Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

A film is being made focusing on the struggle young people are facing in today’s economy. The Academy Award winning director is looking for truckers in their 20s and 30s who are working to support their families and set aside money for their children’s future.

The website is Your Money Story.Net but if you want to send me your details at our editor address LifeontheRoadBlog@gmail.com I will forward your story directly to the journalist doing some of the scouting for the film.

I’m sure former VP and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore would tell me that it means nothing that I’m parked at 2 PM in the afternoon in the snow and ice, because despite the horrible weather here, the glaciers up at the North Pole are still melting away as I write this post. And the poor polar bears have no food and are floating southward toward Florida. OMG. Well, I’m not an expert on global warming, but if a poor polar bear needs a frozen place for a while, it can join me here at the Pilot in Beaverdam OH. I’ll spring for a tasty McDonald’s fish sandwich and fries and a hot cup of Joe.

Sitting here, safely off the interstate at the Pilot, it is an opportune time to see what truckers do to kill time. And one thing they don’t do is pick up a free copy of Pilot’s Challenge Magazine. The milk toast mouthpiece of the Pilot Corp. The stand right inside the front door is stuffed with new issues. Now in the interest of full disclosure, when this publication first came out, I did a few pieces for the former editor, as well as give him many suggestions as to content, advertising, etc. The relationship soured and we both moved on. Since then, I waited for “Challenge” to develop into something and it hasn’t. On their website, they claim that- “It provides informative, relaxing and pleasurable reading that can be used for reference or education on current events and subject matter inside and outside of the transportation industry.” Not so. Based on what I see and hear from drivers, it’s a great 3 minute rest room read, to be dropped on the floor for the next stall occupant.

It’s just like all the rest of the useless trucking print media and the reason that the Life On The Road blog is so popular. You’re never going to hear anything bad about the ATA or a company like Arrow in Challenge. But just what are truckers reading? And what is being sold at this Pilot truck stop on this snowy frigid tundra-like day? The answer is what is now the most popular “men’s” magazine and one that sells more copies than Playboy ever did. I don’t see many truckers – that’s men and women – buying TIME or GUNS & AMMO or even COSMO with their mini-donuts and milk, preferring instead to purchase Maxim. Besides, Pilot would never sell Playboy, but Maxim is acceptable. Go figure. The Pilot Challenge issue with the Graham Family on the cover in Dec.’09 or aged wrinkly Mark Martin (NASCAR driver) on the latest issue are always keep separate and far away from Maxim.

Have you ever read Maxim? I’ve looked at it when I got my hair cut. In a real MEN’S barbershop I might add. I even got a subscription to it. Big mistake. I don’t find the magazine that good. It did look good in the barbershop. My bad. And despite being part of their target audience, my 22 year old son doesn’t like it either. Why? Well, first thing it smells. The are about five of those pull out and sniff fragrance ads inside. And it drives my sinuses crazy. How can I look at a magazine that gives me a headache? I take it out of the plastic and after a minute, I can’t wait to get rid of it – or put in in the washer.

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There is a serious epidemic that is spreading across this land and it effects most everyone. Doesn’t consider job, health condition or economic background of the person affected. And this like it’s counterpart high blood pressure ( the silent killer), goes unnoticed for years at a time. It is diabetes, fact  every 20 seconds someone learns they are diabetic , also one in four people who are effected with diabetes do not know that they have it.  Here is a risk test that you can take to see if you need further follow up.. Diabetes Risk Test.

Between the lack of exercise, erratic sleep and eating schedules, and poor food choices this effects the truck driver in a big way.  So there is two schools of thought that I find with this, ether  ignore the issue until it shows up in your lab tests, or to say it will be someone else who is effected, “As I don’t have a weight problem so I don’t have to worry.”. Both of these thoughts are myths, and with knowledge of this chronic illness they can be explain with knowledge gained. As half the battle with diabetes is to control the illness, with control complications can be reduced if not eliminated. So here is a page which touches on the myths of diabetes.

Each November is Diabetes awareness month, and as one who has had this chronic illness I would like to be able to prevent others from getting it or having complications because of a lack of knowledge of the disease. As if it wasn’t for the fact that I do have diabetes now, and also am on insulin therapy I would now be out with my husband teaming. So this brings to light the next question truckers ask when facing this illness. Can I drive a semi with diabetes, and what happens if they place me on insulin? We all know or I do hope we do of the regulations of the FMCSA has when it comes to your health. But there is a gray area I have seen and that is what are the regulations are when it comes to insulin. So here is another link (I know lots of information ) that explains it easily on the grandfather waiver for insulin.

Bottom line, diabetes isn’t a death sentence, it can be controlled, and with proper care you can even go to the point of being only diet controlled. So I highly recommend that you keep tabs of your health, know the facts of diabetes and what you can do to prevent it. There is so many myths, and misinformation on this illness. So most all of the information I have posted comes from the American Diabetes Association, this is a non profit cause that I have supported for years now. Go there and learn more about this chronic illness, as knowledge is half the battle, correct information is the best way to handle this chronic illness.

Resources:

American Diabetic Association

Do you remember the woman in the photo? I want to bring you up to date on a piece I did back on April 17th called “A Little Hope.” It was when we all first heard about Susan Boyle. Born in Scotland, she was the youngest of four brothers and six sisters. Her mother was 47 when she gave birth to Susan, who was briefly deprived of oxygen during the delivery and was later diagnosed with learning difficulties. She would be bullied as a child and was nicknamed “Susie Simple” in school.

According to her bio on Wikipedia: “After Boyle won several local singing competitions, her mother urged her to enter Britain’s Got Talent and take the risk of singing in front of an audience larger than her parish church. Her former singing coach Fred O’Neil said she almost abandoned her plan to enter the televised talent show. He persuaded her to audition despite her believing she was too old and that it was a young person’s game. Boyle said that her mother’s death in 2007 at 91 motivated her to go on Britain’s Got Talent and seek a musical career to pay tribute to her mother. Her performance on the show was the first time she had sung in public since then.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been crucial in facilitating Boyle’s lightning success. The YouTube video of her audition got 2.5 million view the first 72 hours after its posting. Within a week, it had been viewed more than 66 million times. Over 100 million video views on 20 different web sites was achieved within nine days. She came in second on Britain’s Got Talent. Few people know who the first place winner was.
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I hope you’re one of the lucky ones. This year I am. In years past, I was not. But yesterday, I got home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Yes, it was tough. I braved the drive down I-95 southbound along side thousands of “snow birds” from Canada and other parts of the American northeast who apparently have the need to get to the sunshine state for turkey day.

In addition, the rich and perhaps famous are shipping their yachts via truck from the soon to be icy harbors of Maine and Massachusetts to the still warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Lastly, those who seem unaffected by this “decession” cruise comfortably down the interstates in their six and seven figure deluxe motor homes with a Range Rover, Hummer or cute VW Bug (with, of course, a fresh daisy on the dash) hanging from the rear on a separate trailer, only the rear wheels touching the pavement.

But I’m home, and it feels so good. I sat down in my favorite chair. My two dogs having been thrilled at my homecoming were now back in their bed – my old sleeping bag from the truck – amazingly snoring after only a minute or so earlier jumping up and down. I turned to see the pile of mail – junk and whatever – to my left. The one item that stood out because it looked like a magazine with a black cover was the Bed Bath and Beyond pre-Christmas “holiday” mini catalog. About 25 full color pages of stuff someone who just got home after weeks on the road couldn’t imagine they needed. I’ve never been into the whole “Black Friday” thing, always wanting to sleep in rather than be at the doors of Wal-Mart at 4 AM to grab one of the few remaining $79 Blu-Ray players or $49 Tom Tom GPS’s.

So being home and very comfortable in my favorite chair, this colorful upbeat holiday catalog not being a map or a bill of lading or a customs form, I decided to take a few quiet moments to peruse it. I liked that it was addressed to “our neighbor” at, can you imagine, my address. My address! How did they do that? So warm and fuzzy. So personal. And the mailing label also doubled as a $5 off coupon if I purchased $15 dollars or more of stuff. This is just what I needed after weeks of rude uncaring grouchy people, cold dark days and questionable food. I should say that also in the pile of mail were catalogs from Casual Male XL, Corona Cigar Co. and Cabela’s – the self proclaimed “World’s Foremost Outfitter.” Not one of them addressed to “our neighbor”.  Their loss, not mine. Besides. I don’t like being referred to as a “casual male” -xl or otherwise – truth be told, I’m actually an XXXL. I don’t order cigars by mail and I don’t need a tree stand or venison meat slicer this year. Maybe I should forward the Cabela’s catalog onto Sara Palin – the “Rogue” one.

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Reporting this evening – on the road – from Uninc De Soto Parish, LA. I’m headed to Sainte-Anne-Des-Plaines Quebec with a load of lumber. Now that’s a mouthful. It’s nice to be hauling something out of the country for a change. Today is Veteran’s Day, but I don’t know any OTR truckers that are taking the day off. Much of our oh-so-hard-working Federal government, many banks, etc. are shut down. The Fortune 500 lumber company that I loaded at is, obviously, also open. Working or not, I just want to thank all the truckers who are veterans who helped preserve our freedom in order that we can be the greatest country on the planet. And as my son reminded me, for all the Marine vets who are truckers – Semper Fi.

After spending 5 hours waiting to load and another 90 minutes waiting to get into the tarp “shack” to secure the wood, I was hot, tired and hungry. If you’re truck’n round Louisiana – especially I-49 – you know there’s not much there. I know of two “kind-of” truck stops – a small one at exit 177 and the other larger one at exit 186, called the Relay Station. Nighttime in Louisiana, when the warm daytime weather mixes with the cold night air of November, smells funny-like. Do you know what I mean? Have you experienced the smell? Mix the odor from a septic and a propane tank and what you have is the unique Louisiana smell of the bayou. I’d sing you something Cajun here, but I just don’t know anything entertaining, and my French isn’t that good.

But, that’s Louisiana and I love it. Along with Alabama and some parts of Florida, Louisiana is one of my favorite States in the country. I love the people, and most importantly, I love the food. And the best thing for a tired hungry OTR truck driver to eat “here” is – catfish. One of the ugliest fish around, but ooo so good. And the Relay Station cooks it up right. I love jambalaya and gumbo too, but given the choice, I must have catfish. As Justin Wilson used to say: “Whoooo Boy!” Tonight’s meal was done up right. $8.99 for 6 catfish filets that melt in your mouth. On the plate along side the filets are hush puppies, slaw and fries. I take a 1/2 inch piece of the catfish on my fork and dip it into the slaw juice. No tartar sauce – never. A large icy glass of Diet Coke and I gu-ran-teee whooo boy – dr-eye-va you is gonna be in Lew-si-ana heaven. And when you leave the place, you is gonna be m-eye-tee happy.

Now all I have to do is figure out where the heck Sainte-Anne-Des-Plaines is and what’s the best way to get there. I’ll leave it up to my carrier to deal with the broker and see that I get through. I’ve never been to French Canada before, so this gonna be an adventure. An adventure truck’n style. I had to dead head over here from Dallas since there is apparently no freight there. Whatever, it’s a 250 miles paid dead head plus wherever the miles are from Natchitoches to Quebec. By the way, FYI, before I close this post, the Relay Station is a great place to park, eat and, if you’re into it, gamble. I would not shower here and I don’t think there’s a shower down at exit 177. The place doesn’t look like much from the outside, but be brave and go in. The walls are filled with all sorts of dead and mounted critters, deer, wild boar and “other” things.

Photo credit: http://media.photobucket.com/image/picture%20of%20catfish/jayzee19/catfish.jpg

Reporting from Las Vegas New Mexico – not the other Las Vegas as in Nevada. After sitting in Clovis NM since Sunday, I finally received the go-ahead to dead-head here to Vegas. That would be further North and West from where I was. And that would be much further away from where I’m supposed to be, Clearwater FL next Tuesday the 20th.

So despite the Dow breaking 10,000 and JP Morgan/Chase making BILLIONS in profits last quarter, freight is still very much in the pits. And so tomorrow morning, I am to call someone at some quarry nearby to escort me to said quarry where I will be loaded down with pretty architectural rocks. I will then have to drag said load up the mountains even further North to Granby Colorado which is about 12,000 feet up in the freak’n sky. Last week it was the snow and chains to cross Monarch Pass to Montrose CO. Well they must have missed me because Friday will be the equally treacherous and unpredictable weather of Berthoud Pass, just South of Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park. Why me?

Ok, so the best – actually the only place – to park your rig is at the Pinos T/S, built sometime around 1945. To find it, since both the useless Exit Guide and the out of date Trucker’s Friend T/S Guide won’t help, just get off any Las Vegas exit and cruise down Grand Ave. like the rest of the locals until you see the trucks. Vegas is close to 7000 ft. up, so along with my “regular” breathing problem, this altitude only makes things worse. Not being able to breathe does not squelch my hunger, so I step into the Pinos T/S steakhouse. Now this place looks like something out of a Walker – Texas Ranger episode. There’s nobody inside, but you know soon when a few bikers come in for a brewskee, then some locals arrive for the Mexican food then add a few frustrated truckers into the mix, well, a brawl is sure to ensue. All you need are the television cameras and Walker doing his karate/judo thing.

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I took this photo at 11,312 feet stopping for a spell atop Monarch Pass between Salida and Gunnison – Colorado. I had a pick-up of 48K lbs. of tarped lumber over in Montrose headed to Ft. Worth.

And yes, despite my years of experience driving a truck, by the time I got to the bottom my brakes were smok’n big time. The night before it was snowing heavily on the Pass and chains were required. Since I don’t do the whole chain thing – my company forbids it – I found a nice cozy spot, shut down, opened a can of chili, put in a tape of NCIS and waited till morning, when all was clear. My first “snow” of the season.

Tonight, I’m parked outside the lumber company in Ft. Worth and earlier in the day it was 95 degrees. 900 mile trip, but even though the scenery was beautiful, with this smaller Detroit engine, I really had to work too hard driving. My old 500 hp CAT made a big difference. The fake jake in my new used Freightliner did little good with that 48K lbs. down those 7% grades. You know the expression: “like a lead ballon?” Well, that’s just how I felt. I could of used one of those pop out parachutes they deploy to slow down those funny cars in drag racing. All in all, I’ve got to admit the 1 1/2 day trip made me tired and stressed the hell out of me.

Now how is this for a segue? I’m continuing my search of good “entertainment” on XM/Sirius satellite. With what I just told you about the stressful drive, I don’t need anything else to annoy me. In an  earlier post, I mentioned that I ordered the upgrade package. Yes, it’s good to have Stern back. I told you about the Derek and Romaine Show on Out Q and I did enjoy Bill O’Reilly last night. But as we all know – OTR truck drivers that is – that it gets very lonely, at times, being on the road. For men, you miss hearing female voices. Women drivers might be so sick of men altogether that they might not care to hear male voices preferring to listen to other females talk. Whatever, the last couple of days, to pass the long hours on the dark roads from Colorado to New Mexico on into Texas via US287, I tuned in to the Cosmo channel. That’s Cosmo as in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Do any of you folks remember Helen Gurley Brown? She was their first editor back when the magazine started in 1886. Just kidding! Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, so sorry. To all the kids out there that slow down next to my truck and give me that anxious fist up and down sign to blow my air horns. I’m so sorry. It’s not my fault. I had nothing to do with it. I feel just terrible about it. I love kids. Tell your parents, the bad mean people that make the trucks are to blame. I’m not being mean. I truly miss that excitement on your little kid faces when you hear the blast. Hey, let me talk to your parents a sec – OK? Cover your ears.

Mom and dad, I was once a knight of the road – an American trucker. You and your freckle faced kid would ask me to blow my air horns and I was proud when I pulled the string and a blast of ahhhhhhh would make your windows shutter. The kids would smile and jump up and down. It made their day. I had ‘em in my Pete, my International and my KW. They were shiny silver – beautiful and powerful. I could compete against any Carnival Cruise ship leaving port. Why, anyone who would dare drift into my lane and I’d let’m rip. That car would move over as quick as a marathon runner stepping outta the way of a pile of you know what. My horns were my pride and joy.

But mom and dad, while I once was a knight of the road, sad to say circumstances have turned me into a “pussy” of the road. They’ve taken away my chrome, my large dials, my toggle switches, my Confederate license plate, my miniature pistol key chain, my neon lights, my sweety in her red garter belt and fishnet stockings decal and MY AIR HORNS! My new used Freightliner’s version of a real air horn poops – like poooop. Just like a sick bird. It’s depressing. You can hardly hear the poor thing. My car horn is more exciting. And that’s just sad. No, it’s pathetic I tell ya.

It’s all part of the ongoing campaign to emasculate us drivers. By the time “they’re” done our trucks will resemble soccer mom jeep Cherokee’s with one pink joy stick to control everything. And the once glorious blasting scare you to beejeebees air horn will be no longer. We’ll be left with a politically correct “please move out my way” pop out sign in two languages – like the ones they have on bright yellow school buses. Just thinking about it makes me “mist” up.

Why I’ve even thought about going out and buying one of those canned air horn things. The kind you might take to a football game.  The blast from that has to be at least 100 times greater than the soon to rust “poop” thing I am stuck with. Why when the kiddies come up beside my truck all I have to do is roll down the window – stick out my hand and press. Do you think little Mary and Johnny would mind?  “Daddy, did you see what that stupid truck driver did? He stuck out a little can – ha ha ha!” I’m so sorry! How embarrassing!

And for all you fellow former “knights of the road”, if you can, hang on to your air horns. Stay true to the cause. The carrier I work for will not let me add ANYTHING to the truck. This past summer EVERYTHING had to come off including my 9-11 Memorial and my CAT license plate. We even used to have our CB handles painted on the door – no longer. We’re even told what kind of CB antenna to use. So drivers, if you still have horns that count, when kids give you the sign – blast away and remember all of us that no longer have the privilege.

PS/Women truckers, especially owner/operators love their air horns too! It’s not just a macho thing. Many female drivers have an impressive set of horns. And women drivers tell me that in this instance size definitely matters.

Photo credit: http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/sad-child-at-camp.jpg, www.eyefetch.com/ image.aspx?ID=594994

Are you ready for the winter? Now is the time to get ready for what to me, is the most God awful time of the year. Trucks are not made to run in ice and snow, but inclement weather is a fact of the life of being on the road. If it was up to me, just like a bear, I would much prefer to hibernate in some nice warm hole somewhere in the forest. I’d enjoy eating my face off storing energy and then sleep until the Springtime.

Anyway, let’s start with a shovel. I will never spend another winter without a shovel for the snow. If I had the room and the money, I would buy an electric snow blower and take it with me. T/A’s – especially in the Northeast – not only have giant potholes on their lots, they NEVER adequately remove the snow. They could have their road service vehicles equipped with plows ready to get rid of the snow as it’s falling, but, well, that just seems impossible for them to do. So, drivers, I’ll forewarn you, go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and buy a shovel and be prepared to dig. While you’re there pick up a couple bags of sand or kitty litter to put down on the ice.

Next, buy a medium sized cardboard box. Inside you will put two candles, a lighter, matches, 3 bottles of water, 3 cans of spaghetti and meatballs, a box of unsalted crackers, Advil or aspirin, a roll of paper towels, a cheap AM/FM radio with a pack of spare batteries, a cheap pair of warm gloves, a woolly hat, a pair of sox and a pocket knife that has a pullout spoon and fork. Throw in some candy bars and a small bags of nuts. Tape it up and label it “emergency.” Put it somewhere and don’t open it unless you absolutely positively have to – as I did a few years ago when the world froze over for 2 days in Little Rock AR and there was no power and nothing was open. You might also want to buy an inexpensive cell phone, ie: a Trac Phone with a bunch of pre-paid minutes and a set of extra batteries.

Do you have blankets? No? You say your truck heater is fine. Your APU keeps you nice and toasty? It doesn’t take long when a truck breaks down or your fuel tank freezes for the inside temperature in your bunk to match the frigid conditions of the icy tundra wasteland around you. I always use a sleeping bag, have a electric heat blanket on standby and in my winter closet – have 3 large warm blankets – just in case. Making sure you have a set of professional – industrial heavy duty jumper cables. You may need them or could possibly help out the guy next to you. With the T/A road service truck plowing their parking lot, they’re not going to have time to jump your truck.

I don’t know one engine additive from another and I’m not advocating Howe’s, but I used it last winter and it seemed to work fine for me. And it was cold, very cold. This year, now that I have my APU, I have to check with our maintenance people whether to leave my engine running and add Howe’s when the temperature drops below freezing. I do know that last winter a lot of our trucks engines gel’d up as drivers shut down their engines trying to earn their fuel bonus. One driver told me it got so cold inside his truck that he put his dentures in water and the next morning they were frozen solid.

So please, share with our readers what you do to prepare for the winter. I’ve always wanted heated windshield wipers, but I just don’t have the money right now to purchase and install them. Do you use them? I’d like to hear from the drivers that have been out there a while and can teach the rest of us what is best to do to survive this next winter. THX.