So after a good rest, a hot meal and a smoke, I stood around the docks gabbin with the other drivers and swaping stories and tellin lies about the women we've had, when the call came in from Dispatch. They had a load for me that HAD to be in San. Fran yesterday...no problem...the run was at dock 12...no problem...it was truck tires...no problem...double load...PROBLEM! That's a little over 100 feet of trailers! That's close to ummm...lets see here...carry the 2...well it's a lot of weight!! Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of double loads. Not many are really, regardless of how experienced you are. I mean going forward with them was ok once you got used to the length. But backing up? Talk about a nightmare!! Plus the fact that the run was to San. Fran. where the streets were tighter then a nun's
I voiced my complaints to dispatch, who said they could find another driver for it if I wasn't sure I could handle it. I could here the sarcasm just dripping off that statement. I thought about it for a moment. Not only was this the rep of TTI, but mine as well! The boys at HQ would make me the laughing stock for weeks, and I'd probably stop getting some of those sweet money runs. I had no choice...I had to take it.
"Gate 12 you said?" The dispatch guy was relieved and told me where to find my load. So off I went to find the load from ****.
Well this was just the beginning of what would turn out to be a frustrating run. Once I got out of Nashvile I pulled over for a quick bite to eat. I was lying on the bunk waiting for my microwaved pizza and for some reason, nodded off! It was well after sunset when I finally came too, jumped behind the wheel and took off with the hammer down.
I drove through the night doing about 80 mph. Around 5 am I was still going strong. So focused I was I didn't see the cop on the side of the road. I passed him doing around 75, but he never gave chase! Guess he had a long night, and needed a little shuteye. Either that or it was because the bottom half of his car was missing.
As the day wore on, traffic started getting heavier. By 6 I had had enough and decided to get a few hours sleep and drive again that night.
As I continued further along towards the coast, people started getting crazier behind the wheel. Speeding through the city riding their brakes...one guy couldn't even tell when the light was green! I could tell that traffic was getting to me when I got so frustrated with one driver I rode his bumper most of I 40.
After all that time on the road, I started getting paranoid. For awhile I figured that a chopper had been following me for about 5 miles. Plsu I was sure the livestock truck in front of me was staying close on purpose. It smelled like a toilet at a truckstop I had visited in Phoenix. Luckily I had the Pete and 400 ponies of pulling power which I put to good use.
I decided a good sleep in a REAL bed was needed. So I pulled off at a motel for a long sleep. After some uneventful miles, I hit California! Sunshine state my sweet white ...well it wasn't sunny I'll tell you that!
The cutoff was just ahead. Bad thoughts started rolling through my mind. What if I got jack knifed on a corner? What if a road was closed? What if someone peed on my tire? Those kind of thoughts. The first part wasn't bad. I did notice that the carnival opened rather early around here. People sure are different. But as I guessed, the run into PGG wasn't easy. I was so concentrated on making the corner, that I missed my driveway!! Forget going around! It was time for drasstic measures! I pulled over as far right as I could, put my 4 ways on, and pulled a u turn right there!
Definately a crazy ride! But I made it! With the load intact! Not so much as a scratch! No really! Not one! I made the tight squeeze threw the gate, and got directed on where to stow the load away. Thank God for all that room! It took me more then a few tries to get the son of a...the load backed into it's spot...but I got it there. It wasn't pretty, but as long as the receiver was happy...so was I!
Afeter doing the papers, I notified dispatch that the load was in, checked the wire transfer for my paycheque...and then did the only thing I could...wait for the next load. Thanks for viewing!
