What a Waste…

Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka were murdered in Colaba, a neighborhood of Mumbai, India. Their 2 year old son, Moshe and his nanny managed to escape. Holtzberg was 29 years old, his wife 28.

According to The New York Times and Chabad.org -  “His last known phone call was to the Isreali Consulate to report that gunmen were in his house. In the middle of the conversation, the line went dead. His last words before being cut off were “Lov tov,” which translates to “not good” in Hebrew.

“The Holtzbergs arrived in Mumbai in 2003 to serve the small local Jewish community, visiting businesspeople and the throngs of tourists, many of them Israeli, who annually travel to the seaside city. For five years, they ran a synagogue and Torah classes, and helped people dealing with drug addiction and poverty. Their selfless love will live on with all the people they touched. We will continue the work they started."

What a terrible waste. Terrorists are nothing but cowards, plain and simple. I have added the Holtzberg’s to my heroes list. For more information please go to: http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/773691/jewish/Mumbai-Jewish-Family-Killed.htm and http://www.nytimes.com/

PS/Sadly, Alan Scherr, 58 and his 13 year old daughter were also murdered in Mumbai. They were there representing the Virginia mediation group - Synchronicity. Both were having dinner in the Oberoi Hotel when terrorists began firing. 

As reported in The New York Times, President Bush in a written statement said: "Laura and I are deeply saddened that at least two Americans were killed and other injured in Wednesday's horrific attack in Mumbai. We also mourn the great loss of life suffered by so many people from several other countries and we have the wounded in our thoughts and prayers."

Foray into freelancing...

So the cruise Mrs. Grumpy and I took was amazing. Typically what I would do is take a few hours to write something brilliant and then post a "story" about the experience here on "acourtesyflush." 

I love the freedom of blogging. I especially like not having to interface with any other human being while I'm posting. Blogging is cathartic and the creative process is rewarding. Certainly not financially, but in an "At least I don't have to deal with a pinhead editor, so I'll bite the bullet and give it away for free kinda a way." 

I've now written almost 600 posts, not including the two previous blogs I stupidly deleted, which probably means I've written over 1000 posts and as any writer and blogger knows that's a book or two. In fact, I've written so much the "L" key popped off my keyboard the the arthritis in my hands has become worse.  

Now Mrs. G and I would sure like to go on another cruise, in fact one a year would be nice. And of course there's all those pesky bills and the leaky roof, the unfinished pool and I will need to upgrade to a Blackberry soon. I've been with my present employer over 4 years. I should be upgrading to a new truck soon. But freight is still slow and my last (weekly) paycheck was $450 - more than 1/2 of what it was last year. Anyway I don't mean to bore you, times are tough, but this is the good 'ole USA and opportunities still abound.

So, it kills me to go in a bookstore. After we got back from the cruise, we went out for dinner and Mrs. G drove us to our fav Borders. Having seen where former President Truman stayed in Key West - the first stop on our cruise - I wanted to learn more and bought a book about Truman by David McCoullogh. The book is excellent by the way. 

But, walking around the bookstore, seeing all these "books" about nothing, books that are published about murder and other horrible crimes and assorted weirdos and completely stupid things - well, if I do pick up a book - I can't even get past the first few paragraphs. And there are those "other" little stupid useless books with less than a 100 pages, well, I think about my 1000 postings and it really bothers me. 

And then there are all those shiny magazines. Some of which sell for $11! Four 20 foot shelves of them. About EVERYTHING! Tattooing, flying, model trains, cooking, fashion, watches, carpentry, cigars, canoeing and whatever else you can imagine. And these writers and editors are getting PAID. And then I found it. A magazine on cruising and cruise ships. And on the back page was a "piece" written by someone about their - can you imagine? - cruise experience. And I said, holy shit, I can do better than that - I'm a better writer - and I could get PAID for it. Wow, what a concept!

So, an early New Year's Resolution. Write more - sell more - get paid. Makes a great meditation mantra - aaaammmm - write more, sell more,  get paid - aaaammmm - write more, get more, get paid - I like it. Besides I'm never gonna go on the cruises "we" want like Alaska and Nova Scotia driving a truck in this economy. That's food stamp city. I've just got to bite the bullet when it comes to interfacing with humans again - even editors. 

So folks, here we go - my return to - my foray - back into - freelancing. I tried it once before and earned about $350. Not bad. But, it didn't work out. The "editor" and I, well, let's just say it ain't easy being an Alfa Male. Wish me luck. Hopefully you'll be reading about "our" incredible cruise experience in that magazine I told you about. And get paid for it! 

The picture is of the cover of "Truman" by David McCullough and the book is published by Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, June, 1993. 

  

Día feliz de la acción de gracias...

Para los quién no habla español que signifique Happy Thanksgiving Day. La señora Grumpy y yo es detrás de Mexico.Today que celebraremos el día de fiesta que miran el Macy' s desfila y cenando nuestro no tradicional el espagueti y la albóndiga.

Translation: For those of you who don' t speak Spanish that means Happy Thanksgiving Day. Mrs. Grumpy and I are back from Mexico.Today we will celebrate the holiday watching the Macy' s Parade and enjoying our our non-traditional spaghetti and meatball dinner.

The photo credit is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ephemeron/2331082425/

All hell breaks loose in Mumbai...Mumbai? Where...

the hell is Mumbai? That would be India. The New York Times is slow to give information about what is going on. The AP (Associated Press) is slightly better. 

If you go to The Times 0f India website you can get up to the minute reports of what is happening. Mumbai used to be called Bombay. It is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. Their port handles 1/2 of India's maritime cargo. 19,000,000 people live there and it is the world's 5th most populated metropolitan area. 

So, now that you know where and what Mumbai is, here's what happening in a nutshell - extremist Muslim terrorists, targeting British and American citizens, attacked hotels, restaurants, a hospital and a train station. 80 people are now reported dead, although that number is changing and over 200 folks were reportedly being held hostage. Several buildings are on fire, the cause still unknown. Commandos from the Indian Army, Navy and police have counter attacked. The situation is changing minute by minute.

For updates and more information please go here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Army_storms_Mumbais_besieged_five-star_hotels_/articleshow/3762100.cms

The credit for the photo is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DowntownMumbai.jpg

ON VACATION...

I need a serious - complete break from everything politics and especially trucking. Mrs. Grumpy and I are headed to Mexico on Royal Caribbean. We'll be back (maybe) after Thanksgiving. Be safe out there. See ya later.

Dear God...

We pray for guidance. We pray for you to show us the available open doors. God, we need your help. Let all the other bloggers, broadcasters and journalists follow my lead and unite to fight against what is being done to us. 

God, show them the way. Tell them to stop writing and talking about useless nonsense and join the good fight. Show them that my way is the right way. To use their airtime and web space to shout out about what is going on. 

Oh God, there are many injustices happening to "us" truck drivers. We are not adequately represented. We are oppressed. Many unfair laws, orders, policies and procedures are being thrown upon us.

We are considered unskilled labor. We are not getting paid fairly. Our government is interfering in our personal affairs. It is not their business to tell us such things - when we can work, how we should eat, when to sleep and if we can drive. We have families to support. Many of us are not able to get health insurance or pay for these unfair and unecessary unfunded mandates. 

God, we really need your help. The powers that be are seemingly stronger than us. Right now it seems we can only stand idly by when these injustices are being forced upon us. God, we move this great country. But we are hated and not appreciated. We are put down by the people who employ us. 

God, there appears no association or organization that can help us. Many amongst us are ignorant or are apathetic. Some have given up. We need your guidance to show us the way. Help us see how we can help ourselves. Point the open door to us, God. Please. We are all good people. We are faithful. We are your soldiers and servants. 

Amen. 

The photo credit is: http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--10302801/Praying_Hands.htm

Another Grumpy?

Grumpy, you magnificent bastard! I read your blog! 

L'Audace, L'Audace, Toujours L'Audace!

Another Grumpy...Apparently so. There is another new "blog" out there in the bloggisphere called the Grumpy Old Trucker. He writes: "As well as my own commentary I will populate the site with up to the moment North American trucking news." He continues: "My name is Bill Gould and I have been driving truck (his words) for most of the past 37 years including 7.5 years with the Canadian Armed forces in the 70’s. "

So, Mr. Gould is a Canadian. Ey! And let's take a read at his Nov. 15th posting: "There are some really great shows out there that feature trucks and truck drivers. Some of them are realistic and others are more science fiction, but they do seem to hold the attention of the viewer. Those in the trucking industry are often able to pick out the inconsistencies in the sounds of the trucks and what they are able to do, but the rest of us are entertained by their power and their presence."

Buzzzzzzzz. Writing class over students. Turn in your papers. Tomorrow we be all learning how to write something interesting. What the heck is this all about? The mainstream trucking media is irrelevant. We don't need any more of it, especially on the bloggisphere. "The rest of us are entertained by their power and their presence?" What? About trucking movies? What are you smoking, Bill? There is an awful lot going on in the world, many upcoming changes as it pertains to the lives of truckers and of course, we have a new administration taking office next year. 

So, is there any need for another blog for truckers by a trucker that talks about films about trucks? Absolutely not. Or another piece about how to get a job or about a new (old) show about morons who drive on ice? Do we really need another source to announce that: "USA Truck, Inc. will participate in the Stephens Inc. Fall Investment Conference on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, in New York City." That was his Nov. 10th posting. Absolutely not. Why, because it's irrelevant!

Bloggers and journalists need to be relevant. It is our duty. Also, to be creative, assertive, investigatory and to point out the pinheads and douche-bags in the industry. I welcome this "other" Grumpy to our community, but for goodness sakes, Bill, do something for us, the truckers, please join us and help make a difference, and forget the nonsense fluff pieces like "trucking films" and regurgitating corporate PR announcement as news. I give you "A" for effort, "F" for content and relevance. 

The photo credit is: http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/MyWebFilms/Oorlog/EnglischPatton.asp

This site can be found at: http://grumpyoldtrucker.com/gotblog/

GM,Chrysler and Ford want my money...

to bail them out. I say no. Loans, maybe. "They" pay  out - because of their greedy unions - pensions and health care to hundreds of thousands of retirees. The "typical" auto worker makes $72 an hour including benefits. That's $150,000 a year for an assemby line worker. Last year, GM's Chairman made about $15,000,000, a 41% increase over 2006. 
 

At the same time "they" continued to sell $45,000 gas guzzling "tanks" with lousy gas mileage and stuffed with satellite radios, GPS units, 6 hi-def television screens and wi-fi. Meanwhile, down South, Toyota is selling its 2009 Prius Hybrid starting at $22,000 with 48 mpg highway and 45 mpg city. According to The New York Times, "The average fuel efficiency of the American auto fleet peaked at 25.9 miles per gallon in 1987 and then leveled off as gas prices fell and the automakers churned out more sport-utility vehicles and pickups."

And if "we" give them money, what will GM, Chrysler and Ford do? 35 mpg by 2020? 50 mpg by 2020? Are they kidding? 2009 is right around the corner - 11 years to make a more fuel efficient automobile? In 11 years,Toyota and Nissan will have models surpassing 75 mpg.  Are you telling me that "they're" always going to be "lagging" behind? What kind of "leadership" is that? Management of American automobile manufacturers is and has always been horrible. So why exactly should I give you - lend you - one damn cent? Your problems are NOT my problems. 

Read The Times editorial at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/opinion/15sat1.html?hp

The photo credit is: http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/photo-gallery.html

So if the DOT, FMSCA and the ATA,

care do damn freak'n much about my health, then why the hell isn't cigarette smoking banned for use by truck drivers? Right now, tomorrow, just put an end to it. You seem to want to do everything else to push your way into my personal business when it comes to my health. So ban smoking!

You people have the nerve to want to make it your business when it comes to my BMI, my blood pressure, when and how I should sleep, how I should eat, How many hours I can and can't work, what pills I can and cannot take, about which doctor I can do go to, BUT YOU ARE SILENT ABOUT CIGARETTE SMOKING! You people are douche-bags. 

Oh, it's alright for Pilot, T/A, Road Ranger, Ambest, Petro, Flying J  and EVERY OTHER TRUCK STOP to sell cancer-causing deadly cigarettes - BUT YOU ARE SILENT ABOUT THAT! According to the American Heart Association:

"Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It accounts for nearly 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths. Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing several chronic disorders. These include fatty buildups in arteries, several types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung problems). Atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty substances in the arteries) is a chief contributor to the 'high number of deaths from smoking. Many studies detail the evidence that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Tobacco use costs the nation about $100 billion each year in direct medical expenses and lost productivity.  Both lung cancer and emphysema would be quite rare if people would stop smoking. The link between secondhand smoke and disease is well known, and the connection to cardiovascular-related disability and death is also clear. About 22,700 to 69,600 premature deaths from heart and blood vessel disease are caused by other people's smoke each year.

So, I'm asking you, why don't you ban smoking? Why not ban the sales of cigarettes at truck stops to truck drivers? Don't you think that we drivers find it odd that you push these unfunded mandates on us, but ignore how we are going to pay to see your certified doctors to evaluate us to tell us if we can make a living? So what about the drivers who don't have health insurance? What about the drivers - and they're many - who smoke? What about the one's that don't smoke and have to inhale second-hand smoke? How can you say it's OK for them to drive? Because you're hypocrites. And the ATA, the FMSCA and the DOT are allowed to do conduct this health witch hunt against the powerless American trucker. Why? Because it is in the "public" interest to have safe truck drivers?

This whole situation makes me sick. Maybe every blogger out there should be writing about this and not crap about going to trucking shows, the latest product to open your hood or the other shit I read about.  OOIDA is more interested in freak'n bees and the latest Pilot truck stop than this. 

The photo credit is: http://www.books4you.addr.com/quitsmoking.html 

News headline or PR from OOIDA?

Pilot opens new travel center in Iowa

Pilot Travel Centers recently opened a new location in Atalissa, IA, on Interstate 80 at Exit 265.

The new Pilot will include 60 truck parking spots with for drivers wanting to take their 10-hour breaks. There is no time limit on how long trucks can park there. The new travel center has 11 diesel islands, two restaurants, showers and a CAT scale, as well as other amenities.

“We believe our familiar Pilot sign will be a welcome sight for professional drivers,” wrote Vincent Barrett, general manager for the Atalissa location, in a press release.

Pilot, headquartered in Knoxville, TN, has more than 300 locations in 41 states and in Canada.

So here is yet something else that bothers me about what OOIDA "publishes" on line. "Pilot opens new travel center in Iowa" is not a "trucking headine." It is NOT news. Pilot sends a out PR announcement by mail or fax to anyone who cares, and OOIDA, who just loves to massage the prostate of the Fortune 1000, publishes this drivel verbatim. And any driver that reads this says: "are they kidding?" 

If OOIDA truly represented the American trucker then they would either not use it or would rewrite it to reflect the reality of what drivers experience going to a Pilot. But we all know this would never happen, because OOIDA wouldn't want to ruffle any feathers at Pilot, Flying J or any of the other big truck stops. So rely on "aflush" to tell it like it is. Here's what should be on OOIDA's site:

Pilot opens new travel center in Iowa (edited)

Pilot Travel Centers opened a new location in Atalissa, IA, on Interstate 80 at Exit 265, a mere 19 miles from the more popular truckstop operated by T/A "Iowa 80" in Wallcott, IA.

The new Pilot will have 60 hard to back into and badly lit parking spots. You also find the usual Pilot unfriendly attitude and unmotivated employees who hate truck drivers. The travel center has 11 diesel islands - 1/3rd of which will be closed for repair or cleaning and the usual 2-3 truck backup for each pump. 

1/4 of the Comdata card readers will not work and you will have to go inside and surrender your drivers license, company id and credit card to get the pump turned on. Drivers can expect the usual 45 minute wait for a shower unless the overworked clerk forgets about you. 

This location does not have a "real" sit down restaurant but will offer greasy over priced processed fast-food like boxed chicken, stale rolls and overcooked corn. The Pilot web site does not indicate if there is a Subway location here. As with other Pilot locations, managers will either be hiding in their office or unavailable for merchandise returns or to obtain permission to drop trailers to shop at Wal-Mart. Typical at Pilot, unattended equipment will be towed at the drivers expense. 

“We believe our familiar Pilot sign which when seen by truckers from the interstate, will be quite a stressful thing since they know we really want Grehound busses and RV's to shop here. Truckers know that we feel that they're smelly whiny and poor and just want to park here for free. We're hoping they go to the Iowa 80 down the road" wrote Vincent Barrett, general manager for the Atalissa location, in a press release.

Midwest Truck Show...So what?

"If you’re a trucker, or at all involved in the transportation industry, then the 46^th Annual Mid West Truck Show is calling out for your attendance. Held February 6-7 of next year, the conference will bring truckers together with the latest in equipment and ideas to create industry-wide improvement."

This is from the "blog" Trucker to Trucker. Hey, sorry, but this "show" just isn't calling me for anything. I don't do trucking shows. I do boat and gun shows, but not trucking shows. I don't care, don't have the time and with freight dead, even if I wanted to spend two (awful) days in Peoria, my company couldn't route me there. And speaking of this "blog"  check out this post:

"Although you’d probably enjoy it if you never had to open the hood of your truck again, it is inevitable that the hood will have to be raised sometime in the near future. Whether you’re performing an engine check, topping off fluids, or allowing a potential buyer to inspect your engine, you’re sure to experience the inconvenience of having to lift your hood in the near future. That is, unless you own a Hood Express." And this post:

"Just because you’re a long-haul trucker doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some luxury once in a while. And though  it’s hard to find in a world of fast-food meals and truck-stop showers, the place where you most need a luxurious touch is probably when you’re on the road. Although today’s cabs can be fitted with gadgets and gizmos to make them feel just like home, they’re missing the luxurious touch of a limo or expensive car. Thanks to Twins Custom Coaches, however, finding some luxury on the highway just got a whole lot easier."

Hard hitting, insightful, probing, ground breaking? I don't think so. 

Lockridge interviews...

another example of the irrelevent dinosaur trucking media - Tom Berg of Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine and TruckingInfo.com. Did anybody hear this? Berg must have been using a megaphone from whatever retirement home he works from. 

Lockridge has got to have a serious talk with the Sirius/XM engineering department. This is the problem. You could hardly hear Berg. So you have to turn the volume way up. Then Lockridge says something (he actually said very little) and you have to turn the volume way down. If someone actually calls, the volume isn't bad as long as Berg or Lockridge don't say anything. You actually have to drive down the road with your right hand on the volume control. And the commercials, they're absurdly annoyingly loud. 

So I've never heard this Berg dude before. I guess he started writing about truck engines or something ever since the first Ford Model T came off the assembly line. Now how many times have you heard me say this: I'm a company driver. I don't care about the engine the company gives me as long as I can move 48,000 lbs. across the country without shifting a thousand times. And they do. So, I, as a company driver, don't care about this model engine or that model engine or what the hell is going to happen this year, next year or in 2010. It is, like the magazine Berg writes for, irrelevent.

And Berg is boring. And old, which makes him boring and SLOW. And Lockridge, because he is cutting his toenails or his doing his taxes or looking at porno or something, let's this boring guy go on and on and on. At 2:26pm, Berg is rambing about whatever and I thought the hour was up and Lockridge would move on to something else. But damn it was only 2:26pm. 

And Lockridge's questions? What the? Huh? Hey, Evan do us all a favor and e-mail me a week before you have you're next dinosaur on and I'll send you some intelligent things to ask. Just what is an "automated mechanical transmission?" Ohhhh, automatic transmission?"

By the way Lockridge's wife, Deborah, is the Senior Managing Editor of Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine and Lockridge is himself or was a Contributing Editor. And over on the TruckingInfo.com website is an unpaid advertisement for Lockridge's" guest" from the other day  - RoadGorilla.com. All in the family right? Yup.

The only thing all these irrelevant trucking media folks do well is give themselves lots of awards. I don't know how they fit all their incredibly inflated egos in the same building over at Newport Communications. I don't know who reads what they write, but it isn't the average truck driver - company or otherwise. I typically see Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine thrown in with the rest of "those" trucking magazines on the dirty coffee table in the Kenworth dealer. Something to look at while your truck is in the shop.  

The photo credit is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theparadigmshifter/470341923/

Creepy...

After I parked my rig, I actually got my knife, safely put it in my pocket and walked into this place. I'm in New Orleans right off I510 not far from Arabi LA where my first stop is in the morning. 

I have never been here before. I delivered to New Orleans right before and then right after Katrina. But both times I stayed up in Hammond at the Petro off I12.

This place is located on a large piece of property. If you're a truck you enter from the rear on the east side. It's creepy. Not well lit. I found my way up to the main building on the west side by dumb luck. There are NO signs. 

It's 10pm at night and there is either an active cross-docking operation in the middle of this t/s or it is out of business and serves as something else. I won't know until the morning. Even with a full moon, I is pitch black. There are only about 10 trucks parked here. This is listed in the '08 Nat'l Truck Stop Directory as a full service "XL" $ facility. But, it's creepy. Did I say that already? Well, it is.

This would be a great place to shoot a movie about crime, gangs, truck hijacking, etc. There are some cars parked here. I don't know who they belong too, customers, employees or gamblers inside losing money. The cars all look like the ones in the flick "Gone in Sixty Seconds."

So, anyway, I walk inside with my knife ready for whatever. There are two clueless security guards standing outside smoking. I go inside the restaurant. It is MT. I'm really hungry. The buffet is bare. Some salad is still sitting there. The sign outside says they're open 24/7. Maybe before Katrina. I find out later back in the truck by going on their website they now close at 9pm. Just as well, because I wouldn't have eaten there, period. It looked just like an old Greyhound station somewhere in Georgia at 3am with no passengers. Weird and really creepy.

I have no food in the truck. I've been on the road for 5 weeks. All my backup and emergency supplies are out. I do have a 1/2 box of really old Sam's Club raisin bran. I could have that in a coffee cup and use the last of the hazelnut creamers I have. Yuk. I'm gonna have to bite the bullet here.

Southern Bell pre-made Tuna for $2.89 and Kleinpeter chocolate milk. Kleinpeter? Whatever. I double check all the expiration dates. Ok, I'm good. I also buy two "breakfast" sandwiches that I will nuke in the morning. Add in a couple of packages of powered donuts and I'm good to go. The total for all this delicious stuff is $19.39. I wonder if that "qualifies" me to park in this creepy place. Yes, that right, they actually charge for parking. I don't know how much - I'm not going to pursue it. I'll just have to take my chances.

I should have stayed at the Pilot or the Shell t/s a few miles west of New Orleans, but I wanted to get as close to my customer as possible. I also wanted to see the city at night. I was surprised how "alive" the place looked. The last time I was here I drove past the stadium and it was horrible. Now, tonight, everything looked, at least from the interstate, kinda "normal." But, I have to be honest, I got kind of an eerie feeling driving through downtown that I've never gotten anywhere else. Again, weird - and creepy! 

Want to see this creepy place in the daytime before Katrina? go here: http://www.palacetruckstop.net./index2.html

Sirius/XM Programming changes...

If you have XM, go here for the changes:

http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/lineup.xmc

If you have Sirius, go here for the changes:

http://www.sirius.com/newlineup

There is a good article that provides an overview 

of the merged services and programming at

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2008/11/xm-radio-sirius.html

So you want a good trucking job?

Forget it.

It ain't gonna happen.

Find anything else to do. 

Stay away from trucking.

You will be poor.

Find an office job.

Drive a fork lift.

Learn to paint.

Go back to school.

All trucking companies suck.

You will just be disappointed.

Join the Peace Corps.

No trucking jobs are any good. 

You will always smell.

You will be constantly lied to.

You will be told what to do by idiots.

You will get depressed - and stay that way.

You will be lonely - all the time.

Dispatchers are all morons.

Trucking company owners are all liars.

You will never get paid enough.

You will grind your teeth.

You will regret being a trucker.

You will never see your kids.

You will never get home.

You will never go on vacation.

You will become unhealthy.

You will be fat and get diabetes.

Your knees will really hurt.

You will smoke lots of cheap cigarettes.

The health insurance stinks.

A lot lizard will give you an STD.

Normal people will hate you.

Tobacco chew will begin to taste good.

You will lose all your hair.

You will get lots of kidney stones.

Your back will hurt.

You will get divorced - more than once.

You will become retarded.

You will want to kill yourself.

You will need lots of blood pressure pills.

Anti-depressants too..

You will be angry - always.

You will never be able to retire.

You will die - early.

Wanting to be a truck driver is just plain insanity - please don't do it - take my advice - there are no good companies to work for - they're all horrible - don't waste your time - never believe anything a recruiter tells you - drivers will lie through their yellow brown teeth to get a referral bonus - "oh it's great here - I drive 5000 miles a week easy - I'm home every weekend - I get a new truck every year - I never go to NYC California or Canada - I never wait for loads - I get respect 

BULLSHIT!

The photo credit is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Suicidemessageggb01252006.JPG

** This post was inspired by a piece called "Choosing a Carrier" by Wayne Weisser from http://lifeontheroad.com/

*** This post was also inspired, albeit in a much smaller way, by a piece called "Choosing the Right Company to Work For" by Grumpy (NOT ME!) from http://grumpyoldtrucker.com/gotblog/

It dices, it slices, how much would you pay...

I have obtained Evan Lockridge's top-secret "Road Dog" broadcast topics for the next few days. As Lockridge loves to say, this is Breaking News!

Yesterday, he had on the creator of Road Gorilla.com - a mega ad site for morons who can't find a trucking job on their own and don't own a $29 cell phone that takes pictures. Evan does a great job taking the express elevator down to the basement of his journalist career talking about this site.

Today, Evan is going to reprise the Vegamatic for Drivers - it slices, it dices! Drivers, how much would you pay for this unique product? You can cut up those juicy tomatoes while you're applying for that "perfect" job with Swift or JB Hunt and sending photos of yourself to all your "trucking buddies." What's that? Nooo. Not $49. Nooo. Not $39. Bet you can't wait to hear the price...but first the trucking news.

Tomorrow, Lockridge is Break'n News with the Ronco Star Six Cutlery Set for drivers for an amazing $29.99. I'm personally so excited about Thursday's show. Holy smokes! Evan is devoting his entire show to the, yes, I hear you out there, The Pocket Fisherman! And if all that is just not enough for you, Lockridge will close out the week with the Inside-The-Egg Scrambler!

*** The photo used here, the Vegamatic, the knife set, the Pocket Fisherman and Inside-The-Egg Scrambler are products by the Ronco Acquisition Corporation. Their web site is http://www.ronco.com/

ATA's Bold Pinhead Safety Agenda...

covers the following 18 points - read these, then think about them - I'll comment on this "agenda" in a later post. I will say this - you NEVER hear or read anything that the ATA or OOIDA is doing to increase driver compensation. Remember, we're unskilled labor! It's all about these goody-too-shoes, pie-in-the-sky, make the world a Disney-kind of panacea - while wanting drivers to be more like airline pilots and ship captains - without ever paying us for the "real" hours we put in that truck - that's being responsible for the tractor, trailer, the load and public safety. I know that's a mouth full, but it's sure as hell true.

Ten recommendations to improve truck and passenger vehicle driver performance are:
	1.	Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion
	2.	Policy supporting uniform commercial drivers license (CDL) testing standards
	3.	Support for a CDL graduated licensing study
	4.	Advocate for additional parking facilities for trucks
	5.	Advocate for a national maximum 65mph speed limit
	6.	Pursue strategies to increase the use of seat belts
	7.	Support for a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program
	8.	Support for increased use of red light cameras and automated speed enforcement
	9.	Support for graduated licensing in all states for non-commercial teen drivers
	10.	Support for more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving.

Three recommendations that focus on making vehicles safer are:
	11.	Support targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles
	12.	Require electronic speed governing of all large trucks made since 1992
	13.	Advocate for new large truck crashworthiness standards.

Five recommendations that will improve federal oversight are:
	14.	Advocate for a national employer notification system
	15.	Create a federal clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of CDL holders
	16.	Support a federal registry of certified medical examiners
	17.	Create a policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource
	18.	Support for required safety training by new entrant motor carriers.

Hey, President Bush...

I didn't have anyone I knew or loved lose their life over in Iraq or Afghanistan. That obviously influences my feelings. I know they're a lot of people who hate you. I'm not one of them. I don't know how to reconcile your two terms in office. As someone said, "It's above my pay grade." 

You've made a bunch of mistakes - Katrina was a a whopper - but in my life and career, I've certainly made a bunch myself. True, I wasn't the Commander-in-Chief. But mano a mano, truly, no hard feelings. I wish you, and especially Laura and the "kids", the best of luck in the future. 

I hope you do write a book - well, maybe like you did to get though Yale and Harvard, you'll pay someone to do it for you. But in any case, it will be interesting to get your "take" on the past 8 years. Please be honest and don't let Karl Rove or Chaney edit out any of it. We'll all know if you do. 

When you get back to Crawford, have a Bud Lite on me. 

Terminal Anxiety...Part Three...Inmates

It never fails to amaze me. I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. But I’ve just got to say something. I was in a safety meeting yesterday. It was crowded. Freight is slow, so there are a lot of drivers stuck here. Here being Laredo, TX. A lot of the drivers are new to the  company. There are more and more women flat-bedders now. I looked around the room. I completely tuned out what the safety guy was saying and pondered what I was seeing.

One guy over there looks like Jesus, the girl over there looks like a cast member from the Broadway show Stomp – all she needed was a metal trash can. The “kid” in front of me had the back of his neck tattooed, that guy over there looks like a beggar, the guy to my left is wearing a stained “wife beater” shirt, the woman who just walked in is a skooch taller than a midget and with a little more hair would look like Cousin Itt (that’s how it’s spelled) from the Adams Family.

The dude in back looks like a NBA wannabee and yes, he was carrying a basketball. His “shorts” were almost down to his ankles. Just exactly when are shorts considered long pants? They were baggy enough to fit someone else in there. Of course, the waistband was just above his butt crack. What a picture. The guy in the corner has a dirty grey beard that goes down to his waist. Many in this “gathering” were missing teeth and a few wore black and brown flip flops with various colored “dress” sox. A few had large knives in leather holders on their belts.

 And then there were the wives, girlfriends and “tagging-along-ers.” They apparently had nothing else to do so they attended the meeting. They were complaining about the “bad” language being used by drivers in their presence. Specifically, the “F” word. Ok, they have a point, but one of the ladies was dressed in a very short puffy cotton sundress sans bra. Was it intentional that everyone could tell she wore lace panties? Another girl looked barely 16 and was a thin as a toothpick. Her jeans wouldn’t fit over my forearm.

As in every driver meeting, safety or otherwise, there was - the cowboy. Black jeans, cowboy hat, snake skin belt with the turkey plate sized buckle, And the skin tight snap cowboy shirt. Almost 90 degrees and long sleeves? He was almost as thin as that 16 year old girl. And of course, he could barely sit there struggling not to light up. He was clearly a nicotine addict.

There was the driver who I gave a cold Gatorade to. He was out there tarping his little heart out in the heat before the meeting. After I gave him the drink, he stopped what he was doing, went into his truck, and presented me with a wooden cross his wife apparently makes. A Christian driver. There’s “lots a” those.

But listen, let’s be honest. With a very few exceptions – me being one of them – none of these folks looked professional. They didn’t look like they were on the job. They didn’t seem to care that they’re sitting in their employers place of business. They didn’t even look like factory or warehouse workers. What they did look like were inmates with their “family” during the visiting period at a minimum security prison. And more importantly and to my point, you would have a hard time taking any of these folks seriously. No wonder the management at trucking company treats drivers like lepers.

The photo credit is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wayneklick/1822874674/ 

Buzzzzzzzzzz.....OOIDA

One of the trillions of honey bees that you're trying to save just flew by my truck and said for me to remind you OOIDA folks that it is 2008! Check your calendar - your Land Land site needs to have the copyright date updated...and by the time ya'll will get around to changing it, guess what?, it'll be 2009!

Copyright © 2007 OOIDA | All Rights Reserved
1 NW OOIDA Drive | Grain Valley, Missouri 64029


The photo credit is: http://www.turbosquid.com

Veterans Day...

This photo was taken by Suzanne DeChillo of The New York Times. It is of Virginia Sanchez, 90 years young, and the mother of Jose Ramon Sanchez, 18, who was killed in Vietnam in 1968.

PVC Sanchez, 3rd Marine Division, was aboard a CH-46 helicopter sent to rescue fellow Marines in the mountains of Khe Sahn. The chopper was hit by small arms fire. Sanchez and 4 other Marines were killed when the chopper was destroyed.

His remains were never identified. Recently, investigators from the the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, working with bone fragments from the crash, officially certified Sanchez's remains 40 years after his death, using DNA samples provided by his mother and brother.

PVC Sanchez will be be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in the Spring.

For the complete story please go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/nyregion/07marine.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=vietnam%20soldier%20identified%20through%20dna&st=cse&oref=slogin

More than I bargained for...

I've had it with the damn flies. Every time I go to Kansas or Oklahoma I get "stuck" with a bunch of these pesky insects - dive bombing my head mile after mile.

I bought a long sticky fly strip but it keeps getting stuck in my hair or on my clothes. It's more of a pain than anything else. I need some immediate relief. When I got down here to Laredo, although all the flies have mysteriously disappeared. Could it be that I finally took a shower? Anyway, I want to prepare for the next time they invite themselves into my cab. So to the local Wal-Mart Super center I went. 

It took me a while - I needed the exercise - but I finally located a few models in the "pest control" isle. One swatter was shaped like a lemon. I tested it. No good. Besides the yellow color would clash with everything else in my truck. The next model was green and shaped like a butterfly. A green butterfly? I tested it as well. Oops, damn, I almost hit that old Mexican woman. Nope it's not going to work either. The flies I have encountered are smart little bastards. A swatter shaped liked a lemon or a butterfly wouldn't fool them. 

Then there was SERGEANT SWAT! - "a military spec swatter for the toughest pests!" Now we're talking. This is what was written on the attached tag:

- recoilless design allows for swat-attacks on even the largest of flying prey.

- precision manufactured flapper and super strong steel handle creates the most lethal flying pest killing apparatus the world has ever seen.

- superior balanced action allows for smooth, powerful swats - even while seated.

- will not bend nor break, even in the most severe conditions.

They claim 888 civilian uses - here are 8:

- keep it in the truck for the winter and use it as a windshield scraper.

- for those that don't mind spreading a little bug shrapnel, try it as a backscratcher.

- emergency toothpick.

- canoe paddle

- makes a good fish club

- beer can crusher

- redneck badminton

- manual mouse trap

Caution:

- meant for backyard warfare between you and the flies - not your neighbors or dogs.

And what is the price you ask? $.98 as in 98 cents! I grabbed it. 

** this product is real and is manufactured by Enoz, a division of Willert Home Products out of St. Louis, MO. Being a cheap Wal-Mart product, it is, of course, made in China. But you should feel this thing - it's really sturdy and made for heavy-duty action. No good photo was available, so I used a photo of a typical flimsy plastic fly swatter. The credit is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gewone_vliegenmepper.jpg