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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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Trip 12 - WI Date August 19, 2003 They had wanted me to run yesterday but by the time they called in the AM I was already committed to something else for the day. Someone else picked up my truck yesterday from the customer and parked it at the office ... I'm there at 8 AM and ready to go. The first thing I notice is the lights are on ... and soon found the truck wouldn't start. First we tried to jump it ... that didn't work, then tried to charge it ... that didn't work either ... then the boss came out to start it ... that worked. At sometime during the times I was trying to start it, I quit using the clutch ... I know I had used it to start with, because the truck had been in gear. (Two hours down the road I see the 'safety sign' in the window ... you must depress clutch to start ...) If I had been able to leave at 8 AM, I could have caught the 2 PM bus out of Milwaukee ... leaving at 9:30 didn't give me much of a chance. Other than making a fool of myself to my boss, the trip was uneventful. The truck was a chassis making for a rough ride and I really should have stopped more often. Instead I only stopped for fuel ... the boss would pay for the first $20 so that's all I put in the first stop ... thinking I might make it ... I didn't. I had to stop again and fuel ... more time and now no chance to catch the 2 PM bus. The address looked firmilar ... but I still took the wrong exit. Which always adds time to any trip. Then I did follow the directions on the BL "All trucks deliver to the used truck location." They signed and were going to give me a ride to the bus depot ... no hurry now, I had five hours to catch the bus. But the guy who came to give me a ride looked at the paperwork and said "All new trucks go to the new truck location." A few phone calls confirmed that I would have to go to the other location. So off to the other office located a few blocks away. Here things went quickly, the salesman knew I was coming and was waiting in the parking lot, directed me where to park, walked around the truck and agreed to give me a lift to the depot. I could have walked and can if I do this run again but a ride is always nice in a strange town. Only one person ahead of me in line at the depot and all goes quickly ... of course it does when you are two plus hours early. As I waited in line I saw what looked like the clipboard of a 'drive-away driver.' It was ... I sat down and asked the guy, after repeating the question he looked up and answered me. I asked another question and he answered without looking up from his USA Today. I started talking about my run but didn't get any response so I shut up ... for the next two plus hours he never moved from his seat or spoke a word. We are finally moving, the bus is full but not packed, I had to share a seat until the first drop. Then I moved and sat alone for the rest of the eight hour trip. I tried to sleep sitting up then laying down ... I miss my pillow ... I must have finally slept because I don't remember the last stop before I got off ... had that moment of confusion when you first wake up and don't know what city you are in. Didn't know it then, but between the bouncing from the chaise and trying to sleep on the bus I would be in rough shape for the next two days ... without this trip I may have been able to sleep in the truck the next two nights. That ... and it's always a smiling face that meets you in the middle of the night to give you a ride ... I need to plan my trips so this doesn't happen ... it doesn't do either of us any good. |