I need a hat, a chain for my wallet & a can of snuff.

Just saw a helicopter take off in front of me. Hopefully they got this driver out and their in their way to the hospital.

Still haven't moved an inch in the last 1.5 hours. Could be a long time yet. Have heard no word about cleanup.
 
People near the scene are saying that there are two helicopters that responded. The 2nd one is still on the road by the accident.
 
Hope everyone involved is okay but second best hope is they are getting good medical care. It makes a person wonder sometimes about another compassion. We live in a world where no one wants to be inconvenienced even when it might mean another persons life may be in the balance. Thank goodness there are people who keep thinking good thoughts and always hope for the best for all concerned.
 
Made it to my evenings destination in Western Wisconsin. Deliver tomorrow morning in Minnesota. Then, back to the Chicago area to drop off the empty. Lots of miles this week. That's a good thing.
 
At the delivery point. Today's delivery is a product used in the manufacturing of lubricants.

Looks like I was nothing more than a wheel holder for 1078.3 miles. They are going to do the offloading procedure while I post this then watch Netflix.

After this is completed it's a 446 mile trip, empty, to a team wash in Chicago. Not sure where I'm heading tomorrow. I'll probably find out during my travels today or when I arrive at the Chicago terminal.
 
Back in Chicago.

Tomorrow's load gets loaded locally and then it's off to the Cincinnati area for delivery on Friday.
 
So CB radios are still in use by truckers? I figured cell phones, bluetooth, and hands-free laws had made most of them go away. I know HAM radio is exempted from most (but not all) hands-free laws. I'm not so sure CB was exempted.

As much as we're on the road, I always carry a HAM handheld radio in the truck, but i've debated hardwiring in a CB just to monitor 19.
 
Magnethead said:
So CB radios are still in use by truckers? I figured cell phones, bluetooth, and hands-free laws had made most of them go away. I know HAM radio is exempted from most (but not all) hands-free laws. I'm not so sure CB was exempted.

As much as we're on the road, I always carry a HAM handheld radio in the truck, but i've debated hardwiring in a CB just to monitor 19.
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To be truthful it's not worth the effort. I can drive all the way from the west coast to the mid west and not here anyone and if I do it is usually a driver scolding another driver about how fast he is driving in a truck stop. I do here a little more chatter on the east coast though.
 
Nitro Dude said:
To be truthful it's not worth the effort. I can drive all the way from the west coast to the mid west and not here anyone and if I do it is usually a driver scolding another driver about how fast he is driving in a truck stop. I do here a little more chatter on the east coast though.
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I already have a mini CB radio and coax, and I can get a coax adapter for my handheld HAM. antennas and bed lip mounts are cheap. I'm going to have the dash apart anyways installing a new AM/FM/SXM radio and backup camera system over winter, so I've debated making 2 runs of coax from the bed to the dash, one for CB and one for HAM.
 
I use the radio on the road just to find out what lane is open in construction delays. I use it at the plants that I deliver to just to keep in touch with the main gate for direction, timing of loading/unloading etc.....

I don't care much about Smokey reports as I am governed at 65mph and seldom break the speed limit. It's a lot more relaxing to drive that way.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I use the radio on the road just to find out what lane is open in construction delays. I use it at the plants that I deliver to just to keep in touch with the main gate for direction, timing of loading/unloading etc.....
I don't care much about Smokey reports as I am governed at 65mph and seldom break the speed limit. It's a lot more relaxing to drive that way.
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BIG thumbs up on that one!! My Bride and I drove across and around the U.S. for several years chasing NASCAR in the late '80's, early '90's and realized how much more relaxing it was to stick with the limit and take it easy. Even now that we no longer own a motorhome, we use secondary raps rather than the interstates when we can. I find high speed driving especially unsettling in a subtle way. You never realize how tired you are or how it slows reaction time until the driving is done for they. The thing noticed most was, by going like the hammers hell, you never really gain much time, if any.
 
This week started out with a load out to New Jersey that I delivered this morning. From there I hauled the empty to another New Jersey location to be washed.

And now I wait..... It sounds like my next load doesn't load until late tomorrow afternoon. That load is going to go to the Cleveland area for delivery late Thursday. In the meantime I get paid for waiting.

I'm going to take advantage of being in bobtail mode and head over to Home Depot. I've got a new addition for my truck..... A Bluetooth Samsung Soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. Yeah baby! I'm a huge music fan and this will be a welcome addition. I've got to get a couple wall anchors to complete the mounting on the back wall of the cab.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
This week started out with a load out to New Jersey that I delivered this morning. From there I hauled the empty to another New Jersey location to be washed.

And now I wait..... It sounds like my next load doesn't load until late tomorrow afternoon. That load is going to go to the Cleveland area for delivery late Thursday. In the meantime I get paid for waiting.

I'm going to take advantage of being in bobtail mode and head over to Home Depot. I've got a new addition for my truck..... A Bluetooth Samsung Soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. Yeah baby! I'm a huge music fan and this will be a welcome addition. I've got to get a couple wall anchors to complete the mounting on the back wall of the cab.
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How much different does it feel being bobtail versus hooked?
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I've got a new addition for my truck..... A Bluetooth Samsung Soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. Yeah baby! I'm a huge music fan and this will be a welcome addition. I've got to get a couple wall anchors to complete the mounting on the back wall of the cab.
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You're really making that cab your home away from home.
 
Just wanna pop in and say it's been fun to watch you go on this adventure. Keep it up!
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Luv the acceleration. Feels more like driving a regular vehicle. Parking is a breeze too.
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The ride is probably not as nice though and you definitely want to give some extra space between you and other vehicles on wet or snowy roads. With out a trailer you are so light that you will skid way easier then with a trailer.
 
Nitro Dude said:
The ride is probably not as nice though and you definitely want to give some extra space between you and other vehicles on wet or snowy roads. With out a trailer you are so light that you will skid way easier then with a trailer.
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I have seen some bob tails do some crazy things over the years on the road. With 10 tires at over 90 to 100PSI and no load, things get real crazy real quick.
 
Nitro Dude said:
The ride is probably not as nice though and you definitely want to give some extra space between you and other vehicles on wet or snowy roads. With out a trailer you are so light that you will skid way easier then with a trailer.
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I was wondering on the ride. I was assuming that the fancy trucks had dynamic ride control and would deflate the air bags when bobtail to soften the suspension.
 
Magnethead said:
I was wondering on the ride. I was assuming that the fancy trucks had dynamic ride control and would deflate the air bags when bobtail to soften the suspension.
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I am able to deflate the airbags but I only use that to hook/unhook from a preloaded tanker.
 
sdj said:
I hope you never have to drive the 99 through central California, it will drive your backbone through your butt hole. Your trailer will be in the air more than on the road.
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You just described all of oklahoma and the eastern side of Arkansas
 
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Magnethead said:
You just described all of oklahoma and the eastern side of Arkansas
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dpkimmel2001 said:
So..... I tend to stop/stay at a lot of Pilot/Flying J's during my travels. Each time I refuel, I use my Pilot Rewards Card earning points. In turn, I'm able to cash in these points for purchases of all sorts of things. One of them was a years worth of WiFi at all of their locations. I hooked up one of my firesticks to my TV allowing me to be able to get all of the channels that I receive when I'm at home. So far it's been working flawlessly.
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I arrived here at the Pilot in Weatherford Tx at 2.30 am this morning and fueled up and went into Wendy's for a free chicken sandwich before going to bed at 5.00 am. Now it's 11.00 am and I have about 2 more hours before I can come back on duty so I think I will go take a nice hot free shower and then have another nice hot free chicken sandwich "got a love the rewards card".;):) I plan on making it to Tuscaloosa Al tonight or early morning and then I should arrive at the Charlotte track sometime Mon night.
 
Currently offloading in New Jersey. I left from my home terminal yesterday morning to stage somewhere near my delivery point. I left early enough to get parked in time for the Steelers game against Baltimore. Obviously the early start turned out not to be rewarded with a victory. :mad:

This is the 3rd time in as many weeks that I'm delivering within eyeshot of the New York City skyline. Like the last two deliveries in this area, I gave myself an extra hour for traffic. Like the last two deliveries in this area, that extra time was rewarded. Too many people and not enough highway. :eek:

Barring any unforeseen road hazards, this should be a quick six hour empty run home.
 
That New Jersey / New York metropolitan traffic can be horrendous.
In my business, we purchased aluminum extrusions for store front construction and curtain walls from companies in Paterson and Kearney, New Jersey, both off I-80. Trying to do a pickup at either place during rush hour was wild and time consuming.

At the time, from 1964 until around 1970, I-80 ended at Netcong, eight miles from our business. Traffic filtered down from an interstate highway to a NJ 46, a four lane diminishing to a two lane highway all the way to the Delaware Water Gap. Our in-town business fronted onto NJ 46 and on weekends, traffic jammed the roads so heavily with people going to the Poconos, we did not send work crews on the road after lunch.
Sundays was as bad, if not worse, as the return traffic from the Poconos and Island Dragway in Great Meadows, kept things tied up until very late evening.

Not sure what this has to do with anything but thought of it and figured I'd share it. :idunno:
Just another memory from my past. ;)
 
Today’s trip starts out loading downriver from Pittsburgh, PA. This is turning into a lengthy process at this location. Very unorganized. I sure hope they put the correct product into this tanker.

From here I’m heading to the Roanoke, VA area for delivery tomorrow. All in all only about a 450 mile trip.

My next dispatch is coming out of North Carolina after tomorrow mornings delivery.
 
FIVE HOURS!

Five hours to fill this tanker in what normally takes two or less. Those extra three hours were my buffer zone to get to tonight's destination and be on track for delivery tomorrow. Well, I didn't make today's planned destination and I'm now going to be late for delivery. First time for both those things to happen. Sucks but it is what it is I guess. I'm staying overnight in Charleston WV before heading out in the morning to the Roanoke VA area.

Time to get some Z's before getting up early.
 
Whizzer said:
That New Jersey / New York metropolitan traffic can be horrendous.
In my business, we purchased aluminum extrusions for store front construction and curtain walls from companies in Paterson and Kearney, New Jersey, both off I-80. Trying to do a pickup at either place during rush hour was wild and time consuming.

At the time, from 1964 until around 1970, I-80 ended at Netcong, eight miles from our business. Traffic filtered down from an interstate highway to a NJ 46, a four lane diminishing to a two lane highway all the way to the Delaware Water Gap. Our in-town business fronted onto NJ 46 and on weekends, traffic jammed the roads so heavily with people going to the Poconos, we did not send work crews on the road after lunch.
Sundays was as bad, if not worse, as the return traffic from the Poconos and Island Dragway in Great Meadows, kept things tied up until very late evening.

Not sure what this has to do with anything but thought of it and figured I'd share it. :idunno:
Just another memory from my past. ;)
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You and @muggle not could both write books about your lives I bet

dpkimmel2001 said:
Today’s trip starts out loading downriver from Pittsburgh, PA. This is turning into a lengthy process at this location. Very unorganized. I sure hope they put the correct product into this tanker.

From here I’m heading to the Roanoke, VA area for delivery tomorrow. All in all only about a 450 mile trip.

My next dispatch is coming out of North Carolina after tomorrow mornings delivery.
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You might catch @Nitro Dude if you have an exta time slot.
 
Nitro Dude said:
If he can get here by Wed morning then he can go to Louie's cafe with me for breakfast.:)
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Wish I could have....

Heading to South Carolina this morning for a load that will be heading back up to PA for delivery tomorrow. I've got an open window for delivery tomorrow.

After loadng this morning I'll be heading up to the Winchester Virginia area to spend the night before heading out in the early am hours. It should allow for me to have a long weekend at home.
 
Shout out to those Pilot/Flying J's out there. My truck stop of choice. I tend to stop at the larger ones for more parking/food options. I purchase enough fuel through them that I've earned unlimited showers. All of those that I've been to seem to be very clean and we'll maintained.

Outside of my wife, family and dog, the biggest thing I miss while away from home is good food. I try to bring what leftovers I can but those only last so long and then I become dependant on what's available when I stop for the day. I'm not finding a great selection to choose from. I never feel good after a fast food purchase. I try to stay at Pilot's/FJ's that have a Denny's. A good salad and meal goes s long way.

Parking..... I tend to grab reserved spaces when possible. They're normally about $15/night. Price is of no concern as I get reimbursed for the cost. For me, there's a great comfort level knowing I've got a place to park for the day. As far as the actual maneuvers involved in parking, I still have some anxiety in parking between some of these big rigs out here. I'm not sure why as I have successfully backed into some pretty tight spots loading and offloading these things. Stressful none the less. Especially if you have an audience that's waiting for you to get parked so they can continue on their way.

Time, time and more time. Watching time tick away on this ELD, electronic logging device, is a huge part of every day. Living by these damn clocks sucks. I guess it's a necessary evil though in trying to keep everyone safe.
 
You make your adventures - I was going to say job but decided there is a bit of mystery in your daily activity making it more of an adventure - sound as if we are riding along in the passenger seat. I can understand the part about a home cooked meal. The short duration of my truck driving days were punctuated with roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans. It seems as if that were the only item on the menu in every little risky-dink place with a parking lot large enough to park a tractor/trailer. Good food places were scare and rest areas non-existent, as were truck stops such as are available today.

When my Bride and I traveled around the U.S. chasing NASCAR, we always fueled up at Flying J. They had the nicest facilities and were always clean. Plus, we could park without getting blocked in! Besides their diesel was always good and never gave us any problem with fuel.

Anyway, keep the reports coming. Always interested in hearing from NitroDude too!!
 
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