Breakdown

Am currently under a load from NY to TX. A driver hits me up on the CB & tells me I'm losing rubber on my trailer. I perform an emergency stop & check it out. One of my trailer tires (super single) is completely gone. I set up my triangles, send the macro & they dispatch a tech.

2 hours later (I'm currently in Cleveland btw) the tech shows up & the next thing I know I see sparks flying from under the trailer. He's got a power saw trying to cut the wires from the belt that wrapped around the axel....that's not even the worse part.

Not only did the wires wrap around the axel, but they're also wrapped around the brake chamber. The tire guy (of course) isn't certified to work on brakes so now I'm waiting for a mechanic. Can't risk pulling 72k with compromised trailer brakes.

Was hoping to make it to Columbus by tonight, but my 14 is gonna be up by the time the mechanic gets here.

I drove through the Allegheny Mountains in torrential rain enroute to pick up the load & now I'm waiting for the 2nd repair guy (today) on the way to drop. What a first week LOL. 👍

Sounds about like my first week.

First my fan clutch went out so no engine fan. Then my APU wouldn't start so no power, air or heat without starting the truck every couple of hours.

Then spending a stupid amount of time on the phone with the dmv because I never recieved my permanent CDL.

It does get better I promise!

Except for Connecticut where I am currently. I've decided that it should no longer be a state...

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Except for Connecticut where I am currently. I've decided that it should no longer be a state...

Ha! Thanks, I needed a good chuckle about now.

There are literally only 4 truck stops in this whole state. And they are mostly full ALL THE TIME! And the roads are up and down and curvy and full of crazy people.

Oh and the slow vehicle lanes are stupid short! About the time I get into it, it's over again!

So glad I'm leaving...

While 8n training in told my trainer I wanted Obama to nuke GA off the planet. Winding curves up and down hill.... customers 50 miles from interstates

While 8n training in told my trainer I wanted Obama to nuke GA off the planet. Winding curves up and down hill.... customers 50 miles from interstates

You think that Georgia is bad, wait till you get to Wyoming, Montana and other large states out west. We have one interstate that crossed the entire length of Montana and it is at the bottom. Get used to 2 lanes with shoulders as wide as the fog line and ditches 8 feet deep after that. And having a flatbed hauling a load of round bales coming at you... LOL

While 8n training in told my trainer I wanted Obama to nuke GA off the planet. Winding curves up and down hill.... customers 50 miles from interstates

You think that Georgia is bad, wait till you get to Wyoming, Montana and other large states out west. We have one interstate that crossed the entire length of Montana and it is at the bottom. Get used to 2 lanes with shoulders as wide as the fog line and ditches 8 feet deep after that. And having a flatbed hauling a load of round bales coming at you... LOL

Been there and done that lol!

Sorry to hear about your troubles Charlie. While it does get better, just remember that it can get worse again at any time!

If anyone's interested, I took a picture of this wicked blowout but forgot to post as I was stressing about my 14.

If anyone's interested, I took a picture of this wicked blowout but forgot to post as I was stressing about my 14.

The dreaded Triple-S...Shredded Super Single. Hate them things. Instead of 7 good tires keeping you upright, you have to rely on 3 before you get yourself pulled over.

Good thing you had your CB on.....coulda been soo much worse.