ground. I really wanted to be on one of those jets, especially the huge Korean Air one that seemed to struggle to go up. I wondered where it was going. I was getting depressed. At 4pm I boogy'd outta there to the "J" at exit 201 Jackson, GA off I75. Another wasted day.
Next morning. Get a call from my DM (driver manager) who asked me if I would dead head to Greenville, SC to repower a load going somewhere in CT. Hey, what am I gonna do - refuse? I hate CT, but the $350 weekly paychecks are kill'n me. Sure, no problem, I said. I pulled out of the "J" heading north on I75 to get the load from a driver who was "stuck" at a local KW dealership. Seems he is having "electrical" problems. Hum, a KW with electrical problems - where have I heard that before? About 25 miles away, she (my DM) said the "deal" was cancelled. Back to "J" I went.
About a hour later, another call. Could I head to Columbia, SC to repower a JIT "hot" load from another driver who was stuck at a local KW dealer. Hot and JIT, wow, what a combo. You'd think I get some kinda of bonus - ARE YOU KIDDING! Can you say no way Jose?
Seems this other driver is also having "electrical" problems. Hey, what am I gonna do - refuse? I hate Md, but the $350 weekly paychecks are kill'n me. Sure, no problem I said. Heard that before? I pulled out of the "J" and went to Columbia, stopping for fuel at some lousy Pilot somewhere.
That night and about 672 miles later. I had called my final to ask if I could park there overnight. No answer. So I parked at some really dark Virginia rest area. Amazingly there was a space. It was about 10pm. I didn't fall asleep until about 1am. I'm reading John Gresham's new book about football in Italy. And then there's my tush, which is sore as hell.
6:45. My cell goes off. I don't remember setting it's alarm. My DM is asking if I can deliver by 9 am. The customer is calling. Where is their hot JIT "mud" - roofing goo. I'm about 105 miles away, I think. My GPS died (another story) so I break out my sextant since the sun wasn't up yet. Just kidding 'bout the sextant thing. I had to think. Where the hell am I. Tulsa, Jackson, Macon, oh yeah...no that's not it, damn, I think again, oh shit, south of DC. No, 9am is no good, how about 10? Great, thanks.
What the hell did I just do. 10am. I'm wasted. 10 hour break? Ha! The coffee has gone though. I guzzle it down. A quick walk around. Tightened everything up. I'm rolling. Red light on the PrePass before the VA scale. Did I expect anything else? The first VA scale yesterday gave me a PrePass green. I guess I became overweight overnight even after burning off more diesel. Morons! Whatever. I pull on the scale. I'm 79,200 -37,600 on the trailer, but that's with a spread axle. What seems like 10 minutes later I get the green. I'm the DOT dunce inside had to think it about it a second. What a waste of time.
The sign says no delay on the approach to the Wilson. That's the new bridge over the Potomac from VA to MD. A freak'n pain the ass at rush hour. After or before, I forget, 4 lanes become 3 and then become 2. Hell people let's rock'n roll, I'm on a hot load here. It's 9:30am and ma and paw pinheads are coming out of their retirement homes to creep along the interstate headed where ever q-tips go. The early bird dinner at I-Hop? It's too early. Whatever, get out of my way!
10:05. I'm still 29 miles away. I call them. A load of what. You know, the hot JIT load of roofing goo. Ok, whatever, they say. We'll take you until 4, otherwise it'll be Monday. But, but, I have your hot JIT goo -- is this the same place that called asking where I was at 6 am this morning? Must have been someone else needing their hot JIT goo.
10:35. I find the place without any signs. They must be in "cloaked" mode so the INS can't find them or something. If they answered their damn phone yesterday afternoon, I could'a been sitting here and unloaded earlier. 11:30 I'm unloaded. All quiet on the western front. If there's no freight I'll been stuck here all weekend, again, just like the last three weekends. Maybe some other driver will breakdown, get stuck at the KW dealer, and I go the rescue, again.
Anybody have a invitation to the White House or some Embassy dinner this weekend? I'm available and only a short drive from downtown DC. So, it's all hurry up and sit. Driver, you know the deal. Right?
