Finished first 2 full weeks out back in California. I received  my load home in Dallas, Tx  6 hours late. Needed to be in California by 11:00 am Saturday I knew Friday night I would not make it in time so I called consignee and left a message that I would not be there until between 14:00 and 15:00. I called again Saturday morning left a second message then called broker to let him know. He said he had a back line he'll call if any problems he'd call me back. I arrived at 14:40 and no one was there? Called broker he said he'd call, when he called back he told me since he had told them I would be there at 14:00 they waited 15 minutes and went home I could stay but they won't be back until Monday. Since I already had a load I needed to pickup in Oxnard I needed to go to our local terminal get a empty trailer and pickup the load. Got the load but did not make it home since I ran out of hours. I did make it home late Sunday morning. I had told my DM I would take the Saturday load to consignee on Monday but I needed Tuesday off as I had things I needed to get done he agreed. Monday morning I told him I would pickup a load when finished if he needed me to. At 8:00 I got a call wanting to know if I can be there before 11:00 I told them I was on my way. I arrived at 10:15 I however did not get to the door until 13:30. Unloaded by 14:00 but did not get paperwork until 15:00. In the mean time I called in and was given a load to pickup in Vista, Ca about 90 miles south had to be there before 18:00. After I left my DM redirected me to Oxnard (75 miles) with a second pickup (or he said) Fillmore (20 miles). I needed to be in Oxnard by 17:00 75 miles in 2 hours not a problem except during rush hour in L.A. I told him I will never make it I had a better chance to getting to Vista by 18:00. He called Oxnard and they would wait for me just before I got there I called the "Fillmore" stop to get their address and directions. The amazing thing is this second stop was a little further away then my DM implied only 200 miles further away in Fresno. I let him know I was not happy that there was NO WAY I would make it to Fresno I only had a couple of hours left on my 14 and that he promised me I would be home that night he told me if I can't make it to Fresno to bring the trailer to the terminal which I did and got home late last night. Planning on taking off tomorrow unless something happens between now and the morning.

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  My last blog (7/7 I do this why?) I mentioned I was in OKC and my guess they would send me to Dallas was correct they had me bobtail all the way to Dallas. However the truck I was to get was not ready so they gave me the option to layover or take a Pepsi load to Tulsa. I opted for the load was a bit surprised that it was a hazmat load but took it anyway. Delivered it Tuesday morning then got a load heading back to the Dallas area, delivered it Wednesday afternoon. Got back to the terminal and was informed that the truck I was to get was in the shop for $6000.00 repairs. Long story short I did get a truck a '05 Pete with 600,000 miles, but it is California legal.

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Saturday called the terminal at 07:00 spoke with the terminal manager he had no clue as to what was happening said to hang out and he'll call me. About 09:30 he called and said head east that he was thinking of having the load repowered in Dallas? I did just that  had not heard anything so decided I would attempt to make it to Amarillo and I would call in the morning for directions. Just after I arrived in New Mexico around 16:00 I get a call from another driver in OKC who was going to take the load the rest of the way. He asked when I would be there? Since I had just past Gallup I told him no earlier then late morning. He did not sound to happy with that. I ended up stopping just out of Bushland, Tx around 1:00 am PST. Long story jump to the chase. He called me at 09:14 asked if I was close I guess if you consider 260 miles close? Legally I could not leave for another couple of hours but I finely made it to the Flying J in OKC at 14:00 PST. Turned out he was an O/O did not have a trailer for me and was very Pi***d at me made a comment how do I make any money the way I drive? My answer was I have no idea, he just gave me a blank stare? Then he jumped in his truck and was gone. I called the weekend dispatch and they told me to just hang and call my dispatch in the morning. Now I sit here till tomorrow to learn what I will be doing, my guess they will send me down to Dallas to get a truck that is licensed in all 48 as opposed to everything east of NM.

As to the question I do this why? As the great philosopher here on Chickentrucker Jackknife said I do it because love it. Driving 80,000 pounds of steel and rubber and whatever I am hauling is a bit rewarding as I deliver that load. Seeing this great country and meeting so many great Americans of all kinds I think is one of the draws. Also as we all know and I think the rest of the country is maybe starting to understand it is the TRUCKER who makes this country move.

Which makes me proud to help move the economy of the USA forward.

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Last I wrote I was sitting at the TA in Santa Nella, Ca well I did get the run to Philly with 3 pickups here in California. Called al three to get directions first and third ones said the loads where ready, did not speak to the second automated system. Got to my first pickup at 10:00 was put in door right then and loaded out at 10:45 next stop was around the corner checked in had to wait for lettuce ended up waiting 3 hours to get a door then another till they started to load.

(side trip)

Forgot to mentioned from blog before last this old geezer was a little upset wit me which I could understand as I did not pull up far enough from the fuel line. He came into the Pilot yelling at the clerk to get the SOB to move his truck then he pointed at me and said that's you move your f***'n truck which I said I will as soon as I get my receipt (I was next in line). A minute later I was in my truck started it up was about to move when he came at me with a hammer demanding I get out of the truck to settle it here and now. I told him its settled my engine running and I am about to pull up. He did not want any of it he wanted to fight kept demanding I get out of the truck I said its not worth it. Wished I taped it on video but didn't think of it until later. I did pull out and parked to update my log book as I pulled out he flipped a gesture which I ignored. Reason I brought this up was while I was waiting for the door who should pull up but the same guy. I was talking to my wife at the time and I started laughing she asked why I was laughing and I told her she would never guess he just pulled in, she guessed right?

(main trip)

Finely got out of there at 17:00. Got to my next and final pickup right to the door however no room in the trailer, they ended up unloading everything and reload got out of there at 20:00. Still had 3 hours to drive so I drove as far as I could parked at 23:00 and went to sleep. As a side note I have also been getting sick all week and it has gotten worst as the week progressed. I think I have a bit of a temperature and a very sever cough. At night I will go about 4 hours of straight coughing during the day it is a little less I hope my neighbors are not kept up because of it. Even with the air running at full I sweat. Back to my sorrowful story I checked in this morning as required they want to know where I am at, what temp is on the refer what hours I drove/on duty and sleeper. After checking in I spoke to my so call DM ask if the issues with my lack of Arizona registration had been settle he said how long till you can get to the terminal? I told him 2-3 hours he said come on in. I did not know weather he was going to have a team tae the load or give me another truck? When I was half way there he called and told me to head for Needles that he will have a team meet me there and then I would come back to the terminal. This actually would work for me so I can go home and pump drugs into my system to hopefully get better. Of course that is not the way things go after threatening taking load back to terminal I was told to purchase a permit at port of entry. When I arrived to port of entry they where closed, so I continued on I am now here in Kingman at the TA decided I needed a shower badly I could not stand next to me. Now I wait till morning when I will call in and find out where I am to meet the team that will take this load to Philly?

In the mean time I will have to consider if this company is worth staying with or not. Its been 2 weeks and I am not impressed one bit if my wife had anything to do with it this truck would have been back at the terminal.

(side trip)

Not sure if I mentioned it but my wife drove truck back in the early 80's moving furniture.

Well that’s enough rambling for tonight hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th

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Left Adelanto Sunday night (6/29) at 21:00 headed for Manteca, Ca for delivery at 05:00 in the morning. Arrived @ 04:45 got unloaded @ 07:00. While waiting checked permits book and discovered that the registration expired on the 30th. Notified by my DM he is sending via FedEx it arrived this morning. Was also notified by him that the truck does not have a California permit so I will have to purchase a temporary one? I am unable to do so since the flying J does not sell them.  Got the registration at 10:30 then had to wait while my DM got me a California permit. Finely got the California temporary permit faxed to me at 12:45, good for 4 days. You'd think once I got all the permits lined up I'd be rolling think again told my DM I had the permit and he told me he'd call me back? So far this company has not impressed me one bit. Called  my DM @ 14:30 to see what's happening? He was not sure what to do with me he will call back in a hour that hour turned into 2 when I called again and got the same answer.  I called again @ 18:15 he did have an answer for me this time I'm not moving tonight, he should be able to give me my assignment for tomorrow later?

Well no call this morning I called and was told my DM will be out for a couple of hours? I told the girl who answered I hope to get something since I have been sitting for 2 DAYS, she said someone will call me soon. I did not hold my breath this was 8:00 am I called again later same story. Finely I called again around noon got the terminal manager and told him I had it with this company that I am bring the truck back (360 miles) empty and turning it in. He apologized and said they are working on something for me. I explained that I had no problem with sitting Monday due to the permit issues (he was not aware of the fact this truck is not registered in the western US he was a bit upset). I did not care for the run around yesterday and today. He told me there are only 100 trucks registered for California he will correct my issues. He will pay me days wages for today plus layover the past 2 days. He said he is working on a load to Philly for me and wanted me to head for Salinas, Ca to call him when I get to the I5/Ca152. Now here I sit at the TA in Santa Nella waiting as the load will not be going out till tomorrow?  Offered to put me up in a hotel and buy me dinner. Did not take up the offer for Hotel (didn't want the hassle of paying then getting reimbursed later) however I did have a good dinner we will see what tomorrow will bring  At least my 70 has been reset again.  

As I was sitting in California for 3 days it occurred to me the following.

You are not allowed to leave young children unattended in an non air-conditioned vehicle. Rightly so

You should not allow the elderly stay in an non air-conditioned vehicle. Again rightly so

You should not leave pets in a non air-condition vehicle. Again rightly so

As for the hard working truck driver who sleeps in his/her truck so he/she can be safe on the road in a non air-conditioned vehicle well that’s the law. Makes you wonder don't it.

Tags: Sitting

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Well it happened did not leave as expected Thursday the driver they wanted me to go with said no hitchhikers. Got a call Friday morning 6:30 told to get to terminal ASAP. I arrived at 8:00 am and met my "co-driver" to Texas and then we sat. Finely the asked us to do a couple of runs for them. Simple things take one truck to freightliner, and pickup another one that we needed to take down the hill in Fontana while picking up the truck we will be taking to Texas from the body shop. We arrived at the body shop at 12:30 and was told it would not be ready until after 4:00.

We finely left Adelanto at 9:00 pm me behind the wheel co-driver trying to sleep. I drove as long as I could made it to Holbrook Arizona unfortunately my co-driver who had not teamed with anyone since he was in training 10 years ago was not ready to drive.  So we parked for a few hours so he can get some rest. We made it to Wilmer, Tx Sunday night I got the truck that I was to pickup to and went to pickup my load in Waxahachie to California. When I arrived the load I was to pickup was already gone? There was 1 pallet that still had to go to the same location they decided to give me that 1 pallet. I told them they are crazy but I will take it if they wanted me to I would be willing to wait but they insisted I take it. Made it to Amarillo had been sleeping for a couple of hours when I received a call from my DM telling me I needed to take the pallet back, that it was to go via air freight. Got it back to Waxahachie Tuesday night and got another load to California  delivered it Thursday afternoon. Got my next load to pickup that evening 160 miles away arrived at 8:30 and found out my load was already picked up 4 hours earlier. Luckily they had another one that I could pickup which I did but my 14 hours where up and had the spend the night at shippers. After 3000 + miles I made it back to my new home terminal yesterday. Will be home until tomorrow and then will be heading out tomorrow. I am a bit tired but after not working for 6 months I'm doing OK.

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 Got a call this morning from Gemini Traffic Sales the recruiter told me I studied hard as I passed my drug test. Asked me to come in and get my physical done, went in and passed the physical, filled out all the  paper work and I start tomorrow. I will be heading out for Dallas to pickup a truck for the local terminal to be used locally. They are trying to determine how to get me there either by hitching a ride with another driver or by taking the bus. When I return I will be assigned my own truck.  So looks like I being rolling in a Red truck instead of the White truck I have been driving.  

Tags: Gemini Traffic Sales Hired

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Well, its has been 3 digits the past few days here and our A/C cut out last Friday. Not sure when it will be fixed. I joked with my wife last night that I guess I am now in training. Of course she did not understand what I meant by this statement. I explained with all the new company rules and state laws about idling I am in training to sleep without A/C.  Her reply was "we never had A/C  only 2 small fans when I drove" (She and her 1st husband where O/O's  back In the early 80's. They drove late 60's - early 70's petes) so no sympathy on her part.

Tags: Hot Idling AC

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Got a call this morning from the recruiter he wanted me to come in for a drug test. Made sure I was well full of liquids drank alot of water between here and Adelanto LOL. Should hear from him Wednesday if I pass the drug test since I don't do drugs I should pass it. Orientation is half a day will need to do DOT physical and of course the road test. They have 4 trucks available right now 2 culumbias, 1 volvo and 1 pete. I could be back on the road this weekend. Should be interesting going from 15,000 + drivers to around 300 drivers.

Tags: Recruiter Drug Test

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