I woke up this morning to the sound of my cell phone alarm going off. Time to start another fun-filled day of white collar truck driving.
My commute to work is not a long one since I live in my office. It is kinda cramped in here, but I always have everything I need within easy reach. Tylenol, contact lens solution, butt wipes, Kleenex, toothpaste and toothbrush, water, food, and a bed are always within reach.
So I shut off my alarm and leave my house/office to go use the potty and get myself a cup of coffee. I must make sure I do this in proper order though. I don't really want to take a cup of coffee into a restroom that may or may not have been cleaned within the last year.
Brush my teeth, put in my contacts, throw on a hat and I am ready to begin my day. Today is not one of the days where I am lucky enough to grab a shower. Too many people waiting and I have to be to work on time. Oh well, no one else will be in my office today. It will just be me and my radio.
So I start my day. Now my time clock is a little different than most white collar workers. Once I start working I only have 14 hours to complete my 11 hours worth of work. "That should be easy to do" you say? We shall see.
My clock starts promptly at 7am today. Time to inspect my office and make sure all is in working order. All I need is for an equipment failure. That will surely chew up my 14 hours. It may also result in a tragic office accident. I don't need a copy machine blowing up and taking out a co-worker.
All my equipment seems to be in fine working order. 15 minutes or so are already taken off of my fourteen hours. Not to worry though, I still have plenty of time. Time to "clock" in. Now I can start earning money.
The first couple of hours go by without much fan-fare. Everything seems to be going as well as can be expected. Every once in a while someone will show up and slow me down a bit, but I keep plugging away. Then it happens......
My keyboard starts acting up and finally stops working. I can't do any work without the keyboard. Dag gum it. I need to call IT, but first, I have to clock out. See, if I am not working, I am not getting paid. While this joker takes his own sweet time figuring out the problem and then eventually fixing the problem, I am not getting paid. However, my 14 hours are still burning off of the clock.
Finally, 2 hours later, my keyboard is fixed. I can now clock back in and start getting paid again. My report is a little behind now, but if I work diligently and not take any breaks, I can still complete it on time. To be late with this report could get my boss in a little bit of trouble. If it is too late, it may cost him money or even loss of a very important account.
So I bust my butt and get the report done just in time. I didn't even stop to pee or anything. That's OK though. If I have to stop and go potty or even grab a bite to eat, I have to clock out and not clock back in until I go to work again.
I go to turn the report in, but before I do that I need to clock out again. 14 hours are still ticking away. I hope my boss doesn't take too long to check over the report.
No such luck. 4 hours later, my report is finally approved and I can get back on the clock. Only 2 hours left on my 14 though. Not much time to earn any more money.
14 hours goes by and my day is done. 14 hours and only 8 hours pay. Oh well, at least I can relax now for my mandatory 10 hours off before I must begin another day.
So I clock out and begin to take advantage of my downtime. Watch a little TV, play on the computer, talk to the family, grab a bite to eat. But my office is in New York. Since I am done working, I must shut off my air conditioning or heat (depending on time of year) or face a hefty fine from the local authorities. What do they care? They can keep their offices at a comfortable temperature year round, whether they are working or not.
My office only has a couple of windows. I had to buy screens for them myself. It was either that or get eaten up by bugs while I am trying to sleep. Open windows are of little use tonight though. It is warm and muggy with no breeze at all. Nothing I like more than sweating to death while trying to get rested enough to begin my next 14 hour day.
I awaken the next day and complete the report I had started the day before. Finished without a hitch in just a couple of hours. I call my boss and ask him what he would like for me to do next. "Nothing to do right now. Clock out and I will let you know as soon as some work comes up" 14 hours are ticking away quickly.
With 1 hour to go, the boss calls up and informs me there is more work to do. "Since you already have 10 hours off, looks like you can start another 14 hour shift. I hope you don't mind working all night, but this report must be done by 1st thing in the morning." So now I get to work all night after being up all day. This is gonna be a long night.
Oh well, at least the view from my office window keeps changing. That is the only thing keeping my sane!
This is what most truck drivers deal with every day. The only time we get paid is when the wheels are rolling. If we break down, or stop to go potty or grab a meal we are not getting paid. If we are held up at a shipper for hours, we are not getting paid, even though we are on the clock" When we are finally done, many times, either by government regulation or company policy, we have to shut off our trucks and swelter in the heat or freeze in the cold. Imagine if you have to do that at your job or in your house.
Drive safe out there!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
I've got a big rear end.....
And I know it.
No matter what I do I can not make it smaller. Maybe one of those mirrors with the words "Object in mirror may be closer than they appear" would do the trick, but alas, it would only be a trick.
I know a lot of truck drivers that have big rear ends. In fact, most of them do.
Now there is nothing wrong with a big rear end. They do serve a purpose, but sometimes they hide the problem that is laying in wait. Sometimes whole cars disappear behind my big rear end. When that happens, that can lead to a whole slew of problems that I hesitate to even go into here.
Why do I want to talk about my big rear end? Because it can affect you too.
Of course, those of you who have visual contact with me know I am not talking about ME. I have no butt. If I were skinnier I would look like a frog forced to stand up and wear clothes.
I am talking about the rear end of my truck. You have all seen them. They get in the way on your highways and streets. They make it impossible to see around and they ALWAYS seem to slow you down. Yet so many people seem to want to ride right behind them, as close as they can, because that is the best way to get around them........I guess
However, when you are that close to one, the driver can not see you. Seeing what is behind us helps us to make better decisions as drivers. I would think not following too closely would help people in cars make better decisions too. How can you make a good decision driving when you can not see what is ahead of you? Seems to me you are putting a whole lot of faith in the driver of the truck in front of you to make good decisions. I don't trust anyone that much.
Another problem could come in the form of mechanical failure. A blown tire or brake chamber could really put a crimp in your day.
One more thing about big rear ends. Don't try to squeeze between them and the car or truck you are trying to get in front of. Many time I have been just clear of the vehicle I just passed when someone will jimmy themselves in between me and the driver I just passed and then pass on the right. Bad Move!
Just because there is room to squeeze in there does not mean you should. Most truck drivers are waiting to clear the vehicle by a good margin before they pull back in front of it because that is the safe thing to do. When you "thread the needle" so to speak, and pass us on the right, for a few seconds you become invisible to us. Ever see a truck move over to the right hand lane and almost, or God Forbid, actually run someone off the road? More than likely it was because he could not see the other vehicle. If you must pass on the right, do it quickly. Don't just mosey on along.
That is really all I have to say about big rear ends for right now. All of us with big rear ends out here thank you.
Keep on Truckin......
No matter what I do I can not make it smaller. Maybe one of those mirrors with the words "Object in mirror may be closer than they appear" would do the trick, but alas, it would only be a trick.
I know a lot of truck drivers that have big rear ends. In fact, most of them do.
Now there is nothing wrong with a big rear end. They do serve a purpose, but sometimes they hide the problem that is laying in wait. Sometimes whole cars disappear behind my big rear end. When that happens, that can lead to a whole slew of problems that I hesitate to even go into here.
Why do I want to talk about my big rear end? Because it can affect you too.
Of course, those of you who have visual contact with me know I am not talking about ME. I have no butt. If I were skinnier I would look like a frog forced to stand up and wear clothes.
I am talking about the rear end of my truck. You have all seen them. They get in the way on your highways and streets. They make it impossible to see around and they ALWAYS seem to slow you down. Yet so many people seem to want to ride right behind them, as close as they can, because that is the best way to get around them........I guess
However, when you are that close to one, the driver can not see you. Seeing what is behind us helps us to make better decisions as drivers. I would think not following too closely would help people in cars make better decisions too. How can you make a good decision driving when you can not see what is ahead of you? Seems to me you are putting a whole lot of faith in the driver of the truck in front of you to make good decisions. I don't trust anyone that much.
Another problem could come in the form of mechanical failure. A blown tire or brake chamber could really put a crimp in your day.
One more thing about big rear ends. Don't try to squeeze between them and the car or truck you are trying to get in front of. Many time I have been just clear of the vehicle I just passed when someone will jimmy themselves in between me and the driver I just passed and then pass on the right. Bad Move!
Just because there is room to squeeze in there does not mean you should. Most truck drivers are waiting to clear the vehicle by a good margin before they pull back in front of it because that is the safe thing to do. When you "thread the needle" so to speak, and pass us on the right, for a few seconds you become invisible to us. Ever see a truck move over to the right hand lane and almost, or God Forbid, actually run someone off the road? More than likely it was because he could not see the other vehicle. If you must pass on the right, do it quickly. Don't just mosey on along.
That is really all I have to say about big rear ends for right now. All of us with big rear ends out here thank you.
Keep on Truckin......
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Dashing through the snow.......right into a ditch
So, this won't be a long post, but certainly one dear to my frozen, truck driving heart.
This past week in Iowa there was quite a bit of snow. Some, including the National Weather Service, would call it a blizzard. I would call it "Look at all the idiots drive" snow.
A foot or so of snow combined with 40 MPH winds make for white knuckle driving at best and deadly driving at worst.
After the storm, Interstate 80 looked like a demolition derby. Semis and cars were everywhere. In Ditches, in the median, in the woods in all sorts of positions. On their sides, tops and some were even still upright.
One type of vehicle I noticed a lot were four wheel drive SUV's and trucks. Why is that? 4 wheel drive is supposed to give you better traction right. I think they may also give a lot of drivers a false sense of security. Just because you have 4WD does not mean you are impervious to accidents.
So remember these tips when driving in snow and ice REGARDLESS of vehicle type.
1) SLOW DOWN!- That about says it. I don't have anything else to add. Don't go out if you don't have too. If you do have to go out, slow down and leave plenty of space between you and the other fella. The "stay home" part may be inconvenient, but it a much better option than the "End up in the hospital" option.
Be safe Ya'll
This past week in Iowa there was quite a bit of snow. Some, including the National Weather Service, would call it a blizzard. I would call it "Look at all the idiots drive" snow.
A foot or so of snow combined with 40 MPH winds make for white knuckle driving at best and deadly driving at worst.
After the storm, Interstate 80 looked like a demolition derby. Semis and cars were everywhere. In Ditches, in the median, in the woods in all sorts of positions. On their sides, tops and some were even still upright.
One type of vehicle I noticed a lot were four wheel drive SUV's and trucks. Why is that? 4 wheel drive is supposed to give you better traction right. I think they may also give a lot of drivers a false sense of security. Just because you have 4WD does not mean you are impervious to accidents.
So remember these tips when driving in snow and ice REGARDLESS of vehicle type.
1) SLOW DOWN!- That about says it. I don't have anything else to add. Don't go out if you don't have too. If you do have to go out, slow down and leave plenty of space between you and the other fella. The "stay home" part may be inconvenient, but it a much better option than the "End up in the hospital" option.
Be safe Ya'll
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Not much new, but plenty to say
I haven't posted on here lately. Lots of driving and heavy eyelids have made it kinda hard to do. Well, that and I have to keep up with my farm, my apartment, my fish tanks, my cafe, and my amusement park on Facebook. Being a restaurant owning, fish tank cleaning, amusement park running farmer takes a lot of work. All of that while being stranded on an island really takes it out of you.
But I wanted to update this with something that really irritated me this last week. I know it wasn't one of you, but maybe we can all learn something together here,
Earlier this week I was assigned a load picking up in Iowa and delivering to Laredo Texas. 1100 miles give or take. A nice little trip that takes a couple of days.
What made this load special was the cargo. I was given the privilege of hauling flammable resin. 26,000 pounds of a highly flammable chemical, packaged carefully in 55 gallon drums, bound to pallets and nailed and strapped into my trailer.
You have seen HazMat loads before. They are marked on all 4 sides of the trailer or tanker with placards that let Emergency responders know what kind of chemical is on the truck so they know what procedures to take in the case of an emergency.
As a HazMat driver, I also need to know what to do. I need to know how far downwind to keep people in the case of an inhalation hazard, or what to use to out out a fire in case one breaks out. Some of these chemicals are even more explosive when they come in contact with water, so knowing whether or not I can use water in kinda important.
Hazmat loads are also not permitted to travel certain roads. For instance, Fort Worth and San Antonio Texas do not allow hazardous materials to go through town, so you have to go around. As the driver, I am required to know all if this.
I am also not allowed to leave the vehicle for any extended period of time. I can go potty. I can grab a bite to eat. I can not watch a movie in a truck stop, or even eat a meal inside for that matter. If someone backs into the trailer and it starts to leak, the hazmat driver needs to be on hand to handle things until first responders can get there.
So I have told you all of this for a reason. There is a lot of responsibility in driving a HazMat load across the country. In addition to the careful manner I usually handle my truck, I also have the added responsibility of making sure this dangerous load gets where it is supposed to be without blowing up.
As I stated before, Hazmat loads are marked with placards on all four sides of the trailer. On this particular trip, my placards were bright red and read "Flammable" in big letters. When I see these loads I typically give the driver a little more room and try to get distance between us if I have to pass.
However, I can not tell you how many times I had drivers cut me off, or tailgate me, or ride next to me for extended periods of time. It is bad enough when people do these things to a truck with a normal load. To do it with a truck hauling flammable chemicals is just plain stupid.
So please remember these few suggestions when driving around ANY truck.
Give them plenty of room-We take longer to stop, longer to start, longer to change lanes, and can roll over very easily.
Don't ride beside us-If you are next to a truck, get around them or get back behind them. We may not be able to see you. We may have a tire blow out. If that happens you may end up with a blown tire flying through the air and hitting your windshield. I saw that very thing happen in Chicago and the driver of the car lost control and hit the jersey barrier in the median, causing extensive damage to his car. It could have cost him his life.
Don't tailgate us- If you are less than 100-150 feet behind us, we may not be able to see you. If we can't see you, we can not compensate for you being behind us. Why would you want to follow a truck that close anyways? You can't see around us, so what are you going to do if we have to slam on our brakes? Will you be able to stop in time? Hopefully, but why take that chance?
Most importantly, at least in my opinion, Don't cut us off- We can not stop as quickly as you. If we are fully loaded and running at 60 miles an hour it is going to take us more than a footballs length to come to a stop. You should give trucks about half that distance before you pull in front of us. If you can't do that though, at least make sure you keep your speed up, and don't slow down. Our brakes do not engage the second we hit the peddle like a car does. They take a second before they begin working.
Most truck drivers are courteous and concerned with public safety. Some are not. If you see one of these drivers tailgating another truck or car, or weaving in and out of traffic, get away from them. They are dangerous. Don't try to "Show Him" and cut him off or intentionally slow down in front of him. Stay out of his way and let him go on. You will lose any fight you pick with a truck.
Here is an interesting statistic. 80% of all fatality accidents involving a tractor trailer were caused by a non commercial vehicle. Think about that next time you want to squeeze in between that truck and the car in front of him.
safe driving ya'll
But I wanted to update this with something that really irritated me this last week. I know it wasn't one of you, but maybe we can all learn something together here,
Earlier this week I was assigned a load picking up in Iowa and delivering to Laredo Texas. 1100 miles give or take. A nice little trip that takes a couple of days.
What made this load special was the cargo. I was given the privilege of hauling flammable resin. 26,000 pounds of a highly flammable chemical, packaged carefully in 55 gallon drums, bound to pallets and nailed and strapped into my trailer.
You have seen HazMat loads before. They are marked on all 4 sides of the trailer or tanker with placards that let Emergency responders know what kind of chemical is on the truck so they know what procedures to take in the case of an emergency.
As a HazMat driver, I also need to know what to do. I need to know how far downwind to keep people in the case of an inhalation hazard, or what to use to out out a fire in case one breaks out. Some of these chemicals are even more explosive when they come in contact with water, so knowing whether or not I can use water in kinda important.
Hazmat loads are also not permitted to travel certain roads. For instance, Fort Worth and San Antonio Texas do not allow hazardous materials to go through town, so you have to go around. As the driver, I am required to know all if this.
I am also not allowed to leave the vehicle for any extended period of time. I can go potty. I can grab a bite to eat. I can not watch a movie in a truck stop, or even eat a meal inside for that matter. If someone backs into the trailer and it starts to leak, the hazmat driver needs to be on hand to handle things until first responders can get there.
So I have told you all of this for a reason. There is a lot of responsibility in driving a HazMat load across the country. In addition to the careful manner I usually handle my truck, I also have the added responsibility of making sure this dangerous load gets where it is supposed to be without blowing up.
As I stated before, Hazmat loads are marked with placards on all four sides of the trailer. On this particular trip, my placards were bright red and read "Flammable" in big letters. When I see these loads I typically give the driver a little more room and try to get distance between us if I have to pass.
However, I can not tell you how many times I had drivers cut me off, or tailgate me, or ride next to me for extended periods of time. It is bad enough when people do these things to a truck with a normal load. To do it with a truck hauling flammable chemicals is just plain stupid.
So please remember these few suggestions when driving around ANY truck.
Give them plenty of room-We take longer to stop, longer to start, longer to change lanes, and can roll over very easily.
Don't ride beside us-If you are next to a truck, get around them or get back behind them. We may not be able to see you. We may have a tire blow out. If that happens you may end up with a blown tire flying through the air and hitting your windshield. I saw that very thing happen in Chicago and the driver of the car lost control and hit the jersey barrier in the median, causing extensive damage to his car. It could have cost him his life.
Don't tailgate us- If you are less than 100-150 feet behind us, we may not be able to see you. If we can't see you, we can not compensate for you being behind us. Why would you want to follow a truck that close anyways? You can't see around us, so what are you going to do if we have to slam on our brakes? Will you be able to stop in time? Hopefully, but why take that chance?
Most importantly, at least in my opinion, Don't cut us off- We can not stop as quickly as you. If we are fully loaded and running at 60 miles an hour it is going to take us more than a footballs length to come to a stop. You should give trucks about half that distance before you pull in front of us. If you can't do that though, at least make sure you keep your speed up, and don't slow down. Our brakes do not engage the second we hit the peddle like a car does. They take a second before they begin working.
Most truck drivers are courteous and concerned with public safety. Some are not. If you see one of these drivers tailgating another truck or car, or weaving in and out of traffic, get away from them. They are dangerous. Don't try to "Show Him" and cut him off or intentionally slow down in front of him. Stay out of his way and let him go on. You will lose any fight you pick with a truck.
Here is an interesting statistic. 80% of all fatality accidents involving a tractor trailer were caused by a non commercial vehicle. Think about that next time you want to squeeze in between that truck and the car in front of him.
safe driving ya'll
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Time to hit the brakes, OH WAIT...THEY DON'T WORK
So I haven't updated here for a while. I have been waiting for something to hit me(not literally of course) that some people may not know about trucks.
Well, this week it hit me. Driving around Atlanta (by the way, did you know that trucks are not allowed to drive through Atlanta, causing us to drive 30 miles or so out of route. Hmmmm, great thought. For all of my global warming friends, that should make you mad. That's a lot of trucks burning extra fuel) I realized that most people don't have a clue about how much it actually takes to stop a truck. I know this because if they did they wouldn't keep cutting trucks off in heavy traffic, or ever for that matter.
Let me start out by explaining a couple things first.
1.) Trucks are heavy. They do not stop on a dime. Duh, right? Then how come so many people cut us off. I know that space in between the truck and that car in front of him looks very inviting, but there is probably a reason that space is there. I will get to the reason in just a bit.
2.) Trucks brakes operate differently than cars brakes. This is where I think I can give some insight. Without getting all technically on you let me explain it this way. Most cars, vans, and SUV's have hydraulic brakes. You step on the brake and fluid is forced to the brakes, making them work. Big Rigs, some school buses and motor homes have Air Brake systems. They work basically the same except with air instead of hydraulic fluid. HOWEVER, when a truck driver steps on this brakes, they do not engage right away. It can take up to a full second for them to begin engaging. Not a long time, but at 60 MPH, this comes out to 88 feet, or almost a 3rd of a foot ball field.
3.) Most truck drivers try to manage their space. This means we are constantly checking our mirrors so we can keep up with the ever changing conditions around us.
So when you see a big ole space that your vehicle will fit perfectly into just remember that truck you are pulling in front of will take a little extra time to slow down.
Also, when you cause a truck to slow down, it takes longer to get going again. Then all the cars behind him have to slow down and so on, and so on. Wanna know why traffic always backs up at merge points? It is because everyone thinks if they can get "just one car further ahead" they will get home quicker. Guess what, if everyone merged when they saw the merge signs , including the people already in line, traffic could keep moving and everyone would get home just a little bit earlier. But because of a few selfish people, everyone suffers.
So when you see a tempting space, think twice before you just jump in there. Remember the truck may not be able to slow down in time and you are just taking your life in your hands.
Please be safe out there.
Well, this week it hit me. Driving around Atlanta (by the way, did you know that trucks are not allowed to drive through Atlanta, causing us to drive 30 miles or so out of route. Hmmmm, great thought. For all of my global warming friends, that should make you mad. That's a lot of trucks burning extra fuel) I realized that most people don't have a clue about how much it actually takes to stop a truck. I know this because if they did they wouldn't keep cutting trucks off in heavy traffic, or ever for that matter.
Let me start out by explaining a couple things first.
1.) Trucks are heavy. They do not stop on a dime. Duh, right? Then how come so many people cut us off. I know that space in between the truck and that car in front of him looks very inviting, but there is probably a reason that space is there. I will get to the reason in just a bit.
2.) Trucks brakes operate differently than cars brakes. This is where I think I can give some insight. Without getting all technically on you let me explain it this way. Most cars, vans, and SUV's have hydraulic brakes. You step on the brake and fluid is forced to the brakes, making them work. Big Rigs, some school buses and motor homes have Air Brake systems. They work basically the same except with air instead of hydraulic fluid. HOWEVER, when a truck driver steps on this brakes, they do not engage right away. It can take up to a full second for them to begin engaging. Not a long time, but at 60 MPH, this comes out to 88 feet, or almost a 3rd of a foot ball field.
3.) Most truck drivers try to manage their space. This means we are constantly checking our mirrors so we can keep up with the ever changing conditions around us.
So when you see a big ole space that your vehicle will fit perfectly into just remember that truck you are pulling in front of will take a little extra time to slow down.
Also, when you cause a truck to slow down, it takes longer to get going again. Then all the cars behind him have to slow down and so on, and so on. Wanna know why traffic always backs up at merge points? It is because everyone thinks if they can get "just one car further ahead" they will get home quicker. Guess what, if everyone merged when they saw the merge signs , including the people already in line, traffic could keep moving and everyone would get home just a little bit earlier. But because of a few selfish people, everyone suffers.
So when you see a tempting space, think twice before you just jump in there. Remember the truck may not be able to slow down in time and you are just taking your life in your hands.
Please be safe out there.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
How a shed prepared me for life!
When I was growing up in Kent, Ohio we used to have the remains of what used to be a shed attached to the garage. The "Shed" or as I like to call it "Fort" faced Mr. Diamacone's back yard. Now this was the old guy in every neighborhood that all the kids were afraid of. We just knew that if a ball or Frisbee ever landed in his yard, it was gone forever. One time I got brave when it was dark and crept over the low hedge that separated our yard and got one of the Frisbees that landed over there. I was the neighborhood hero for a day anyways until everyone started making fun of me again because I was a dork, but that's another story!
Anyways, back to the shed. This shed was very small as sheds go. Hardly big enough to stand up in. The roof was mostly gone and the hole where a window used to be was empty. But I tried to fix it up anyways with junk I found in the shed. It was my Fort. I spent many hours playing in that thing, whether it was hot or cold. Even in the rain it offered some sort of protection. It was very small however, and if you were claustrophobic, there is no way you would want to spend any time in there.
Fast Forward 30+ years. I find myself living in pretty much the same size box. Oh the roof doesn't leak and there are windows, but it is still just about the same size, maybe even smaller. However, unlike my "fort", the government has a huge say on how I live in this box.
Some people say government regulation is a good thing, and some regulation is good, but as far as regulating my home when I am on the road I say nay nay!
My home while I am on the road is basically a metal box. It's kinda like living in a very small railroad car. Now I drive primarily days, so when I am trying to sleep at night it is cooler outside and the "Box" is not quite as hot. However, one night I finished my day in Yuma, Arizona. When I went to bed that night it was 105. When I woke up the next morning it was 95. Why is this a problem? Well in this particular case it was not. I ran my truck all night so I could keep the air conditioning running. If I had been in California though, government regulations would have told me to shut my truck off or receive a very hefty fine. After all, we chose this life style so we just have to deal with it, right? Weird thing though......in California, if you have a pet with you, you can idle your truck because you can't be cruel to animals! How messed up is that?
The same thing goes for the cold. A lot of companies have restrictions as well. Those companies expect us to be well rested and ready to put in a long, safe day, but don't expect us to be comfortable while we are getting that rest. I bet the people that make those rules wouldn't go home after a hard days work and turn off their air conditioning or heat would they?
More and more companies, and local and state governments are making regulations that don't make sense to an over the road driver. Idling the truck is just one of them. Recently the company I drive for informed is we can no longer use the Illinois toll system. When I questioned one of the guys at work that was in charge of this idea, he told me to look at a map. He said there were a lot of ways around the tolls that were just as quick. "Just look at it on the map" he said.
I didn't need to look at the map. I ran through Chicago twice a day at the time. Those "other routes" that he was talking about are all commercial areas. Sure, they are 4 lane roads, but they are full of stop lights, shopping centers and traffic. A trip that normally would have taken 5 and a half hours would quickly turn into an 8 hour odyssey. I guess my time as a driver doesn't mean anything, right?
I do not mean to rip on my employer. However, some of these regulations are made without talking to, or taking into consideration the truck driver. I guarantee the people in government who make these absurd idling regulations have never spent a night in a truck. I think before one of these regulations are put into place, the officials should spend a couple weeks in my "fort". No heat, no air conditioning, little air movement and oh yeah, for good measure, lets put a cattle truck next to them that has a full load on it.
Although, they should be used to the smell. They sure do shovel enough of whats inside that cattle truck!
Anyways, back to the shed. This shed was very small as sheds go. Hardly big enough to stand up in. The roof was mostly gone and the hole where a window used to be was empty. But I tried to fix it up anyways with junk I found in the shed. It was my Fort. I spent many hours playing in that thing, whether it was hot or cold. Even in the rain it offered some sort of protection. It was very small however, and if you were claustrophobic, there is no way you would want to spend any time in there.
Fast Forward 30+ years. I find myself living in pretty much the same size box. Oh the roof doesn't leak and there are windows, but it is still just about the same size, maybe even smaller. However, unlike my "fort", the government has a huge say on how I live in this box.
Some people say government regulation is a good thing, and some regulation is good, but as far as regulating my home when I am on the road I say nay nay!
My home while I am on the road is basically a metal box. It's kinda like living in a very small railroad car. Now I drive primarily days, so when I am trying to sleep at night it is cooler outside and the "Box" is not quite as hot. However, one night I finished my day in Yuma, Arizona. When I went to bed that night it was 105. When I woke up the next morning it was 95. Why is this a problem? Well in this particular case it was not. I ran my truck all night so I could keep the air conditioning running. If I had been in California though, government regulations would have told me to shut my truck off or receive a very hefty fine. After all, we chose this life style so we just have to deal with it, right? Weird thing though......in California, if you have a pet with you, you can idle your truck because you can't be cruel to animals! How messed up is that?
The same thing goes for the cold. A lot of companies have restrictions as well. Those companies expect us to be well rested and ready to put in a long, safe day, but don't expect us to be comfortable while we are getting that rest. I bet the people that make those rules wouldn't go home after a hard days work and turn off their air conditioning or heat would they?
More and more companies, and local and state governments are making regulations that don't make sense to an over the road driver. Idling the truck is just one of them. Recently the company I drive for informed is we can no longer use the Illinois toll system. When I questioned one of the guys at work that was in charge of this idea, he told me to look at a map. He said there were a lot of ways around the tolls that were just as quick. "Just look at it on the map" he said.
I didn't need to look at the map. I ran through Chicago twice a day at the time. Those "other routes" that he was talking about are all commercial areas. Sure, they are 4 lane roads, but they are full of stop lights, shopping centers and traffic. A trip that normally would have taken 5 and a half hours would quickly turn into an 8 hour odyssey. I guess my time as a driver doesn't mean anything, right?
I do not mean to rip on my employer. However, some of these regulations are made without talking to, or taking into consideration the truck driver. I guarantee the people in government who make these absurd idling regulations have never spent a night in a truck. I think before one of these regulations are put into place, the officials should spend a couple weeks in my "fort". No heat, no air conditioning, little air movement and oh yeah, for good measure, lets put a cattle truck next to them that has a full load on it.
Although, they should be used to the smell. They sure do shovel enough of whats inside that cattle truck!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wonder Woman and her invisible Jet
Remember the show "Wonder Woman"? I always liked that show. The stories were well written, the acting was top notch, and the special effects were spectacular. OK, that is all a bunch of crapola. Let's face it, Linda Carter running around in a swimsuit........That's what "Wonder Woman" was all about.
Besides the swimsuit though, I always like her invisible jet. Remember that thing? She would jump in it and take off, flying all over the place and no-one could see her. Don't think about the fact that she wasn't invisible. After all, we needed to see the swimsuit, I'm just sayin.
Well last week, something happened that made me think about this invisible jet. NO, I was not looking at Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition. I was doing what I do every day. Driving.
Last week I got to take a break from my normal route and head south to Louisiana. Roberts and New Orleans to be exact. Most of the way down there, and most of the way back I had what we truck drivers like to call rain. Sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but always wet and always a nuisance.
I noticed something as I was driving along I-55 that I guess I noticed before but for some reason I felt I needed to share it with you. You see, there were more cars and trucks than I could count that were driving without their lights on. I can not understand this, especially in a busy interstate with lots of cars, buses, trucks and mist coming off of every one of them.
I know some people think that they don't need to turn their headlights on because it is daytime and it doesn't help them see any better, but the point is not to necessarily help you see the road better, it is to help other people see you!
See and be Seen. How many times have you heard that, and yet some people do not grasp the concept. In some states it is the law. In ALL states it is a good idea.
At one point there was a car that was riding beside me that I did not even know about. Now I check my mirrors regularly, so I know this was not a car that crept up on me. She was caught in the spray of my truck, with no lights on and I could not see her. Good thing I didn't need to change lanes.
And it's a good thing Wonder Woman wasn't flying around in her invisible jet or I may have run over that poor lady anyways.
Besides the swimsuit though, I always like her invisible jet. Remember that thing? She would jump in it and take off, flying all over the place and no-one could see her. Don't think about the fact that she wasn't invisible. After all, we needed to see the swimsuit, I'm just sayin.
Well last week, something happened that made me think about this invisible jet. NO, I was not looking at Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition. I was doing what I do every day. Driving.
Last week I got to take a break from my normal route and head south to Louisiana. Roberts and New Orleans to be exact. Most of the way down there, and most of the way back I had what we truck drivers like to call rain. Sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but always wet and always a nuisance.
I noticed something as I was driving along I-55 that I guess I noticed before but for some reason I felt I needed to share it with you. You see, there were more cars and trucks than I could count that were driving without their lights on. I can not understand this, especially in a busy interstate with lots of cars, buses, trucks and mist coming off of every one of them.
I know some people think that they don't need to turn their headlights on because it is daytime and it doesn't help them see any better, but the point is not to necessarily help you see the road better, it is to help other people see you!
See and be Seen. How many times have you heard that, and yet some people do not grasp the concept. In some states it is the law. In ALL states it is a good idea.
At one point there was a car that was riding beside me that I did not even know about. Now I check my mirrors regularly, so I know this was not a car that crept up on me. She was caught in the spray of my truck, with no lights on and I could not see her. Good thing I didn't need to change lanes.
And it's a good thing Wonder Woman wasn't flying around in her invisible jet or I may have run over that poor lady anyways.
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