Comments By Flatwater

Nice pics!

I had to haul a load of cracked popcorn from Jolly Time in Sioux City to a feed mill in Denver

Are you sure it was "popcorn"? Because I raise some chickens, turkeys, and beef steers and I feed them "cracked corn" but it's never "popped". But now I'm wondering what I've been thinking. By God you've given me a great idea! I should try popcorn - they'll love it! What a great way to make barnyard friends!

I sawthe yellow thing under your truck and i thought you ran over something. My bad

It looks like he knocked down a light pole, doesn't it?

If you ever come by my area I could use a ton of cracked corn, 500 pounds of soy, and some minerals if you have em. I'll trade you 1/4 cow and a HUGE turkey that will barely fit in your truck. I have two turkeys that are going to dress out at about 45 pounds for Thanksgiving. They'll have to be cooked on my rotisserie outside because they won't fit in an oven. I can trade you two oven-sized turkeys instead if you like.

Yup, popcorn. I hauled what is called "splits". Damaged hulls or defective in some other way so it won't work for the popcorn guys. Birds love it!

About the time you think you have this stuff figured out, someone slips you a Mickey...

As a hopper driver, I deliver mostly to agricultural related customers; grain elevators, feedlots, farms and ranches, etc. One thing to keep on mind is that when a town was established or an area settled, what were the first things set up? The railroad, the stock yards and the grain mills. Then the town grew up around them. Engulfs and swallows them is more like it. Most of the elevators I haul to in Denver, Omaha, Sioux City are smack dab in the middle of town.

Anywhoo... I had to haul a load of cracked popcorn from Jolly Time in Sioux City to a feed mill in Denver. No biggie. Get close to the address and I can't see the usual landmarks (100' tall grain elevators). Hmmmm... Now what? Crap! Ah! There it is! Almost missed it... Unload in the yard out back. And it's freakin' tiny!

Okay... time to pick up the tag axle and jack knife this bad boy in!

Tight fit!

Hangin' out in the street, ****ing off all the four-wheelers.

Not a bad place to unload, just not what I expected.

Wyoming DOT at the I-80 west bound port outside Cheyenne has been doing things all week. Monday the local Freight liner dealer and the officers were grilling hamburgers and free soda or coffee. Yesterday they had grab bag stuff (coozies, key chains, etc.). This morning at oh ' dark thirty they had coffee and donuts.

Cause I'm getting a new one! ;)

I'm currently in a 2014 Volvo with a 47" flat-top sleeper. I'm 6'5", 315#. I make it work, but it's tight. Getting a 77" mid-roof! Not a new truck, but close enough. Less than 40,000 miles on it. One of the old-timers is retiring so I get to upgrade. I have put a little over 52,000 on my "little" truck in a shade over four months. And get home every weekend. I think I'll like the extra room...

My company does not expressely prohibit firearms either. But, ain't gonna tote one in the truck. Waaay too much liability. Too many places have prohibitions in place to keep track of. Plus, with our litigation-minded society, if you skin that smoke wagon, you're guilty until proven innocent. Even if you were protecting yourself, kiss your gun and possibly your job, goodbye until the situation goes through the legal process. Responsible firearm owners are held to a higher standard. Just as truckers are compared to four-wheelers. And bad eggs in either group give the quiet majority a black eye.

And Guy, I'm all for putting this issue to bed. IF... we can do the same with the urinalysis/hair folicle question. ;)

Just realized I've been with the company exactly two months. Picked up the truck at noon on the 9th of May with 73 miles on the odometer. Did the math real quick and I have done 25,148 miles in 60 days. Not bad for a Monday thru Friday gig.

Heck, that's nothin'! I've already got an autopilot truck. I let go of the wheel and it goes in the ditch every time! ;)

I get the impression that "Give up" ain't in your vocabulary. Atta girl!!! What do you have to lose? The worst they could say is, "No". Keep it professional and let your good attitude shine through. Oh, and let us know how it goes! I'm pullin' for ya!

It sounds like they're yankin' yer chain! But, it also sounds like you're gonna get what you want outta life anyways. You've got a good attitude and ambition. Crossing the threshold and getting your foot in the door in any industry can be tough.

You mentioned oil field services north of Denver? Try A&W Water out of Greeley. They run tankers, pneumatics and flats. Good bunch of people. Worked along side them for years (They were the competition... LOL!).

Good luck to ya!!!!!

Here's my new buggy, a 2014 Volvo 430. It has a 455hp Volvo engine and a 12 speed Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission. I picked it up three weeks ago with 73 miles on the ticker and parked this afternoon with 9887.