Long Time Gone

Well folks, I am not sure if any of my past viewers are still arround anymore, after the months it has been since my last post, but I now have reliable internet access, and have regained access to my blog, after locking myself out in a fit of genious.

So much has, once again, happened since my last post I am not even sure where to begin. Here is a very short and sweet recap....

After 2 years of fighting to get Stephaine back, sure that I would never find anyone like her again as a truck driver, life decided to prove me wrong, and I met a wonderfull girl, Cherie. Of course just as this happened life tossed me a curve ball when Steph told me that she was seriously considering trying to work things out.... ouch! What a delima...!!! After 2 years.... Well, at her insistance and my own, I decided to try out things with a new relationship with Cherie. We really hit it off from the start and I don't regret a second of it. It has been amazing. trying, frighting, and fun. We have many similar interests, but different perspectives of the same subjects which keeps things ..... interesting.

Cherie and I started driving team together within 2 weeks of meeting, and that was about 6 months ago. The experiece hasn't always been easy, living shoulder to shoulder with someone 24/7, but it has never been boring. Teaming with our current company deBoer has been a very big mistake, as our pay has been virtually non-existant. I have never worked so hard for so little in my life, and it has been a major strain.

Speaking of deBoer, for those that may still follow this poor blog, stay away!!! The company is in new hands and has been going down hill FAST!!! Between the low miles, and the company screwing their drivers every chance they get, this is no longer a company I would recomend to a person I hate. Cherie and I are putting in applications for other companies this week and will be moving on just as fast as we can.

I guess that is a blanket statement, let give a few details. I was told totake a specific route to a customer by the company, it turned out to be a 17ton rated road, again was told it was ok by the company, till I got stopped by DOT after I was empty and taking the same route in, out. The officer wrote a ticket to the company for the truck being overweight, the fine $1,520. The company made me pay the ticket and docked my pay, even though they told me to go that way, and the ticket was made out to them, not me.

Bonuses, The company recently changed their saftey/productivity bonus plan. All drivers have to have 10,000 miles per month and a fuel economy of 6.3mpg+ in order to get a .005 cpm bonus. We mainly haul paper, 40,000lbs+ on every load, the only way to get a 6.3mpg is to drive 40mph!!! Not going to happen, ohh yes you must also keep your idle time to less than 25% in addition. Nevermind you spend most of the summer in the south with temps above 90 and in the north in the winter.

The company has also taken a new policy on new trucks, there won't be any untill a truck is wreaked, lost, etc. They will just fix the old equipment till hell freezes. Our truck is runs, knock on wood, even as it approaches 1 million miles and its 7 year birthdate.

And lastly the most recent kick in the nuts, the company decides if and when you have vacation time or days. The company decided to void all my vacation days, just on a whim, no reason no nothing. So all the vacation time I have EARNED, they just erased and said tough shit. Needless to say I will be seeing what a lawyer has to say about that this week.

Bottom line, shitty companies like Swift, Prime, etc are a better choice than deBoer. For those of you still thinking about deBoer, you have been warned! I would recomend U.S. Express or Landspan for a team. Those are our next two interesting companies. I will keep you upto date on where we go and when.

My girlfriend and I have also started a small business! Check it out if you get time.
www.13-dragons.net We sell a variety of handmade Hemp and Chainmail Items.

Just Saying Hi

Well, with my inability to afford a laptop that I want yet, I setup my home PC at my GF's place. It is hard for me to balance the things I want with the things I need to do. So sadly I am going to wait about 6 months before I look at getting a laptop as I will have my car paid off. While I could technically afford a laptop, it would eliminate my entire savings account, and I like having that safety net.

I will be heading back on the road later today, pulling an all night run somewhere. I really don't like taking these kind of loads because they really screw up my sleep schedule. It is impossible for me to basically go back to sleep after I just got up from a solid 10hrs, so tonight is going to be tough. But that is the way it goes sometimes, up all day, and then have to drive all night to be somewhere the following morning.

My dad enjoyed our trip to Reno so much he wants to goto Las Vegas this summer, so I promised him we would go.

Well I have a few things to get done, and I am going to try and take a nap. Talk to you all later.

Were Back From Reno!!!

Well my dad and I are back from Reno, NV where we spent 3 days and 2 nights on a father/son gambling trip to the Silver Legacy Casino. We both had a great time and left Reno with alot more than we started with. We each decided to set our gambling limit to $200 per day, but from the very begining we didn't need to touch the remaing $400. Blackjack tables on the first day were pretty good to me and so-so for my dad, I made $300 and my dad cleared about $100. But that was the last time the blackjack tables were kind to either of us. Our redemption was the Craps tables. Over the 3 days I racked in an impressive $1250 and my dad brought in another $600.

We also played other games like Keno while eating our meals, and some slots, and some off-track horse betting. While we were looking to get in on a game of Texas-hold'em there were only 2 tables working and both had waiting lists over 1 hr. Needless to say we didn't wait for that.

After everything was said and done, and all expenses paid and losses accounted for, my dad made $400 profit and I made $850. It was a great to spend time with my dad for a change and even better that we won a respectable amount of money doing it. I can't wait for our next trip.

This was the first time I have really played Craps, and it has become my new favorite game. But all good things must come to an end, and my time off is over on Monday and it is back to work.

I am still here folks

I know it it has been a long time since my last post, but nearly all of my posting options have been eliminated and I haven't bought a laptop yet. Not much has really changed in my life, just working, driving from place to place, but I have to say that it is taking it's toll on me. Maybe I am just tired right now, I have beed driving my ass off for the last 5 weeks straight so I could get the time off I wanted out here in California. My dad and I are going on a trip to Reno together tomorrow to do some gambling and spend time together. My dad really doesn't do much and I think is pretty lonely now that my mom is gone. Her death hit him harder than anyone I think.

I will try to get a post out a little more often and every 3 months and will post before I leave.

Has it really been a month?!

Wow, can't belive it has been a month since my last post! I really need to get a laptop and end this madness. So much to say, over the last month I have had a passenger Heather on the truck with me. It was sorta nice to have someone to talk to, however it does help if you can stand the person ridding with you for more than 5 mins at a time. It was toleralble but I am also glad it is over. She got to see a few states that she has never been to before and a trip to california that I took to visit my dad gave her the chance to see San Francisco. Like I said, overall it wasn't too bad, but I don't think I would take her again, at least not for that long of a time.

Well I will write more the next time I get a chance, have to find out where my next load is going to take me.

The Long Road

Wow, it has been so long since I have been able to put a post together, and it is not for having nothing to say. There have been so many things to tell you all about, from massive hail storms and torrential rains, to the adventures of traveling Washington's secondary roads with only an ince to spare on either side. The past month has been eventful.

While there hasn't been any really big news trucking wise, there have been a few very pleasent developments on the personal front. Steph and I are now dating! Abit informally, but dating none the less. And while this is not exclusive, it is a step in the right direction. It doesn't mean that anything will come from it beyond it, but time will tell.

In other news, I am taking my friend Heather out on the road with me for a few weeks, and we will head out tomorrow afternoon. I am really excited to have someone along for the ride. The really cool pat is Steph has agreed to come out on the road as well after Heathers ride along is over. I am really looking forward to that more than anything.

My truck is holding up really well considering the 775,000 miles that is on the old girl, but she is starting to show her age and I know the company is going to be looking at trading her in soon. And while the prospect of a brand new truck is exciting, I know they won't offer me a double sleeper condo Volvo. So I will just have to see what happens. I have my fingers crossed, but I know what it is going to come to. Something else I have been looking at recently is a helicopter flight training school. While right now it is just not an option as it is 3 days a week for 2 years, but next year after I have my large bills payed off.....

I am still working on saving up the money I need to get a laptop that I want, so my posting will pay the price. But do not fear, as soon as I get internet access that will let me log in I will send you an update.

I am still alive!!!

Wow, it has been a while since I have had computer access. I have been making allot of runs down south and have not had digital cellphone signal. Right now I am at my friend Randy's house in Ohio. He threw a party for his 2 sons, one going into the Airforce and one comming out of the Navy. Things have been a little difficult for the last month and half. I had 4 weeks of low miles (less than 1600 per week) that really put a hurt on my finances. In about 2 weeks I will be going out to Washington to visit Stephanie. I miss her allot and am really excited to go spend some time with her. Heather, my friend in Wisconsin graduated for message therapy school last week. It is a big accomplishment for her. She will be going to Alaska the middle of this month to attend her sisters wedding.

I know I said I would be getting a laptop soon to keep my blog updated but it might take me a month or so to get things caught back up to be able to do it. Bills have tgo come first before new toys.

Cheesehead1 asked about Randy going to another company, and yes he did for about a month. He went to Smith Transportation. Thankifully he is back in the deBoer family again, after Smith couldn't keep him moving. Thanks for reminding me!