We're still in Denver. That's because the repair shop has discovered the need to bore the engine core - and the guy that does that isn't in until Monday.
So, we're here until at least late Monday, if not Tuesday. We'll make the best of it.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Holed up in Denver
More truck troubles have us overnighting in Denver. After making our delivery this morning (NOTE - Arizona Ice Tea is NOT from Arizona; this batch came from Sacramento CA!), we decided to take the truck into the shop to have the latest coolant leak checked. (As you may recall, we had a new water pump installed three weeks ago.)
The good news is it isn't the water pump. The bad news is it's a blown head gasket - and that means an overnight stay.
In keeping with our philosophy of being 40 Ton Tourists, we decided to get a room at the Hyatt Regency across from the Denver Convention Center (site of this year's "DenverCrat" Convention, but we won't hold that against the hotel.)
The outdoor 16th St Mall is just a few blocks away so we did some quick window shopping, got some dinner, and high-tailed it back to the hotel. We did NOT bring warm enough clothes for walking at night.
The technician says the truck should be ready tomorrow. We'll see...
The good news is it isn't the water pump. The bad news is it's a blown head gasket - and that means an overnight stay.
In keeping with our philosophy of being 40 Ton Tourists, we decided to get a room at the Hyatt Regency across from the Denver Convention Center (site of this year's "DenverCrat" Convention, but we won't hold that against the hotel.)
The outdoor 16th St Mall is just a few blocks away so we did some quick window shopping, got some dinner, and high-tailed it back to the hotel. We did NOT bring warm enough clothes for walking at night.
The technician says the truck should be ready tomorrow. We'll see...
Thanksgiving dinner with a slice of “American Pie”
We were fortunate enough to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in a part of America that continues to honor the “old fashioned” values of family, hard work, and tradition. How do we know that? It was pretty obvious just from observing the different groups that were there with us enjoying a nice holiday meal.
The restaurant at the Little America travel center in western Wyoming had put together a special holiday menu. Obviously the word had gotten out because, despite there being no “city” in the immediate area, there were lots of folks on hand. Much of the crowd was comprised of extended families of 10-15 people, ranging from great-grandparents to several newborns. It seemed that for many of them, this was where they always spend their Thanksgiving.
In recognition of the special-ness of the day, most everyone was in their “nice” clothes though several of the outfits reflected the ranching character of the community; cowboy hats, boots, big belt buckles, and wool-lined leather jackets. There were also several Native American families, including one gentleman who was wearing his Cherokee Tribal Council jacket.
The hardworking nature of the residents was also apparent from looking at the weathered faces and scraped knuckles. These are people who obviously spend a lot of time working outside.
One family in particular caught our attention because they exemplified each of those three values. It included a mom and dad, a teenage son and daughter, and a grandfather. One look at them and you knew they were ranchers, a tradition that spanned at least the three generations at the table – if not more. They also knew Whom to thank as they prayed almost as soon as they gave their order to the waiter. Mom also looked like she could handle a horse and a rope, and we imagined the daughter would probably marry into another ranching family. Of course, any boy wanting to date her will have to pass Dad’s scrutiny and face his wrath should he mistreat her.
Obviously, this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone. But it’s comforting to know there are people who continue to embrace this way of life, despite the growing pressures from “modern society” to take the easier route – at the expense of many of the values that have made this country what it is.
The restaurant at the Little America travel center in western Wyoming had put together a special holiday menu. Obviously the word had gotten out because, despite there being no “city” in the immediate area, there were lots of folks on hand. Much of the crowd was comprised of extended families of 10-15 people, ranging from great-grandparents to several newborns. It seemed that for many of them, this was where they always spend their Thanksgiving.
In recognition of the special-ness of the day, most everyone was in their “nice” clothes though several of the outfits reflected the ranching character of the community; cowboy hats, boots, big belt buckles, and wool-lined leather jackets. There were also several Native American families, including one gentleman who was wearing his Cherokee Tribal Council jacket.
The hardworking nature of the residents was also apparent from looking at the weathered faces and scraped knuckles. These are people who obviously spend a lot of time working outside.
One family in particular caught our attention because they exemplified each of those three values. It included a mom and dad, a teenage son and daughter, and a grandfather. One look at them and you knew they were ranchers, a tradition that spanned at least the three generations at the table – if not more. They also knew Whom to thank as they prayed almost as soon as they gave their order to the waiter. Mom also looked like she could handle a horse and a rope, and we imagined the daughter would probably marry into another ranching family. Of course, any boy wanting to date her will have to pass Dad’s scrutiny and face his wrath should he mistreat her.
Obviously, this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone. But it’s comforting to know there are people who continue to embrace this way of life, despite the growing pressures from “modern society” to take the easier route – at the expense of many of the values that have made this country what it is.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
To Colorado
It's back over the Sierras for us.
We're picking up our next load in West Sacramento first thing tomorrow morning and heading for Englewood, Colorado for a Friday morning delivery. It will probably be slow going since the load assignment lists the weight as nearly 45,000 pounds and there will be lots of hills and mountains to get over. Luckily, we have plenty of time to get there.
We'll be on the road for Thanksgiving. With any luck, we'll be able to find a turkey dinner somewhere.
Lori and I want to say how thankful we are for all the blessings our Creator has provided for us, especially family and friends. If we don't get a chance to talk to you personally, please accept our warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.
We're picking up our next load in West Sacramento first thing tomorrow morning and heading for Englewood, Colorado for a Friday morning delivery. It will probably be slow going since the load assignment lists the weight as nearly 45,000 pounds and there will be lots of hills and mountains to get over. Luckily, we have plenty of time to get there.
We'll be on the road for Thanksgiving. With any luck, we'll be able to find a turkey dinner somewhere.
Lori and I want to say how thankful we are for all the blessings our Creator has provided for us, especially family and friends. If we don't get a chance to talk to you personally, please accept our warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.
He said, she said
What a ruckus over 20 bottles of fat free ranch dressing.
During the course of our four deliveries today (one of which was at a location that was NOT designed for semi-trucks!), one of the customers found out they had reeived five boxes of ranch dressing they hadn't ordered. Okay, fair enough. We call our claims department to find out what to do. Claims calls the shipper who says "Our records show they ordered them, they have to take them." The receiver first says okay then says "My broker says I don't have to take them and I want them back on your truck."
After some more phone calls and some very clear direction from our folks to leave the dressing and go to our next delivery, we hit the road - half expecting the bottles of dressing to be thrown off the dock and into our trailer as we pulled away.
Now we can understand why the receiver wouldn't want to take something he didn't order, as well as why the shipper wouldn't want the hassle of taking back something they shipped (though it is more likely we would have "disposed" of the dressing in one way or another). But really, all of this drama over 20 containers of salad dressing? We would think some sort of arrangement could have been worked out. Instead, there ended up being bad blood on both sides and probably the loss of a customer for the company providing the dressing.
During the course of our four deliveries today (one of which was at a location that was NOT designed for semi-trucks!), one of the customers found out they had reeived five boxes of ranch dressing they hadn't ordered. Okay, fair enough. We call our claims department to find out what to do. Claims calls the shipper who says "Our records show they ordered them, they have to take them." The receiver first says okay then says "My broker says I don't have to take them and I want them back on your truck."
After some more phone calls and some very clear direction from our folks to leave the dressing and go to our next delivery, we hit the road - half expecting the bottles of dressing to be thrown off the dock and into our trailer as we pulled away.
Now we can understand why the receiver wouldn't want to take something he didn't order, as well as why the shipper wouldn't want the hassle of taking back something they shipped (though it is more likely we would have "disposed" of the dressing in one way or another). But really, all of this drama over 20 containers of salad dressing? We would think some sort of arrangement could have been worked out. Instead, there ended up being bad blood on both sides and probably the loss of a customer for the company providing the dressing.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Milk run
We're back at it with an assignment that feels more like a delivery route than cross-country truck driving.
After picking up at a warehouse in Ontario, CA it's off to the San Francisco Bay area for four different deliveries - one in Union City, the next in South San Franciso, inland to Stockton, and then finally back to Union City. And they're all due tomorrow.
The only way we're going to make all the deliveries on time is if we get in and out quickly at each stop. That's a big "if" given the speed at which we are usually unloaded.
After picking up at a warehouse in Ontario, CA it's off to the San Francisco Bay area for four different deliveries - one in Union City, the next in South San Franciso, inland to Stockton, and then finally back to Union City. And they're all due tomorrow.
The only way we're going to make all the deliveries on time is if we get in and out quickly at each stop. That's a big "if" given the speed at which we are usually unloaded.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Chicago to Sacramento
At least we're coming to California.
It would have been nice to get a load going directly to Southern California but this assignment will get us into the state by late Wednesday. This is another "go dog go" load as it MUST deliver 40 hours after we leave Chicago. It's do-able if we average 50 mph all the way across, which could be a challenge given some of the terrain, particularly Donner Pass over the Sierras.
The weather forecast looks good for the entire route so that shouldn't present any problems. Given the driving schedule we probably won't have any more posts until we've delivered this load.
It would have been nice to get a load going directly to Southern California but this assignment will get us into the state by late Wednesday. This is another "go dog go" load as it MUST deliver 40 hours after we leave Chicago. It's do-able if we average 50 mph all the way across, which could be a challenge given some of the terrain, particularly Donner Pass over the Sierras.
The weather forecast looks good for the entire route so that shouldn't present any problems. Given the driving schedule we probably won't have any more posts until we've delivered this load.
Hi in the middle and round on both ends
Yes, we're in the great state of Ohio (or as truck drivers calll it, "slow-hio," given the 55 mph speed limit for trucks).
We were supposed to be making a delivery of hams from Nebraska right about now but, just as we were stopping to take a short sleep break last night, we got a call from our relief dispatcher asking if we could "repower" a load from another driver and take to the Harry & David facility in Hebron, OH about 50 miles away. Sure, no problem. So we swapped trailers at the local truck stop and headed down the road.
It was an easy delivery since it was a drop and hook (leave the loaded trailer there and go hook up to an empty one). After that, it was over to a truck stop to get some sleep and wait for our next assignment.
We're scheduled to be home this Friday so we're thinking/hoping our next load will take us right to California.
We were supposed to be making a delivery of hams from Nebraska right about now but, just as we were stopping to take a short sleep break last night, we got a call from our relief dispatcher asking if we could "repower" a load from another driver and take to the Harry & David facility in Hebron, OH about 50 miles away. Sure, no problem. So we swapped trailers at the local truck stop and headed down the road.
It was an easy delivery since it was a drop and hook (leave the loaded trailer there and go hook up to an empty one). After that, it was over to a truck stop to get some sleep and wait for our next assignment.
We're scheduled to be home this Friday so we're thinking/hoping our next load will take us right to California.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Justice, mercy and grace
It’s human nature to want to see justice done, especially if you’re the victim of some wrongdoing. “I hope they get what they deserve” is a common sentiment we use when discussing criminals standing trial.
Of course, justice can be a bitter pill when it’s you who has to face the consequences of your actions. Those are the times when compassion and mercy – not getting what we deserve – are what we’d really rather see.
We were the recipients of a good dose of mercy yesterday. Just outside of Flagstaff, one of “Arizona’s finest” pulled Lori over while she was driving and I was in the passenger seat. He claimed Lori wasn’t wearing her seat belt, so he decided to do a “Level 3” inspection, which includes going over all of our permits, load paperwork, and driving logs.
We figured we were both in for a ticket; Lori for the seatbelt and me for being in the passenger seat when my log said I was in the sleeper berth. After about 20 minutes, the officer came back and let us off with what amounted to a written warning about not having a copy of the trailer’s registration with us and my log discrepancy. His decision to be merciful was much appreciated.
Had the officer decided to not to note those two things on his inspection report, we would have been eligible for a cash bonus from Prime for passing a safety inspection. That would have been an example of the other end of the spectrum; grace, or getting good things we don’t deserve.
Fortunately, we are the recipients of mercy and grace every day. Instead of giving us what we deserve, God shows His mercy by giving all of us the opportunity to avoid the very real eternal consequences of disobeying His rules. But more than that, He gives us grace by allowing us to spend eternity with Him, something we certainly do not deserve. You, too, can enjoy His grace and mercy. Click here to find out how.
Of course, justice can be a bitter pill when it’s you who has to face the consequences of your actions. Those are the times when compassion and mercy – not getting what we deserve – are what we’d really rather see.
We were the recipients of a good dose of mercy yesterday. Just outside of Flagstaff, one of “Arizona’s finest” pulled Lori over while she was driving and I was in the passenger seat. He claimed Lori wasn’t wearing her seat belt, so he decided to do a “Level 3” inspection, which includes going over all of our permits, load paperwork, and driving logs.
We figured we were both in for a ticket; Lori for the seatbelt and me for being in the passenger seat when my log said I was in the sleeper berth. After about 20 minutes, the officer came back and let us off with what amounted to a written warning about not having a copy of the trailer’s registration with us and my log discrepancy. His decision to be merciful was much appreciated.
Had the officer decided to not to note those two things on his inspection report, we would have been eligible for a cash bonus from Prime for passing a safety inspection. That would have been an example of the other end of the spectrum; grace, or getting good things we don’t deserve.
Fortunately, we are the recipients of mercy and grace every day. Instead of giving us what we deserve, God shows His mercy by giving all of us the opportunity to avoid the very real eternal consequences of disobeying His rules. But more than that, He gives us grace by allowing us to spend eternity with Him, something we certainly do not deserve. You, too, can enjoy His grace and mercy. Click here to find out how.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Fix it
We've spent most of the past two days getting work done on the truck.
It was time to have our 22,000-mile routine maintenance done, so we scheduled an appointment at the truck stop in Ontario to have it done. While we were waiting, we noticed a nice leak out of the back of our water pump. We figured they could fix that along with doing our maintenance.
No such luck. Since the truck is under warranty, we had to go to a Freightliner dealer to have the water pump fixed. By the time we finished with the maitenance work and drove over to the dealer in Ontario, it was 4:15 - which meant having to wait until the next morning to get the work done. So, we spent the night in the dealer parking lot.
They started working on the truck about 6:30 a.m. but it took until after 3:00 to finish! However, the waiting wasn't all that bad. Since we were the first ones in the customer lounge, Lori got to pick the TV channel. It was quite amusing seeing a room full of truck drivers watching Regis & Kelly and The View.
We're now waiting at a cold storage facility in Riverside to pick up a load of produce going to a Wal-Mart distribution center just south of Kansas City. It doesn't deliver until Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. so we can actually take our time getting there. It would be nice to stop at a grocery store along the way so we can restock the pantry and cooler.
Looking forward to being home next weekend for our annual Family Reunion picnic.
It was time to have our 22,000-mile routine maintenance done, so we scheduled an appointment at the truck stop in Ontario to have it done. While we were waiting, we noticed a nice leak out of the back of our water pump. We figured they could fix that along with doing our maintenance.
No such luck. Since the truck is under warranty, we had to go to a Freightliner dealer to have the water pump fixed. By the time we finished with the maitenance work and drove over to the dealer in Ontario, it was 4:15 - which meant having to wait until the next morning to get the work done. So, we spent the night in the dealer parking lot.
They started working on the truck about 6:30 a.m. but it took until after 3:00 to finish! However, the waiting wasn't all that bad. Since we were the first ones in the customer lounge, Lori got to pick the TV channel. It was quite amusing seeing a room full of truck drivers watching Regis & Kelly and The View.
We're now waiting at a cold storage facility in Riverside to pick up a load of produce going to a Wal-Mart distribution center just south of Kansas City. It doesn't deliver until Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. so we can actually take our time getting there. It would be nice to stop at a grocery store along the way so we can restock the pantry and cooler.
Looking forward to being home next weekend for our annual Family Reunion picnic.
Election observations
We have purposely avoided discussing the election the past several months, not because we didn’t have any opinions about the issues and persons on the ballot but because the focus for this blog is to share experiences from our life on the road.
Now that the election is over, however, we would like to share a few of our observations about the results. While are disappointed in the results, we are more disappointed in what appears to have motivated so many of the voters. From what we’ve seen and heard, far too many of them based their votes on emotion and the promise of “change,” even though very few of them could express exactly what the change would be or exactly how it would come about.
Also disappointing is the fact such large number of voters can be swayed by superficial promises. More often than not, the candidates are promising exactly the same sorts of things. What they don’t tell us – and what most voters don’t take the time to understand – are the fundamental philosophical differences that shape how they plan to deliver on those promises.
We would hope that more voters would do some serious self-examination about what they believe is the proper role of government in the lives of its citizens. Not until they have a clear understanding of what they want and expect from their government can they be sure they’re voting for a politician that shares those same views.
Now that the election is over, however, we would like to share a few of our observations about the results. While are disappointed in the results, we are more disappointed in what appears to have motivated so many of the voters. From what we’ve seen and heard, far too many of them based their votes on emotion and the promise of “change,” even though very few of them could express exactly what the change would be or exactly how it would come about.
Also disappointing is the fact such large number of voters can be swayed by superficial promises. More often than not, the candidates are promising exactly the same sorts of things. What they don’t tell us – and what most voters don’t take the time to understand – are the fundamental philosophical differences that shape how they plan to deliver on those promises.
We would hope that more voters would do some serious self-examination about what they believe is the proper role of government in the lives of its citizens. Not until they have a clear understanding of what they want and expect from their government can they be sure they’re voting for a politician that shares those same views.
Monday, November 10, 2008
White out!
Well, we thought we had headed far enough south to avoid the snow - we were wrong.
I took over driving in Tucumcari about midnight. The sky was clear, though it was definitely cold. Everything was going along fine until BAM! Just outside of Grants, New Mexico the windshield was suddenly filled with big white, wet snowflakes and I couldn't see a thing. Lori woke up when a loud expletive lept out of my mouth. She plopped down in the passenger seat to help give directions since my windshield had instantly iced up and the wiper wasn't clearing it away.
The defroster eventually heated up the windshield enough to melt the ice and I could sorta, kinda see where I was going. I managed to follow the tracks of the truck in front of me and not go off the road. Being the middle of New Mexico there were no off ramps to safely get off the highway.
Fortunately, it only lasted about 20 minutes followed about 15 minutes later by another lighter snowfall. By sunrise, the sky had cleared though the ground was covered with about 2-3 inches of snow. Not something you see very often in the Arizona desert. It had also snowed quite a bit in Flagstaff so the pine trees were full of snow. A nice winter scene - two weeks before Thanksgiving!
Now that I've had my "first time" maybe I won't yell and wake up Lori next time it happens.
I took over driving in Tucumcari about midnight. The sky was clear, though it was definitely cold. Everything was going along fine until BAM! Just outside of Grants, New Mexico the windshield was suddenly filled with big white, wet snowflakes and I couldn't see a thing. Lori woke up when a loud expletive lept out of my mouth. She plopped down in the passenger seat to help give directions since my windshield had instantly iced up and the wiper wasn't clearing it away.
The defroster eventually heated up the windshield enough to melt the ice and I could sorta, kinda see where I was going. I managed to follow the tracks of the truck in front of me and not go off the road. Being the middle of New Mexico there were no off ramps to safely get off the highway.
Fortunately, it only lasted about 20 minutes followed about 15 minutes later by another lighter snowfall. By sunrise, the sky had cleared though the ground was covered with about 2-3 inches of snow. Not something you see very often in the Arizona desert. It had also snowed quite a bit in Flagstaff so the pine trees were full of snow. A nice winter scene - two weeks before Thanksgiving!
Now that I've had my "first time" maybe I won't yell and wake up Lori next time it happens.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
West again
We're heading back to Southern California with a load of tomatoes for Trader Joe's, right from the same place where we dropped off our peppers. Prime's"recommended" route takes us through Iowa and Nebraska and then across the Rockies to Utah; we will NOT be going that way as the weather for the next two days calls for snow and ice. We'll be heading south through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, eventually hooking up with I-40 through New Mexico and Arizona. It's only about 85 miles longer and much better weather-wise.
Our preferred route will be taking us past one of our favorite restaurants in a town called Pocahantas, IL. Keeping with the obvious Native American theme of the town, the restaurant is called the Powhatan. Great food and too-large portions; but that means leftovers to take on the truck.
The town has another claim to fame. It's the hometown of country music star Gretchen Wilson, who recorded "Red Neck Woman." The restaurant has named a breakfast menu item after her, Gretchen's Favorite.
The town has another claim to fame. It's the hometown of country music star Gretchen Wilson, who recorded "Red Neck Woman." The restaurant has named a breakfast menu item after her, Gretchen's Favorite. Friday, November 7, 2008
Middle men
Sorry for not posting for a few days. I've either been driving or we've been in poor reception areas.
Many of the items we haul seem to be going to or from some sort of middle man. From what we've seen, very few products go directly from the producer to a direct retailer. More often than not we're picking up at a processor and taking it to a distributor. With as many hands that "touch" or handle a product it's little wonder things cost so much.
The load we have now takes the concept of middle man to the extreme. We have a load of red bell peppers that are being hauled all the way across the United States but were not grown by or will they be consumed by Americans. The peppers were grown, picked, and packaged in Mexico and then taken to a warehouse in Chula Vista, CA where we picked them up. We are now hauling them to a warehouse in Romulus, Michigan where they will be picked up by a Canadian trucking company and taken to Ontario, Canada for ultimate consumption.
For those folks who are worried that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will result in foreign trucks driving all over America it obviously doesn't affect ALL items.
Many of the items we haul seem to be going to or from some sort of middle man. From what we've seen, very few products go directly from the producer to a direct retailer. More often than not we're picking up at a processor and taking it to a distributor. With as many hands that "touch" or handle a product it's little wonder things cost so much.
The load we have now takes the concept of middle man to the extreme. We have a load of red bell peppers that are being hauled all the way across the United States but were not grown by or will they be consumed by Americans. The peppers were grown, picked, and packaged in Mexico and then taken to a warehouse in Chula Vista, CA where we picked them up. We are now hauling them to a warehouse in Romulus, Michigan where they will be picked up by a Canadian trucking company and taken to Ontario, Canada for ultimate consumption.
For those folks who are worried that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will result in foreign trucks driving all over America it obviously doesn't affect ALL items.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Home time
We made it home late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. It wasn't as warm as we'd hoped (and it was raining) but it's always nice to come home.
We spent Sunday with the grandkids, went to church, and helped out our son, Jason, who broke his foot earlier in the week. On Monday, we made our delivery to the local Costco distribution center and then headed back to Jason's again.
We had asked our FM, Cheryl, if we could stay through Tuesday so I could vote. Lori had mailed in her absentee ballot during our last trip home but I hadn't sent away for a mail-in ballot soon enough. I was grateful to have the opportunity to vote in this election given that I believe there are some very important issues to address this time (particularly Prop 4 and Prop 8) in addition to selecting our next president.
Haven't heard where we're headed to next or when we're going but will update you all when we do.
We spent Sunday with the grandkids, went to church, and helped out our son, Jason, who broke his foot earlier in the week. On Monday, we made our delivery to the local Costco distribution center and then headed back to Jason's again.
We had asked our FM, Cheryl, if we could stay through Tuesday so I could vote. Lori had mailed in her absentee ballot during our last trip home but I hadn't sent away for a mail-in ballot soon enough. I was grateful to have the opportunity to vote in this election given that I believe there are some very important issues to address this time (particularly Prop 4 and Prop 8) in addition to selecting our next president.
Haven't heard where we're headed to next or when we're going but will update you all when we do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
