Tuesday, December 8, 2020

 I'm not getting homesick, but I am starting to get tired. This is day 6 of relentless driving and dealing with "stuff" all day long.  This 4 truck assignment is no piece of cake.  There are issues at both ends that make it seem a lot more hassle than it's worth.  Yes, I'm making good money, but this isn't exactly heaven here.

For example.  I get over to the yard in Newell, WV to get the second truck.  But before that, I go into the office to ask about taking at least one of these rental vehicles back.  I've got two of them parked there and tomorrow there will be 3.  And the next day, there will be 4.  Well, the lady running the place said yesterday that it was too late, she said today that she was the only one there and couldn't leave.  I mean, it's whatever to me. I may have created this problem by bringing them in there, I did not create this assignment and all that it entails.

After that, the truck wouldn't start. There was no mechanic there, they had hooked up a battery charger but it wouldn't even attempt at trying to crank over the engine.  So i went and got Subway dinner, keto friendly version - yes I fired up the diet again and so far I"ve been able to adhere to it.  In fact, I went to Kroger's tonight and bought some low carb frozen dinners. Literally everything for restaurants have been shut down here by the time I get to the hotel.  The mechanic showed up later, but by then the batteries were charged enough to start the truck.

However.  

Trucks sitting for long periods can create problems, including sticking brakes. I couldn't tell which one when I went to pull it out of the hole it was in but definitely at least one of them wasn't letting go.  An engine light was on. I couldn't find an EZ pass device - get me through the toll booths without having to pay anything. 

But the worst part? Horrid, awful smell.  The outside of the truck, spotless, clean, nice paint. The inside?  A hog's dream land.  Dirt, rocks, trash, filth and smell.  That is why I refuse to sleep in those trucks. They are absolutely filthy and smell so bad, there is no way I could sleep with that kind of horrid stench assaulting my nostrils all night long.  

Anyway, I pulled the truck up to the mechanic shop and the dude took it in there and got the brakes released and then adjusted all of the brakes on the truck.  Really good guy, he had another truck idling before I left that I am going to pick up tomorrow.  Drove the truck over here - to Toledo - got the same hotel as last night - with the same eternal problem in getting the reservation taken care of.

I contacted my manager 3-1/2 hours before getting here, he contacted me back a while later that reservation was made.  When I got here? Same thing as last night. It wasn't in the system, sorry charley, have a nice night.  So I sat there 20 minutes or so and finally the crew fax showed up, the dude working the desk got everything taken care of and now I'm in my room, kicking back, getting road wash out of my head and thinking about going to sleep soon. 

If this stuff goes as it has been, I should be done with this 4 tractor move Thursday night.  After that, I have no clue. More moves or go home?  I'd be down for a bit more- but with a day off.  

Ok I'm toast, time to go to sleep.  

 Friday late-morning Typical morning when there is no work.  It was, I should say, until the new guy called.  "There's nothing wron...