We're hanging up the reins, so to speak.
Lori has turned in the truck back in Springfield today and is on her way home. I drove back from Denver last Monday while Lori waited for the truck to get fixed (a job that wasn't completed until Friday, a full week after we dropped it off.) She then picked up a load of beef from Fort Morgan, CO and drove the trailer to Springfield for someone else to pick up.
While it was great being able to see so much of the country, I underestimated how much I would miss being at home. I knew that being away for weeks at a time was part of the deal but I didn't think it would be that big of a deal; it was. It's rather humbling to realize I didn't know myself any better than that.
In addition to not being at the house on a regular basis, I struggled with the feeling that I was never "off duty." Even when we were between assignments, we always had to be ready to head out at a moments notice. That made it hard for me to "unwind" and really relax.
Even so, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. We went places and saw things we probably never would have otherwise. And there are lots of great memories of life on the road.
Not sure what we'll do next. Local driving jobs are an option and I'm looking into part-time or contract work back in local government public affairs. Whatever happens, we know God is in charge and is putting us exactly where He wants us to be.
Thank you all for following our adventures, for sharing your thoughts, and for providing the encouragement to keep this blog going.
Take care and God bless!
Showing posts with label Observations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Observations. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
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
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.
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
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.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
October surprise
What a difference six weeks makes!
We stopped last night at a rest area in the Poconos that we had stopped at back in September. Here's the photo I took back then.
We stopped last night at a rest area in the Poconos that we had stopped at back in September. Here's the photo I took back then.
We woke up this morning to find the ground covered with 2 inches of snow.
Fortunately, we missed the worst of the storm, which had closed highways in Pennsylvania and New Jersey yesterday. By the time we got down into the city, there was no more snow on the ground, though we did get a few flurries while we waited to get unloaded.
We hope this isn't an indication of the kind of winter we're going to have this year.
We're waiting at a service plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike for our next load assignment. Would love to go somewhere out west or south where it's warm.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The old neighborhood
Our pickup this morning was in Forest Park, IL just on the edge of downtown Chicago. We arrived at night so we couldn’t really see what the neighborhood around Weinstein Wholesale Meats was like. In the morning, we realized this was just the right place for a business named Weinstein.
Apparently, Forest Park has been the Jewish center of Chicago for a number of years. Leaving the shipper, we drove past a row of Jewish cemeteries, several dating from the mid-1800’s. Many of the area businesses also had Jewish names. Growing up in the suburbs, we never experienced the type of ethnic neighborhoods that were – and remain – an integral part of many urban areas.
The scene changed quite suddenly as we crossed into Oak Park, IL. This was a community of quaint older homes, one of which was the home and original studio of the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright around the turn of the century. The community embraces its favorite son with street signs and banners reflecting Wright’s distinctive style.
(PERSONAL SIDE NOTE - Mike’s daughters are related to Wright on their mom’s side of the family, the Lloyd-Joneses. The extended family meets for periodic reunions near Wright’s Taliesin property in Wisconsin.)
We’re sure that many of the dynamics that created these ethnic neighborhoods in the 1800’s are also at work in creating the Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Korean neighborhoods that have sprung up in many suburbs today. Our hope is that these new communities will evolve in the same way as their predecessors, eventually assimilating their culture into the overall fabric of America.
Apparently, Forest Park has been the Jewish center of Chicago for a number of years. Leaving the shipper, we drove past a row of Jewish cemeteries, several dating from the mid-1800’s. Many of the area businesses also had Jewish names. Growing up in the suburbs, we never experienced the type of ethnic neighborhoods that were – and remain – an integral part of many urban areas.
The scene changed quite suddenly as we crossed into Oak Park, IL. This was a community of quaint older homes, one of which was the home and original studio of the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright around the turn of the century. The community embraces its favorite son with street signs and banners reflecting Wright’s distinctive style.
(PERSONAL SIDE NOTE - Mike’s daughters are related to Wright on their mom’s side of the family, the Lloyd-Joneses. The extended family meets for periodic reunions near Wright’s Taliesin property in Wisconsin.)
We’re sure that many of the dynamics that created these ethnic neighborhoods in the 1800’s are also at work in creating the Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Korean neighborhoods that have sprung up in many suburbs today. Our hope is that these new communities will evolve in the same way as their predecessors, eventually assimilating their culture into the overall fabric of America.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Better days
There’s a lot of talk about the demise of “mom and pop” and “family-owned” business these days. Usually, Wal-Mart and other big corporations get the blame. While that may be true in some instances, Lori and I have come to the conclusion that another big reason is the dwindling sense of family tradition and pride.
We’ve seen that theory in action over the past few days. Since there were no large chain truck stops near Suffolk, we waited for our next load assignment at Big Charlie’s Travel Plaza. It had the appearance of having once been a first-class operation but it has now become a bit ragged around the edges. Another trucker, who obviously saw our hesitation as we inspected the showers, said “Charlie’s used to be one of the best truck stops in the country. Then Big Charlie died and his kids took over. It wasn’t too long before they sold it to these people and it became like this.” We can only assume “these people” had no knowledge or appreciation of what Charlie’s used to be.
Last night we witnessed an example of how good an independently-owned business can be. White’s Truck Stop in Raphine, Virginia is owned by Dick White. There’s no doubt this is his place. Though he’s getting on in years, he’s there every day talking to the customers and overseeing the operation. The walls are lined with his gun and knife collection, photos and newspaper clippings reflecting his love of motorcycles, and his personal collection of antique and vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a small glass garage by the front door.
There’s an obvious sense of pride about the place, and it flows from the top down. The question is, what will happen when Mr. White is no longer able to watch over the place. We’re not sure if any of his children are involved in the operation or if there is another “heir apparent” that will carry on the tradition of the place. We can only hope so because we’ve seen what can happen to a place that loses the sense of pride that comes with tradition.
We’ve seen that theory in action over the past few days. Since there were no large chain truck stops near Suffolk, we waited for our next load assignment at Big Charlie’s Travel Plaza. It had the appearance of having once been a first-class operation but it has now become a bit ragged around the edges. Another trucker, who obviously saw our hesitation as we inspected the showers, said “Charlie’s used to be one of the best truck stops in the country. Then Big Charlie died and his kids took over. It wasn’t too long before they sold it to these people and it became like this.” We can only assume “these people” had no knowledge or appreciation of what Charlie’s used to be.
Last night we witnessed an example of how good an independently-owned business can be. White’s Truck Stop in Raphine, Virginia is owned by Dick White. There’s no doubt this is his place. Though he’s getting on in years, he’s there every day talking to the customers and overseeing the operation. The walls are lined with his gun and knife collection, photos and newspaper clippings reflecting his love of motorcycles, and his personal collection of antique and vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a small glass garage by the front door.
There’s an obvious sense of pride about the place, and it flows from the top down. The question is, what will happen when Mr. White is no longer able to watch over the place. We’re not sure if any of his children are involved in the operation or if there is another “heir apparent” that will carry on the tradition of the place. We can only hope so because we’ve seen what can happen to a place that loses the sense of pride that comes with tradition.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Apologies
My apologies to blog reader and Seguin resident, Tron, for my repeated misspellings of his hometown. He, the residents of Seguin, and the town's namesake, Juan Seguin - a hero of Texas' struggle for independence - deserve better.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Quickie
We're sitting in a dock at a receiver in Austin, Texas.
This is our second delivery of the day after picking up an already loaded trailer at Prime's drop yard in Justin, TX (a small town between Dallas and Fort Worth where they make Justin boots) and making a delivery near downtown Dallas. While it wasn't a particularly heavy load, it was a bit challenging to haul as it was drums of semi-conducter polish.
We have our next assignment; a trip from Saguin, TX (just east of San Antonio) to Walnut, CA. With any luck we'll be able to spend some time at home after making the delivery.
OBSERVATION - People in Texas are REALLY proud of Texas. We have never seen so many state flags anywhere else. And these are BIG flags. Everybody also seems to have a rusted metal Texas Ranger-style star (also big) somewhere on their property
This is our second delivery of the day after picking up an already loaded trailer at Prime's drop yard in Justin, TX (a small town between Dallas and Fort Worth where they make Justin boots) and making a delivery near downtown Dallas. While it wasn't a particularly heavy load, it was a bit challenging to haul as it was drums of semi-conducter polish.
We have our next assignment; a trip from Saguin, TX (just east of San Antonio) to Walnut, CA. With any luck we'll be able to spend some time at home after making the delivery.
OBSERVATION - People in Texas are REALLY proud of Texas. We have never seen so many state flags anywhere else. And these are BIG flags. Everybody also seems to have a rusted metal Texas Ranger-style star (also big) somewhere on their property
Today, tomorrow, or the day after
Days of the week have become irrelevant.
It really doesn't matter to us if it's Monday, Tuesday, or any other day. The main focus for us has become what are we doing today, where we have to be tomorrow, or if we're on a long run, where we need to be the day after that.
More than once, we've caught ourselves not having any idea what day it was. The only practical reason we even need to remember the day is so we know which radio shows are on Sirius that day. It's also nice to know if it's a Friday afternoon when approaching a big city. Other than that, we've found it doesn't really matter.
It really doesn't matter to us if it's Monday, Tuesday, or any other day. The main focus for us has become what are we doing today, where we have to be tomorrow, or if we're on a long run, where we need to be the day after that.
More than once, we've caught ourselves not having any idea what day it was. The only practical reason we even need to remember the day is so we know which radio shows are on Sirius that day. It's also nice to know if it's a Friday afternoon when approaching a big city. Other than that, we've found it doesn't really matter.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I passed!
Whew, I'm glad that's over.
I passed all three portions of my commercial driver license testing today; backing, pre-trip inspection, and on-street driving. I didn't get "perfect" scores on any of the tests, though I did miss only 2 of the 105 pre-trip inspection items (one of which Lori didn't even know was on the test!).
We're still in Springfield until tomorrow afternoon as the testing took MUCH longer than we had anticipated.That meant I didn't have a chance to go to the Missouri DMV to get my new license or go through all of the Prime employee paperwork process. The main reason for the delay was the fact that more people than usual wanted to take the test today since entirely new testing procedures and standards go into effect tomorrow.
We also had appointments at 4:00 and 4:30 to go through the enrollment process for our Transportation Worker Identification Certification (TWIC). This card is being required by Homeland Security for persons wanting access to ports. Once we pass the background search, we'll each get a card that has "biometric information" (our fingerprint) encoded electronically on the card. Very high tech...
Though it's nice to be off the road, we're both chomping at the bit to get moving again. Now that I'm fully licensed, we'll be able to keep the truck moving 24 hours a day, if necessary to make the delivery appointments. That might take a little get to used to, at least for me since Lori already has some experience with that from her training time with Tamara.
It'll probably be longer than usual until we get home again (we shooting for the weekend before Thanksgiving) because we want to accumulate enough vacation days to spend a good 7-8 days at home over Christmas.
We'll try to post once we get going again. I hope the new driving schedule leaves enough time for regular posting.
I passed all three portions of my commercial driver license testing today; backing, pre-trip inspection, and on-street driving. I didn't get "perfect" scores on any of the tests, though I did miss only 2 of the 105 pre-trip inspection items (one of which Lori didn't even know was on the test!).
We're still in Springfield until tomorrow afternoon as the testing took MUCH longer than we had anticipated.That meant I didn't have a chance to go to the Missouri DMV to get my new license or go through all of the Prime employee paperwork process. The main reason for the delay was the fact that more people than usual wanted to take the test today since entirely new testing procedures and standards go into effect tomorrow.
We also had appointments at 4:00 and 4:30 to go through the enrollment process for our Transportation Worker Identification Certification (TWIC). This card is being required by Homeland Security for persons wanting access to ports. Once we pass the background search, we'll each get a card that has "biometric information" (our fingerprint) encoded electronically on the card. Very high tech...
Though it's nice to be off the road, we're both chomping at the bit to get moving again. Now that I'm fully licensed, we'll be able to keep the truck moving 24 hours a day, if necessary to make the delivery appointments. That might take a little get to used to, at least for me since Lori already has some experience with that from her training time with Tamara.
It'll probably be longer than usual until we get home again (we shooting for the weekend before Thanksgiving) because we want to accumulate enough vacation days to spend a good 7-8 days at home over Christmas.
We'll try to post once we get going again. I hope the new driving schedule leaves enough time for regular posting.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Ballet of the titans
I've been spending the past few days on the practice pad getting ready for my backing test. And I haven't been alone. It's a little like a ballet (with elephants ala Disney's Fantasia) when there are four or five trucks on the pad doing different manuevers. Here's a photo I took while waiting my turn for the "blind side" parallel parking manuever.
Home away from home
While being at the terminal isn't really home, it's always nice to have a familiar place to stop, relax, and unwind. Prime does a good job of making you feel welcome back at the terminal, and it starts right at the entrace as these photos show.
SALT LAKE CITY
SALT LAKE CITY
SPRINGFIELD (Don't ask me how the sign knows when we're driving in!)
They also have a nice parting comment for us on the way out!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight
Not to sound conspiratorial or cynical, but we think one of the reasons the packages of a particular delivery company are always on time is that they have some kind of pact with the Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies across the country.
In our travels along the highways, we’ve send plenty of the trailers from this company. However, we have never seen them go through a scale house or pulled over to the side of the road by a state trooper. And they are always flying past us. Coincidence…?
In our travels along the highways, we’ve send plenty of the trailers from this company. However, we have never seen them go through a scale house or pulled over to the side of the road by a state trooper. And they are always flying past us. Coincidence…?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A wierd bit of heaven
I never thought that taking a shower would strike me as a little bit of heaven.
It’s amazing how quickly the things we used to take for granted take on a new importance now that we’re “on the road.” This morning’s shower was a perfect example. I was amazed how much I enjoyed simply standing in a hot shower, something I haven’t had the chance to do since Sunday morning (even though sponge baths are an everyday occurrence). It was also a perfect “pick me up” after spending the night in a loading dock sleeping with one ear open for a call over the CB telling us that our trailer was loaded and ready to go (which happened at 4:30 in the morning).
I did all the driving today, some 530 miles to Colby, KS. I’m looking forward to another new bit of heaven I’ve discovered; a full night of uninterrupted sleep!
It’s amazing how quickly the things we used to take for granted take on a new importance now that we’re “on the road.” This morning’s shower was a perfect example. I was amazed how much I enjoyed simply standing in a hot shower, something I haven’t had the chance to do since Sunday morning (even though sponge baths are an everyday occurrence). It was also a perfect “pick me up” after spending the night in a loading dock sleeping with one ear open for a call over the CB telling us that our trailer was loaded and ready to go (which happened at 4:30 in the morning).
I did all the driving today, some 530 miles to Colby, KS. I’m looking forward to another new bit of heaven I’ve discovered; a full night of uninterrupted sleep!
Monday, August 25, 2008
"Two Forks" up
There are lots of ways to indicate the quality of a restaurant but we saw what had to be the highest recommendation we can think of; a string of NASCAR car haulers sitting in the parking lot outside a restaurant off I-40 in Henryetta, Oklahoma.We had seen a steady stream of NASCAR haulers heading westbound on I-40 all morning long as they made their way from yesterday’s race in Bristol, TN to this weekend’s race in Fontana, CA. A couple of billboards for the Pig Out Palace restaurant had also caught our attention, so we were on the lookout for it wondering how a place with a name like that would look. We weren’t disappointed.
There it sat, right off the highway with a low-slung roof, giant sign, gravel parking lot and a long row of car haulers. If there’s anybody that knows good food it has got to be truck drivers who work in the stock car industry. We made a note in our list of truck stops so we can be sure and stop by next time we’re coming through here (it’s open 24 hours!).
See for yourself what they have to offer by visiting their website here.
P.S. - We're currently sitting at a shipper in Fort Gibson, OK waiting to get called to the loading dock. I'll be driving for a couple of hours after we get finished here.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Classmates
I’ve had a chance to observe and get to know a number of my classmates this week. Here are a few observations.
The effect of the slowdown in the economy is apparent here. On the one hand, Prime is bringing on a lot of new drivers; 400 so far this year with plans to bring on another 400 by the end of the year. As smaller, less efficient trucking companies are closing their doors, Prime is picking up the slack.
On the other hand, many of the trainees are here because they’ve lost their job and haven’t been able to find a new one – many for a number of months. Prime’s training program is a great opportunity for folks as it includes free transportation to the training facility, free room and board during the week-long orientation, a $240 per week advance while you work towards your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and then a $600 per week minimum pay check while you finish up your 80,000 miles of training. From what I’ve heard, there’s not a better training program out there, especially when many private truck driving schools charge $4,000 to $6,000 to get a CDL.
I wish only the best for all of my classmates but I believe (and statistics prove it) that a lot of them will not make it through the training phase; some because they can’t pass the written learner’s permit test, others because they’re just not cut out for this lifestyle, and still others because they don’t have the right attitude to prosper under Prime’s performance/incentive-based pay system.
I’ve also had the chance to meet folks from all over the country and all types of backgrounds. In a class of 31 students, there were people from Florida to Minnesota ranging in age from 23 to 60 (I was afraid I’d be the oldest person in class; I’m only the fourth oldest!)
I’m looking forward to seeing how everybody does in the trucks. I hope it doesn’t turn into a bumper car ride!
The effect of the slowdown in the economy is apparent here. On the one hand, Prime is bringing on a lot of new drivers; 400 so far this year with plans to bring on another 400 by the end of the year. As smaller, less efficient trucking companies are closing their doors, Prime is picking up the slack.
On the other hand, many of the trainees are here because they’ve lost their job and haven’t been able to find a new one – many for a number of months. Prime’s training program is a great opportunity for folks as it includes free transportation to the training facility, free room and board during the week-long orientation, a $240 per week advance while you work towards your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and then a $600 per week minimum pay check while you finish up your 80,000 miles of training. From what I’ve heard, there’s not a better training program out there, especially when many private truck driving schools charge $4,000 to $6,000 to get a CDL.
I wish only the best for all of my classmates but I believe (and statistics prove it) that a lot of them will not make it through the training phase; some because they can’t pass the written learner’s permit test, others because they’re just not cut out for this lifestyle, and still others because they don’t have the right attitude to prosper under Prime’s performance/incentive-based pay system.
I’ve also had the chance to meet folks from all over the country and all types of backgrounds. In a class of 31 students, there were people from Florida to Minnesota ranging in age from 23 to 60 (I was afraid I’d be the oldest person in class; I’m only the fourth oldest!)
I’m looking forward to seeing how everybody does in the trucks. I hope it doesn’t turn into a bumper car ride!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Party's over
Mike received great send-offs from his friends and family at lunch AND dinner celebrations today. His work "family" took him to lunch at one of his favorite bar-b-que restaurants, Lucille's, while it was dinner with his relatives at Macaroni Grill. Besides being stuffed with food, he got his fill of gifts, fun, and warm wishes.
Tomorrow it's into the City to fill out some last minute paperwork, provide some instruction to those that will be taking over his tasks, turning in his keys, and cleaning a few more things out of the office. After a quick followup at the oral surgeon, son Jason will take Mike and Lori up to the TA truck stop in Ontario where they'll pile into Curtis and Candy's truck for the straight-through trip to the Prime yard in Denver by noon Saturday.
It's been an exciting and challenging 26 years for Mike in local government. While it's had its up and downs, the good memories will certainly outweigh the bad.
Tomorrow it's into the City to fill out some last minute paperwork, provide some instruction to those that will be taking over his tasks, turning in his keys, and cleaning a few more things out of the office. After a quick followup at the oral surgeon, son Jason will take Mike and Lori up to the TA truck stop in Ontario where they'll pile into Curtis and Candy's truck for the straight-through trip to the Prime yard in Denver by noon Saturday.
It's been an exciting and challenging 26 years for Mike in local government. While it's had its up and downs, the good memories will certainly outweigh the bad.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Reality setting in
Today was the first day Mike felt the reality of his upcoming career change. It's always been something that was going to happen in the future but with only two days left in his "local government" career, it finally felt real to him.
That could be because all of the loose ends that needed to be addressed at work and at home have been taken care of. Tonight's final service as part of Calvary Chapel East Anaheim's worship team also made an impact. Music is a big part of Mike's life and it's always been bittersweet to leave each of the musical groups in which he has played over the years.
A number of folks have asked him over the past few weeks how he felt about the prospect of not being able to play regularly. That's when he realized that this time around he doesn't have the same sense of "leaving something behind" as he has previously. In the past, he felt like he might never have the opportunity to be a part of a musical group ever again. This time, however, he realized that if God wants him to serve in that way sometime in the future, then it will happen. And if that's not part of His plan, that's okay too. There are more than enough other opportunities to serve Him if that's what He wants.
That could be because all of the loose ends that needed to be addressed at work and at home have been taken care of. Tonight's final service as part of Calvary Chapel East Anaheim's worship team also made an impact. Music is a big part of Mike's life and it's always been bittersweet to leave each of the musical groups in which he has played over the years.
A number of folks have asked him over the past few weeks how he felt about the prospect of not being able to play regularly. That's when he realized that this time around he doesn't have the same sense of "leaving something behind" as he has previously. In the past, he felt like he might never have the opportunity to be a part of a musical group ever again. This time, however, he realized that if God wants him to serve in that way sometime in the future, then it will happen. And if that's not part of His plan, that's okay too. There are more than enough other opportunities to serve Him if that's what He wants.
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