09/01/08
Monday
When nature calls you need to have an elastic bladder. There are a lot of truck stops and rest areas around the nation. It is not a pop-in pop-out thing though. Finding a place to park can be a challenge. I don't know if you have noticed but truckers like to park close together. This can be a real test of skill if you have to back into a slot and have a bladder that is yelling at you to hurry up! The nice thing about a truck stop is that it has most of the amenities that you need for extended stays on the road. They have showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and food and drink. The draw back is that they know you have to use them and they like to charge accordingly. Well that's life on the road.
I think everyone that complains about their job needs to come on the road for a week. You will really like the majority of it but it is definitely a different way of living. The thing that has been worse for me is trying to adjust to my family doing the things we had planned before I started driving and I can't be there! I miss the comfort and routine of the life I had in Spartanburg. I am adjusting with the help of my family.
Son of a trucker wanted to know about getting sick on the road. I think you pretty well answered your on question. The most important thing to do is to let the company know the problem. If I have to see a Dr., a doc-in-the-box is a good place to start. If I have to get home and can still drive, the company will route me there. If I can't drive, the bus is an alternative.
Well don't forget, America moves by truck!
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8 comments:
Up a little early aren't you? Never checked out the amenities at truck stop before but I have noticed they have the best selection of passing mirrors anywhere. What's up with that parking in nice little rows you truckers like to do anyway? Something about living on the highways turns you all into Germans? ;)
Saw a rig on the tube once with a microwave and coffeemaker in it. Just like a college dorm! Only without the fridge full of beer and the college girls.
Gotta run, keep on rollin'
I too have noticed that your posts are getting earlier and earlier. I hope that means that you are going to bed earlier and earlier. Funny though I did check for a blog before I went on some errands about 9:30 A.M. and no new post. I did not realize that it takes that long for them to come on line!!!
Thanks for answering the questions that son asked. Learning more and more each day. Last day of doing nothing, enjoy the day!!!! If you get bored, watch US Open tennis on tv. CBS from 11 AM til who knows...almost all day. First match is suppose to feature a real character from France. He sometimes dances between points!!! The night session is on USA and it goes til men's match is over. Sometime that is before 11 and sometime it goes til 1 or 2 AM.
Just another suggestion to get rid of the blahs!!!! Thanks for posting and I know there will be a break before we hear from you again!!!
Son....thanks also for answering the question about putting those funny letters in. I too have looked for a "remember my password". Also the first time I ever saw those letters is when I tried to get in touch with you at work. Pretty neat security!!!
BTW, Trucker man, can you couple and uncouple a trailer by yourself??? Hope to hear from you soon and was glad to see in your post that you DO like a lot about the job!!!!
Clarence, my Man,
Just wrote a long epistle, but the Google system wiped it out when I went to sign up for a password - so much for the immortality of language. We are all "one click" away from oblivion.
So, on that happy thought, I'll make this a short one.
Miss you at the Factory, and at Carriage House.
Looking forward to seeing some picutures from "On the Road." You need to start a "Where Is Clarence At?" pool: show a pic and have us guess where in North American you might be. You could also start compiling pictures for a travel book - "Rest Stops of America" or "Truck Stop Diners." The possibilities boggle the mind!
Hey - get a dog and write the great American travel book. You could call it "Truckin with Clarence."
I know it's got to be tough away from family, but slap some Springsteen in the player and let him bring you home.
Have a good Labor Day and -
"Be Careful Out There!"
Are you so rested that you are up greeting the day pre-crack. Sonof was up pretty early himself.
Should I be saving Depends coupons?
Message to you... zoo was crowded-no monkey for you.
Unofficial word from TM is Google's time stamps are wrong. Which begs the question WTF time zone are they using and why.
Depends and monkeys all in one short post! What a visual - an old man and a monkey rolling down the road wearing depends! My sides still hurt from laughing.
Son of.....I have gotten a little mixed up with last post. Who is wearing the Depends??? the monkey or the old man?!?!?!? :-)
Thanks for the second hand info on the google time stamp being wrong. Sort of questioned the first couple, but they did get earlier and earlier. Thought I was the only one up at 4AM..not getting up, still up,... trying to sleep....not my forte!!! Really enjoy your quick wit and way with words!!! Always have!!!! You keep me laughing!!!
Truckerman, did you see a new show about the toughest jobs tonight (Labor Day) I am sure you did not stay up long enough. It is a reality show, but the first job was truck driving. They took people who had never driven before to Alaska to drive an 18 wheeler (st drive) on the most dangerous road in the world and closest to Artic Circle. They were paired in two's with an instructor in co-pilot seat. Some took right to it and had no trouble down shifting to go up a hill, or slow down before truck runs away, double clutching, etc.
After some stalls by some and real problems with double clutching and one leaving gear in neutral resulting in an almost runnaway...could not catch any of the gears. Inst. said if going too fast you cannot engage any gears. One guy took to it like a duck in water...a pharmacist. Inst said he would hire him on spot without going through school if he could!!!(Even showed them and final destinations bedding down in bunks in cabs..did not hear a generator going to keep them warm and saw no "washing machine..not even bundled up. Of course instructors were put up in hotels and trucks parked so close together you could spit on next one...just like at truck stops) Poorest 4 drivers had drive off. Turn truck around, back between cones, 1 min. penalty for each cone hit and uncouple trailer,drive cab over finish line. One could not get hang of which way to turn cab to get trailer to go in right direction and had to pull forward and straighten up about 4 times. Took 23 min. next guy aced it in about 3 minutes. Guy who was kicked out of trailer for bad attitude did even worse than the first at over 24 minutes. Girl who left truck in neutral, put in position in about three minutes, lowered legs disconnected everything and only had to pull the pin with over 13 minutes to go. She did everything in her power but could not get pin out and lost only to be sent home.
Because we had our lessons in double clutching, down shifting and uncoupling, I really enjoyed the show....all thanks to you. As a matter of fact I watched it instead of tennis. Next week it is on to panning for gold again in the coldest part of Alaska!!! Whoa yakked way too much...but you wanted comments and yours have been relevant to me!!!!
PS Part of road second day was unpaved, narrow and they passed other trucks. Also second day they drove into a real bad snow storm and lots of black ice. Fun on first experience behind the wheel...huh?????
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