Hackleburg, Alabama

Monday, October 27, 2008

Hackleburg, Alabama

We got a load of Wrangle jeans from New York to Hackleburg, Alabama. We stopped by our house for a few hours. We had a short week from taking home time but we still got in a good week especially considering the northeast pay and the New York City pay. I am glad to be out of New York. Some of the streets that we were on were horrible to be driving on. To make it worse New Yorkers double park to load and unload so getting around them on a already narrow and crowded street with a semi was very challenging. Next we had to double park to unload but the guys got it unloaded quickly. I found that New Yorkers were friendly and helpful even though they are in a rush. I had people help direct me around vehicles and corner several times. I had rather stay out of New York but when I do have to go back at least I have some experience in how to get around New York.

Long Island City, New York

New York City Skyline

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Long Island City, New York

We are in Long Island City, New York. We have a delivery for 08:00 tomorrow. We were dead headed to the West Memphis, Arkansas terminal and got a load to NY. We had a 317 mile DH to the terminal and then an 1137 mile load. I called my dispatch and requested that he get me a load out of here and not let me hang all day in NY. We will see what happens with that. It was quit difficult to get here. After finally getting to my destination I was in the wrong direction and the wrong side of the street. The area was not and area that I wanted to try to circle the block so what did I do….. a U Turn on a New York City 2 lane street. It had a couple of wide side walks and I used both. I slide my tandems all the way up, got on the side walk and cut sharp and made the turn in one try while traffic stopped and waited. It was kind of fun but not something that I would want to do everyday. Tomorrow I have to make it out of here. I hope to get dead headed out of the city for a pickup and that I don’t have to try to get to another location in the city. Getting here was a nightmare.

Home for a few Days

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Home for a few Days

It has been a while since I have posted to my blog. We have had some pretty crappy loads. We went to Chicago and Pennsylvania and then home. I had work that I needed to do to my house before winter. I went back on the board this morning and I still haven’t got a load. I am waiting. I will try to start blogging more regularly.

Broke Down in Wilcox Arizona

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Broke Down in Wilcox Arizona

We got routed to Joplin to get my hand slapped for hitting the roof in Florida. Bad Driver!!

From there we got a load to Santa Ana, California with a rush load. We made it early and no problems with the unloading of the load. They were quick. We had got there early so we waited for awhile but it was convenient to places to eat. We got unloaded before our appointment time. They had already preplan us a load that was only 5 miles away in Irvine. It was a drop and hook and it was ready three hours early. We got hooked and headed to Sam’s in El Paso, Texas. This was all before noon on Friday and we had an 11:00 Monday delivery with 800 miles. We were going to be there Saturday (today). We drove across I-8 to I-10 taking it easy and enjoying the trip and scenery. We had a couple of mild sand storms that wasn’t bad. Then we started having problems! Shelly had said that the truck wasn’t sounding right. We had just had the alternator replaced with the batteries but it sounded as if the alternator was making noise. I watched the gages and stopped and checked the truck a couple of times. All the gages looked good but the sounds were getting worse. We were in the middle of the desert and things were deteriorating. Then the air conditioner stopped and it stopped charging. It was hot and sand was blowing but we had to open the windows because of the heat. I called CFI Repair and to find the nearest shop. We made it to Wilcox, Arizona to a T/A. They are having an annual event here that everyone attends so they are having a problem getting parts. It turns out that it is the pulleys have gone and the belt broke. I don’t know if the blowing sand contributed to the problem. They are saying that it might be Monday before they can get parts. They got in touch with the KenWorth parts person at the event and he is going to check on parts after he gets out of a concert tonight. I hope he has the parts. If he doesn’t I am not sure what we will be doing. We are now waiting in the repair shop.

They have our parts!!!