So.  I get to the Oklahoma plant and after dropping the loaded trailer and getting scaled out, the dude approaches me.  "The driver in here yesterday tried to take that trailer - pointing one of our very old trailers, 45 years old to be precise - and he couldn't get the brakes to release".  He couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.

I had a 99% of being correct guess what it was, but I hooked up to it anyway and tried to release the brakes. Nothing. Air would go into the trailer for about 2 seconds and then stop.  I got out, opened the doors that give access to the pipes and valves to offload the trailer and walaah.  A broken plunger.  These trailers are equipped with a safety device that locks the brakes when the doors are opened.  A plunger releases and the brakes lock up.

The plunger was gone and the threaded portion of it was destroyed.  Right about then, my dispatcher was calling about when I will make it back tomorrow (which is now today) and I went right into this problem.  "This trailer isn't going anywhere" after describing what was wrong with it.  "Are you going to call Road Squad?".  No, lol, they won't have the part to fix this thing, we are going to have to contact our shop mechanic to figure out how to get the part up here and get it fixed.  So, I took a pic and texted both dispatch and the mechanic.  Allegedly he is having a mechanic get up there and fix it today.  You're welcome.  

Then we got into the discussion about when I'm getting back.  Not only is that trailer down, but there is another trailer down at our yard, leaving us short-handed on trailers.  And loads that need to go out.  I get that, but I don't have any control, whatsoever, on the appointment times. "Well, I got a late appointment, it's going to be late when I get back".  I gave her the amount of hours it would be before I got back - I was busy unhooking from one trailer and hooking up to the other empty that was there - and she calculated I wouldn't be back in time for the latest loading time the plant will give which is 2:30 pm.  

I knew she was wrong but I was too busy trying to get hooked up and get out of there.  It took all of my 30 minute break up to figure out what was wrong with that trailer and get pics and send them to the mechanic.  It' s "not a part of my job description" to figure out mechanical issues, but I'm not that way.  If I can figure it out, the trailer is diagnosed so they can get the right part/s and mechanic up there, versus having to send a mechanic up there to figure out what's wrong and then have to go track down the part, which I suspect isn't easy to find because most trailers do not have that safety device on them and is probably a special order.

I also assume our mechanics have those plungers in stock in their shop.  

I only made it back to the Casino truck stop.  I was going to try and get closer so they could send a tractor up to get the trailer and get it loaded, but I was battling to stay awake and I determined it was getting unsafe for me to continue driving, so I stopped.  It was 1:30 am before I went to bed to give a bit of context.  Sometimes I'm fine at that hour, many times I am not and really struggle to stay awake, even with music blaring and doing whatever I can do to keep myself concentrating on the road. At some point, it's time to say no more, safety takes precedence over a scheduling problem. Especially considering what I'm hauling, tho the trailer is empty.

Even our empty trailers pose a threat, they still have flammable vapors in it and it can still wreak havoc on the general, motoring public.  I do take safety seriously with this job just because of what we are hauling. 

Whatever the case, I returned a call to dispatch - they had called while I was sleeping but I have my ringer off at night, I don't see any reason to be awakened for a phone call that can be dealt with after I get up - and informed her that I would be able to get back in time for the driver to make it to the plant to get the 2:30 appointment slot.

Of course, I am wide awake and could have left an hour ago.  But, the FMCSA knows best about everyone's sleep habits and lumps all of us drivers together into one big pot and dictates to us when we can and cannot drive.  

2 days ago, on the way to work, my SUV ran out of gas.  Mind you, I keep track of my mileage on the odometer so I know how much fuel is in the tank.  I was at 293 miles, the tank is good until around 400.  It ran out of gas the first time at 396 miles.  So, it was perplexing why I had run out of fuel early.  I wasn't idling it anywhere - sometimes I do that when I'm sitting waiting on people or something - and I have a locking gas cap on it.  I reset the trip mileage counter every time I fill up.  

Calling Taylor to come rescue me wasn't so wonderful - she has her own schedule and deals with her family in the mornings - but I had little choice. I could have called road service but it would have taken hours for them to get out there.  I can only say that I repaid her nicely for coming out and saving me. That was a trip to Baytown hauling an empty trailer to get it inspected.

Yesterday, before going to Waffle House, I took the vehicle to a local shop that was recommended and they said they could fix it.  I borrowed her truck to go to work - I didn't ask she offered, I was going to rent a car but they didn't have anything available, not even an expensive vehicle - and so I took her up on it because I am tired of this gas gauge giving me this trouble.  I am not going to replace the vehicle until all of this supply shortage and inflation is done and over with - excuses to jack up prices of everything.  

I don't know when they are going to have it finished, but I'm hoping by this afternoon. In reality, who knows if they can get the part/s expeditiously or not.  I asked them to check the front brakes as well. They have occasionally been making a noise and tho I could easily fix them myself, I find that after driving all over creation, I really don't want to do much of anything else.  "If they are bad, do you want us to do the rotors as well?".  Yup, replace them or having them turned, whichever is cheaper.  You'd be surprised, but in many cases it's now either cheaper or the same price to get brand new rotors as it is to have the old ones turned (milled). 

I did do a last minute check on flights, it's up to almost a grand now.  Not shocking, but in the "good ole days" you might have been able to find a flight cheap if you waited. Now, they overbook flights intentionally so they guarantee the airplane is going to be 100% full, so there is no discounts for attempting to book at the last minute.  I started looking a few months ago, even then it was $833 round trip.  This is a trip I have done several times for less than $400.  

Amazingly, even looking at November to get out there the prices are still high  at $600. But that's not near as bad as what I would pay now and I can take a week off. I texted my manager to find out how much vacation hours I have left, tho in November, I get my hours renewed and I will go up from 112 hours given per year to 150.  I can swallow $600, but I will be looking at other sites for fares as well and then try to get the dates secured through work.  In fact, perhaps I should just go at Thanksgiving and "see" everyone - extended family that is. It seems like we are all getting along a bit better now - my middle brother's view of everyone and life in general has completely changed and has stayed that way after his near-death experience with Covid. 

I do believe I can get a decent price with Southwest if I'm willing to drive to Dallas.  

I texted the contractor several times - first asking if he was coming next week and then just putting dots on a text to get his attention.  10 or so hours later he finally responded. "I'm coming out tomorrow to check the dirt and see if it's ready".  Tomorrow is now today.  There is a 24% chance of rain on Saturday, but after that it's a very low chance. I want this thing done.

Alas, it's time to get ready to leave here and drive out the miles back to the yard and get this trip over with.

G'day