Just blocked a number. It's Freightliner Toledo. Korena hasn't paid them everything yet, and they're hounding me again.
My truck is gone. I owe 200 in hotel rent. My wire for 1,000.00 hasn't showed up yet.
Korena gave me one of those "because of you" calls about HER problems. She's having trouble finding a truck for me without getting hosed.
The hotel guy has to close out the month tomorrow and no doubt so does Freightliner.
I keep checking my account, waiting for the survival money to show up.
My fingernails are gone. It never stops. I got Korena 3,000.00 and she's still blaming me for everything. My name is on the Freightliner bill and so are they. The hotel guy...
Even when I get the wire and can breathe a little temporarily, 480 of it will be gone for rent and my phone bill, and I still don't have a truck to drive.
When will it end?
God please...help me.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Dammit
The gut-wrenching stress never stops. The wire transfer hasn't showed up, nor has my truck.
The carrier shut my card down, so Korena can't even use her escrow to send me money through it.
Told Kate this morning im out of money for the hotel. She told me that and left me hanging.
I dealt with the hotel guy. He'll trust me. It helped that I gave him a copy machine and tipped him heavily for picking me up and that he's had time to know I'm a good person.
But this sucks. What if a digit was wrong on the transfer? How long will the wire take?
I deliberately waited for Kate to ask me for my bank info and stuff, but in the back of my mind: What if I'm screwed? What if they took my money and...well they're women, ain't they?
Doubtful. I owe her too much. If she did that to me, she knows I'd never repay her. I need to drive a truck for her to get her her money back, plus with a good truck I'm her best producer.
I mean, I tried 10 days ago to letting me break off and drive a company truck. Offered to sign a contract with her to repay her first, and return to her in better shape in 6 months or so.
She doesn't want to let me go, even temporarily. I haven't processed it all yet, but that's at least partly because she assumes she'll get shafted any time she loses control, even with a contract, and even with me.
See I understand her. But another part of this is she likes me because I produce and solve my own problems usually and with a reliable truck I'm like a commission-generating robot.
That's what all dispatchers want. I knew that when I started. Some drivers complain a lot, or want to talk a lot, or can't make or cover a cheap repair without bugging you about it.
I'm rare, Ed. Some guys are better, because they can replace their own turbos and stuff, but I outrun damn near everybody, am great with customers, and overall am damn near perfect.
...including letting them blame me for stuff that's not my fault and being their "its not fair" shrink and being a pro and not WASTING TIME, WORDS, OR EMOTIONS arguing with or harassing them until ITS URGENT OR AT LEAST NECCESSARY.
That doesn't help me now. I miss being independent. This is why I insisted on 1k out of the 4k price for my truck.
NOW, I can't be absolutely sure of that wired money. I don't know when it will show up. It was sent on the 25th. It's the day after Thanksgiving. It's not there YET. My new truck isn't here. Will it be here Monday?
I emailed Kate at 7 am today: Send the truck to me. If I have to go to it its 2 cab fares and a bus ticket you'll have to pay. The hotel guy will charge me daily to store my stuff and I'll have to come back here first. It will take another day at least and keep at least a trailer and more likely a trailer and load off my first settlement check.
I made SURE not to mention my own difficulties, because Kate, if not Korena, is impervious to that, and would skip past my manipulative "rationalizations" to...
Nevermind but i got a handle on kate too. Kate is an attorney, and she works for the feds. Nuff said?
Nah neither sister is a monster or anything, but Kate is helping her sister out, and has already had to involve her surgeon-husband into bailing me out for repairs, and loaned Korena money to help HER deal with my problems.
Korena took over the family business, and has the longstanding relationship with me. Kate considers me as kind of an adopted child, and I know they've argued about me.
Ed, she's got my records and kept the parasites off me, and through her I'll get serious advocacy when I can pay for it, but she's a good person and a great agent over and above that, and I'm in as good a place as I can be under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, I'm focusing on draftkings, TV, beer, free amazon videos,blogging, and anything else I can find to avoid this ongoing oppressive crushing worry and stress.
Since the start of the season I've put 75 bucks into draft kings. At this moment I got 25 bucks alive. I resent that you resent this, because all the research and stuff I do keeps me SANE, OK?
Congrats on paying off your house and happy T-day. Buy silver, guns, and nonperishable food. We are at war and are importing enemies.
I'm not crazy. I told you. I knew. I know. Reality is what it is. If you wait for the two by four, you're dead.
The carrier shut my card down, so Korena can't even use her escrow to send me money through it.
Told Kate this morning im out of money for the hotel. She told me that and left me hanging.
I dealt with the hotel guy. He'll trust me. It helped that I gave him a copy machine and tipped him heavily for picking me up and that he's had time to know I'm a good person.
But this sucks. What if a digit was wrong on the transfer? How long will the wire take?
I deliberately waited for Kate to ask me for my bank info and stuff, but in the back of my mind: What if I'm screwed? What if they took my money and...well they're women, ain't they?
Doubtful. I owe her too much. If she did that to me, she knows I'd never repay her. I need to drive a truck for her to get her her money back, plus with a good truck I'm her best producer.
I mean, I tried 10 days ago to letting me break off and drive a company truck. Offered to sign a contract with her to repay her first, and return to her in better shape in 6 months or so.
She doesn't want to let me go, even temporarily. I haven't processed it all yet, but that's at least partly because she assumes she'll get shafted any time she loses control, even with a contract, and even with me.
See I understand her. But another part of this is she likes me because I produce and solve my own problems usually and with a reliable truck I'm like a commission-generating robot.
That's what all dispatchers want. I knew that when I started. Some drivers complain a lot, or want to talk a lot, or can't make or cover a cheap repair without bugging you about it.
I'm rare, Ed. Some guys are better, because they can replace their own turbos and stuff, but I outrun damn near everybody, am great with customers, and overall am damn near perfect.
...including letting them blame me for stuff that's not my fault and being their "its not fair" shrink and being a pro and not WASTING TIME, WORDS, OR EMOTIONS arguing with or harassing them until ITS URGENT OR AT LEAST NECCESSARY.
That doesn't help me now. I miss being independent. This is why I insisted on 1k out of the 4k price for my truck.
NOW, I can't be absolutely sure of that wired money. I don't know when it will show up. It was sent on the 25th. It's the day after Thanksgiving. It's not there YET. My new truck isn't here. Will it be here Monday?
I emailed Kate at 7 am today: Send the truck to me. If I have to go to it its 2 cab fares and a bus ticket you'll have to pay. The hotel guy will charge me daily to store my stuff and I'll have to come back here first. It will take another day at least and keep at least a trailer and more likely a trailer and load off my first settlement check.
I made SURE not to mention my own difficulties, because Kate, if not Korena, is impervious to that, and would skip past my manipulative "rationalizations" to...
Nevermind but i got a handle on kate too. Kate is an attorney, and she works for the feds. Nuff said?
Nah neither sister is a monster or anything, but Kate is helping her sister out, and has already had to involve her surgeon-husband into bailing me out for repairs, and loaned Korena money to help HER deal with my problems.
Korena took over the family business, and has the longstanding relationship with me. Kate considers me as kind of an adopted child, and I know they've argued about me.
Ed, she's got my records and kept the parasites off me, and through her I'll get serious advocacy when I can pay for it, but she's a good person and a great agent over and above that, and I'm in as good a place as I can be under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, I'm focusing on draftkings, TV, beer, free amazon videos,blogging, and anything else I can find to avoid this ongoing oppressive crushing worry and stress.
Since the start of the season I've put 75 bucks into draft kings. At this moment I got 25 bucks alive. I resent that you resent this, because all the research and stuff I do keeps me SANE, OK?
Congrats on paying off your house and happy T-day. Buy silver, guns, and nonperishable food. We are at war and are importing enemies.
I'm not crazy. I told you. I knew. I know. Reality is what it is. If you wait for the two by four, you're dead.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Happy T-Day
Well no truck today. Might get it Friday. This place is closed tomorrow so no bars dammit.
Hope you guys have fun but stay safe on the road.
Kate said she wired the 1k out of 4 she made me insist on. My bank will put a hold on it.
I'm down to (after deducting my bar tab/tip/dinner) about 105 cash and 27.00 in my secondary account. And some quarters I piled up for laundry.
"Friday" often means Monday for me, so with the hold on the wire I could get in trouble. But the girls have trained me to sandbag and lie a lot, so BEFORE I get in trouble paying rent I'll tell them I'm already getting kicked out in order to get 50 bucks.
It's like pulling teeth. But again, I get it. Korena covered ALL of my repair bills. The 3k she got off the truck sale left around 2700.00 outstanding.
She wouldn't tell me, but I know: she caught me up with the carrier to get her back commissions; essentially buying my note to clear it. That's what I would have done.
When I get 50.00 advances, they're from her, out of her escrow. Kate keeps reminding me, along with how unfair it is to her.
I resent being implicitly blamed for it, and being reminded as if I'm mentally challenged, but check myself because being underestimated has often been my one and only edge.
Indulge my ego here: I used it as a boxer. A LOT.
The towtruck driver was the greatest. He brought the truck here for me to get the most important stuff out of it. If I'd had a gun I would have shot Herbie in the head.
Theyll take him apart and get over 14k out of the parts, but I'm still just grateful to get 2.5k more than the crook would have paid me, and don't begrudge the guys who bailed me out their profit margin.
I truly am glad to get out from under my dying truck. My new lease truck will be a volvo t670. Repairs will be covered. Payments can't total much more than the oil I've been adding to my gusher (net-net a lot less if its an i-shift I can get 9mpgs out of).
If I can run unfettered for 3 weeks, I'll be in decent shape again. Another 3, and I'll have my new laptop and fuel additive (add .2 mpg) and some savings.
I can't leave my current carrier, but Korena can stay with me even though all her other drivers will have moved to the new company.
The reason I can't go with them is because of my csa score. While with Northern Steel over 2 years ago, an airbag on a trailer I was hauling popped...
You don't feel or know this when it happens, ok? (Well NOW I might, because in retrospect I recall subtle symptoms that didn't register at the time).
Anyway, I crossed a Michigan scale that caught me overweight on one axle because of this, and was pulled in back.
A complete inspection is automatic here. The storm troopers duty is to screw you as severely as possible...
OK so the trailer brakes' slack adjusters were all bad, and of course they did the old reliable let's stick him with the brake lights thing on my tractor, and I was shut down pending repair, see?
There were csa points attached to each and every one of these actions, and I instantly became public enemy number one OK?
Less than 2 weeks later, something similar but not quite as bad happened at the same Michigan scale. I got out my cellphone and told one of them to go push the brake pedal this time, so I at least avoided the brake light bullshit that time...
But I'm uncontractable AGAIN!!! I've put off rereading that csa travesty these assholes designed, but assume these points will fall off eventually...
Inexplicably, they stay on the driver's record longer than on the carriers, despite the fact that the carrier owns and maintains the equipment.
Anyway, I hope you're safe, since you are related to and consort with a dangerous menace to society like me.
BULLSHIT.
Anyway the good news: this place makes you buy food to get more than 3 drinks, but I found out the meatball sub and mashed potatoes delivers 2 meals for me, and that I can open the bathroom window to refrigerate stuff, and that this is cheaper than anything else I can buy here, and was able to talk the bartender into a to-go order, so I got that goin for me...
The critical stuff I recovered included my memory foam mattress cover, my 12v heating pad, my as-seen-on-tv magic pillow, and the cannon printer I gave the hotel guy in case I needed some slack........
That heating pad has saved me at least 500.00 in fuel, ya no? As long as I'm covered up good when I fall asleep, I never have to fire up the engine, and it barely dents my batteries.
But right now? I'm in a bar drinking beer, c? I also added 2500 more to my draftkings account recently, c? I just ordered the meatball sub...
Hey I'm at this steakhouse in Bedford pa only like 270 miles from you hurry up!
Anyway maybe you, my intended recipient, finally found me off my strong suggestions and links I sent by now, so I hope you actually read this before tday:
I hope all of you have a good warm/fuzzy time because you all deserve it. I can't think of anybody there that I don't absolutely love...
Well OK maybe Matt...I dunno...but he's above my Donald Trump line and I get that Bev was his mom okok--
I hope you miss me drilling down into the browns until you change the subject or just avoid me til I do.
Oh yeah I forgot David. Well he's a good person, which matters most, and which I hope you remember should I go bad before my own expiration date.
I think I could take him too. I know how to exploit my reach advantage and keep him off me, c? But if he got close I'd rassle him and stuff too...
Don't matter, just screwin around here. This part was mainly for Bev, in case you read this.
Yeah Bev seems to like watering my ego down a lot. Not sure why, but I guess it's good for me. Anyway tell her I said I could take David and also I used to look different but just as good as Matt and that Sarah Palin is great and that she is a poopy-face OK?
I'm all kerflempt talk amongst yourselves...
Hope you guys have fun but stay safe on the road.
Kate said she wired the 1k out of 4 she made me insist on. My bank will put a hold on it.
I'm down to (after deducting my bar tab/tip/dinner) about 105 cash and 27.00 in my secondary account. And some quarters I piled up for laundry.
"Friday" often means Monday for me, so with the hold on the wire I could get in trouble. But the girls have trained me to sandbag and lie a lot, so BEFORE I get in trouble paying rent I'll tell them I'm already getting kicked out in order to get 50 bucks.
It's like pulling teeth. But again, I get it. Korena covered ALL of my repair bills. The 3k she got off the truck sale left around 2700.00 outstanding.
She wouldn't tell me, but I know: she caught me up with the carrier to get her back commissions; essentially buying my note to clear it. That's what I would have done.
When I get 50.00 advances, they're from her, out of her escrow. Kate keeps reminding me, along with how unfair it is to her.
I resent being implicitly blamed for it, and being reminded as if I'm mentally challenged, but check myself because being underestimated has often been my one and only edge.
Indulge my ego here: I used it as a boxer. A LOT.
The towtruck driver was the greatest. He brought the truck here for me to get the most important stuff out of it. If I'd had a gun I would have shot Herbie in the head.
Theyll take him apart and get over 14k out of the parts, but I'm still just grateful to get 2.5k more than the crook would have paid me, and don't begrudge the guys who bailed me out their profit margin.
I truly am glad to get out from under my dying truck. My new lease truck will be a volvo t670. Repairs will be covered. Payments can't total much more than the oil I've been adding to my gusher (net-net a lot less if its an i-shift I can get 9mpgs out of).
If I can run unfettered for 3 weeks, I'll be in decent shape again. Another 3, and I'll have my new laptop and fuel additive (add .2 mpg) and some savings.
I can't leave my current carrier, but Korena can stay with me even though all her other drivers will have moved to the new company.
The reason I can't go with them is because of my csa score. While with Northern Steel over 2 years ago, an airbag on a trailer I was hauling popped...
You don't feel or know this when it happens, ok? (Well NOW I might, because in retrospect I recall subtle symptoms that didn't register at the time).
Anyway, I crossed a Michigan scale that caught me overweight on one axle because of this, and was pulled in back.
A complete inspection is automatic here. The storm troopers duty is to screw you as severely as possible...
OK so the trailer brakes' slack adjusters were all bad, and of course they did the old reliable let's stick him with the brake lights thing on my tractor, and I was shut down pending repair, see?
There were csa points attached to each and every one of these actions, and I instantly became public enemy number one OK?
Less than 2 weeks later, something similar but not quite as bad happened at the same Michigan scale. I got out my cellphone and told one of them to go push the brake pedal this time, so I at least avoided the brake light bullshit that time...
But I'm uncontractable AGAIN!!! I've put off rereading that csa travesty these assholes designed, but assume these points will fall off eventually...
Inexplicably, they stay on the driver's record longer than on the carriers, despite the fact that the carrier owns and maintains the equipment.
Anyway, I hope you're safe, since you are related to and consort with a dangerous menace to society like me.
BULLSHIT.
Anyway the good news: this place makes you buy food to get more than 3 drinks, but I found out the meatball sub and mashed potatoes delivers 2 meals for me, and that I can open the bathroom window to refrigerate stuff, and that this is cheaper than anything else I can buy here, and was able to talk the bartender into a to-go order, so I got that goin for me...
The critical stuff I recovered included my memory foam mattress cover, my 12v heating pad, my as-seen-on-tv magic pillow, and the cannon printer I gave the hotel guy in case I needed some slack........
That heating pad has saved me at least 500.00 in fuel, ya no? As long as I'm covered up good when I fall asleep, I never have to fire up the engine, and it barely dents my batteries.
But right now? I'm in a bar drinking beer, c? I also added 2500 more to my draftkings account recently, c? I just ordered the meatball sub...
Hey I'm at this steakhouse in Bedford pa only like 270 miles from you hurry up!
Anyway maybe you, my intended recipient, finally found me off my strong suggestions and links I sent by now, so I hope you actually read this before tday:
I hope all of you have a good warm/fuzzy time because you all deserve it. I can't think of anybody there that I don't absolutely love...
Well OK maybe Matt...I dunno...but he's above my Donald Trump line and I get that Bev was his mom okok--
I hope you miss me drilling down into the browns until you change the subject or just avoid me til I do.
Oh yeah I forgot David. Well he's a good person, which matters most, and which I hope you remember should I go bad before my own expiration date.
I think I could take him too. I know how to exploit my reach advantage and keep him off me, c? But if he got close I'd rassle him and stuff too...
Don't matter, just screwin around here. This part was mainly for Bev, in case you read this.
Yeah Bev seems to like watering my ego down a lot. Not sure why, but I guess it's good for me. Anyway tell her I said I could take David and also I used to look different but just as good as Matt and that Sarah Palin is great and that she is a poopy-face OK?
I'm all kerflempt talk amongst yourselves...
Friday, November 20, 2015
The s-storm continues
I have a 248k tax lien. I didn't file because I LOST money, and eventually they decided I owed them half of my gross.
You know the story. Korena and her people got them off me, but I guess what they did was prove I couldn't pay their extortion money. Down the road I'll have to pay to have it cleared up.
Anyway, this bullcrap nixed my truck purchase. I'll have to get a rental.
But wait--there's more! My dac and csa numbers (long story) render me unhireable.
From over two years ago, Northern Steel apparently put a bunch of bullcrap on my record.
It doesn't help that Michigan mugged me twice for all sorts of stuff.
Ok ok the air bags on their trailer popped, causing me to be overweight on one axle. They pulled me around and worked me over. Slack adjusters on the trailer etc. It's the carrier's equipment, but I still get bullshit points for all this stuff.
But Northern Steel said stuff like I didn't do my pretrip inspections, probably to shift the blame (they had a low safety rating).
Listen man: to inspect slack adjusters you need one guy under the truck and trailer with calipers and another to press and release the brakes several times, and an air bag can go flat at any time as you drive.
That's something else I can clean up somewhat, sooner and for less money...
For now, I'm screwed out of the move to the new company. Korena will just keep me on with Falcon though, so THEY haven't yet succeeded in destroying my career.
Oh I'm no Angel. I had two fenderbenders in the last 9 months! Guilty! But those aren't even the issue. It's a whole bunch of lies that is.
The last THREE TIMES the dot inspected me, I got cited for brake lights out. You know why? Because I'm the one in the cab pressing the pedal so I can't SEE it!
Paranoid? Really? How come two out of three times I tried to fix my brake lights the techs said they were fine?
Crap and I have to prove I fixed them. I have to dictate to the service writer: "inspected brake lights-found no issues." Then pay them 75.00.
And it doesn't matter. The csa points are on my record. Guilty til proven innocent.
God I'm sick of getting fkd over by EVERYBODY, ya know?
Anyway I got the guy from this hotel to pick me up at the service plaza. He had to take the turnpike east for 16 miles, exit, turn around in breezewood (you have to drive 4 miles before you can turn around), then come back 14 miles to my westbound travel plaza.
"Mac" isn't dumb but is Indian (or Pakistani) with a thick accent. So despite my carefully enunciated instructions, he calls me to say "ok I'm here by the gas pumps." After going back and forth for like two minutes, I look across at the eastbound (south) plaza and say "do you see that purple bus" etc...
Ok so there he is. "Turn around. I'm waving at you."
He wants me to come across the turnpike with my suitcase and over three 4' high barriers!
But pretty soon he got it: he has to go to the Greenwood exit and turn around anyway, so just pick me up then.
Ok so then I get in my room and soak in the tub til I wrinkle up, temporarily ignoring the text-bleeps and email tones which kept flooding in as usual.
By the way, I don't think I got all the oil out of my hair yet. I think some of it is Lucas. That stuff is tenacious, ya know? Bet Katy could explain why, but I'm afraid to ask.
Ok Korena thinks she has a rental for me "you're not getting an automatic" told her the automatic would save me 150/week in fuel, let her hopefully fill in the blanks (she's smart, but so busy she only skims texts or emails and...ok well you get this: She's not deliberate. To be deliberate, you have to slow down.
She's thinking "best deal", but not thinking it through thoroughly. Like...if Robert's truck costs 30 bucks more per week, but he saves 150/week, he will be out of the hole sooner (getting me my back-commissions) sooner, etc.
I guess I'm lucky in a way. I'm down now. Nothing I can do. So I found the nearest bar which is where I am drinking beer. I have escaped. I can be deliberate and methodical, and think things through.
For Korena, who has twelve drivers, there is no such escape, ever.
Kate, her sister, is helping her a lot, but all the big stuff is on her.
Preconceptions also cloud both their thinking sometimes: Robert wants an automatic because as he admitted he is "spoiled". Now, when Robert says "I can get 9mpg and save 150/week", he is trying to manipulate us.
I'm ok with another manual. It's fun, in a way. Makes me feel like "one udda boys" old-school "real" truckers.
The hell with it.
Anyway somebody called the cops on my truck at the service plaza despite my telling them what was up and leaving them a written note and stuff.
Korena calls and says "You've got me in trouble again! There's a state trooper by your truck. You're not parked where you should be. They're going to call me any second now but you need to get there".
SHUT you remember how the hotel guy had to...
This shit is typical for me, including doing everything right and getting blamed for bullshit cubed anyway. Including dire emergencies all the fucking time, and desperation all the fucking time.
Now Mac can't leave so it's a cab driver. I'm gonna have him drop me off 3 miles down this road and run 400 yards to the service plaza across a farm or something so I can move the truck.
It's stuck in (I think) 9th gear. I can nurse it with the clutch, but it disengaged, forcing me to stop and start. The last time I put it in reverse, it locked me there. I had to shut down for 4 minutes and start up again. The first time that doesn't work, I'm dead. That's WHY I didn't move the thing from where it was!!!
Right before the cabbie arrived, Korena calls and says "I took care of it".
Well not really. A good Samaritan called because they thought I might be dead in my truck, not because of where I'd parked. I've already been there two days, and probably some trucker came back through and saw me still there. Probably banged on my truck. Getting no response, he probably thought I had died in there and called the cops.
Nothing I wouldn't have done.
But I'm wondering how Korena knew the state police were going to call her before they called her...
Well anyhow I gave the cabbie 5 bucks and thanked God it was a false alarm.
And now I'm here. I prepaid Mac the Indian hotel guy through Monday with money I discovered in my etrade account which corporate lodging hadn't charged me for yet (their bad) and also discovered 57 bucks in my Huntington account.
Monday, Korena can get me money.
Listen: One reason why I directed all the money to her, stipulating my 1k, was to test her. I'm waiting to see if she does it all at once, or if she gets stingy now that she's in control.
You know I lack assertiveness and avoid responsibility and am too trusting and have (or at least used to have) passive/aggressive tendencies, but give me credit for being perceptive and sneaky, ok?
Honestly, I KNOW that Korena "massages" the facts with me sometimes, and don't trust her...sort of.
But she's a good person. She does care about me. She hasn't screwed me, ever...well except for not clearing up this tax bullshit (but then I don't have ten or fifteen grand laying around to pay for that ya know?)
The money itself isn't critical. I mean, I DO owe her well over 3k. Sooner or later, I have to pay her.
What I really want to see here is if she understands that letting me have my 1k right now, all at once, is best for both of us--or if she thinks she should micromanage me like I'm one of her children.
As for the tax stuff, I will put my foot down when I need to. But this will be some time after I go after my mostly bullshit dac report and csa scores, am at least paying down my next truck (after the rental), have upgraded that truck for fuel efficiency, mostly-but also a fridge and cooking thing and other tax deductibles), have paid you back, and have 15k in the bank.
I suspect you don't fully grasp my reality sometimes. You busted ass and earned everything you have. True enough, but you've never been beaten down like me.
I might be better at this than you would be.
Ya know, I hear these truckers talk, and about 2 out of 3 are full of shit. I said this. I told them that. For most of us old vets, they're like 15 year olds, but many of the old vets are just as bad.
YOU think I should confront Korena with specific questions, demanding specific answers, right now.
You are wrong.
I can't alienate her because she has all my receipts and records. Her husband doesn't physically intimidate me, but is scary (that's all I can say).
I know I'm lazy and disorganized and irresponsible and all that shit, but you just need to get this for now:
Beggars can't be choosers.
Now: I'm moderately impaired, exploring the delicate balance between optimal impairment and puking.
Next on my agenda will be my FANTASY FOOTBALL how you like them apples?
Since week one, I've squandered 5000 (pennies), and am down to 1600.
I got slaughtered at first, but I came back from the brink. Stay tuned, but if I lose my ass this week l'll put 2500 more in there how bout that?
I think I'm adequately impaired. Okbye
You know the story. Korena and her people got them off me, but I guess what they did was prove I couldn't pay their extortion money. Down the road I'll have to pay to have it cleared up.
Anyway, this bullcrap nixed my truck purchase. I'll have to get a rental.
But wait--there's more! My dac and csa numbers (long story) render me unhireable.
From over two years ago, Northern Steel apparently put a bunch of bullcrap on my record.
It doesn't help that Michigan mugged me twice for all sorts of stuff.
Ok ok the air bags on their trailer popped, causing me to be overweight on one axle. They pulled me around and worked me over. Slack adjusters on the trailer etc. It's the carrier's equipment, but I still get bullshit points for all this stuff.
But Northern Steel said stuff like I didn't do my pretrip inspections, probably to shift the blame (they had a low safety rating).
Listen man: to inspect slack adjusters you need one guy under the truck and trailer with calipers and another to press and release the brakes several times, and an air bag can go flat at any time as you drive.
That's something else I can clean up somewhat, sooner and for less money...
For now, I'm screwed out of the move to the new company. Korena will just keep me on with Falcon though, so THEY haven't yet succeeded in destroying my career.
Oh I'm no Angel. I had two fenderbenders in the last 9 months! Guilty! But those aren't even the issue. It's a whole bunch of lies that is.
The last THREE TIMES the dot inspected me, I got cited for brake lights out. You know why? Because I'm the one in the cab pressing the pedal so I can't SEE it!
Paranoid? Really? How come two out of three times I tried to fix my brake lights the techs said they were fine?
Crap and I have to prove I fixed them. I have to dictate to the service writer: "inspected brake lights-found no issues." Then pay them 75.00.
And it doesn't matter. The csa points are on my record. Guilty til proven innocent.
God I'm sick of getting fkd over by EVERYBODY, ya know?
Anyway I got the guy from this hotel to pick me up at the service plaza. He had to take the turnpike east for 16 miles, exit, turn around in breezewood (you have to drive 4 miles before you can turn around), then come back 14 miles to my westbound travel plaza.
"Mac" isn't dumb but is Indian (or Pakistani) with a thick accent. So despite my carefully enunciated instructions, he calls me to say "ok I'm here by the gas pumps." After going back and forth for like two minutes, I look across at the eastbound (south) plaza and say "do you see that purple bus" etc...
Ok so there he is. "Turn around. I'm waving at you."
He wants me to come across the turnpike with my suitcase and over three 4' high barriers!
But pretty soon he got it: he has to go to the Greenwood exit and turn around anyway, so just pick me up then.
Ok so then I get in my room and soak in the tub til I wrinkle up, temporarily ignoring the text-bleeps and email tones which kept flooding in as usual.
By the way, I don't think I got all the oil out of my hair yet. I think some of it is Lucas. That stuff is tenacious, ya know? Bet Katy could explain why, but I'm afraid to ask.
Ok Korena thinks she has a rental for me "you're not getting an automatic" told her the automatic would save me 150/week in fuel, let her hopefully fill in the blanks (she's smart, but so busy she only skims texts or emails and...ok well you get this: She's not deliberate. To be deliberate, you have to slow down.
She's thinking "best deal", but not thinking it through thoroughly. Like...if Robert's truck costs 30 bucks more per week, but he saves 150/week, he will be out of the hole sooner (getting me my back-commissions) sooner, etc.
I guess I'm lucky in a way. I'm down now. Nothing I can do. So I found the nearest bar which is where I am drinking beer. I have escaped. I can be deliberate and methodical, and think things through.
For Korena, who has twelve drivers, there is no such escape, ever.
Kate, her sister, is helping her a lot, but all the big stuff is on her.
Preconceptions also cloud both their thinking sometimes: Robert wants an automatic because as he admitted he is "spoiled". Now, when Robert says "I can get 9mpg and save 150/week", he is trying to manipulate us.
I'm ok with another manual. It's fun, in a way. Makes me feel like "one udda boys" old-school "real" truckers.
The hell with it.
Anyway somebody called the cops on my truck at the service plaza despite my telling them what was up and leaving them a written note and stuff.
Korena calls and says "You've got me in trouble again! There's a state trooper by your truck. You're not parked where you should be. They're going to call me any second now but you need to get there".
SHUT you remember how the hotel guy had to...
This shit is typical for me, including doing everything right and getting blamed for bullshit cubed anyway. Including dire emergencies all the fucking time, and desperation all the fucking time.
Now Mac can't leave so it's a cab driver. I'm gonna have him drop me off 3 miles down this road and run 400 yards to the service plaza across a farm or something so I can move the truck.
It's stuck in (I think) 9th gear. I can nurse it with the clutch, but it disengaged, forcing me to stop and start. The last time I put it in reverse, it locked me there. I had to shut down for 4 minutes and start up again. The first time that doesn't work, I'm dead. That's WHY I didn't move the thing from where it was!!!
Right before the cabbie arrived, Korena calls and says "I took care of it".
Well not really. A good Samaritan called because they thought I might be dead in my truck, not because of where I'd parked. I've already been there two days, and probably some trucker came back through and saw me still there. Probably banged on my truck. Getting no response, he probably thought I had died in there and called the cops.
Nothing I wouldn't have done.
But I'm wondering how Korena knew the state police were going to call her before they called her...
Well anyhow I gave the cabbie 5 bucks and thanked God it was a false alarm.
And now I'm here. I prepaid Mac the Indian hotel guy through Monday with money I discovered in my etrade account which corporate lodging hadn't charged me for yet (their bad) and also discovered 57 bucks in my Huntington account.
Monday, Korena can get me money.
Listen: One reason why I directed all the money to her, stipulating my 1k, was to test her. I'm waiting to see if she does it all at once, or if she gets stingy now that she's in control.
You know I lack assertiveness and avoid responsibility and am too trusting and have (or at least used to have) passive/aggressive tendencies, but give me credit for being perceptive and sneaky, ok?
Honestly, I KNOW that Korena "massages" the facts with me sometimes, and don't trust her...sort of.
But she's a good person. She does care about me. She hasn't screwed me, ever...well except for not clearing up this tax bullshit (but then I don't have ten or fifteen grand laying around to pay for that ya know?)
The money itself isn't critical. I mean, I DO owe her well over 3k. Sooner or later, I have to pay her.
What I really want to see here is if she understands that letting me have my 1k right now, all at once, is best for both of us--or if she thinks she should micromanage me like I'm one of her children.
As for the tax stuff, I will put my foot down when I need to. But this will be some time after I go after my mostly bullshit dac report and csa scores, am at least paying down my next truck (after the rental), have upgraded that truck for fuel efficiency, mostly-but also a fridge and cooking thing and other tax deductibles), have paid you back, and have 15k in the bank.
I suspect you don't fully grasp my reality sometimes. You busted ass and earned everything you have. True enough, but you've never been beaten down like me.
I might be better at this than you would be.
Ya know, I hear these truckers talk, and about 2 out of 3 are full of shit. I said this. I told them that. For most of us old vets, they're like 15 year olds, but many of the old vets are just as bad.
YOU think I should confront Korena with specific questions, demanding specific answers, right now.
You are wrong.
I can't alienate her because she has all my receipts and records. Her husband doesn't physically intimidate me, but is scary (that's all I can say).
I know I'm lazy and disorganized and irresponsible and all that shit, but you just need to get this for now:
Beggars can't be choosers.
Now: I'm moderately impaired, exploring the delicate balance between optimal impairment and puking.
Next on my agenda will be my FANTASY FOOTBALL how you like them apples?
Since week one, I've squandered 5000 (pennies), and am down to 1600.
I got slaughtered at first, but I came back from the brink. Stay tuned, but if I lose my ass this week l'll put 2500 more in there how bout that?
I think I'm adequately impaired. Okbye
Thursday, November 19, 2015
The Infernal Struggle
They can't get a tow truck to me until Monday, but Korena had all my stuff and the sale is going through. The money will be wired to her, I hope early, so I can get some money.
I actually found a cheap hotel that--if I he really did understand that I'm at the rest area on the turnpike and would need a ride--i can get to tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Korena has filled out my credit application and the same guy is actually trying to find me my next truck!
I can't believe it! It still might not work out because I have to roll asap, and this is a commitment.
But a rental is one thing--i need a condo sleeper and an automatic. And under 500,000 miles.
He had me take pics of this inside and out from every angle (how embarrassing you've seen the inside).
I'll get a similar view from this seller. I can't inspect it. Odds are, however, that it's a fleet truck, meaning its been maintained. As long as they change the oil and stuff its not a big risk.
This would be ideal since I'd only have to "move" once and could install my inverter as soon as I have the time.
Can't get ahead of myself though. Things don't often work out that way for me.
Hope I get money tomorrow. I can't cash an efs check in town. Hope there's a bar around.
Update there's a bar and a place that cashes efs checks! I don't have to wait here tomorrow. I got 80 bucks. Enough to get the room and get sloshed!
I actually found a cheap hotel that--if I he really did understand that I'm at the rest area on the turnpike and would need a ride--i can get to tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Korena has filled out my credit application and the same guy is actually trying to find me my next truck!
I can't believe it! It still might not work out because I have to roll asap, and this is a commitment.
But a rental is one thing--i need a condo sleeper and an automatic. And under 500,000 miles.
He had me take pics of this inside and out from every angle (how embarrassing you've seen the inside).
I'll get a similar view from this seller. I can't inspect it. Odds are, however, that it's a fleet truck, meaning its been maintained. As long as they change the oil and stuff its not a big risk.
This would be ideal since I'd only have to "move" once and could install my inverter as soon as I have the time.
Can't get ahead of myself though. Things don't often work out that way for me.
Hope I get money tomorrow. I can't cash an efs check in town. Hope there's a bar around.
Update there's a bar and a place that cashes efs checks! I don't have to wait here tomorrow. I got 80 bucks. Enough to get the room and get sloshed!
Tom Came Through
He got me an offer for 4,000 and I jumped on it.
Then he said the title copy I sent him had northern steel as a lien holder.
It's an old title. They collateralized my truck to guarantee repairs. They signed off on it when they got their money back, and I went to the title office. I gave that to Korena...thank God.
And she has power of attorney. Thank God, because I can't send or receive faxes or even print emails here.
So she'll have to sign the bill of sale for me anyway. I told him to write the cashiers check to her as well.
My total non-bank of ed debt is 4900, and I owe a good part of that to her.
Plus, my bank puts 4-day holds even on cashiers checks. Korena can get money into my hands instantly via the efs system:
From your efs account, you call and use touchpad input to register an allotment/payout. Efs gives you an express code. You then give the payee that express code.
In this case, that's me. I go to a truck stop and demand ma munnah. If I don't have a check they print one out for me. To cash out efs requires a check and check number. Efs approves the express code and registers the check, which the truck stop takes to the bank, where it's processed like a normal check.
The same express code can be used repeatedly in any sized increments until the allotment is used up.
I have to cash out before I go to the bank. The cash is immediately available for me to pay my bills and stuff.
Anyway Korena is already being hounded by freightliner, as she wasn't able to pay the whole repair bill--even had a balance left over from the previous repair.
Because I, one of her drivers, went into the red, all her commissions are being withheld by the carrier.
So it's my moral responsibility to help her out now.
Well I'm waiting for them to sort it out when she gets back to her office at 1:00. Then a tow truck will come from who knows where and I'll wait who knows how much longer.
As usual, I'm under the gun. I need to show 30 days running before we can move, and I need a truck and load asap.
This is a bitch. I'm going to leave what amounts to a storage locker full of stuff those guys on storage wars would fight over. I'm sorting out what I absolutely need and leaving the rest.
Good, I guess. I needed to do that anyway. Ill have to buy an electric cooler and a 12v cooking thing to replace my fridge and oven. I got a 12v inverter that I hope will power my sirius radio. If the rental doesn't have a real inverter, I can't be drilling holes to install mine, so I have to adapt.
I should get towed tomorrow. I don't know how I'll get the rental, but assume I'll hitch a ride with my truck and stash my stuff wherever they take it.
I don't think they can bring the truck to me, so Korena might come get me, or else I'll have to take a bus or something and come back...jeez I hope she comes and gets me...I LIVE here, and even leaving the bulk of my hoard behind I've got a ton of stuff I need to keep.
Enough to fill up her little car.
The ideal thing would be if the rental came to me right here, but noooo!
Tom will set up a wire transfer cool. Thank God I didn't settle for that crook's offer. Thank God some smart capitalists saw a need and filled it. Nobody gets screwed (much) and all parties get what they want.
That's capitalism. The guy that offered me 1500? That's extortion.
Then he said the title copy I sent him had northern steel as a lien holder.
It's an old title. They collateralized my truck to guarantee repairs. They signed off on it when they got their money back, and I went to the title office. I gave that to Korena...thank God.
And she has power of attorney. Thank God, because I can't send or receive faxes or even print emails here.
So she'll have to sign the bill of sale for me anyway. I told him to write the cashiers check to her as well.
My total non-bank of ed debt is 4900, and I owe a good part of that to her.
Plus, my bank puts 4-day holds even on cashiers checks. Korena can get money into my hands instantly via the efs system:
From your efs account, you call and use touchpad input to register an allotment/payout. Efs gives you an express code. You then give the payee that express code.
In this case, that's me. I go to a truck stop and demand ma munnah. If I don't have a check they print one out for me. To cash out efs requires a check and check number. Efs approves the express code and registers the check, which the truck stop takes to the bank, where it's processed like a normal check.
The same express code can be used repeatedly in any sized increments until the allotment is used up.
I have to cash out before I go to the bank. The cash is immediately available for me to pay my bills and stuff.
Anyway Korena is already being hounded by freightliner, as she wasn't able to pay the whole repair bill--even had a balance left over from the previous repair.
Because I, one of her drivers, went into the red, all her commissions are being withheld by the carrier.
So it's my moral responsibility to help her out now.
Well I'm waiting for them to sort it out when she gets back to her office at 1:00. Then a tow truck will come from who knows where and I'll wait who knows how much longer.
As usual, I'm under the gun. I need to show 30 days running before we can move, and I need a truck and load asap.
This is a bitch. I'm going to leave what amounts to a storage locker full of stuff those guys on storage wars would fight over. I'm sorting out what I absolutely need and leaving the rest.
Good, I guess. I needed to do that anyway. Ill have to buy an electric cooler and a 12v cooking thing to replace my fridge and oven. I got a 12v inverter that I hope will power my sirius radio. If the rental doesn't have a real inverter, I can't be drilling holes to install mine, so I have to adapt.
I should get towed tomorrow. I don't know how I'll get the rental, but assume I'll hitch a ride with my truck and stash my stuff wherever they take it.
I don't think they can bring the truck to me, so Korena might come get me, or else I'll have to take a bus or something and come back...jeez I hope she comes and gets me...I LIVE here, and even leaving the bulk of my hoard behind I've got a ton of stuff I need to keep.
Enough to fill up her little car.
The ideal thing would be if the rental came to me right here, but noooo!
Tom will set up a wire transfer cool. Thank God I didn't settle for that crook's offer. Thank God some smart capitalists saw a need and filled it. Nobody gets screwed (much) and all parties get what they want.
That's capitalism. The guy that offered me 1500? That's extortion.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Hustling
The first tow company didn't even want my truck. He referred me to another guy who offered 1500. He can get over 14k for the tires and parts, but knows he has me.
But maybe not. I searched the internet and found 2 places that buy trucks and come get them through a network.
I told the highway robber to hold off and am waiting for these guys to get back to me.
National Truck Leasing is my best bet. This guy said he could also find me a truck to buy despite my lack of credit. Since they also set up leases and rentals, I told Kate to check them out.
So far they're only talking to Ryder and Penske, but these guys are like insurance brokers who shop around for you.
I was looking forward to a hotel room and bar, but am glad I put in the extra effort. I find it hard to believe that 1500 (minus tow no doubt) is all I can get for this thing.
Thank God it still runs so I won't freeze. Thank God it happened at a rest area instead of on the shoulder or even trapped in a lane. Thank God I got the internet. Thank God one way or another I'm getting out of this decrepit leaky old truck.
In fairness, 1.4 million miles? Ok? I don't hate Herbie. I hate the situation that wouldn't let me say good bye 2-300,000 miles ago.
Hope I can still get one night in a hotel and hit a bar though.
Oh yeah I forgot: Freightliner capped off my heater core. That's a 400.00 repair even for my Toledo pit crew. I could live with it except when it starts snowing, well...
See how bad it is? Still got oil in my hair no showers here. Got my heating pad but my feet are cold. I miss Civ5 badly. Truck radio is now a boom box I bought-hole in the smashed up dashboard.
The more I think about it the GLADDER I am that this happened. Even if I get screwed in selling it.
Daydreaming about my next truck, manual tranny or no. Heat. Radio.
Yeah this has to be rock bottom. I'm determined to become more meticulous like you and not hoard stuff and be organized.
I have to anyway it's a rental. I can't be messing it up, and ill have to move out of it after a few months.
It's kinda free too! I was expecting to pay at least 240/week on oil!!!
Yeah I'm glad.
But maybe not. I searched the internet and found 2 places that buy trucks and come get them through a network.
I told the highway robber to hold off and am waiting for these guys to get back to me.
National Truck Leasing is my best bet. This guy said he could also find me a truck to buy despite my lack of credit. Since they also set up leases and rentals, I told Kate to check them out.
So far they're only talking to Ryder and Penske, but these guys are like insurance brokers who shop around for you.
I was looking forward to a hotel room and bar, but am glad I put in the extra effort. I find it hard to believe that 1500 (minus tow no doubt) is all I can get for this thing.
Thank God it still runs so I won't freeze. Thank God it happened at a rest area instead of on the shoulder or even trapped in a lane. Thank God I got the internet. Thank God one way or another I'm getting out of this decrepit leaky old truck.
In fairness, 1.4 million miles? Ok? I don't hate Herbie. I hate the situation that wouldn't let me say good bye 2-300,000 miles ago.
Hope I can still get one night in a hotel and hit a bar though.
Oh yeah I forgot: Freightliner capped off my heater core. That's a 400.00 repair even for my Toledo pit crew. I could live with it except when it starts snowing, well...
See how bad it is? Still got oil in my hair no showers here. Got my heating pad but my feet are cold. I miss Civ5 badly. Truck radio is now a boom box I bought-hole in the smashed up dashboard.
The more I think about it the GLADDER I am that this happened. Even if I get screwed in selling it.
Daydreaming about my next truck, manual tranny or no. Heat. Radio.
Yeah this has to be rock bottom. I'm determined to become more meticulous like you and not hoard stuff and be organized.
I have to anyway it's a rental. I can't be messing it up, and ill have to move out of it after a few months.
It's kinda free too! I was expecting to pay at least 240/week on oil!!!
Yeah I'm glad.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
End of Herbie
Stuck at rest area in pa. Transmission failed. No more. Not again. Tomorrow I negotiate with towing company to get what I can for it.
Korena and Kate will find me a rental. Not sure how I'll get to it, or it to me.
I'll try to make most of my junk part of the deal, box up what I can, strip what I can.
I'm not crushed. I'm relieved. It's been hell.
Korena and Kate will find me a rental. Not sure how I'll get to it, or it to me.
I'll try to make most of my junk part of the deal, box up what I can, strip what I can.
I'm not crushed. I'm relieved. It's been hell.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Decatur In: No Escape
It's leaking again. After taking an oil bath to re-extend my blowby tube (using a swimming pool filter hose, hose clamp, and knife) I have since confirmed that it's coming out of there when under pressure.
So it's a ring or rings, and it happened 70,000 miles since my last use of my XADO ceramic treatment (hmmm)
But now I've got a dilemma. I'm penniless, and using all my advances on oil.
Fortunately, I got crackers, cheese, pepperoni, some giant burritos, peanuts etc. or I'd starve.
I'm using my additive allowance on my card to get some of the oil at specific truck stops where it's cheap, but the bulk I spend my advances on at Wal-Mart 5 quarts for 12 bucks.
Now that I know the specific nature of the leak, today I got 3 jugs and 4 bardahl smoke and stop-leaks for 20 bucks.
I'll also slow down as much as I can...except downhill.
I told the girls to keep me light.
They're working on a rental truck for me, but there's still a chance. If the additive and my old man driving can save me enough oil, I'll stand pat. The rental trucks are expensive as hell, and if adding oil is cheaper that's my choice.
The plan is for me to have delivered this third trailer and a load by tomorrow's deadline to generate a so-so check.
I won't get any of it beyond advances, but it will put a dent in my debt.
I have time to write now because they haven't found a load for me yet.
Now I've got to update the girls: This run will tell me if the additive and low rpms render the leak manageable. I really don't want to rent a truck unless I have to.
So it's a ring or rings, and it happened 70,000 miles since my last use of my XADO ceramic treatment (hmmm)
But now I've got a dilemma. I'm penniless, and using all my advances on oil.
Fortunately, I got crackers, cheese, pepperoni, some giant burritos, peanuts etc. or I'd starve.
I'm using my additive allowance on my card to get some of the oil at specific truck stops where it's cheap, but the bulk I spend my advances on at Wal-Mart 5 quarts for 12 bucks.
Now that I know the specific nature of the leak, today I got 3 jugs and 4 bardahl smoke and stop-leaks for 20 bucks.
I'll also slow down as much as I can...except downhill.
I told the girls to keep me light.
They're working on a rental truck for me, but there's still a chance. If the additive and my old man driving can save me enough oil, I'll stand pat. The rental trucks are expensive as hell, and if adding oil is cheaper that's my choice.
The plan is for me to have delivered this third trailer and a load by tomorrow's deadline to generate a so-so check.
I won't get any of it beyond advances, but it will put a dent in my debt.
I have time to write now because they haven't found a load for me yet.
Now I've got to update the girls: This run will tell me if the additive and low rpms render the leak manageable. I really don't want to rent a truck unless I have to.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
It's All My Fault
People hear what they want to hear, ya know?
I went to Freightliner with my load assignment already in hand; a trailer pickup in Wilmington.
The last thing Freightlner did was refill my oil. Everything else was done.
Well, after I got there, Chris said my oil drain plug wasn't secure and leaked now. I told the girls immediately. Chris estimated I'd get a new plug and out by 3:00.
I told them that too.
But the plug they ordered didn't fit. I remembered an improvised repair done 3 years ago which saved me the price of an oil pan and labor. They redrilled the hole. The diameter no longer matches specs.
I asked Chris to have them measure the hole, and I don't care what it looks like a bolt is a bolt.
He didn't know until later that he wouldn't have the new plug til tomorrow.
I told Korena this. She hung up on me, then sent me some really nasty all-in-caps texts blaming me for the pissed off trailer people yelling at her and for everything else.
Well, I feel her pain. I mean they had me set to hook the trailer in the afternoon. Then they moved it to Friday morning. Now she has to call them back a third time to tell them I won't make that one either.
I used to have ice in my veins. Now, every time I'm in deep shit, I get harassed and attacked for it.
Like I said, I get it. She's lost cred with a customer (or customers relation) over this, on top of everything else.
This kind of stuff with repairs is pretty common, but I guarantee you I, of all her drivers, take the grand prize.
Dropping a drive shaft and getting towed twice in 3 weeks? Then almost dropping it again 3 weeks later?
Anybody has to find me and my truck as the common element, but it's not me.
My only mistake was forgetting the improvised repair. It was a big one, but then I was getting hammered by both the girls with the texts, and had no ice left. My nerves were shot, so I wasn't thinking clearly enough.
Just imagine, Ed, if Bev were more like my old girl Teri: You break down while driving her home.
She wants to know what's wrong. You say you don't know yet. She wants to know what you think it is. You say you don't know let you look at it. She says don't talk to me like that I'm your wife and this and that and you should be grateful and---
Now you're under the hood. What is it? Don't you know yet? Well I what do you think it is? How long do you think this will take?
Trust me, man: in a few minutes you aren't quite sane or clearheaded anymore either.
It's like getting kicked, repeatedly, when you're down. At the exact worst time.
You're lucky to have Bev. She can be blunt and brutal, but I know she lets you take care of business.
But then, the stress Korena is always under, 24/7, would get to anybody. Sometimes it rolls down hill. She tries hard not to blame me for my truck or repair guys, but you have to admit, this stuff right now with me is just...Too much.
She's got 12 drivers. I guarantee you, she has at least one, and probably more like two or three others down for repairs; each with their own unique issues. Some of them want home-time. One might need an operation. Somebody else might need money.
She's traveling. She travels a lot to negotiate and secure new accounts, and right now to set up the move. She's got her i-phone and nothing else; Kate is running things for her kind of, but she's still hooking up loads.
Kate just gave birth. She has her own challenges. Mommy can't drive two hours to the nearest bank branch to fix the problem Freightliner caused by knocking her card over the security limit--long boring story but because of my issues her card is shut down.
Anyway, the 500/week thing ain't happening. The carrier wants every penny I earn back til they get it all back. That means no advances either.
Fortunately, I've been here often, and sandbagged a little so I won't STARVE TO DEATH.
Tomorrow or over the weekend, I've withheld enough to restock on food and get some pure antifreeze and stopleak at Wal-Mart.
By the way, I've never hedged my bets like this with you. I've been 100% straight with you.
I know how to max out my fridge and what nonperishables work best. Like peanuts; very filling. Side dish for everything. 50 cent frozen burritos. Take up little space, and I can't eat more than one at a time.
I could go on, but suffice it to say, I won't STARVE...not that the carrier cares.
Korena will figure out that I had hoarded a little money pretty quickly, but if she bothers to ask I'll tell her the truth. She might be pissed off at first, but then she'll remember what I said; you know about starvation and my unfixed coolant leak and my experience; and she'll decide I had a right to fib a little in order not to starve to death.
...as long as I'm running hard and trying to break my own records (for some reason she likes me more when I'm her best driver).
But right now? I'm at the bar again. And you know what else? I bet my whole 2600 (cents) on fantasy football.
I was good last night and stayed away, despite it being my last chance for impairment before leaving.
But after those texts and stuff, I think I can afford 25 bucks of my secret hoard to be alive and human somewhat.
Dammit I just realized I have zero fantasy players in tonight's game.
Hey am I scraping nails on a chalkboard here? C'mon man! I honestly believe I could survive in the wilderness, but I'm not in a hurry to get there. And if I were there, I'd be making moonshine, brewing beer, and cultivating other plants and fungi once I got food and shelter knocked out.
As you know, I've considered going off the grid. I've learned a lot from the discovery channel. I think if I was hungry enough, I could eat worms and stuff...except I'd rather die than drink water out of elephant-poop.
...unless you paid me enough...
I'm getting hammered again by Kate. Not sure about Korri, but Kate still thinks I'm a typical driver.
Korena got yelled at by Ryder, the pickup place, for an hour. I said "I understand. I really do".
She said she didn't think I did, and recited how the carrier, her husband, etc. we're all over her "because of" me.
Oh yeah Doyee i'm just a trug driver so I ainn so smardd...
I texted back exactly what I knew (from personal experience) Korena has just gone through on this particular load: She sets the pickup and delivery based on what freightliner told me and I told her. Next, she has to reschedule it for tomorrow morning. Next, she has to call them back yet again. Oh yeah, I get it.
So not only are they bashing me, but despite their experience with me, they think I'm self-centered and dumb.
Nothing I say or do cracks this perception of me, at least with Kate. "I don't think you do"?
At least despite my impairment my response was civil and lawyerly (Kate is an attorney).
Fortunately, I don't care what people think of me and like being underestimated. Still, it hurts a little.
All any of us can do is his or her best. I can honestly say, I always have--at least as a trucker.
I don't even get credit for that. That hurts worse.
Okbye
I went to Freightliner with my load assignment already in hand; a trailer pickup in Wilmington.
The last thing Freightlner did was refill my oil. Everything else was done.
Well, after I got there, Chris said my oil drain plug wasn't secure and leaked now. I told the girls immediately. Chris estimated I'd get a new plug and out by 3:00.
I told them that too.
But the plug they ordered didn't fit. I remembered an improvised repair done 3 years ago which saved me the price of an oil pan and labor. They redrilled the hole. The diameter no longer matches specs.
I asked Chris to have them measure the hole, and I don't care what it looks like a bolt is a bolt.
He didn't know until later that he wouldn't have the new plug til tomorrow.
I told Korena this. She hung up on me, then sent me some really nasty all-in-caps texts blaming me for the pissed off trailer people yelling at her and for everything else.
Well, I feel her pain. I mean they had me set to hook the trailer in the afternoon. Then they moved it to Friday morning. Now she has to call them back a third time to tell them I won't make that one either.
I used to have ice in my veins. Now, every time I'm in deep shit, I get harassed and attacked for it.
Like I said, I get it. She's lost cred with a customer (or customers relation) over this, on top of everything else.
This kind of stuff with repairs is pretty common, but I guarantee you I, of all her drivers, take the grand prize.
Dropping a drive shaft and getting towed twice in 3 weeks? Then almost dropping it again 3 weeks later?
Anybody has to find me and my truck as the common element, but it's not me.
My only mistake was forgetting the improvised repair. It was a big one, but then I was getting hammered by both the girls with the texts, and had no ice left. My nerves were shot, so I wasn't thinking clearly enough.
Just imagine, Ed, if Bev were more like my old girl Teri: You break down while driving her home.
She wants to know what's wrong. You say you don't know yet. She wants to know what you think it is. You say you don't know let you look at it. She says don't talk to me like that I'm your wife and this and that and you should be grateful and---
Now you're under the hood. What is it? Don't you know yet? Well I what do you think it is? How long do you think this will take?
Trust me, man: in a few minutes you aren't quite sane or clearheaded anymore either.
It's like getting kicked, repeatedly, when you're down. At the exact worst time.
You're lucky to have Bev. She can be blunt and brutal, but I know she lets you take care of business.
But then, the stress Korena is always under, 24/7, would get to anybody. Sometimes it rolls down hill. She tries hard not to blame me for my truck or repair guys, but you have to admit, this stuff right now with me is just...Too much.
She's got 12 drivers. I guarantee you, she has at least one, and probably more like two or three others down for repairs; each with their own unique issues. Some of them want home-time. One might need an operation. Somebody else might need money.
She's traveling. She travels a lot to negotiate and secure new accounts, and right now to set up the move. She's got her i-phone and nothing else; Kate is running things for her kind of, but she's still hooking up loads.
Kate just gave birth. She has her own challenges. Mommy can't drive two hours to the nearest bank branch to fix the problem Freightliner caused by knocking her card over the security limit--long boring story but because of my issues her card is shut down.
Anyway, the 500/week thing ain't happening. The carrier wants every penny I earn back til they get it all back. That means no advances either.
Fortunately, I've been here often, and sandbagged a little so I won't STARVE TO DEATH.
Tomorrow or over the weekend, I've withheld enough to restock on food and get some pure antifreeze and stopleak at Wal-Mart.
By the way, I've never hedged my bets like this with you. I've been 100% straight with you.
I know how to max out my fridge and what nonperishables work best. Like peanuts; very filling. Side dish for everything. 50 cent frozen burritos. Take up little space, and I can't eat more than one at a time.
I could go on, but suffice it to say, I won't STARVE...not that the carrier cares.
Korena will figure out that I had hoarded a little money pretty quickly, but if she bothers to ask I'll tell her the truth. She might be pissed off at first, but then she'll remember what I said; you know about starvation and my unfixed coolant leak and my experience; and she'll decide I had a right to fib a little in order not to starve to death.
...as long as I'm running hard and trying to break my own records (for some reason she likes me more when I'm her best driver).
But right now? I'm at the bar again. And you know what else? I bet my whole 2600 (cents) on fantasy football.
I was good last night and stayed away, despite it being my last chance for impairment before leaving.
But after those texts and stuff, I think I can afford 25 bucks of my secret hoard to be alive and human somewhat.
Dammit I just realized I have zero fantasy players in tonight's game.
Hey am I scraping nails on a chalkboard here? C'mon man! I honestly believe I could survive in the wilderness, but I'm not in a hurry to get there. And if I were there, I'd be making moonshine, brewing beer, and cultivating other plants and fungi once I got food and shelter knocked out.
As you know, I've considered going off the grid. I've learned a lot from the discovery channel. I think if I was hungry enough, I could eat worms and stuff...except I'd rather die than drink water out of elephant-poop.
...unless you paid me enough...
I'm getting hammered again by Kate. Not sure about Korri, but Kate still thinks I'm a typical driver.
Korena got yelled at by Ryder, the pickup place, for an hour. I said "I understand. I really do".
She said she didn't think I did, and recited how the carrier, her husband, etc. we're all over her "because of" me.
Oh yeah Doyee i'm just a trug driver so I ainn so smardd...
I texted back exactly what I knew (from personal experience) Korena has just gone through on this particular load: She sets the pickup and delivery based on what freightliner told me and I told her. Next, she has to reschedule it for tomorrow morning. Next, she has to call them back yet again. Oh yeah, I get it.
So not only are they bashing me, but despite their experience with me, they think I'm self-centered and dumb.
Nothing I say or do cracks this perception of me, at least with Kate. "I don't think you do"?
At least despite my impairment my response was civil and lawyerly (Kate is an attorney).
Fortunately, I don't care what people think of me and like being underestimated. Still, it hurts a little.
All any of us can do is his or her best. I can honestly say, I always have--at least as a trucker.
I don't even get credit for that. That hurts worse.
Okbye
Darkest Before Dawn: Toledo
Well it's taken another day, but it's supposed to get done today. I'll call for a ride to the dealer and should be out by noon.
I hope that this time finally Kate has overnighted my new logbooks and mileage sheets. I've been copying my last pages over and over again.
Chris the terrific service writer saved me 400.00 with a 600.00 clutch.
I might still have 800.00 to put into it. Freightliner sent Korena an email saying that the only way they'd complete the work would be for her to guarantee payment.
I will sign a form authorizing the carrier to take all but 500/week of my pay until I'm even again.
That's a great deal for me, since I'm leaving with a leaky heater core. I bought some black pepper at the Family Dollar, but it might not work, and I'll have to buy pure antifreeze and stopleak at Wal-Mart because it's getting cold.
Too bad my first check is at least 8 days away. I've tried to withhold enough for that and a little food, since they won't advance me a dime til I'm even.
Korena did great by me. She remembered my past due phone bill, my new plates and taxes, and my need for food and got me the 500/week.
I'll of course have to run through Thanksgiving. I'll miss you guys.
Aside from the heater core and the blowby, I've got a decent truck now with a new tranny and clutch and shafts and stuff.
I have to run 30 consecutive days before we can move to the new company. I have been the one who delayed this move this time.
If the stopleak isn't good enough, I can hit my pit crew not far from here and they'll get my In and out for 400.00 in one day, but I hope to avoid that.
The stopleak I used while I was running around with a new radiator strapped to the back of my cab because I couldn't afford the labor kind of worked on my radiator leak intermittantly/temporarily for awhile before I had to stop every 25 miles to refill it and my jugs. Never clogged me up either.
This is a smaller leak, maybe with less pressure on it, and modern stopleak are better.
Too bad I have a 12-gallon capacity and have to use 5 times as much as a car does.
Time to take my last hotel shower now and get my ride. Most likely they'll send me for a Friday morning trailer hook and then a load. Possibly I can deliver at least the load and then reload for a Monday or Tuesday delivery, but more likely ill deliver both Monday and drop the paperwork at Sunoco Lancaster. That's one trailer and load for the week. Could be one very small check, but an early start on the rest of the week.
I'll get the best paying loads she can swing for me.
That's all I can hope for.
Might not have time to write for awhile. Okbye
I hope that this time finally Kate has overnighted my new logbooks and mileage sheets. I've been copying my last pages over and over again.
Chris the terrific service writer saved me 400.00 with a 600.00 clutch.
I might still have 800.00 to put into it. Freightliner sent Korena an email saying that the only way they'd complete the work would be for her to guarantee payment.
I will sign a form authorizing the carrier to take all but 500/week of my pay until I'm even again.
That's a great deal for me, since I'm leaving with a leaky heater core. I bought some black pepper at the Family Dollar, but it might not work, and I'll have to buy pure antifreeze and stopleak at Wal-Mart because it's getting cold.
Too bad my first check is at least 8 days away. I've tried to withhold enough for that and a little food, since they won't advance me a dime til I'm even.
Korena did great by me. She remembered my past due phone bill, my new plates and taxes, and my need for food and got me the 500/week.
I'll of course have to run through Thanksgiving. I'll miss you guys.
Aside from the heater core and the blowby, I've got a decent truck now with a new tranny and clutch and shafts and stuff.
I have to run 30 consecutive days before we can move to the new company. I have been the one who delayed this move this time.
If the stopleak isn't good enough, I can hit my pit crew not far from here and they'll get my In and out for 400.00 in one day, but I hope to avoid that.
The stopleak I used while I was running around with a new radiator strapped to the back of my cab because I couldn't afford the labor kind of worked on my radiator leak intermittantly/temporarily for awhile before I had to stop every 25 miles to refill it and my jugs. Never clogged me up either.
This is a smaller leak, maybe with less pressure on it, and modern stopleak are better.
Too bad I have a 12-gallon capacity and have to use 5 times as much as a car does.
Time to take my last hotel shower now and get my ride. Most likely they'll send me for a Friday morning trailer hook and then a load. Possibly I can deliver at least the load and then reload for a Monday or Tuesday delivery, but more likely ill deliver both Monday and drop the paperwork at Sunoco Lancaster. That's one trailer and load for the week. Could be one very small check, but an early start on the rest of the week.
I'll get the best paying loads she can swing for me.
That's all I can hope for.
Might not have time to write for awhile. Okbye
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