Good to be back
Well, another vacation shot to heck. My family and I along with special friends had a fantastic week in the Outer Banks. Vacations always seem to take to long to come about and then shoot by quickly, almost unnoticed, followed by a return to the daily grind. This was different (except for the take to long to come about part) the week went about at a leisurely pace and I was happy to be back to the so called “grind”.
I called my voice mail on the Friday before we departed for home to see what fun would be in store. 10 Stops, Johnson City, NY to Catskill, NY! A good state to be starting back up in my routine. Two weeks later, there have been lots of adventures in between. I’ll try to make a few quick (Time never goes quick when I write) notes on the more memorable ones during the first week back. Strap in, and....here we go:
STRANGE AND WELCOMED BACK WARMLY
I made my way to the yard on Sunday, anxious to get back to my baby. On the way, on some random back road, some guy in a gold BMW SUV waved to me like he knew me which was odd because I didn’t know him. Was this the first person to welcome me back on the road?
Upon arrival at the yard I found my baby and found her in good condition. Hopping up in there after a weeks absence is strange- it’s too big and awkward of a vehicle to possibly drive around in! I decided to go grab some fuel and supplies from the local market so I could reacquaint myself with a big truck before departing. As I cruised out of the yard and glanced toward the loaded trailers on my left I had second thoughts as to what I was doing here today.
“They want me to hook up to one of those big boxes and drive it not just around, but all the way to Upstate New York and back? No way, that’s just too scary! Can’t be done!”
This happens every time I take a week off- it’s little weird at first. I’m afraid to ever take two weeks off in a row for fear I’ll need someone to retrain me! After the fuel and shopping adventure I grabbed the trailer and hit the bricks. After the first 50 miles or so, the weirdness lost it’s shimmer and I was back in my normal, comfortable, trucking world.
Heading North on 287, some guy in a blue pickup passes me and starts doing a few friendly beeps, like he knows me. I don’t know these people, what is going on?
Later, on 87 North I overtook a Motorcycle gang (The Blue Knights, I think), must have been 15 bikes or so and they were taking their time as it had been lightly raining and the road was wet. I made my way around them and about halfway up, one of the guys used his left hand to make the “sound the air horn” motion that is usually reserved for small children. I would not oblige him though because had I, it could have easily spooked the drivers in front of him that didn’t see him give me the command. That’s all I would have needed on my first trip, 6 or 7 bikes rolling over in front of me all because I sounded the horn and made the poor bikers think I was about to crash into them or something. It was fun though, to see even the Biker Gangs, welcome me back on the road!
WORKING FOR THE NAVY
I got back quite late Monday night after my non-eventual 10 stops up in New York. I was a little dismayed to learn on the way home my next trip, for Tuesday, was seven stops starting in Groton, CT, and ending in "you’ll never make it anyway", CT. I got the standard, “leave when you are legal on Tuesday and keep us updated” speech, which is fine and dandy but I still dislike loads like this.
I try to keep in mind it’s just a load and if it takes two days, it takes two days. I also keep in mind that customers were promised this stuff on a certain day and the pressure is on to try and get it to them. The only pressure I like on the road is in my tires, thank-you very much. I also know what happens most of the time, I start to get calls asking where I am, certain customer's inquiring minds want to know!
My attitude changed quickly when I got the bills and saw where my first stop was: The United States Naval Submarine Base in Groton, CT! I was giggling a bit as I dropped my foam back haul and went to go find my next trailer. I don’t care about anything now, I have never delivered to a military base of any kind and was looking forward to see what that would be like. Surely it would be a fun adventure!
Opened the trailer doors to inspect the load and found problems immediately. Things were loaded in poor order and I couldn’t find half the items for the Navy’s furniture store. All I could envision was a couple soldiers wielding machine guns (with itchy trigger fingers) shouting “HURRY UP SON, YOU’RE TAKING TOO LONG” as I rummaged through the mess trying to find their pieces of furniture while sweating profusely and wishing I had just called in sick.
I had no choice but to put it back in the door and come back in the morning. Before I did, I left a note in the back of the trailer that said “First stop is for a US Military base, for gosh darn sakes get it right!”
That night I took some time to check the Navy’s website so I would be fully prepared and even assembled a list of things I would need to make it more fun.:
Plain brown box labeled “Super secret agent spy kit.” I planned to place this gem in my truck’s side box since I was certain it would be searched. After further thought I became concerned the Military Police might lack a sense of humor like most of the Civilian Police I have run across, so I nixed this idea out of concern for my own safety (and freedom).
Eighteen year old Son with no Ambition. I planned to drop him off with the Navy Folk to help him find ambition. Unfortunately, the Wife said he has one more year of school left and we can’t legally rid ourselves of him till after he graduates. Fiddlesticks. Maybe next time.
Water filled spray bottle. I would break this out right before my arrival and spray myself so I appeared to be sweating profusely and would then stammer while talking, like I’m real nervous. I nixed this whole idea for the same reason as the “Super secret agent spy kit.”
Registration and Insurance card for the truck. Yeah, yeah- it’s in the truck. I’ll pull it out on my way up there during a regularly scheduled pee break so it’s handy upon arrival.
I couldn’t have been too worried about my first stop, cause I slept like a baby and awoke refreshed and full of anticipation for the day. I made my way to the yard and departed when legal, about 8:30 in the morning. A hundred or so miles out, before even getting close to my first stop the phone calls involving inquiring minds began. A customer 4 stops away wanted an ETA, they would stay late if need be. I had no choice but to say I had no idea as I was heading to a Military Installation and have no idea how long that could take, I could be detained for days!
At my regularly scheduled pee break, I retrieved the insurance and registration cards from their packets, set them aside and called the customer to advise I was one hour out. I confirmed directions and was told I would have to go through a security checkpoint. “How long does that take” I asked, and was told he didn’t know, never did it in a big truck. Lovely.
The joint was easy to find, and I was pleasantly surprised I wasn’t a wee bit nervous as I pulled up to the gate labeled for commercial traffic. There was a lady and gentleman waiting for me as I pulled up, set the brakes and shut off the engine. They asked if I had been there before and I informed them that I had not been and had no idea about how things worked.
The Lady asked me for my insurance and registration which I promptly handed her. She was impressed on how quick I produced it, then said “uh oh.”
“Uh oh what?”
“This insurance card just expired, do you have a new one?”
“Um, no, but don’t worry, I’m sure we still have insurance” I said with a smile.
Don’t get me wrong, when I pulled out the cards I made sure they were valid, but I never know exactly what the date is unless I’m looking at my logbook, my cell phone, or crossing off the days on a calender til my release while incarcerated (or as I imagine I would IF I was ever locked up). The month was correct but my insurance card expired about 7 days earlier, while I was off on vacation!
I couldn’t understand why this would happen since the Company is so on top of things, these documents are handed to me before I need them! We agreed they would inspect my vehicle then go park by the next pre-entry area while I waited for my valid insurance card to be faxed.
I won’t go into details about what the inspection involved since that’s what I like to call a National Security issue. Look at me with my fancy military lingo skills! It didn’t take too long and I pulled ahead and called our mechanic to see about faxing me a new card.
I told him my predicament and the first thing he asked is if I got my new one from my mailbox. No, I had not because I was on vacation and nothing important is usually in there, just my paychecks so I didn’t bother to check. It boils down to being my fault, checking documents is part of a pre-trip inspection. Had I been stopped for a DOT inspection on the way there (or anytime since I got back from vacation) I could have been put out of service and/or promptly shot.
In the past they actually set them inside my trucks- but now I know to check that mailbox at least once a week. He said he would fax me a new one and I went in the building to see what was next and tell them to look for a faxed insurance card.
The guy behind the window was way young looking, like a kid, and I wondered how he got a cushy desk job in the air conditioning while much older people were sweating in the inspection area. He had me fill out some paperwork and the fax came in while we were doing that. I got a dashboard pass and a small card that stated I was temporary employee of the US Navy! Then he cleared me to go.
“But wait.....How do I get there?”
“Oh yeah” he said as he pulled out a visitors map of the base. He drew a line on the roads I should follow and set me free again.
“Piece of cake” I thought as I looked over the map and took off onto the base where I immediately became lost forever.
I was simply supposed to pull up to the stop sign hang a right, and turn right again by the swimming pool. Afterward, when I had a chance to breathe a little and replay what happened in my head, I assumed the swimming pool would be clearly visible and full of life in this summertime setting. I now think there is a good chance it was enclosed in a building which set off a horrible chain of events.
None of the roads matched my little visitors map as I cruised down the road to a ‘T’ intersection.
“Oh No! There’s no T intersection on my map!”
My thoughts were becoming clouded but I remembered the kid saying right turn, so I made a right.
Cruising down what ever road I was on took me by the water. I began fixated on looking for a real live submarine!
“Oh No! Am I allowed to be looking down there? It could be a classified area!”
I tried not to look but kept glancing out of the corner of my eyes. I also saw a bunch of right turns that were suitable for a jeep pulling a small tank of water but not for a big truck. Now I was growing scared, I’m completely lost, in a large truck, on a military installation.
I had no choice but to keep going which didn’t last for long.
I saw another gate and I immediately became panicked that if I exited it, I may being exiting the base without accomplishing my mission. Then what? Go back to square one and start all over? At least this time I’d have a valid insurance card!
I stopped at the last intersection before that gate, turned on my hazards and exited the truck. The long line of cars behind me was closer then the impending doom that surely must be waiting at the gate so I ran back toward the cars.
In a miraculous turn of events, there was a police SUV on my bumper, lights on and all, with a friendly Policeman exiting his vehicle. He was a civilian Cop but had a guy in uniform riding with him.
At this point, I was sweating profusely and stammering as I spoke:
“CA-ca-can you tell me where the furniture store is?”
The Officer was real nice and picked up on my confusion. He then laid out a plan: make the left, straighten out, back straight up, turn left and head back the way I came from. This went off without a hitch and I pulled forward and stopped by the Officer for further instructions
“Go up the road, you’ll go up a hill, then you’ll see” his voice trailed off, possibly because he could have been reading my mind.
I was thinking, that for the first time in my life, I don’t want the police to let me go so easily! I knew if I continued forward without him, I’d be lost forever again in no time. There’s no telling how long I could put with this stress before I suffered a complete and total nervous breakdown!
He picked up on this and told me to follow him.
“Yes Sir!”
We drove back the way I came and made a left somewhere and pulled up to a building. He jumped out and said this is it, there’s the dock, do what you gotta do. Block the road if you have to, don’t bother me, all the trucks do it. I thanked him for his help and he disappeared.
It was a bit of struggle with the associated obstacles (or as we Military guys like to call them: land mines) to get the truck backed into the dock. The people were friendly and sympathized with me about finding their store. Unloading was over quickly and I easily found the exit off the base and back into my normal world. I was so happy to leave that I forgot about my plan to stop on the way out and demand my pay since I was deemed a “temporary employee.” Maybe next time.
In my short absence from the truck, there were messages left on phone. More people wanted to know where I was and when I would get to my stop that was now three out. At my next stop I pulled out my stethoscope, stuck it on the side of the trailer and didn’t hear any beating hearts. I couldn’t understand what the rush was, it’s only furniture. I’ll get there when I get there.
A guy standing in the dock saw this and asked what I was doing. I quickly explained my actions away as “The company is concerned about bats and rabies and requires we check for noise in the trailer at every other stop.” He looked confused and walked away.
The day ended when I was ready to head to the people who kept calling saying they “need it today.” I was all ready to head there but when I called they said they were closed and to come in the morning. Fair enough. The truck and I retired to a fancy Days Inn near Hartford.
There is a great seafood joint next store where I planned to enjoy a scrumptious dinner. As I waited on my Mac&Cheese with Maine lobster and fresh Vermont cheese, I thought about the events of the day. I started to notice people around the bar area where I was sitting and the panic and paranoia set in.
That guy in the corner glanced over at me just for a second. I think he’s a Government agent. My God, I’m being followed!
A guy sat down two seats to my left and set his phone on the bar which he would occasionally fiddle with. Normally, I am a social butterfly but tonight not so much. I won’t talk to anyone, because in my mind any one of these people could be a Government agent!
Why does he keep fiddling with his phone? I see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I know what he’s up to!
I grew concerned that perhaps someone thought I saw something I shouldn’t have while I was lost forever on the base earlier. Now they are after me and I’ll surely be thrown into the back of
an unmarked black van on the way back to the hotel. I’ll never be seen again.
The dinner was fabulous, I highly recommend USS Chowder Pot if you’re ever hungry and in the Hartford, CT area. If you’re in a big truck, the Days Inn next store has plenty of truck parking in the back and it’s only about sixty bucks a night (for CDL drivers, anyway).
Walking back to the hotel I heard a vehicle approach from behind me. I was sixty feet shy of the door and it stopped almost right next to me. I didn’t want to look, but I did anyhow and it was just some random people in a car trying to find where to check in. I’m happy to report I was not abducted by any kind of agents, and went inside for a restful sleep.
I showed up the next morning at the ‘want it today’ customer expecting to be harassed by the receivers for my late arrival. I saw some guys sitting around in an open dock door and they quickly pointed to it as in “back it in here.” I did and went inside for my beating.
“Can you tell we were waiting for you?”
I was relieved that the guy said it with a smile. They were actually very friendly dudes and thought it was ridiculous that everyone always wants it yesterday. It was a good stop after all.
PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE
After my Connecticut trip, I scored a choice seven stop load ending all the way up in Massena, NY. It was an easy run, and I finished up in Massena around five in the afternoon. It’s almost seven hours back to Leesport so I was expecting to make Leesport around 10am Friday. Most likely my first week back from vacation has ended and I’ll get an early weekend! Woo-Hoo!!!
I called into Dispatch on my way home just to check and was shocked and saddened by what the girl on the phone had to say to me.
“We have you on 10 drops for tomorrow, Starting in Lebanon, PA and finalizing in Honesdale, PA. It says here to start this load on Friday morning when you can and keep us updated.”
What? Can anyone else hear the whip cracking?
I was slightly bummed out by this, but after a little thought, it wasn’t so bad for a few reasons.
First, I just got back from vacation and a little work after a lot of beach certainly wouldn’t kill me.
Second, ten stops pays a good amount of money. My paycheck would go from half decent to pretty darn good.
Third, and most important to me, was the fact that my Planner honored my request to have me home early the Friday before we departed for the beach. She did even better and got me back Thursday night. She did me a favor and it wouldn’t be fair to bellyache about this load now. She needed this load out now or she wouldn’t have asked (or rather demanded, ha ha) and I’m the man for the job.
On Friday morning I picked up the bills to have a look see. I also showed them to a local driver to get his opinion. I wanted to know if I could this all done today, leaving at this late hour. He doubted it. We figured I would probably get six done today, the seventh closed at four. I hoped they would all take me Saturday!
The day went pretty smooth but it became clear I wouldn’t make stop four from last before they closed. I called and left a message for dispatch when it became obvious. It wasn’t long before they called back and left me a message.
Every stop except for the last would take me as late as 7pm and the last in Honesdale would take me Saturday morning! No way! I quickly finished off the last one around six thirty and called the rental store in Honesdale to see if I could park overnight at their plaza.
“Are you here now? We’ll take you if you’re here now..”
I explained I was still about a half hour out. I was then told , yes, I could park there and see them in the morning. Fair enough.
Pulling into the plaza a little after seven I spotted a Wendy’s that would surely be able to cure my starving condition. I planned to run in immediately before settling in for the night, but my instincts told me to do something else first.
I walked up to the storefront, and I could still see lights on, and people in there. I tried the door. It opened. I walked in.
“Is it too late?”
“It’s never too late if you have cash!”
I couldn’t believe it! I explained my predicament to a guy in there.
“If you say yes, I get to go home tonight. You’re my last stop.”
“Hurry up and pull around back.”
No way! This never happens, not this late! I got turned away shortly after six once for one box of lamps! As I walked out, I heard a female co-worker of my new friend ask him if they were going to receive this tonight.
“We’re his last stop” I heard him tell her in a most compassionate manner.
You never saw a driver run to a truck as quick as I did that night. Jump in, pull around the side and quickly saw the entrance was blocked by a Schneider truck pulling off his own late night miracles at a Family Dollar store. Fiddlesticks!
I quickly (and safely) shot around the other side of the plaza and emptied my trailer of the final 13 pieces of this trip. I was tired, sweaty and hungry. But I got the job done. Now I could go home.
AFTERTHOUGHTS
It was quite an adventurous first week back. From the people I did not know on Sunday that waved and beeped to welcome me back, to the customers who stayed late on Friday so I could go home to my family, they are what helped to make the week so special. The week away was fun, and now I’m once again enjoying life on the road. It’s good to be back!
I called my voice mail on the Friday before we departed for home to see what fun would be in store. 10 Stops, Johnson City, NY to Catskill, NY! A good state to be starting back up in my routine. Two weeks later, there have been lots of adventures in between. I’ll try to make a few quick (Time never goes quick when I write) notes on the more memorable ones during the first week back. Strap in, and....here we go:
STRANGE AND WELCOMED BACK WARMLY
I made my way to the yard on Sunday, anxious to get back to my baby. On the way, on some random back road, some guy in a gold BMW SUV waved to me like he knew me which was odd because I didn’t know him. Was this the first person to welcome me back on the road?
Upon arrival at the yard I found my baby and found her in good condition. Hopping up in there after a weeks absence is strange- it’s too big and awkward of a vehicle to possibly drive around in! I decided to go grab some fuel and supplies from the local market so I could reacquaint myself with a big truck before departing. As I cruised out of the yard and glanced toward the loaded trailers on my left I had second thoughts as to what I was doing here today.
“They want me to hook up to one of those big boxes and drive it not just around, but all the way to Upstate New York and back? No way, that’s just too scary! Can’t be done!”
This happens every time I take a week off- it’s little weird at first. I’m afraid to ever take two weeks off in a row for fear I’ll need someone to retrain me! After the fuel and shopping adventure I grabbed the trailer and hit the bricks. After the first 50 miles or so, the weirdness lost it’s shimmer and I was back in my normal, comfortable, trucking world.
Heading North on 287, some guy in a blue pickup passes me and starts doing a few friendly beeps, like he knows me. I don’t know these people, what is going on?
Later, on 87 North I overtook a Motorcycle gang (The Blue Knights, I think), must have been 15 bikes or so and they were taking their time as it had been lightly raining and the road was wet. I made my way around them and about halfway up, one of the guys used his left hand to make the “sound the air horn” motion that is usually reserved for small children. I would not oblige him though because had I, it could have easily spooked the drivers in front of him that didn’t see him give me the command. That’s all I would have needed on my first trip, 6 or 7 bikes rolling over in front of me all because I sounded the horn and made the poor bikers think I was about to crash into them or something. It was fun though, to see even the Biker Gangs, welcome me back on the road!
WORKING FOR THE NAVY
I got back quite late Monday night after my non-eventual 10 stops up in New York. I was a little dismayed to learn on the way home my next trip, for Tuesday, was seven stops starting in Groton, CT, and ending in "you’ll never make it anyway", CT. I got the standard, “leave when you are legal on Tuesday and keep us updated” speech, which is fine and dandy but I still dislike loads like this.
I try to keep in mind it’s just a load and if it takes two days, it takes two days. I also keep in mind that customers were promised this stuff on a certain day and the pressure is on to try and get it to them. The only pressure I like on the road is in my tires, thank-you very much. I also know what happens most of the time, I start to get calls asking where I am, certain customer's inquiring minds want to know!
My attitude changed quickly when I got the bills and saw where my first stop was: The United States Naval Submarine Base in Groton, CT! I was giggling a bit as I dropped my foam back haul and went to go find my next trailer. I don’t care about anything now, I have never delivered to a military base of any kind and was looking forward to see what that would be like. Surely it would be a fun adventure!
Opened the trailer doors to inspect the load and found problems immediately. Things were loaded in poor order and I couldn’t find half the items for the Navy’s furniture store. All I could envision was a couple soldiers wielding machine guns (with itchy trigger fingers) shouting “HURRY UP SON, YOU’RE TAKING TOO LONG” as I rummaged through the mess trying to find their pieces of furniture while sweating profusely and wishing I had just called in sick.
I had no choice but to put it back in the door and come back in the morning. Before I did, I left a note in the back of the trailer that said “First stop is for a US Military base, for gosh darn sakes get it right!”
That night I took some time to check the Navy’s website so I would be fully prepared and even assembled a list of things I would need to make it more fun.:
Plain brown box labeled “Super secret agent spy kit.” I planned to place this gem in my truck’s side box since I was certain it would be searched. After further thought I became concerned the Military Police might lack a sense of humor like most of the Civilian Police I have run across, so I nixed this idea out of concern for my own safety (and freedom).
Eighteen year old Son with no Ambition. I planned to drop him off with the Navy Folk to help him find ambition. Unfortunately, the Wife said he has one more year of school left and we can’t legally rid ourselves of him till after he graduates. Fiddlesticks. Maybe next time.
Water filled spray bottle. I would break this out right before my arrival and spray myself so I appeared to be sweating profusely and would then stammer while talking, like I’m real nervous. I nixed this whole idea for the same reason as the “Super secret agent spy kit.”
Registration and Insurance card for the truck. Yeah, yeah- it’s in the truck. I’ll pull it out on my way up there during a regularly scheduled pee break so it’s handy upon arrival.
I couldn’t have been too worried about my first stop, cause I slept like a baby and awoke refreshed and full of anticipation for the day. I made my way to the yard and departed when legal, about 8:30 in the morning. A hundred or so miles out, before even getting close to my first stop the phone calls involving inquiring minds began. A customer 4 stops away wanted an ETA, they would stay late if need be. I had no choice but to say I had no idea as I was heading to a Military Installation and have no idea how long that could take, I could be detained for days!
At my regularly scheduled pee break, I retrieved the insurance and registration cards from their packets, set them aside and called the customer to advise I was one hour out. I confirmed directions and was told I would have to go through a security checkpoint. “How long does that take” I asked, and was told he didn’t know, never did it in a big truck. Lovely.
The joint was easy to find, and I was pleasantly surprised I wasn’t a wee bit nervous as I pulled up to the gate labeled for commercial traffic. There was a lady and gentleman waiting for me as I pulled up, set the brakes and shut off the engine. They asked if I had been there before and I informed them that I had not been and had no idea about how things worked.
The Lady asked me for my insurance and registration which I promptly handed her. She was impressed on how quick I produced it, then said “uh oh.”
“Uh oh what?”
“This insurance card just expired, do you have a new one?”
“Um, no, but don’t worry, I’m sure we still have insurance” I said with a smile.
Don’t get me wrong, when I pulled out the cards I made sure they were valid, but I never know exactly what the date is unless I’m looking at my logbook, my cell phone, or crossing off the days on a calender til my release while incarcerated (or as I imagine I would IF I was ever locked up). The month was correct but my insurance card expired about 7 days earlier, while I was off on vacation!
I couldn’t understand why this would happen since the Company is so on top of things, these documents are handed to me before I need them! We agreed they would inspect my vehicle then go park by the next pre-entry area while I waited for my valid insurance card to be faxed.
I won’t go into details about what the inspection involved since that’s what I like to call a National Security issue. Look at me with my fancy military lingo skills! It didn’t take too long and I pulled ahead and called our mechanic to see about faxing me a new card.
I told him my predicament and the first thing he asked is if I got my new one from my mailbox. No, I had not because I was on vacation and nothing important is usually in there, just my paychecks so I didn’t bother to check. It boils down to being my fault, checking documents is part of a pre-trip inspection. Had I been stopped for a DOT inspection on the way there (or anytime since I got back from vacation) I could have been put out of service and/or promptly shot.
In the past they actually set them inside my trucks- but now I know to check that mailbox at least once a week. He said he would fax me a new one and I went in the building to see what was next and tell them to look for a faxed insurance card.
The guy behind the window was way young looking, like a kid, and I wondered how he got a cushy desk job in the air conditioning while much older people were sweating in the inspection area. He had me fill out some paperwork and the fax came in while we were doing that. I got a dashboard pass and a small card that stated I was temporary employee of the US Navy! Then he cleared me to go.
“But wait.....How do I get there?”
“Oh yeah” he said as he pulled out a visitors map of the base. He drew a line on the roads I should follow and set me free again.
“Piece of cake” I thought as I looked over the map and took off onto the base where I immediately became lost forever.
I was simply supposed to pull up to the stop sign hang a right, and turn right again by the swimming pool. Afterward, when I had a chance to breathe a little and replay what happened in my head, I assumed the swimming pool would be clearly visible and full of life in this summertime setting. I now think there is a good chance it was enclosed in a building which set off a horrible chain of events.
None of the roads matched my little visitors map as I cruised down the road to a ‘T’ intersection.
“Oh No! There’s no T intersection on my map!”
My thoughts were becoming clouded but I remembered the kid saying right turn, so I made a right.
Cruising down what ever road I was on took me by the water. I began fixated on looking for a real live submarine!
“Oh No! Am I allowed to be looking down there? It could be a classified area!”
I tried not to look but kept glancing out of the corner of my eyes. I also saw a bunch of right turns that were suitable for a jeep pulling a small tank of water but not for a big truck. Now I was growing scared, I’m completely lost, in a large truck, on a military installation.
I had no choice but to keep going which didn’t last for long.
I saw another gate and I immediately became panicked that if I exited it, I may being exiting the base without accomplishing my mission. Then what? Go back to square one and start all over? At least this time I’d have a valid insurance card!
I stopped at the last intersection before that gate, turned on my hazards and exited the truck. The long line of cars behind me was closer then the impending doom that surely must be waiting at the gate so I ran back toward the cars.
In a miraculous turn of events, there was a police SUV on my bumper, lights on and all, with a friendly Policeman exiting his vehicle. He was a civilian Cop but had a guy in uniform riding with him.
At this point, I was sweating profusely and stammering as I spoke:
“CA-ca-can you tell me where the furniture store is?”
The Officer was real nice and picked up on my confusion. He then laid out a plan: make the left, straighten out, back straight up, turn left and head back the way I came from. This went off without a hitch and I pulled forward and stopped by the Officer for further instructions
“Go up the road, you’ll go up a hill, then you’ll see” his voice trailed off, possibly because he could have been reading my mind.
I was thinking, that for the first time in my life, I don’t want the police to let me go so easily! I knew if I continued forward without him, I’d be lost forever again in no time. There’s no telling how long I could put with this stress before I suffered a complete and total nervous breakdown!
He picked up on this and told me to follow him.
“Yes Sir!”
We drove back the way I came and made a left somewhere and pulled up to a building. He jumped out and said this is it, there’s the dock, do what you gotta do. Block the road if you have to, don’t bother me, all the trucks do it. I thanked him for his help and he disappeared.
It was a bit of struggle with the associated obstacles (or as we Military guys like to call them: land mines) to get the truck backed into the dock. The people were friendly and sympathized with me about finding their store. Unloading was over quickly and I easily found the exit off the base and back into my normal world. I was so happy to leave that I forgot about my plan to stop on the way out and demand my pay since I was deemed a “temporary employee.” Maybe next time.
In my short absence from the truck, there were messages left on phone. More people wanted to know where I was and when I would get to my stop that was now three out. At my next stop I pulled out my stethoscope, stuck it on the side of the trailer and didn’t hear any beating hearts. I couldn’t understand what the rush was, it’s only furniture. I’ll get there when I get there.
A guy standing in the dock saw this and asked what I was doing. I quickly explained my actions away as “The company is concerned about bats and rabies and requires we check for noise in the trailer at every other stop.” He looked confused and walked away.
The day ended when I was ready to head to the people who kept calling saying they “need it today.” I was all ready to head there but when I called they said they were closed and to come in the morning. Fair enough. The truck and I retired to a fancy Days Inn near Hartford.
There is a great seafood joint next store where I planned to enjoy a scrumptious dinner. As I waited on my Mac&Cheese with Maine lobster and fresh Vermont cheese, I thought about the events of the day. I started to notice people around the bar area where I was sitting and the panic and paranoia set in.
That guy in the corner glanced over at me just for a second. I think he’s a Government agent. My God, I’m being followed!
A guy sat down two seats to my left and set his phone on the bar which he would occasionally fiddle with. Normally, I am a social butterfly but tonight not so much. I won’t talk to anyone, because in my mind any one of these people could be a Government agent!
Why does he keep fiddling with his phone? I see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I know what he’s up to!
I grew concerned that perhaps someone thought I saw something I shouldn’t have while I was lost forever on the base earlier. Now they are after me and I’ll surely be thrown into the back of
an unmarked black van on the way back to the hotel. I’ll never be seen again.
The dinner was fabulous, I highly recommend USS Chowder Pot if you’re ever hungry and in the Hartford, CT area. If you’re in a big truck, the Days Inn next store has plenty of truck parking in the back and it’s only about sixty bucks a night (for CDL drivers, anyway).
Walking back to the hotel I heard a vehicle approach from behind me. I was sixty feet shy of the door and it stopped almost right next to me. I didn’t want to look, but I did anyhow and it was just some random people in a car trying to find where to check in. I’m happy to report I was not abducted by any kind of agents, and went inside for a restful sleep.
I showed up the next morning at the ‘want it today’ customer expecting to be harassed by the receivers for my late arrival. I saw some guys sitting around in an open dock door and they quickly pointed to it as in “back it in here.” I did and went inside for my beating.
“Can you tell we were waiting for you?”
I was relieved that the guy said it with a smile. They were actually very friendly dudes and thought it was ridiculous that everyone always wants it yesterday. It was a good stop after all.
PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE
After my Connecticut trip, I scored a choice seven stop load ending all the way up in Massena, NY. It was an easy run, and I finished up in Massena around five in the afternoon. It’s almost seven hours back to Leesport so I was expecting to make Leesport around 10am Friday. Most likely my first week back from vacation has ended and I’ll get an early weekend! Woo-Hoo!!!
I called into Dispatch on my way home just to check and was shocked and saddened by what the girl on the phone had to say to me.
“We have you on 10 drops for tomorrow, Starting in Lebanon, PA and finalizing in Honesdale, PA. It says here to start this load on Friday morning when you can and keep us updated.”
What? Can anyone else hear the whip cracking?
I was slightly bummed out by this, but after a little thought, it wasn’t so bad for a few reasons.
First, I just got back from vacation and a little work after a lot of beach certainly wouldn’t kill me.
Second, ten stops pays a good amount of money. My paycheck would go from half decent to pretty darn good.
Third, and most important to me, was the fact that my Planner honored my request to have me home early the Friday before we departed for the beach. She did even better and got me back Thursday night. She did me a favor and it wouldn’t be fair to bellyache about this load now. She needed this load out now or she wouldn’t have asked (or rather demanded, ha ha) and I’m the man for the job.
On Friday morning I picked up the bills to have a look see. I also showed them to a local driver to get his opinion. I wanted to know if I could this all done today, leaving at this late hour. He doubted it. We figured I would probably get six done today, the seventh closed at four. I hoped they would all take me Saturday!
The day went pretty smooth but it became clear I wouldn’t make stop four from last before they closed. I called and left a message for dispatch when it became obvious. It wasn’t long before they called back and left me a message.
Every stop except for the last would take me as late as 7pm and the last in Honesdale would take me Saturday morning! No way! I quickly finished off the last one around six thirty and called the rental store in Honesdale to see if I could park overnight at their plaza.
“Are you here now? We’ll take you if you’re here now..”
I explained I was still about a half hour out. I was then told , yes, I could park there and see them in the morning. Fair enough.
Pulling into the plaza a little after seven I spotted a Wendy’s that would surely be able to cure my starving condition. I planned to run in immediately before settling in for the night, but my instincts told me to do something else first.
I walked up to the storefront, and I could still see lights on, and people in there. I tried the door. It opened. I walked in.
“Is it too late?”
“It’s never too late if you have cash!”
I couldn’t believe it! I explained my predicament to a guy in there.
“If you say yes, I get to go home tonight. You’re my last stop.”
“Hurry up and pull around back.”
No way! This never happens, not this late! I got turned away shortly after six once for one box of lamps! As I walked out, I heard a female co-worker of my new friend ask him if they were going to receive this tonight.
“We’re his last stop” I heard him tell her in a most compassionate manner.
You never saw a driver run to a truck as quick as I did that night. Jump in, pull around the side and quickly saw the entrance was blocked by a Schneider truck pulling off his own late night miracles at a Family Dollar store. Fiddlesticks!
I quickly (and safely) shot around the other side of the plaza and emptied my trailer of the final 13 pieces of this trip. I was tired, sweaty and hungry. But I got the job done. Now I could go home.
AFTERTHOUGHTS
It was quite an adventurous first week back. From the people I did not know on Sunday that waved and beeped to welcome me back, to the customers who stayed late on Friday so I could go home to my family, they are what helped to make the week so special. The week away was fun, and now I’m once again enjoying life on the road. It’s good to be back!
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