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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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Trip 49 - New International - Refer ... to Seattle, WA Off Monday / Tuesday … I turn down my first two options, both multi-leg runs, and take a run to Seattle … it's at the office, available for a 8 AM dispatch. 7/28/04 From last night to this AM the price of an airline ticket home has gone from $200 to $300 … so I ask dispatch for other options … I can still take one of the two offered yesterday, but both cut into the weekend so I stay with the Seattle run. This is a run where we have the option if to pay for the fuel or not … I've checked the Internet and found that fuel is well over $2 out west and has been going up since the fuel surcharge was set on Monday (another disadvantage of running later in the week) First problem is the VIN (vehicle identification number) doesn't match, after a couple of phone calls and an hour delay, they re-do the paperwork. Second problem … truck seems gutless as I pull on the highway, but it's been a while since I've driven one of these … Third problem … after ten miles the 'engine' light comes on. Dispatch says go to the next International dealer … Fourth problem … dealer can't look at it until 4 PM, the other dealer in town can't look at it until 10 PM … and I'm not leaving town to find a dealer 'on my way to Seattle,' so ... Time to get another run ... Leg 2 - Trip 49b - GMC - Refer ... to Dallas, TX |