Thinking Of Packrat...

Hey PackRat, are you allowed to drink coffee in your delicate condition? I know from my classroom training that I had to have ample amounts of coffee to stay awake. And even then it was a struggle sometimes!

I can drink coffee, but I usually don’t during the warm weather months. Water, tea, and the occasional soda for now.

So updates.

Knight couldn’t wait to hire me! Yesterday was my official hire date- 7/10/2019. Thought I was getting a truck today, but the shop folks could not get the repairs done before next week, maybe. Luckily, I was able to spend two hours updating all the permits in the book for that particular truck, thereby saving the next driver much needed time. TEAM PLAYER! So, I’m back in the 2-star motel again tonight. The best part of that was going to the front desk not once, not twice, but three extra times because the card for the door would not work. Always a treat! (Avoid the Comfort Inn in Carlisle, PA whenever possible. Read my review on Google). Tomorrow morning I return to the terminal to pick up a rental car for a trip west to Joliet, IL to get my new, used International. From there south to Indianapolis to grab a load destined for a drop and hook somewhere in Winchester, VA by Monday. Once that’s all completed, deadhead to The Beach for a few days to pick up most of my truck stuff, clothes, microwave, George Foreman, food, fridges, XM Radio reactivated, TV, mattress, and lots of load locks for those needy Primates I may encounter (Not you Rainy. You’re a chicken!).

I’m hearing that I’ll have this 350,000 mile Pro Star until they trade it, at which time I’ll get a new one. We shall see....

I’ll post a picture of me and my new steed once I have it. This one will be named “Fred” in memory of my late brother-in-law, Fred Hilder CDR USN (Retired).

Congrats!!

So updates.

Knight couldn’t wait to hire me! Yesterday was my official hire date- 7/10/2019. Thought I was getting a truck today, but the shop folks could not get the repairs done before next week, maybe. Luckily, I was able to spend two hours updating all the permits in the book for that particular truck, thereby saving the next driver much needed time. TEAM PLAYER! So, I’m back in the 2-star motel again tonight. The best part of that was going to the front desk not once, not twice, but three extra times because the card for the door would not work. Always a treat! (Avoid the Comfort Inn in Carlisle, PA whenever possible. Read my review on Google). Tomorrow morning I return to the terminal to pick up a rental car for a trip west to Joliet, IL to get my new, used International. From there south to Indianapolis to grab a load destined for a drop and hook somewhere in Winchester, VA by Monday. Once that’s all completed, deadhead to The Beach for a few days to pick up most of my truck stuff, clothes, microwave, George Foreman, food, fridges, XM Radio reactivated, TV, mattress, and lots of load locks for those needy Primates I may encounter (Not you Rainy. You’re a chicken!).

I’m hearing that I’ll have this 350,000 mile Pro Star until they trade it, at which time I’ll get a new one. We shall see....

I’ll post a picture of me and my new steed once I have it. This one will be named “Fred” in memory of my late brother-in-law, Fred Hilder CDR USN (Retired).

As I bask here in this fine Days Inn in Morris, IL while my truck is getting repairs performed, a thought about my recent orientation came to mind. Of one of the several short videos we saw, several were on roll over crashes. These were all Knight drivers caught on dash cam during their catastrophes. Of the four videos, two were surprising to me at the slow speed, and really caught me by surprise (just as it did the driver in the video, I’m sure!). One was on a 20 mph curve, where the driver was moving at 22 mph and rolled. The other was also a 20 mph exit, where the driver was moving at 15 mph. The biggest takeaway was the cargo itself, the type of freight and how high the center-of-gravity was for each trailer. One load was only 22,000 lbs, while the other was 39,000 lbs. Something to think about.

Most rigs I’ve seen on their sides or on their roof have usually been observed on an exit or entrance ramp, or on a long straightaway. I can’t help but wonder when I see most of these, “Now how did that start and end so badly?”.

Lengthy update. When we were last tuned in here, I was going to get the new, old truck from a repair shop in Joliet, IL. “It will be ready once you arrive”. I got there at a hotel Friday night, then went to get the truck on Saturday am. “ It’s not ready yet. We have to fix the A/C. They didn’t tell you? Oh, and we’re closed on Sunday”. So Tuesday afternoon at 1500, it’s finally ready. Driveshaft and front rear end axle gears replaced and the air conditioning system pumping out cold air better than new. Naturally, monsoon rain when I finally start unloading my stuff from the rental car into the truck. Added bonus was the two trash bags full of trash that I filled up from the previous driver....Some day I want a new truck.

Finally logged in the Zonar AOBRD system, fuel card turned on, pre-trip, photos of the truck condition from every angle, turn the rental car in, etc. Drove about 10 minutes to a drop yard in Joliet to grab a dropped load and drag it up to MI to a grocery warehouse for a live unload at 0100. Under the gun from the get-go, but I made it with 30 minutes to spare. Next one was from OH to York, PA for a drop. From there, back to the Carlisle terminal to get the annual inspection performed, since it was a month overdue. YIKES! Got there at 0420 on Thursday to be the first truck in the inspection bay. Finally pull in at 0952 for a quick check of all the tires. “We only have two mechanics, so we won’t get to it until tomorrow afternoon if everything goes right”. Splendid! At 1345 on Friday, I pull the truck in. Finished at 1745, all fixed up and ready to roll again, plus the four other defects I fixed myself during my unwanted 34 hour reset. Oh, I also got the privilege of doing another permit book update. Yummy!

Got a load assignment that I deliver on Monday, two stops. Picked it up in New Jersey after leaving Carlisle. Got home this morning at 0500 here at The Beach, and walked 2.8 miles from my parking spot to the house. I haven’t walked that far in forever, but I made it in just under an hour. Deliver those two stops on 7/22, then come back home for another reset. Once my full, 70 hour clock is back, I’ll hit the road again.

Time to setup the truck with my gadgets, supplies, food, tools, and parts. Fortunately, it’s supposed to be 98 tomorrow, then 95 on Monday! I hate hot weather with a passion. Lots of cabinet space in this 2016 International Pro Star, but not as much under the bunk as I would like. A future project is to build and mount a tire chains rack on the outside of the truck. Knight wants us to store the chains in the side boxes which takes up too much valuable space for my liking. Some of this truck’s features and personality are going to take awhile to get used to, like the security code I have to enter to keep the motor running after the brakes are released each time.

That’s my latest and greatest rambling. New heart is pumping along just as advertised. I think the car drivers have gotten worse, though my backing has gotten better for some reason?

Setting up a new truck is always such a pain... I’m glad your back up to speed sir!!! I’m heading out shortly for canada again, this seems to be getting to be a habit, lol. Stay safe sir!!!

Sounds like you are having fun.

Glad you and your truck are firing on all cylinders!

PackRat of all the things you have written, for me; walking 2.8 miles as a recent heart transplant recipient is truly amazing and inspirational.

I wish you all the best!