Tuesday night
Yesterday was not fun. First off, getting to the tank washout place, I was informed there was no paperwork for it, they had already sent it off to their corporate. A very long story short: I didn't need it.
Second, the other driver informed me that I should get up on top of the tank and look down into it to make sure there are no clumps or anything, that I may have to have it washed out again. Then, he said, to get a hose and just pump some water through it - this because it had been sitting so long.
Another very long story short: I ended up using their pressure water replete with heat to spray out the inside for the man that runs the place said it's too late and he wouldn't come, I am welcome to do it myself.
After that, to Lufkin. Where I spent 3 hours and 15 minutes getting loaded. I didn't get home until midnight.
Today? Off to the property, did my pre trip inspection and found a flat tire. I instantly knew this would cost me hours of time. After much conversation with people at the yard, I took it to a local tire shop that I always go to for new tires or to get tires fixed.
They offered me brand new tires for $300 a piece, installed. That's a smoking deal, actually. The found another bad tire and yes, it was bad. It was a very long process to get the company to actually pay for it. That they did. Then we found more bad tires. Hard to explain, but impossible to find the problems with these tires on a pre-trip inspection. They were so bad, however, that it was a blow out waiting to happen. A total of 4 new tires and that was that.
UP to the plant. Took forever to find anyone to deal with signing off on paperwork, that person didn't deal with it, he found the man who does that stuff somewhere in the back of the plant who eventually came up and said he wasn't sure they have enough room for another truckload in their tank. Well, this is really a wonderful day!
I lost a half an hour on that, just waiting for them to make up their mind, but eventually the did, indeed, take the load and yes, it fit in there, however, it is completely full. Or was. It's a 24 hour operation, they are making 4X8 sheets of plywood and glue is, obviously, a vital component in that manufacturing process. It is rather fascinating to stand in there and watch how it works. Lots of automated, hydraulic equipment but equal amounts of people moving thin sheets of wood around.
Plywood is, in fact, very thin sheets of wood that is apparently pressed together with glue. At least that's what it looks like.
Anyway, it was a long offload for unknown reasons, I kept thinking I was doing something wrong, I kept going over the entire thing and finally came to the conclusion it's nothing I am doing, it's just a slow offload, which it often times is up there, but there is no explanation of why. It happens to other drivers, which makes me feel better at least.
The hunter finally bagged a deer tonight. He called me while I was still in Arkansas and started cussing me out because I wasn't there to help him. Well, I didn't know he was going hunting tonight and I certainly didn't tell him I could help him today. I would have told him that if he had bothered to ask. Work takes precedence and I just didn't have the time for it.
When I arrived at the park, he was there cutting this deer up in the back of his pickup. When I got done with truck stuff, I went over and helped for a while. He kept cutting me off in the middle of sentences and calling me names and I just let loose. No, you aren't going to talk like this to me anymore. I got in his face, I had had enough of his BS. I don't call him names, I don't cut him off in the middle of sentences, his behavior is juvenile at best. 60 years old acting like a teenager.
Anyway, I am not going to get riled up over it again. He really pissed me off today for all the bs, there was no reason for it. Just call me up and start cussing me out? WTH.
Anyway, it's getting late and I need to get ready to get to bed, early rise in the morning. I have to go to the washout, get the trailer cleaned, go to Lufkin, load and then up to the yard in Arkansas and back to my park. It's going to be a very long day doing all of that. Especially if it takes over 3 hours like it did last night to load, ugh.
Anyway, I bid you a good evening and a good night's rest.
