Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

Did you listen to the President’s “speech” tonight? I did. And I have mixed emotions. I opposed the invasion of Iraq after 9/11 and the subsequent ten year inglorious battle to provide uneducated barbarians, who despise our way of life, a taste of both freedom and democracy. If Iraq succeeds on its own, I will be amazed. I have similar feelings about Afghanistan. We are wasting our time there. I say stop the loss of any more American lives and pull out – now.

If we employ our advanced technology to learn of an Al Qaida or Taliban terrorist hideout, we can simply fly a drone there and drop a large bomb on their heads without “boots” on the ground. I think we all agree that the only good terrorist is a dead one. Afghanistan is a corrupt, horrible and disgraceful example of everything that’s wrong with the human race. They should be left alone to exist in their intolerant little world and a reminder that we still don’t have Bin Laden.

The President has been in office for 19 months. And I’m sorry for those people who believe that in that time, he has failed to make a world an economic panacea for you. Would the world have been a better place with John McCain and Sara Palin at the helm? I don’t know and any speculation about that, in my mind, is a waste of time. It didn’t happen, so move on. The President’s speech, according to the overpaid narcissistic talking heads, was boring and a failure. I remember the speeches of both Bushes, former President Clinton – even Ronald Reagan – and quite frankly they all left me, well, what’s a good word here – empty? Yes, the current President sounds a bit “down,” but who the hell wouldn’t be if they had to wake up every morning with the mess we’re in.

But, and this is a big BUT, I’m a truck driver and my worldview is different. Flatbed freight right now is the highest it’s been in two years. I am preplanned for another load 24-48 hours in advance of my being MT. We don’t have enough qualified drivers nor do we have the available trucks to handle the present available high freight volume. For a while, I sat MT and listened to the radio and never heard a carrier advertisement for drivers. I don’t sit anymore and there are dozens of carriers advertising for drivers for regional, dedicated, local-intermodal and OTR “opportunities.” I was asked to take less time home to assist in the demand.

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This is going to be a much shorter post than normal. I just finished a long day of 624 miles of driving from North Canton OH down to Augusta GA. I pulled into the GA welcome center off I-20 at around 9pm. There are spaces for probably 100 trucks here, but only 2 are parked there. That is amazing and too bad that’s not the case in places like CT, NY, PA, NC, TX and so many other places where the welcome center and rest area area parking is pathetic for big rigs. Hopefully I’ll be home in a couple days for some very needed R&R and I’ll be able to park the truck next to my house.

Now this is going to be a self-serving statement, and I’ve said it before so please indulge me, but, I’m making myself available to head over to China and report and/or write a book about trucking & logistics there. The subject fascinates me. China is now the world’s second largest economy and most Americans don’t have a clue about how the highway system, warehouses, rail roads, intermodal capability, and trucking industry operates there. And yes, I do think we all care. If “we” don’t now, when China becomes the first largest economy and India the second and the US drops to third, they’ll have to care. We’ll be wondering: “Gee, what happened?” I’m thinking of contacting the Chinese directly about sponsoring me to take a look at what they’re doing to write that book. I keep you in the loop about how it goes.

Take a close look at the photos. Look at their trucks. Don’t see many KW’s, Internationals or Pete’s over there, do you? Your looking at what the Chinese call their National Highway 110/207 – also known as the Beijing-Tibet Highway. Roadwork began 10 days ago and is not expected to be completed until around Sept. 17th. Right now traffic is moving at 1/3rd of a mile a day. Yes, you did read that correctly. The work is being done just outside Beijing – you remember the Olympics being there – to the border of Inner Mongolia. The news of this mess is far more interesting that anything else in the trucking industry here, which appears to still be on summer vacation. Oh, did I say that the backup goes on for 60 miles!

The Wall St. Journal reports that: “China’s roads suffer from extra wear and tear from illegally overloaded trucks, especially along key coal routes. Coal supplies move from Mongolia through the outskirts of the capital on their way to factories. There are few rail lines to handle the extra load. Though the current massive gridlock is unusual, thousands of trucks line up along the main thoroughfares into Beijing even on the best days.”

Though triggered by construction, the root cause for the congestion is chronic overcrowding on key national arteries. Automobile sales in China whizzed past the United States for the first time last year, as Chinese bought 13.6 million vehicles, compared with 9.4 million vehicles in 2008. China is racing to build new roads to ease the congestion, but that very construction is making traffic problems worse-at least temporarily.

Truck driver Long Jie said his usual trip from the coal boomtown of Baotou in Inner Mongolia to Beijing, which normally takes three days, was now taking him a week or more. The delay, he said, meant he would have to raise his rates above the usual 12,000 yuan, about $1,765, for a 30-ton truck full of cargo.”

The photos are from Yahoo News, Wall St. Journal and the Christian Science Monitor. I’m headed to bed because I can’t see straight anymore. Be safe out there. Oh, one last thing, I listened to Glen Beck today talk mostly about the mosque/entertainment center near the WTC 9/11 disaster, and, I was amazed, he made a lot of sense. I hope he’s telling the truth about the “right to” vs. the “wisdom of.” More tomorrow.

For those that are interested in the fuel economy on a 2010 KW T660, I took this photo of how fast I generally run, at what RPM and what the truck computer is calculating the MPG’s at – with about a 45K load on the trailer. As you can see, it’s showing 8.3 MPG. That’s an average, of course. If it’s important, I drive exclusively with the cruise on. My last truck, a Freightliner with a small Detroit, I remember was getting, at best, about 6.4 MPG’s. I don’t know how that compares with what you’re driving and/or how you’re driving. A reminder that I have a Cummins 1997 ISX engine with a  Eaton ten speed. I have no clue what the “rears” are or the other “specs” truckers like to argue about, because quite frankly, none of that data would help me do my job any better. I received the truck with about 625 miles on it – it’s been less than a month and the odometer is now at about 12,000 miles. The odometer reading in the photo was from a few days ago.

This is another one of those posts that I’m going to jump all over the place, so as I usually say, please bear with me. The one item that keeps popping up in trucking concerns tolls and States allowing heavier weight trucks on their roads. I’ll discuss that in a second. But first, let me ask you this question – why isn’t there a decent truck stop in the Cleveland OH area? After I delivered in Bedford Heights, I received a preplan for a 5:30pm pick-up in Tallmadge, about 26 miles South. I didn’t want to get back on I-80. And the shipper has arrogant idiots working there and don’t allow ANY truck parking.

The QUALCOM said the stupid shipper “recommends” to go to the Knack Morgan Truck Plaza off I-76, exit 26 Eastbound, exit 25B, Westbound. The truck stop directory shows a Marathon in Akron, again off I-76, exit 26 WESTBOUND, 25B, EASTBOUND. The opposite of what was on the computer. Well, I didn’t see anything at either of those exits. If there was in fact a Morgan anything, it would sure be helpful if they managed to put up a damn sign or two. For all I know the QUALCOM message and the lousy directions were written years ago and NEVER updated.

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There are a few times when I can’t get an internet connection and last night was one of them. I had to work on Windows Live Writer off-line, which is what I use to post to WordPress. Between Denver and Albuquerque, Verizon’s cell and data service is terrible. I don’t care how many red dots they show on a map, there wasn’t any service, but there should be. I can wait until cell towers becomes obsolete and service is offered via Earth orbiting satellites, like XM/Sirius radio.

I was initially dispatched to Tucson AZ, but then was turned around to pick-up slinkies (coiled wire) today in Pueblo CO. The load is going to OH. I spent the night at a independent truck stop in the middle of nowhere – Springer NM – right off I-25. Nice place. Friendly staff. Big sign, however, at the Subway inside, saying their oven isn’t working. Sorry, I need my flatbread and sprinkle cheese toasted. So I walked into Russell’s Restaurant. And after forty days of watching every damn thing I put in my mouth, starving myself if there was nothing healthy available, I fell off the diet wagon. Not actually a fall, more like a high altitude swan dive into a deep Brazilian rain forest canyon.

I did try my best. I looked over the menu carefully. The Native American waitress sat down next to me to assist. Sorry gals, I’m a guy and when a waitress, especially a good looking one does that – sits down next to me – I have some trouble thinking. I made the mistake of asking her “What’s good?” She smelled like a desert flower after a September rain shower. OMG – did I just write that? “Green chili chicken or steak enchiladas.” I asked her name. “Nicole.” Well, Nicole (love that name) would you consider that healthy? What a moron I am. What kind of stupid question is that to ask. “Sure it is, it comes with lettuce and beans – that’s healthy, right?” I had been in the truck, on the job, in the heat, since 6 freak’n AM, off my “regular” time zone. I just kept looking in her eyes. And she stared back. I lost track of what happened next and what I ordered.

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I-81 Mountain Top PA. 195 miles – 3 hours away from my final in Seymour CT. I can’t wait to get out of this part of the country. What is up with I-80? The road work is terrible. Nine miles of monotonous orange cones, down to one lane of traffic and no obvious work being done. I don’t get it. Then five more miles of cones, again one lane of traffic and you finally get to the end, or the beginning? and there is a small truck picking up the cones. That, along with slow moving Floridians and those Greenpeace supporters in their little grey Prius’s, made this day a long one.

Just after 504 miles of driving, I was exhausted. I shut down here, which is a rest area. At 10:39pm there is no more truck parking. As far as getting up to CT, there is no way I’m taking I-287 to I-95 over the GW Bridge. It’s I-81 to I-84. As I’ve said many times before, there is no way I can drive 11 hours in the Northeast even in good weather with the longer days of sunlight, which is why I want the HOS changed. I logged 9.25 hours for 504 miles. No way – and the dark has a lot to do with it – I could have gone on really truly safely for another 1 3/4 hours. The consignee stops receiving at 11am. Don’t know why.

To keeps things interesting, I spent a few hours listening to the Dave Ramsey show on satellite. I don’t recall the channel. He’s the financial advice guy with a “Christian” edge to what he recommends. That doesn’t bother me. If Christ Jesus can help me out with the IRS and those pesky student loan folks, then His help is appreciated. I was truly amazed at the amount of people who call into the show and claim to be earning in the $80-90,000 range. One guy bought a home for $600K, now it’s worth $385K and it’s been on the market for over a year. Even on a $90,000 salary, he’s having problems surviving. He lives in the Pittsburgh area. I love how Ramsey refers to the IRS as the KGB. Way to go Dave. I see his books all the time, but maybe now I’ll order one from Amazon. I should make it a point to listen to him every day. It feels good to listen to other peoples problems and not focus so much on mine. And, Howard Stern isn’t cutting it for me anymore.

Hey, did you hear the story today about the Jet Blue flight attendant? Steven Slater, 38, of Queens, NY, has been charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, according to a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of NY & NJ, which runs the NY area airports. The case is still being investigated but will be referred to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Slater allegedly fled “his” plane via emergency chute, two beers in hand, after getting into a fight with a passenger and then cursing out the entire cabin over a loudspeaker.

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I said yesterday that I was listening to Willie’s Place on XM 13. Well, a man can only take so much. When Bill Mack aka The Midnight Cowboy – broke out his 78′s and started “spinning” The Mills Brothers – Blue Hawaii I had to draw the line somewhere. Mack said he “loves Hawaiian music.” OMG. Mack speaks of his upcoming “discussion” with Willie Nelson like a preacher looks forward the second coming. Hey Bill, I’m glad you’re still broadcasting – the old time drivers luv ya – but it’s all too much for this driver to handle. Back to my Sugarland CD. A 35ish redhead in a red tank and white short shorts just asked me if I wanted a “date.” Why do I leave my window open? She actually looked clean. She’s probably work’n her way over to the “J.” Thanks, but no thanks – I’m “spoken” for. Oh, here’s comes another one – older  – in a black camisole with jeans. She’s walk’n away from the “J” – the sheriff must be driving around the parking lot.

I’m in North Kansas City MO. There is a FJ – Flying J -off exit 57 – I 435 – Walker St. I rarely park there. There is no “sit down” food service at this location – no Denny’s or Subway or anything. The FJ “deli” inside has nothing but unhealthy junk. A 3000 calorie 12 inch schlong-like “sausage” colored with red die in a greasy pig’s blanket “roll” is NOT food! FJ wouldn’t know what a “deli” is if one hit them over the head. So here’s what I do – go down a few lights, drive into the corporate park on the right, make a legal u-turn and go back out and down Walker St. about 500 yards. Then I make a right just before I-435, then another right and there is truck parking behind Subway, Wendy’s and McDonald’s – all three of which are right next to each other. Convenient and far less stressful than the FJ. Not a lot of truck parking here, but if you get there early enough there is space for about 8 semi’s and a few tractors bobtailing.

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“No driver, I don’t think so. You are a moron and you don’t belong behind the wheel of a big rig. You need to find a job where you can use that vast brainpower you seem to believe you have. I suggest an assembly job, in, MEXICO! Now move that truck out of my way or I’ll surely do it for you.”

“Take I264 go thru tunnel, cross drawbridge, rd will bear rt around curve, do not go straight, bear rt as rd straightens out, go 1/4 mile to XT10 right to Tidewater Drive, merge, go to Cromwell Rd, go left and follow and turns into Ingleside, stay left get in left hand lane on lhs brown bldg.”

“The load is ready at 3pm.”

I’ve now been back in trucking, hum, let’s see, about three whole days – 36 hours. I left the house on the bus – the Greyhound bus – Sunday. I survived the trip, barely, with no sleep. Spent all day at the terminal on Monday listening to whiny drivers moan, groan and complain about everything. Got the new truck. Company, meanwhile, was confused on whether the DOT physical I spend $80 on was good “enough” for them to let me drive. I did a piss test at some really creepy clinic in downtown Birmingham. APU on new truck breaks down – spent two hours getting loose wires repaired at Thermo King dealer. Tuesday, they’re still confused about my driving. I could have stayed home. They finally ask me to go pick up and shuttle some MT trailers. No problem. Good opportunity to test drive the new truck with a different transmission than I ‘m used to. New high tech talking QUALCOM has no instruction manual. It talks to you, and I can’t shut off the annoying female voice.

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And I’m still being ostracized by Facebook for asking too many people to be my friend. Actually, being so nervous just sitting waiting here for a truck has "activated" my OCD behavior, and like rubbing door knobs or predicting my future based on whether a traffic light stays green or not, I just mindlessly keep pressing "add as friend." What an utterly stupid waste of time thing to do. I should be mowing the lawn instead. I need to make money.

Even more depressing is listening to practically everyone in the world talk about Twitter. Last night on David Letterman, actress Kristin Chenoweth, looking mighty fine and tan, was talking about her getting almost immediate action from Starbucks when she tweeted about receiving rude service from one of their employees. OK, so she’s a Tony and Emmy award winner. She’s a star. She’s rich. I’m still just a truck-less trucker who, by the way, isn’t making a cent just sitting here at home waiting.

Then I found a trucker who has 11,687 Twitter followers. He’s even selling t-shirts. As far as I’m concerned, unless your getting paid cash money for doing something, other than fishing, or snorkeling in the Bahamas or cruising to Mexico, then it’s a waste of time, right? Anyway, whenever I tried tweaking anything on Twitter, all I get is "Twitter is over capacity." I did, however, manage to SWOM. Hey, I’m trying my best to go "tribal" and integrate all the social media tools available to me. Did I just say that? What a bunch of BS.

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The answer is no. One minute we’re in a recovery, the next we’re not. "Our" government was providing tax incentives to buy new homes and the real estate market seemed to be on the upswing. They scraped the tax breaks and real estate sales came tumbling down. The stock market was inching toward 11,000 and even I was thinking about starting to put money back in my 401K and then I had my heart issues. The market is now somewhere in the 9000′s. The employment numbers, actually I should say the unemployment numbers stink. And Congress has gone on recess and ignored the hundreds of thousands of folks without a job and no unemployment checks since "they" didn’t extend their benefits. The so-called experts can’t figure out not only how to plug a hole in the Gulf leaking million gallons oil but have no clue as to how to get the economy back on track.

Today, while I was taking a 5 hour nuclear stress test to see if I’m able to pass the DOT physical and return to work, there was an elderly man sitting near me. Interesting and current magazines are hard to come by these days in doctors offices with everybody cutting back. So this man took five older issues of various magazines, rolled them up and put them in a bag he was carrying. An Asian woman who was waiting for a test with us asked what the heck he was doing. He told her that he loves reading magazines, but he just cannot afford to buy or subscribe to them anymore.

All his social security and meager retirement pay goes for rent, food and drugs. He went on to say what I clearly know now – that two drugs in particular along with so many others – Plavix and Bystolic – are priced so high that even physicians are telling patients they’re too expensive and to find alternative generics if available. A thirty day supply of Plavix, which is an "anti-platelet" drug that I know for a fact a lot of truck drivers are on, cost over $200 if you don’t have insurance – $48.62 if you do, depending on the coverage. Bottom line, that’s why this old gentleman is taking magazines home to read. He added that since he is here at this doctor a lot, when he’s done reading them, he returns the magazines for other to read – or – take home. I believe him.

By the way, as a quick aside, a few groups here where I live, organize bus trips to Canada for the specific purpose of buying needed prescription drugs, which are 1/3 or more less expensive there than here. There are other bus groups going to Mexico where you can get a quality surgical procedure for less than 1/2 the price. A lap band "procedure" over the border down in Mexico will cost you $5000 – here in the US – same procedure – same implant from a US manufacturer – $15,000. As I’ve told you Blue Cross/Blue Shield will not pay for it considering it "cosmetic" surgery – Medicare pays 100% – go figure.

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Is this the best you’ve got? Well, it’s just NOT good enough. I’m driving 80,000 lbs. of truck. I am responsible for securing 48,000 lbs. – 24 tons of cargo. Sometimes the material has to be covered with a tarp that that weighs 125 lbs. There are times when I have to climb up loads as high as 14 feet. I’m allowed by law to work 14 hours a day – 11 of those hours are DRIVING – 70 hours a week. Are you really sure that I can do this with all the medications you’ve just prescribed? Have you seriously and professionally considered ALL aspects of my present condition beyond that of your own ego, wallet and patient quotas?

Many believe we have the best health care in the world. I’m not an expert that could confirm that. I am, however, a patient and as such, based on my needs, we do NOT have the best health care in the world – far from it. Because the present system is not based on treating the whole person, but providing superior ‘piecemeal’ care only, even if you have a primary care physician. The website ‘The Art of Patient Care’ says: “As physicians and nurses, we can treat respiratory failure and congestive heart failure pretty well, but we fail miserably when the problems are associated with emotional stress. Most of us seem to want to ignore these problems and walk away from them even though they are real and create great suffering for patients.”

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