Truck driver b.s.

Got 6” of snow at my house and it only going to keep snowing tomorrow. I am out on the plain tho so a bit of snow drift.

 

Today's forecast was for a major snowstorm. Got to work, get my manifest, hook to my trailer, find enough straps for the day...should be good to go...only about 1 1/2" of snow on the ground but it's picking up. By the time I'm ready to pull out of the yard, there's only about 3 of us yet to leave. As we head to the gate, the boss has dispatch shut the gate off and comes out to talk to us. One of the Green Bay guys (about 1/2 hr NE of the terminal) is coming back to the in gate. Boss says he's second guessing sending any more trucks out on the road (there are already about 20 guys out!), say if we want, just go back to the dock and park it, Monday is another day. I told him I'll check it out, roads weren't too bad coming in and I only get about 20 miles from the yard, if I'm not comfortable I'll come back in.

I jump on the interstate, traffic's moving along OK @ about 45-50 mph in 2 of the 3 lanes, nobody's using the hammer lane, it's very snowy/slushy. I get about 6 miles down the road and here comes some OTR dipshit going probably 70 in the hammer lane, just blasting past people. I got off at the next exit, I don't need to get collected in somebody's stupid, not this close to retirement.

The day otherwise was pretty uneventful, didn't get stuck in any pit docks...close, but got out of every one. Dispatch gave me a couple of quick pickups to get some weight on my axles and told me enough for the day, it's getting pretty bad, lets go home.

Didn't have to tell me twice!

-8* scheduled for Sunday night, Mon and Tue are not supposed to get above 0*. Yippee! Can't wait for Social Security to confirm when I'll see my first check, the door isn't going to hit me in the ass!

 

Sat am, having coffee. I hope it's a short day today. We are dropping the trailers and parking the trucks indoors over the weekend. Normally on extreme cold days we just leave the trucks running overnight. But this rental has the anti idle bullshit and shuts off after 10 minutes. Sucks to even try to warm it up and get heat.

 

Good morning driver's and resident hitchhiker Greg.
Be careful out there today.
26* this morning and windy some ice spots on the deck. Gotta tell Mal to be careful as she leaps from the ground to the top step (5) clears them all.

 

Man it's a raw morning out here today, blowing hard and icy, brrrr. Thumb is hurting today, must have used it too much yesterday. Taco is awesome in the winter though

 

Good Sunday morning driver's. 18 and cold.

 

I'm not going out today and I'm not doing anything, just resting my hand and trying to heal up. Man it's a slow process. Still no grip strength without pain. Sucks. Next week will be a real cold January week. Down to 1 tonight and single digit lows for a few days. But it's only for a week and then the following week it's supposed to warm up into the 30's again.
Enjoy the off day drivers.

 

Not running tonight, too much ice.

 

Better to be safe.

 

Surprised we haven't lost power.

 

1st time in over 20 years with this company that we have delayed rolling due to weather. Plenty of times we should have. Got a couple newer managers that actually give a shit.

 

Get some rest and be ready for the 5 days in 4 week.

 

Good morning driver's 29 and maybe a little snow later but it has been breaking up as it hits the mountains.

 

-1 to start the day here, I don't even want to know what the wind chill is. Taco says it's 1 degree.
Trying to get the diesel warmed up, gage isn't moving, lol.
Be safe drivers.

 

Well went to work early just to start the truck and try to get some heat in it. Went to hook the trailer and it would not couple. Get the flashlight out, broken spring on the coupler. Go to penske service near us because it's their truck, no power at penske so no work. Go to another facility, all backed up, takes an hour but I get it fixed. Get back to our yard, hook the trailer, and the brakes won't release and no air bags. Dump airline antifreeze in the air lines, freeze my ass off, no go. Air lines on tractor are frozen somewhere, 3 to 4 hours for service to show up, so I get sent home after 4 hours.
Trucking in Michigan in the winter is great said no one!

 

They just shut us down for second and third shift today for which I am grateful. Don’t see how tomorrow will be better with continuing snow forecast until mid morning tomorrow.

I had go out this morning and got behind a plow, actually slowed and let him pass me, but I lost him at a red light. His path was pretty much covered by the time I got rolling again.
I also found out that my new tires suck in the snow. Already shopping lol.

 

Got called off for 2nd day due to ice storm.

 

We’re totally at the mercy of the company we contract to. Glad they made the call.
They also have around 4000 employees safety to consider.

 

Well today did not go well. Got to work a half hour early to start the truck and try to get some heat in it. Punched in at my normal time. Coupler on fifth wheel wouldn't close no mater how hard I slammed it. Get flashlight, find broken spring on release. Go to repair shop, no power there, go to another repair shop, wait an hour. Then 5 minutes and spring is on. Come back to yard, hook trailer, won't air up, pour brake line antifreeze in hoses, no luck. Tractor air lines are frozen, it's a rental so have to wait for a service truck. Get sent home after 4 hours. Get called back at 3 to move one load to another bldg. So I got to work a 10 hour day but only get paid for 6.
That's bullshit!