12/25/2009

Well I didn't get released Wednesday mornng as I had hoped. The load I got picked up just outside of Jackson, MS and had to be taken over to Richburg, SC where some other driver will have to relay the load next week.

The load itself wasn't bad it was the waiting till noon to get the assignment that was agrevating. It is (the waiting) all a part of the business I just get antsy when it is time to head home. The good part is I'll get the miles between Jackson and Richburg on this pay period and Maverick didn't have to move an empty truck 525 miles. The coil I picked up was as tall as I am and weighed in at a hefty 44,000 lbs. I was a bit skittish about the height of the coil pushing the center of gravity that far off the ground, But in the end I just drove like it was glass and took it easy on the corners and all was good.

I made it home by noon on Thursday and got to spend Christmas eve with the wife and kids.

It is my furverant hope that everyone has had as a successful year both financially and job satisfaction wise as I have had this year and that it continues into the new year for you and yours.

I'll be on vacation until the 3rd of Janurary or maybe the 2nd if I can get a load with some teeth on it. I have a feeling I'll be chomping at the bit prior to that we will just have to wait and see.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Newear.

Bookerz Out

12/22/2009

Well it turns out that the battery cables were not the only problem. But they were necessary to complete the diagnostic process. Anyway the other problem was a "Range value". Fortunately the service manager didn't bother to explain what a range value was and I didn't have to whip out my 'deer in the headlights' facial expression. So I got to nod knowingly and everyone was happy. They finished the truck around 6pm a full hour after I could get myself on the board. So it is time to wait around until morning.

Hopefully when I call in the morning I will get released to head to the house. It is only 525 miles to the house and perhaps I'll get there tomorrow evening.

Here is hoping

Bookerz out

12/21/2009

Well the day started out right.

I took off about 1am and made it over to Jackson/Richland, MS about 5:30. The directions were about the weakest I've encountered so far. They weren't really bad, but not specific enough to be as helpful as they could have been. Fortunately there was a Walmart not to far down the road and made a uturn in their parking lot and made it to the consignee before the traffic got started. As I pulled into the consignee my check transmission light went off on the dah board. I shut down the engine and restarted it and the light went away. Good enough or so I thought.

The unload was a bit of a pain because the crane they used was very limited. Once unloaded I headed over to a nearby Flying J on my way there the bloody light went off again and the transmission disengauged. So I coast over to the break down lane. I try my restart the truck routine and now at least the transmission would work. But................................ it wouldn't go above 5th gear. If you haven't guessed by now I drive an automatic. I made it over to the Flying J and sat around for about 10 min. I sent a macro off to Fleetnet. call the boss and let her know and then drove down to the Freightliner dealer about a mile away. I spent the normal amount of forever sitting around the dealership and still wasn't told a thing. finally about 6:30 I asked what the story was the nice lady behind the counter told wellllllll

"They've got some battery cables being overnighted here."

Oh really. When did we do this?

"About 2 hours ago."

I usually take a good long time to get mad. But this put me into the express lane. I've been sitting here for 2 hours with my thumb up my *** and nobody bothered to tell me. Grrrrrr I didn't say anything to the lady behind the counter because my anger would have been misdirected. Anyway off to a motel for the night I went.

Now as a side note: What the hell battery cables have to do with a transmission problem is beyond me. As we have spoken of before my mechcanical ability could be contained on a head of a pin

I've went through a spate of this repairs of late. Here is hoping that the new year sees a reduction. So far this is shaping up as one of the worst quarters I've had.

Now the real question is ..... Will they get the damn thing fixed in time for me to make it home for Christmas.

Here's hoping

Bookerz out