07/27/07

Today was one of those days. As the day went on, I was thoroughly pissed at various points along the way. Looking back, it was fairly productive.

I dropped off my load in Canton, Michigan, then headed back to the terminal in Taylor. I took the opportunity to hop in my car and run to the cell phone store. My charger stopped working a couple of days ago. I was fortunate to be passing through my hometown. In typical fashion, I went in for an A/C charger and walked out with an A/C charger, a car charger, and a USB cable.

Shortly after I got back to the yard I received my load assignment. I had to head down to Toledo and take a Conway relay from another driver. The relay was scheduled for 3pm, so I headed down at 1:30. The other driver showed up at 2, so it was a good thing I didn't wait. My run took me back to Newark. Just like the last time, I had a pre-plan for a load picking up in Pennsylvania tacked on. That run will provide me with some pretty good miles for the weekend.

When I picked up my empty in Taylor, it was full of garbage. If I ever become king, people who drop off dirty trailers will get a mandatory kick in the nuts. The cardboard had some kind of black soot all over it, so as I cleaned out the trailer I wound up with some kind of black soot all over me. Pissed.

The relay went off without a hitch and I headed east. Since I made the delivery this morning and wanted to get out of Jersey tonight, I needed to make good time. The traffic was cooperative in this respect, other than a JB Hunt driver playing the pass uphill, fall behind downhill game. He nearly caused an accident when one car started to pass another and the JBH driver cut between them. If I ever become king, people who are not aware that their trucks are governed at 65mph will get a mandatory kick in the nuts.

I stopped in Lamar, Pennsylvania to top off the fuel tanks and use the pisser. The guy in front of me at the fuel island was there for over twenty minutes, after I finished fueling. That's bullshit. There is no excuse for making another driver wait that long to be able to pull forward and finish his business. If I ever become king, people who block the fuel island will get a mandatory kick in the nuts.

It started to rain as I approached the New Jersey line. That section of I-80 has some steep hills and tight curves, so the glare caused by headlights and rain presents a significant challenge. That challenge is compounded ten-fold by the assholes who drive with their high beams on. If I ever become king, people who drive with their high beams on will get a mandatory kick in the nuts.

Heading into Jersey, people were predictably scared by the rain. It wasn't raining hard, but it was enough to affect visibility. If you need to drive slowly, then drive slowly. Do it in the right lane! If I ever become king, people who drive 35mph in the center lane will get a mandatory kick in the nuts.

I remembered the fiasco the last time I tried to find this Conway service center, so this time I made the correct turns and had no issues getting there. When I arrived and dropped my load, I headed out the the corner where the empties are kept. The only empty CFI trailer that I could access had a note taped to it. "Left door won't close, looks like hinge is bent."

Someone, either a CFI driver or a Conway yard dog, banged this trailer into something and then just left it for the next guy (me) to deal with. I tried to figure out how I could get the door at least secured, if not completely closed, so that I could take it somewhere to get the hinges fixed. That wasn't happening. There are steel alignment pins on these new trailers. The steel pins, when the door swings shut, fit into holes in the frame of the trailer. The upper alignment pin on that left door was missing the hole by a good inch and a half. I tried using a crowbar to bend the hinge outward and try to align the pin. Nope.

Then another CFI driver offered some assistance. He has an air-powered grinder, basically a Dremel on steroids. He suggested that I might be able to cut the pin off and then the door would be able to swing shut. So we tried it, and it worked! Beauty. The door is still a bitch to shut, but at least it shuts. I'll try to find a place on the way to tomorrow's pickup and see if they can make any improvements. If I ever become king, people who damage trailers and don't get them repaired will get a mandatory kick in the nuts.

I had wanted to get back into Pennsylvania tonight, but with all of the aggravation and the fact that it's raining so I would only be heading for more aggravation, I've decided to call it a night here in Newark.

I covered a lot of miles today. I will be at around 5,800 miles by the time I deliver this next load, with two days left in the pay period. That will give me an outside shot at 7,000 but 6,500 should be reasonable. All in all, the day was productive, but I won't hesitate to kick some people in the nuts if they keep pushing me.