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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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200821 MN-MN 2 local moves, one final destination San Diego CA, one final destination Santa Rosa CA ... spending the night at home ... Local dispatch had called about these trucks yesterday but they needed my signature listing all the traffic violations I had had in the last year. Formality? I'm guessing they do their own research no matter what I list on that sheet of paper. We got the call about 9 AM, I'm good to roll. I had said I could be there by 9:30, but changed it to 10 am thinking we would not have to wait as long for the 2nd truck which wouldn't be ready until 12:30. When I stopped in to pick up my paperwork, I said 'Hi' to the safety person ... a half hour later I needed to get going :) He is looking to do safety video's for new drivers as well as go to paperless logs. Seems to have tried a few of paperless logs. 11 AM we get to the first shipper. The place is packed, busiest I have seen it. I know the two senior guys in the shop, they have been there for years. The rest of the crew seems to change every time I stop in. Truck is parked in front of the door, keys are in it. We do a quick inspection and ready to go. This is the 1st pickup I have seen with a 'electronic / computer stick shift.' 10 speed. Drives like a automatic, computer shifts it like a stick. 12 noon, we are back at the office parking the truck. Later than we thought it would be, but we stop at a place in Lake Elmo called Gorman's. First time we have ever stopped. Great food, we will be back. 1:30 we are up at the 2nd shipper in White Bear. I was driving so I couldn't call ahead. Seems our old contact is gone. His name first name was Nelson, the new guys last name is Nelson :) As we are there, the shipper is weighing a eight axle pumper truck. $1.2 million. I think the largest one I have driven is five axles. This one has an AZ flag on the side so I'm guessing that is where it is going. When I was done with my inspection and ready to leave, I un-set the air break and put the truck in gear. BEEP BEEP BEEP until I set the air brake again. Finally someone from under the 8 axle truck came over and explained that there was a shipper installed button that said 'OK' that would have to be pushed every time the parking brake was released ... those little secrets that some trucks have. The order for this truck says I have to fill it before I drop it at the office. $13. The tank was already full to the point of stopping the nozzle. I had to pull the nozzle up and out to get $13 more into it. The first truck was on 1/4 when I picked it up and 1/8 when I dropped it, but that one didn't say to fill. I finally made an appointment online with my cell phone company. 'Buying' wasn't an option so I just selected the first reason in the list so that it would accept my appointment.  Load board US - 266 IA - 99 MN - 3 WI - 12 AZ, OR and WA all have two or more RV's heading to close area's. IF I pass my DOT on Tuesday when I go in, we will still only have about 10 days until BB had to be back for a pre-op visit. Then we have a week before her first surgery. Then two weeks between surgeries. Then a week, two weeks, more before she will be ready to drive again. Not sure what driving I will be doing this time or if BB will come with. Either one of those trucks today would be a nice ride to CA :)  |
