Tuesday, August 5, 2008

I've got this rig that runs on memory

IOWA 80 - I've been a bona fide qualified solo truck driver for two days now. I think I like it, but I haven't stopped for long enough to really figure it out.

I was assigned a truck on Friday, and it spent two days in the shop. It's better now. I like the truck itself - it's a long nosed model, which I really didn't want, but at least it's better than some of the trucks I drove during training. Shifts well, accelerates well, brakes well. And it's super roomy inside, which is also nice. (For those of you who know about trucks: I'm driving a Freightliner Classic.) I'll post pictures when I get the wherewithall to take some.

Sunday night I drove from Indy to Detroit, or rather to a company drop yard close to the Canada bridge, where loads stay before and after border crossings. Monday morning I was sent to pick up a load of salt on the other side of Detroit. All fine and good, except that I-75 is completely closed through the middle of the city. So I took some detours, ended up getting lost in some charmingly bombed-out section of South Detroit, made some probably-illegal turns, finally found I-94 and was finally on my way again. And then my phone rang, and it was my dispatcher telling me to forget about the salt and go back to the drop yard to pick up a trailer that was already there and take it to California. Mind you, that particular trailer had been there since last week. There was absolutely no need for me to drive around South Detroit for two hours. Gah.

Chances are that I'll be swapped off this load because at this point, only a team truck can get it there on time. Either that, or they'll need to push the delivery appointment a day back. This load delivers about an hour from my house, so obviously I'd like to keep it so I can actually go home.

More about how I actually feel about being out on the road by myself at a later time. Like when I actually have time?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're in good spirits. I'm getting a kick out of your new vocabulary...Hope you manage to hold on to your load till CA!

Terry said...

Sounds like you've made it!! A bona fide Trucker... Congrats!! and welcome to the family. Glad to see you were able to stick with and not let all those training experiences deter your goal. I must say, your training was HORRIBLE!!

Angela said...

Yay! Finally out on your own and no more trainers to deal with! Horray! I knew ya'd make it. Enjoy the quality "you" time not having to wait up in transit.