As I try to expand and limit the words I write - expand into areas of interest like writing and limit the amount of talk-writing I do - I have been doing some reading on the topic.
A woman named Maud Newton writing in The New York Times Magazine a few years ago asked if blogging - and I guess this is a blog, right? - was more like writing or more like speech. That question has perplexed me since I read the piece; I am working on an answer. I want it to be more like writing - that is a selfish goal, I know, but there are things to be written - and I still want it to have some value to you, the reader, whoever you are. In that way, then, it would be more like speech.
Everything I do is a work in progress.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
10/21/2015: Another ending, another...
I haven't written anything since April when I was in training in New Hampshire, which is a bad thing. I no longer work for Western Express - after falling off the flatbed twice without serious injury, I took the little knocks from God as warnings: flatbed trucking is not an old man's work. I was being treated well by my dispatcher, more correctly calls a Driver Manager, or DM for short (an unusual occurrence in the trucking world).
After looking around and considering my options, needs, and wants, I chose Paschall Truck Lines, or PTL for short. They are based in Murray, Kentucky, are 100% employee-owned, and have a pretty good reputation. I was treated well and honestly by the recruiter, who actually ran their marketing department, and my DM. I anticipated them being my last trucking employer - remember, I am retired and really don't want to keep working for the rest of my life.
It all worked out well until my daughter called and asked if I would come live with her in Lawton, Oklahoma and help handle my grandchildren while her husband, my Army son-in-law, was deployed to the Middle East. That didn't take much pondering; I gave my notice and was routed back to Murray, where I rented a car and drove to Lawton.
That as the beginning of September and I've been here since. There have been some struggles and a lot of adjustment on our parts, but it is a commitment I made and will keep. A new job, so to speak. I hope to keep this up. I might even try my hand at writing some. Non-work related things, since I have this need to write and want to create more than just a factual historical record.
We will see, dear reader, whoever you are.
After looking around and considering my options, needs, and wants, I chose Paschall Truck Lines, or PTL for short. They are based in Murray, Kentucky, are 100% employee-owned, and have a pretty good reputation. I was treated well and honestly by the recruiter, who actually ran their marketing department, and my DM. I anticipated them being my last trucking employer - remember, I am retired and really don't want to keep working for the rest of my life.
It all worked out well until my daughter called and asked if I would come live with her in Lawton, Oklahoma and help handle my grandchildren while her husband, my Army son-in-law, was deployed to the Middle East. That didn't take much pondering; I gave my notice and was routed back to Murray, where I rented a car and drove to Lawton.
That as the beginning of September and I've been here since. There have been some struggles and a lot of adjustment on our parts, but it is a commitment I made and will keep. A new job, so to speak. I hope to keep this up. I might even try my hand at writing some. Non-work related things, since I have this need to write and want to create more than just a factual historical record.
We will see, dear reader, whoever you are.
Friday, April 10, 2015
4/10/2015: Some days you eats the bear...
...and some days the bear eats you, but not before catching you, playing 'clawsy' with your soft skin, and 'toothsy' with some of your bones.
That was kind of my day yesterday. First there was New Hampshire, the state of my ancestral home and a place I haven't visited in 40+ years. We - Mr. Trainer and me - had a load to drop way up in the White Mountains. Along the way, we passed names long-forgotten from my childhood: Lake Winnipesaukee. Franklin Notch. Tramway. The Old Man in the Mountain.
And we passed snow and open, active ski areas. It was chilly and there was a winter storm warning in effect for the area, something that was hard to believe considering that it was sunny and not that cold. But the next morning,mafter sleeping in the truck in a dirt lot across from our delivery location, we awoke to 6" of snow and a considerably colder temperature.
Untarping a load in the cold with wet gloves would prove not to be the worst part of my day, however, because New Haven, Connecticut, would be.
Many hours of driving later, we found ourselves on the outskirts of New Haven on I-91, headed for our fuel stop in New Jersey on I-95. Rush hour traffic was beginning to build and there were some blinking caution lights inside the cab - nothing urgent, just advisory - and I was driving in the #3 lane, as I almost always do, when I kind of heard some chatter on Mr. Trainer's CB radio about debris in the roadway. I was paying attention to the road and not the radio and aiming high when I saw a small car in front of me move away from what appeared to be a lawn chair in the middle of the travel lane.
Mind you, reader, I was carrying about 47,000 pounds of lumber and was probably close to my 80,000 pound gross weight at the time. Lumber is a very unstable load and moves easily, so moving quickly to avoid debris in the road during rush hour would have been unwise.
So I didn't. And couldn't have anyway, because of traffic to my left and behind me. Instead. I hit the "lawn chair" and instantly realized it wasn't a lawn chair. Steering became a challenge and there was a very loud grinding sound. My reactions were to control the vehicle first and slowly pull into the right-side breakdown lane, right under the "Emergency Stopping Only" sign because I surely had one.
Before I got out of the truck to survey the damage, I saw the rather large amount of green liquid accentuated with red liquid, flowing down the right side of the lane.
Diesel fuel and transmission fluid. Judging by the amount and speed, I figured I had severed a fuel line or something. Inspection, however, showed a very different scenario: what I thought was a lawn chair was a very substantial piece of heavy steel bracing, one leg of which was impaled deep into the driver side fuel tank through a 4" hole. It was from that hole that all 50 gallons of remaining fuel was leaving the truck.
There were no injuries and no property damage to anything but the truck, so the next six hours or so were a chaotic jumble of fire department, State Police, and State Department of Environmental Protection investigators and cleanup crews.
Mr. Trainer and I are in a hotel waiting for the truck to be fixed.
And to think I was so close to getting to our destination, our yard in Nashville, Tennessee, for me to test out and me finally getting off this truck and out on my own. We would have been there as I write this, but for a steel brace in a heavily travelled roadway on an Interstate highway near New York City...
So yeah. Today, near New Haven, Connecticut, became my worst day. But even in this badness, there is at least one good thing - at no time during this incident did any law enforcement officer ask me for my driver license, medical card, and load paperwork. So no citation or report.
That was kind of my day yesterday. First there was New Hampshire, the state of my ancestral home and a place I haven't visited in 40+ years. We - Mr. Trainer and me - had a load to drop way up in the White Mountains. Along the way, we passed names long-forgotten from my childhood: Lake Winnipesaukee. Franklin Notch. Tramway. The Old Man in the Mountain.
And we passed snow and open, active ski areas. It was chilly and there was a winter storm warning in effect for the area, something that was hard to believe considering that it was sunny and not that cold. But the next morning,mafter sleeping in the truck in a dirt lot across from our delivery location, we awoke to 6" of snow and a considerably colder temperature.
Untarping a load in the cold with wet gloves would prove not to be the worst part of my day, however, because New Haven, Connecticut, would be.
Many hours of driving later, we found ourselves on the outskirts of New Haven on I-91, headed for our fuel stop in New Jersey on I-95. Rush hour traffic was beginning to build and there were some blinking caution lights inside the cab - nothing urgent, just advisory - and I was driving in the #3 lane, as I almost always do, when I kind of heard some chatter on Mr. Trainer's CB radio about debris in the roadway. I was paying attention to the road and not the radio and aiming high when I saw a small car in front of me move away from what appeared to be a lawn chair in the middle of the travel lane.
Mind you, reader, I was carrying about 47,000 pounds of lumber and was probably close to my 80,000 pound gross weight at the time. Lumber is a very unstable load and moves easily, so moving quickly to avoid debris in the road during rush hour would have been unwise.
So I didn't. And couldn't have anyway, because of traffic to my left and behind me. Instead. I hit the "lawn chair" and instantly realized it wasn't a lawn chair. Steering became a challenge and there was a very loud grinding sound. My reactions were to control the vehicle first and slowly pull into the right-side breakdown lane, right under the "Emergency Stopping Only" sign because I surely had one.
Before I got out of the truck to survey the damage, I saw the rather large amount of green liquid accentuated with red liquid, flowing down the right side of the lane.
Diesel fuel and transmission fluid. Judging by the amount and speed, I figured I had severed a fuel line or something. Inspection, however, showed a very different scenario: what I thought was a lawn chair was a very substantial piece of heavy steel bracing, one leg of which was impaled deep into the driver side fuel tank through a 4" hole. It was from that hole that all 50 gallons of remaining fuel was leaving the truck.
There were no injuries and no property damage to anything but the truck, so the next six hours or so were a chaotic jumble of fire department, State Police, and State Department of Environmental Protection investigators and cleanup crews.
Mr. Trainer and I are in a hotel waiting for the truck to be fixed.
And to think I was so close to getting to our destination, our yard in Nashville, Tennessee, for me to test out and me finally getting off this truck and out on my own. We would have been there as I write this, but for a steel brace in a heavily travelled roadway on an Interstate highway near New York City...
So yeah. Today, near New Haven, Connecticut, became my worst day. But even in this badness, there is at least one good thing - at no time during this incident did any law enforcement officer ask me for my driver license, medical card, and load paperwork. So no citation or report.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Sunday, 4/5/2015
Really, this is just another day out on the road of life and this is just another entry on that road. I've been with my trainer for more than the one week originally planned and it's because he is taking advantage of my experience level and didn't do what he was supposed to do. Let me explain.
As a trainer, he gets paid for every mi,e the truck rounds while he has a student on. The student, in this case, me, gets a flat weekly salary regardless of the miles driven. The policy makes sense because new drivers come all levels of experience and ability. In my case, my experience and ability are good, so there was almost no adjustment time. I was up and driving right away, so to speak.
And that's where the issue started.
You see, there is what is known as "team driving" in trucking in which two drivers share one truck. Both have individual hours-of-service logs that must be managed, but there are more available drive hours. Each driver is limited to driving 11 hours per 24-hour period. A solo has 11 hours available; a team has 22 hours available. If a truck averages 50 miles per hour (an accurate average), a solo truck will get 550 miles befor having to stop for a mandatory 10-hour rest period.
On the other hand, a team truck will get 1,100 miles in the same day, having to stop at the 550 mile mark to change drivers. While Driver 2 drives, Driver 1 goes to sleep in the sleeper berth. In effect, a team truck can keep moving 22 hours in every 24. A solo truck can only move 11 hours.
My trainer got the picture very quickly and that is what we've been doing. He drives while I sleep. I drive while he sleeps. And the truck mileage increases, as does his pay. Mine stays the same because I am not paid by the mile while in training. And he didn't make contact with the mother ship early in my training process because he saw a golden egg. To do so would have ended the arrangement he clearly enjoys...higher pay and a second driver who knows he has to keep his mouth shut.
So, good for him, not good for me. I wrote an email to my contacts and guess what? His golden egg will most likely die tomorrow and he will revert to a solo driver again. Without me. And I will head back to Nashville on Greyhound to test out and get my own truck.
As a trainer, he gets paid for every mi,e the truck rounds while he has a student on. The student, in this case, me, gets a flat weekly salary regardless of the miles driven. The policy makes sense because new drivers come all levels of experience and ability. In my case, my experience and ability are good, so there was almost no adjustment time. I was up and driving right away, so to speak.
And that's where the issue started.
You see, there is what is known as "team driving" in trucking in which two drivers share one truck. Both have individual hours-of-service logs that must be managed, but there are more available drive hours. Each driver is limited to driving 11 hours per 24-hour period. A solo has 11 hours available; a team has 22 hours available. If a truck averages 50 miles per hour (an accurate average), a solo truck will get 550 miles befor having to stop for a mandatory 10-hour rest period.
On the other hand, a team truck will get 1,100 miles in the same day, having to stop at the 550 mile mark to change drivers. While Driver 2 drives, Driver 1 goes to sleep in the sleeper berth. In effect, a team truck can keep moving 22 hours in every 24. A solo truck can only move 11 hours.
My trainer got the picture very quickly and that is what we've been doing. He drives while I sleep. I drive while he sleeps. And the truck mileage increases, as does his pay. Mine stays the same because I am not paid by the mile while in training. And he didn't make contact with the mother ship early in my training process because he saw a golden egg. To do so would have ended the arrangement he clearly enjoys...higher pay and a second driver who knows he has to keep his mouth shut.
So, good for him, not good for me. I wrote an email to my contacts and guess what? His golden egg will most likely die tomorrow and he will revert to a solo driver again. Without me. And I will head back to Nashville on Greyhound to test out and get my own truck.
Monday, March 30, 2015
3/30/2015: Ah, yes. I remember now...
I remember how tired I am at the end of a 12+ hour day. I'll have to build up my tolerance of this blog is going to have any value to anyone, including me.
But not tonight.
But not tonight.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
3/27/2015: The waiting is tough
Just another day waiting for a trainer. However, because of the poor quality training done - there were far too many students and not nearly enough training devices - my confidence on the various loads is very, very low. I hope my trainer is a good teacher and we have enough variety of runs this week to give me some confidence. If not, I will ask for another week out and will continue doing so until I develop that confidence in my skills.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
3/26/2015: Training, done. Next step, waiting...!
Orientation and Load Securement classes behind me, I am now an official employee of Western Express Flatbed Division. This is going to be a very exciting new chapter in my life, one I hope will not be in the 'jump-off-a-cliff' category of exciting.
This has been an eventful couple of days. A tornado did damage near my former home near Moore, Oklahoma, and last night, my youngest daughter and grandson were hit by a drunk driver racing a pickup truck, rolled five times, and they somehow came out of it with bruises, a few minor cuts, a lost wedding ring, and no shoes.
As a former paramedic, I can tell you serious accidents like that rarely end up with no major injuries. In fact, very often death is a result. I am glad she wears her seatbelt each and every time she gets in a car and I am especially glad she properly attaches each and every buckle in my grandson's car seat. The ER doc told her if she hadn't fastened the chest strap, he would have been ejected and would not have survived.
Very sobering. And I can tell you I was one hot mess of worry last night, but NOTHING like the other driver. You see, my son-in-law, the former state prison correctional officer was directly behind my daughter's car and saw the whole thing. Bad news for the driver, and somehow, even though his car wasn't seriously damaged and he was not otherwise injured at all - that's the way it always is, right? - the driver's nose and facial bones were broken when his face slammed uncontrollably into my son-in-law's fist several times just after the collision.
Man, that physics is some science, isn't it?
This has been an eventful couple of days. A tornado did damage near my former home near Moore, Oklahoma, and last night, my youngest daughter and grandson were hit by a drunk driver racing a pickup truck, rolled five times, and they somehow came out of it with bruises, a few minor cuts, a lost wedding ring, and no shoes.
As a former paramedic, I can tell you serious accidents like that rarely end up with no major injuries. In fact, very often death is a result. I am glad she wears her seatbelt each and every time she gets in a car and I am especially glad she properly attaches each and every buckle in my grandson's car seat. The ER doc told her if she hadn't fastened the chest strap, he would have been ejected and would not have survived.
Very sobering. And I can tell you I was one hot mess of worry last night, but NOTHING like the other driver. You see, my son-in-law, the former state prison correctional officer was directly behind my daughter's car and saw the whole thing. Bad news for the driver, and somehow, even though his car wasn't seriously damaged and he was not otherwise injured at all - that's the way it always is, right? - the driver's nose and facial bones were broken when his face slammed uncontrollably into my son-in-law's fist several times just after the collision.
Man, that physics is some science, isn't it?
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2015
You know there is something deeply Irish in you when your soul just smiles and quivers while watching a flashmob do an Irish dance in Sydney.
My very Irish grandfather, John Burke, and his mother, Great Gramma Bertha Julia Burke, would be pleased to know their offspring Jimmy acknowledges their and his own bloodline to the Old Country.
My very Irish grandfather, John Burke, and his mother, Great Gramma Bertha Julia Burke, would be pleased to know their offspring Jimmy acknowledges their and his own bloodline to the Old Country.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
3/8/2015: International Women's Day
This day has been celebrated by socialist groups and countries all over the world beginning in 1909 as a way to recognize the women in a workforce. Of course, it was more of a political or labor union event than it is now in the West. Here, it was first observed as a special day when in 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace.
Since 1996, the UN has designated a theme for International Women's Day. The official theme this year is: Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
Since 1996, the UN has designated a theme for International Women's Day. The official theme this year is: Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
Ah, if only we men could empower the women in our lives. We and the world would be so much better off. apparently, we can neither picture it nor handle it.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
3/7/2015: Of the Iditarod and CDL
Big day today! A very big day.
Today is the start of the Iditarod Race, the last great race, pitting man and dog against the elements as they cross 1,000 miles or so across flatland, rivers, and mountain ranges, ending about two weeks from now in Nome, Alaska.
This year is a big change from years past. Because of the very light snow pack and warm weather Alaska has had this winter, the ceremonial start will be held in Anchorage, as always, using trucked-in snow to cover the downtown streets, but the official start will not be held in Willow, as it usually is.
Instead, the dog teams will relocate father into the Interior, to Fairbanks for the start. Even there, the route has changed because the ice on the river is not nearly thick enough or stable enough to support dog team weights.
And they say the climate hasn't changed. Heck, there was even talk about relocating the Iditarod to the East Coast, starting in Boston! After all, they have all the snow.
Oh. And my license suspension ends today. Good.
Today is the start of the Iditarod Race, the last great race, pitting man and dog against the elements as they cross 1,000 miles or so across flatland, rivers, and mountain ranges, ending about two weeks from now in Nome, Alaska.
This year is a big change from years past. Because of the very light snow pack and warm weather Alaska has had this winter, the ceremonial start will be held in Anchorage, as always, using trucked-in snow to cover the downtown streets, but the official start will not be held in Willow, as it usually is.
Instead, the dog teams will relocate father into the Interior, to Fairbanks for the start. Even there, the route has changed because the ice on the river is not nearly thick enough or stable enough to support dog team weights.
And they say the climate hasn't changed. Heck, there was even talk about relocating the Iditarod to the East Coast, starting in Boston! After all, they have all the snow.
Oh. And my license suspension ends today. Good.
Monday, March 2, 2015
3/2/2015: Baha'i Nineteen Day Fast, Day 1
I do not plan on making a daily entry about my experiences during this Fast, but anyone reading will understand that fasting is a religious experience, not just a physical refreshing of the physical body. Considering that my CDL suspension ends in less than one week - Saturday, March 7, to be exact - and I absolutely need to go back to work driving - my debtors have been very patient, but their patience is running a bit thin, and my available credit has now run out. I am hoping to attract spiritual bounties, at least in the form of a high-paying, stable job driving a truck again over the road.
If not...
Well, let's not go there. The purpose of the Fast is to cleanse the reed of my soul so beautiful sounds can come out.
If not...
Well, let's not go there. The purpose of the Fast is to cleanse the reed of my soul so beautiful sounds can come out.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
2/12/2015: Random Thoughts
I'm about half way through February, on my way to March 7, the Day The Suspension Ends. Then all I have to do is find $125. And a job.
I started watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. So far, I have no opinion whether I like it or not.
I though finding "the right" trucking company to work for would be easier as an experienced driver. It isn't.
I feel the same "long weekend" kind of feelings welling up in me. I don't like having too much time off with too little to do.
That is a strange statement coming from a guy who has been sitting at home for the past 12 months.
I re-read some earlier blog posts. I haven't done very well with my goal of writing a bit each day. I think it comes with not really being able to do anything except sit in my house and not spend money.
I have a dog to get rid of before going back to work. This one will probably not be as hard as others. This dog has not warmed up to me very much, though he is obedient and, for the most part, a loyal follower. He did, however, show his teeth and growl at me one day when I was trying to get him out of the truck. That is totally unacceptable behavior for a dog to display to any human, let alone his own pack leader. Maybe it comes with age; who knows? But it makes getting rid of him much less difficult.
I started watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. So far, I have no opinion whether I like it or not.
I though finding "the right" trucking company to work for would be easier as an experienced driver. It isn't.
I feel the same "long weekend" kind of feelings welling up in me. I don't like having too much time off with too little to do.
That is a strange statement coming from a guy who has been sitting at home for the past 12 months.
I re-read some earlier blog posts. I haven't done very well with my goal of writing a bit each day. I think it comes with not really being able to do anything except sit in my house and not spend money.
I have a dog to get rid of before going back to work. This one will probably not be as hard as others. This dog has not warmed up to me very much, though he is obedient and, for the most part, a loyal follower. He did, however, show his teeth and growl at me one day when I was trying to get him out of the truck. That is totally unacceptable behavior for a dog to display to any human, let alone his own pack leader. Maybe it comes with age; who knows? But it makes getting rid of him much less difficult.
Friday, February 6, 2015
2/6/2015: The Worst Part
The absolute worst part about getting back into the workforce - something I definitely do not want to do, but must - is trying to look at the choices I make as both long-term and final. It's no longer a 'bucket list' item to be checked off; rather, it's looking for the last job I will have.
I turn 66 this year, am already on Medicare and Social Security, and have pretty massive debts to take care of so I can get on somewhat more stable financial ground before once again living on my pension and Social Security income, both of which are good, but not good enough right now.
Trying to make this broken-winged bird fly evenly is turning out to be a difficult process. I hope it's not insurmountable, which of course, it cannot be.
I turn 66 this year, am already on Medicare and Social Security, and have pretty massive debts to take care of so I can get on somewhat more stable financial ground before once again living on my pension and Social Security income, both of which are good, but not good enough right now.
Trying to make this broken-winged bird fly evenly is turning out to be a difficult process. I hope it's not insurmountable, which of course, it cannot be.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
2/4/2015: What's Next, Part 2?
It is now 2015 and I must say I do not mourn the demise and departure of 2014.
All in all, it was one of my worst years in memory. I lost a (very expensive) lawsuit, requiring that I pay almost half of my retirement income for the next 20 years to a woman who lied and forged my signature on a legal document, and a lawyer who, in spite of telling me otherwise, was not aggressive in my defense. Oh, that I live that long...or she dies soon.
There were the trucking issues, support and non-support from employers, and other events and experiences that made the year one to forget, though forgetting is not something that can happen. And, of course, there was that day a year ago in Wyoming where I "met" a very angry woman looking for a way to get her fence replaced...and me, never having had a traffic ticket, paid the fine like an idiot, thus pleading guilty to, as Michigan wrote as they suspended my privileges and charged me a $2,000 fine, "leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage," though there was no accident.
And then I find that I owe $2,000 to the IRS. Again. How can that be?!? Who knows, but it is...
All I hope for is that 2015 turns into a better year.
March 2015 will arrive soon and I will reinstate my Michigan CDL; then I will hopefully find a company that will hire me. That might be challenging considering that my CDL has been suspended for the past 12 months.
I also want to write more. This is good therapy and my skills need improvement; the best way to do so is to write more. Two months between posts is not the way.
All in all, it was one of my worst years in memory. I lost a (very expensive) lawsuit, requiring that I pay almost half of my retirement income for the next 20 years to a woman who lied and forged my signature on a legal document, and a lawyer who, in spite of telling me otherwise, was not aggressive in my defense. Oh, that I live that long...or she dies soon.
There were the trucking issues, support and non-support from employers, and other events and experiences that made the year one to forget, though forgetting is not something that can happen. And, of course, there was that day a year ago in Wyoming where I "met" a very angry woman looking for a way to get her fence replaced...and me, never having had a traffic ticket, paid the fine like an idiot, thus pleading guilty to, as Michigan wrote as they suspended my privileges and charged me a $2,000 fine, "leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage," though there was no accident.
And then I find that I owe $2,000 to the IRS. Again. How can that be?!? Who knows, but it is...
All I hope for is that 2015 turns into a better year.
March 2015 will arrive soon and I will reinstate my Michigan CDL; then I will hopefully find a company that will hire me. That might be challenging considering that my CDL has been suspended for the past 12 months.
I also want to write more. This is good therapy and my skills need improvement; the best way to do so is to write more. Two months between posts is not the way.
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