I'm Back!!!

All right... So after the holiday they sent me back down to Baltimore area to grab a load for Mississaga ON. This company takes care of a paper work for the border for us so I headed out. Got to Buffalo and spent the night parked in front of the business that I park at when I go home. My dad brought me My new Drivers license, my mail and a piece of pumpkin pie mom sent along. Then he went a got me a cup of coffee. ahhh it is nice to be home even if it was only for a moment. Then I headed out. Got to the border and you guessed it. The paper work wasn't sent through. SOB!!!! So the broker has on office right there went in took then a couple of hours to get it done and headed into Canada. Got to the Grimsby truck stop and spent the night. Delivered the next day and picked up a load of POP for Wal-Mart in OH. Ran that down here and now and headed to Columbus to grab a load to goto TX.I guess the road are pretty slick. The wind is blowing but not to bad. But it is an empty trailer so I am sure I will be all over the road way. I don't have to be there until 5pm so I might just wait a little longer. it is supposed to get better but who knows. At least I can give them time to salt the roads. They want me to deliver this load on the 5th. Only 1200 miles away. But we have a terminal in Dallas and I hope they are going to let me drop it there and have someone else take it the rest of the way. I don't see why I have to hold on to it and sit with it for all that time. We will see when I get down there. I am not going to say anything until I get there because I don't want them to take it from me any earlier than that. I need the miles. Things have been bad as far a freight. Usually it is near impossible to find parking after night fall but it really hasn't been the case. I really think there is a lot less trucks on the road now. I really didn't believe all the talk about how bad the economy is and all that crap, but I am starting to see what they are talking about. The trucking business is really the cannery as far as where the economy is headed. it is one of the first industries hit by a bad economy and one of the first to reap the rewards of an upturn. So I guess I am lucky to have a job. Over the past 6 months there has been thousands of layoffs of drivers. Our company says that wont be the case with us and I believe them. We really are set up pretty well as far as how this operation is run. But I think we still would have been better if we didn't get taken over by Con-way. But I guess there are some advantages to it. at least some possible ones. It just seems like they could be a lot better job as far as the different divisions working togeather. But I guess if that was the case we would even have more Con-way control then we do have now, and from what I have seen that isn't a good thing. I think you can tell a lot about a business at looking at the little things. Even the Con-way bathrooms are never clean. I mean if you can't manage to keep a clean bathroom, how can you trust them to move product efficiently? I guess it sounds a little crazy but it is true. I have been in hundreds of business facilities and the little stuff really tells you a lot about how a business is run. So if you are ever going to buy stock in a company my advice to go there and see if their bathrooms are clean and their offices and warehouse is well organized. Ohhh and i suggest buying stock in Budweiser or another alcohol beverage company. If the economy keeps doing poorly their sales are going to skyrocket, and that's no joke. Better get rolling.
WOOZE

So I picked a load up from GA to MD. About 180 miles I am guessing to Philly. So it looks like I should make Christmas no problem. The load is a light one of machines made of sheet metal. tons of time on it as i sit here 4 days later and only 660 miles. But at least I am headed for time off. Most people say I handle stress fairly well and I would agree for the most part, but I think I just react in different ways to it. Nothing is more stressful to me than being in this truck and not making the money I know I can. I feel like I am wasting my time and wasting away. Then because I am stressed I get to thinking and end up causing more stress for myself. It is stupid I know, but it is a reality. So hopefully this little break will do me some good. Although what I really need is to get back to Buffalo for a few days. But that will come soon. I was planing to visit a friend in Cleavland in January but I think I will put that off to go home. Today, although I have been sitting around waiting to get unloaded I feel pretty good. Sat around and talked with a few other drivers at the dock here. And if anyone has experienced such a thing knows that's good for a few laughs, grimaces and points of utter stupidity that make the day go by. I will also like to inform that I did set up a Yahoo messenger account because of the many requests from my loyal readers. I will like to thank BOTH of you for the suggestion. So you can get a hold of me on that thing also wooze1212.

Heavy loads...

So I delivered that beer load no problems. took a little 4 hr nap and headed to NC to grab a another load. This one is headed to GA near Atlanta. Another heavy load of caned goods for Wal-mart. Back down 95 to 20 and then up a little state route 11. And here i sit waiting for them to unload the trailer. I just put in for home time to goto Philly for Christmas to see the little dude. I hope I make it there by Christmas... Plus it will get me out of this hot weather and back into the NE where I can make some miles and money. Not a big fan of this stuff down here. I really did horrible this week as far as miles. I guess it is nice not having to worry about the weather so much but I would rather be making some coin.

Florida Suicide....

Well I finally figured out why old people move to Florida. I think they are just sick of living and come down here in hopes that the combination of heat and humidity will kill them quicker. It maybe a more honorable way of killing yourself but just as effective over the long run. It is 80 something here in Jacksonville. The ride up here over last night was nice. There was a lot of fog and will also be a lot of fog tonight. But no one was on the road and it made for a good night really. I got to my delivery at 3am checked in and took a nice long nap while I waited for 7am to come for them to start unloading. That was a load for Cosco of bottled water. 46,600 lbs worth. With is just about the limit I can carry on this truck. I really should of scaled it. Trucks can only have so much weight total (80,000 lbs) and it has to be distributed evenly. 12,000 front, 34,000 on the drives and 34,000 on the trailer. You adjust the weight by sliding the trailer tires forward or back. I took my best guess and took off. I did get pulled into a DOT check and they looked at it hard, but let me go so I must of been close. Tonight a have a Budweiser load going to SC pick-up at 10pm deliver at 8am the next morning. something like 300 miles. I haven't looked it up yet to figure that part out. All it is is running up I-95. I like running that road and it has been a long while. This load is going to max me out also, but they have scales right there and they don't let you leave unless you scale out, so no problems there.

roasted Wooze

So since I left NC after thanksgiving they have been keeping me up in the North East. Which is ok really. That usually means short runs but they are usually lined right up so you do OK in the end. Plus the extra NE pay makes it almost worth it. I delivered that load in Tampa a day early and slept in a really crappy lot last night. today I drove to a decent truck stop just down the road and I will sit here all day til' about midnight and then go for the next load. This one is only 200 miles which is one of the shortest runs I have ever done. But Florida is known for it's lack of loads so I guess I knew this when they sent me down here. I really don't want to get stuck running nights again But at least here I really don't have to worry about snow and ice. I tried to do a little shopping on line last night for Christmas but just ended up looking at watches...again. There is this one watch I really like, but after a 400 dollar cell phone bill and all the Christmas shopping I still have to do it is just out of the question. but one day... I am really trying to save money. I have put myself on a budget awhile ago but It just never seems to add up. So I am writing every little thing I spend money on just to kind of watch it a little better. I really haven't saved as much as I would have liked. But that is ok I guess you have to enjoy life a little. Thats all for now folks.

Life is good, life is good. Grabbed a load just north of Chicago and taking it the sunny Tampa FL. Why is the Wooze so happy you ask? Simple really. One it is warm in Florida. 2 it makes my 2nd almost 3000 mile week in a row. 3 it has tons of time on it so I can chose to take my time. 4 I can deliver early if I want 24/7 so I don't have to take my time if I want. PLUS it only weighs 14,000 lbs. I might as well be hauling air. So Life is good indeed. Just talked to a few friends of mine today who I have not talked to in a long time. Just decided to go through the phone and call up some people that I have been neglecting. So that was fun to catch up with them. Right now I am in GA about 100 miles South of Atlanta on I-75S wanted to do another 100 miles today but instead decided to pull off call it a night at a rest area. Made myself a TV dinner and had some caned peaches and Cashews. And am presently thinking about making some popcorn and watching a movie. That is something I have to get is a few more DVD's for the truck. There is always drivers selling copies at the truck stop. I'll have to buy some next time. Hopefully I will get a run out of Florida that runs up 95 so i can visit a friend of mine. That would be really cool. Took a bunch of pictures today so I will get those up soon.

Well this isn't going to be good because I can't even think straight right now. I have been stuck running nights all week, ran back up to Canada and out again. Passed through Buffalo at about 3am. ran into some bad weather in PA. Right now I am in IL. I delivered this morning around 3am picked up an empty trailer with all messed up brakes. I hope it is fixed. the guy said it is fine, I guess I will find out when I pull out of here for another load. It was cold last night around 19. now it isn't to bad. I am tiered and have to get some sleep.

Ohhhh Canada...

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! I am back on friendly soil and life is good!!!! The trip into hostile territory went well considering I had to deliver in Toranto and Monteal. No real problems other than a super tight blind side back into one dock. I would like to report that I did this very difficult maneuver flawlessly and with only one pull up and that was just to have the truck and trailer straight. But unfortunately I can’t say such a thing because it would be a blatant lie! In reality it took a few tries and by the end of the fiasco my truck was at 45 degrees to the trailer but I was in the dock and said screw it!!! Good enough! By the way, French people are creepy. Many times nice, but still creepy. They had me then go east of Monteal a few hundred miles to pick up a load from this little town in the middle of the woods. They make wood pellets for the stoves. By the way I am pretty sure they use trees to make them not waste material. Just so you all know that. I found that really weird that they cut up trees into dust which is then made into pellets and then someone burns them in a stove to make heat. Why the hell wouldn’t someone just put a freaking old fashion log on the fire? So, I took that load through the VT border crossing into NH at a Wal-Mart DC. Got told that any time i go through VT call the company... Well I kinda forgot about that part but I stayed on the interstate so I didn't think i needed any special permits. I do't know the deal really I kinda just didn't call. Anyhow, I dropped that load and took a well deserved and needed nap. Woke up at 7:30 and was still laying there when a message was sent to the truck. “When are you going to want another load” is pretty much what they were saying. OK, how about… Now. Right away I got a load and headed out. Across rt101 and up I-95 to exit 75 in Maine and then had to follow this little route 4 to a paper mill. As soon as I pulled up to the place a lady came on the CB told me to drop my empty trailer and they got the loaded one ready. Good deal!!!! Grabbed that trailer and headed back out. Ran the I-95 back south 100 miles to the first fuel stop I got to since I went into Canada and gave the truck a drink. The last 60 miles of the trip a little red light on my fuel gauge was lit. If anyone might have a clue what this light may indicate I would appreciate if they would relay that info to me. This load is bound for Indiana and not due till Monday so I have way too much time on my hands this weekend. But I can run it through Buffalo so at least I can see the family for a couple of hours. I am going to try and get up early tomorrow so I can make Buffalo at a decent time. I am guessing it is about 450 miles or so maybe less. So it will be an easy day. OK got to get some sleep so I can be safe and effective tomorrow. Wow thouse safty meeting and really sinking in...

OK so I made my 2 drops at the Kmarts yesterday. The fist one was fun. The guy who ran the dock was a cool dude and was jammin' to some hard tunes while working. I did a little shopping while the ruck was getting unloaded. Everyone will be happy to know that I replaced my hole ridden socks with new ones. Then I drove the 80 miles to the next one in MD. it was an older store and people there were not so nice. Didn't seem to happy about their job. One complained about not being able to take a lunch. After they unloaded I parked on the side of the building and walked over to the fast food place. The same woman that complained about not being able to get lunch walked in...lol so I said "looks like you had time for lunch after all" then she complained that she was going to be standing in line to long and turn around a left...lol After a bite I got back in the truck and they gave me a load picking up in PA 150 miles away. Jumped in the truck and headed out. Most the time when I am headed some where I take all the time I need to plain my route to make sure I know where I am going. This time a just looked quickly and headed in the direction. That wasn't a good idea. This is in a small town way off the Interstate and took a little bit to get back here. Truck routes where hard to find but I got here with the help of a local driver talking me threw it running my back door. So this load is a good one going to Toranto and to QC. so I will be out of contact after today for a few days while up in Canada. But i supose you all can handle not hearing for me for a few days, so don't give me any crap Cherly!!!!!!! j/k

So, kinda like I expected they got me a load from the Kmart DC in Greensboro right down the road, But it didn't PU til the next day at 1, so I thought. I sat around all day and the left the next day around 10. got to the DC and picked up the preloaded trailer. I guess on the weekend they have them all loaded so I could have picked it up in the morning. Ohh well. grabbed to trailer and headed out. Ran the 280 miles straight threw and am now parked behind the Kmart store that i deliver to in the morning. It is in a nice shopping plaza so I got myself a good meal at a really nice Chinese food place. The people that work there were having their dinner so I hung out with them. It was cool for them to let me hang out but it was kinda hard to carry on a conversation. So it ended up being more awkward the interesting. I deliver half this load here and then take the other half to MD. The whole trailer is only a 3rd of the way full, 6,000lbs total with the 2 stops. Thats kinda scares me considering this is supposed to be the busy season as far as people buying shit. It rained the whole way here and from the looks of things it isn't going to stop. Plus big news that sis and mom will like... The Gerbil is gone!!!! i trimmed up the beard nice and tight!!! so no more making fun...well at least about that. Here are a few more pictures that everyone will enjoy. The fist one is of one of our trucks. Not sure what happened they don't give us details. but the trailer got cut in half right behind the truck. when they pulled the truck out the front of the trailer was still attached. Driver was OK. The second one is of a pile up due to fog and that sucker went up in flames. This one happened near our terminal in Joplin but wasn't one of ours.

After I delivered that Load in NJ, they sent me right across the border to PA to pick up a load that night. That load there was a nice light one for a change. I am kinda crazy about fuel mileage. anyhow it was a load of TP headed just into GA. Only 300 miles from where i asked to go for home time. NICE!!! I pick up the load and it is 770 some miles. Down I-81 to I-77 to I-85 exit 140. Nice easy run. Well just like on the "Skipper" The Weather started getting rough!!! It was a weired mix of rain and snow, but the main issue was the fog mixed in. At one point i was down to 25mph, i couldn't see a thing. this is when you want a heavy load, it helps keep traction and I think I had something like 7,000 lbs, not a whole lot. Anyhow I drove until 2 in the morning and then found a truck stop and shut it down. I woke up at 8am after my usual 6 hrs of sleep and of course had to sit around for 4 more hrs doing nothing except bitch about those stupid hours of service rules. That make me sit round instead of making money. Delivered this load at a new Walgreens DS. Then moments later I got a load to grab out of Atlanta to take to Charlotte. That load weighed nothing as well. The ride out of there was horrible back up 85. But for the people going South it was a lot worse. There was accident after accident a couple that had fatalities that shut down the whole road for hrs. It was bumper to bumper for 60-70 miles going that direction. So anyhow I dropped that load at one of our Freight terminals and headed the last 150 miles empty to take 2 days off at a friends place near Reighly NC. It was a fun short visit. Katheryn is a friend of mine from the days taking care of the horses and her sister was visiting also so that was good because we could go do stuff when Katheryn was at work. Then after getting up at 5:30 EST she droped me off and now am waiting for a load and for the shop to open so I can get a few lights fixed on the trailer I picked up. And thats about it. I just have to update the paper work and I am good to go again until Cristmas.

Got a load!!!

Finally got a load going to NJ. almost 1900 miles in 3 days!!!!! I already did 1300 miles of the trip. I have to get up around 2am to get as close as I want to get to NJ, spend the night and then deliver in the morning. Hopefully they will get me out of there quickly. It isn't a real truck friendly place. Wish i had more time to write but my 10hr is ticking away, got to get some sleep.

All the tacos you can eat!!!!

I took a nice long load from WI to Laredo TX, 1600 miles. We have a fairly large terminal here and on Mondays there is always a lot of drivers waiting for loads. Plus Monday was some Mexican Holiday so everything was shut down over there and that is where we get most the loads from out of this area. This time it was a grand total of 91!!!! Thats means it will be a long wait to get a load out of here. Luckily a friend of mine made it down here today so at least I have someone to complain with. I was plaining to stay out here until Christmas but I think I am going to take a couple of days off on Thanksgiving to visit a friend. All though i am about broke after that long time off and a $400 cell phone bill. I kinda forgot I was in Canada and ran up the bill quick. But other than that life is good. My fridge is working again, It is great weather down here and I have time to catch a movie and dinner with a friend.

This is a picture of the place i picked this load up. They get trees delivered by truck and cut them up and make it into Laminate. Then they call us, Put 45,000 lbs of the stuff on our trucks and we take it to Mexico to be made into Laminate flooring. Then we take it back up to the customers here in the states. Even with us charging around $2 a mile to move the stuff ($3,200 one way) it is still cheaper than to make it here.


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Made it!!!

this was a short trip, 350 miles. Took this starbucks load all the way to the delivery but as i thought they won't take me til tomorrow. That's OK hopefully I will get a good load out of here. The best part? free coffee for the drivers!!! This is a big place, where they roast the beans I guess. Surprisingly it doesn't have a huge smell of coffee like one would think. There isn't any parking on the property so just down the street there was a dead end that I backed into. so with any luck I will be able to get a good night sleep. It is a small town York, PA nice a quite.

Got a call today from a friend that drives for Swift. he decided to race his trailer down the hwy and lost. He was driving near the Ohio border and his trailer decided it was sick of following the truck all the time and attempted to pass the truck. it probably would have taken him except it was attached to the truck so it just ended up pushing the whole mess into the ditch. This was a bad deal needless to say. He was empty and there was a good layer of fresh snow. He said he was only doing 45mph and he panicked when he saw what was going on. Stepped on the brake and that was that. But other than that I got nothing to say...

Things went great on my home time. I really got to relax this time and got a lot done as well. Thought threw a bunch of stuff and realized some mistakes I have been making in my life and at my job. So hopefully I can get some of that stuff worked out. I looked into getting that local run with the same company, it just didn't make much sense right now so I decided to keep doing what I have been doing. Not much more to tell. I have to get the truck cleaned up a little and then get some sleep. tomorrow I got a load from Buffalo to York PA. it is a coffee roasting plant for Starbucks. Should be interesting to check out. I will put up some pictures of Asher when I get them e-mailed to me from Hillary. good times, good times.

Home sweet Home

I am so glad right now that I took the opportunity to come home early. I passed the HazMat test and got my finger prints done at the cop shop today. (well yesterday it is just after midnight) Today I will try and get up at 5:30 to go vote and then I have to take the truck to the shop to get new tires put on. I also talked to my company and they have another run out of Buffalo that pays by the hour and i would be home everyday. so now I have two different opportunities to run out of Buffalo. I still have to fill out the application for the FastPass for Canada but that I guess I just fill out, send it to our terminal in Detroit and they take care of the rest. The $150 i spent on getting the HazMat is supposed to be reimbursed. I am so glad I have these opportunities to run out of Buffalo. I really like working for this company it was just I wasn't getting to many miles. So this way it is going to guarantee me ok miles every week. With the extra pay stuff it should work out good. At least it looks that way so far on paper. I'll probably stick with it until the spring when things pick back up and then decide if I should go back to OTR (over the road) like I do now or stick with that run. So tomorrow i have to deal with the truck and get some little stuff done, then Wednesday i am getting a new tattoo which will take most the day and then Thursday Asher comes into town, which will be really cool and then Hit the road again on Monday.
Later.
Wooster

Well after sitting in the truck for a day and a half, i said screw it and headed home. I think it was a good move after all because I am going to work on getting my HazMat certification so I can haul deadly chemicals and bombs and stuff around the country. Then I have to get a FastPass so crossing the Canadian border will be easier. My company has a dedicated run out of Buffalo that I am thinking about taking. It will make it hard to goto Philly but i think I kinda have no choice. Our miles have slowed down a lot and this run will be guenteed miles every week. I will pobably do it just for the winter while things are slow. Then when things start moving again go back over the road. I will still be living out of the truck but I will have a day and a half home every week. I don't really care to much about the home time but I just need the miles out of it. This time at home is going to put a dent in the pay check for sure, but in the end after getting these additional certs. I will make a few more pennies per mile and hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

This week is even worse than last week as far as making money. I got stuck with going to Canada and got no miles out of it. As far the ability for my company to get the customs paper work done, it is ridiculously inadequate. I sat at the border for 10hrs waiting on it. By the time they got it done the load was late, the customer was closed and I was pissed. And all this for a 80 some mile load? I think I made a total of $50 over 2 days on it. WTF!! This has happened more times than not. We are allowed to opt out of going to Canada and about 80% of our driver do. If they could only get their act togeather it might be worth it. But soon I will be able to opt out myself now that December is coming.

Right now I am sitting at the truck stop in Buffalo have been sitting here all day, waiting on another load. A little frustrating considering my home is 20min away. I almost just want to go home. I have enough time saved up that I could take off all the way until the 10th when Asher leaves, but then I would have no money instead of the little bit of money I have been making out here lately. My company kinda offered me a dedicated run out of the Buffalo area. A guaranteed 2200-2500 miles a week plus some extra pay for going back and forth over the Canada border and multi stop pay. I am seriously thinking about going for it after these two weeks.

I guess the most frustrating thing about this job is you never know how much your pay check is going to be. And it seems like it is totally random, if you have a good week or a bad one. I think i have been just to laid back with my driver manager. I am just going to have to put some pressure on her from now on like everyone else. Well thats all i got for now.

This is a picture or a truck that came into our Taylor yard. I guess the driver has been driving for ten years and just left the yard to head across the bridge into Canada. Hit a spot on the road and jacked knifed the truck.










This is a picture of the 18 mile bridge in Louisiana. It is a fun run to make. More to come I promises.

First Post!!!!

All right! instead of sending emails out to everyone I decided to start a Blog. One, it will make it easier for me, two I wont be clogging up your in boxes with my e-mails and three I can actually put up the pictures I have been promising. Seriously I am not to concerned about clogging up your in boxes.

Plus another motivation is seeing a few others blogs that I enjoy and am jealous. I one day aspire to achieve the greatness of the likes of Trucker Steve or the Trucking Rooster!!!! I can't tell you how many dark red trucks hauling orange trailers there running around this country. But it's a lot!!!! http://truckerchris.blogspot.com/

Anyhow I am not going to do much background here because most people that are ever going to read this know it all. So I will just start out and eventually it will all make sense.

So I have been out here for almost 6 months now. I have been in every state except for Maine, Washington and Oregon. I have traveled 60,000 miles on U.S. and Canadian roadways. Slept in countless towns and cities. And I will tell you what I have learned.
Truckers are full of crap!!!!! I have always thought that people are naturally lairs. I think we learn it at a young age and frankly without people constantly giving false information to each other no one would ever be convinced to do anything and we would all just sit around.
But the difference in truckers is they have all day to think up these lies and convince themselves that they are true. Then when they are sitting at the TA (name of a truck stop) dinner they spill out their mouth. Then the other truckers just smile and agree because they just want to finish their meal without any fuss. It really is an amazing thing to behold.

But anyhow that is a story for another time.
So for now I will just give you an up date. I am sitting at a truck stop in VA. I delivered a load to a Kmart store about 100 miles away in MD. sat there all day while getting unloaded and then all night behind the store waiting on another load. I finally got one to pick-up tomorrow only about 50 miles from where I am now. I managed to get a 34hr restart so these next 2 weeks before I go home should get some miles out of. this last week sucked because I had no hrs left and I was stuck in a bad area. This load is going to go to Canada and now that I have hrs so hopefully I will get a good run out of there. I got the oil changed in the truck last week and forgot to get new wipers so I couldn't see anything when it started raining today. I took a small truck route from MD to VA that came right to the truck stop here on I-95 where I can get a shower in. I already did my laundry and that should last until I get home. Ate a good meal and have now just been catching up on keeping the truck cleaned up and all the stuff I have been putting off as far as paper work.

I have been more and more interested in buying my own truck the more I look into it. It wouldn't be for a long time but I am starting to do the research and keeping close tabs on how much fuel would cost and repairs, pretty much all operational expenses. It is a cool thought but I don't know how realistic it is right now. so for now I will just get as much information as I can.
So I promise the next time i write I will have pictures. I have all ready shrunk them to upload easily. And now that it will be easier to share I will take more during my travels. so Thats it for now. I got to get in line for a shower.