Amusing factual stories - real life experiences in trucking

[Doctor Who]

This past Friday A Ryder mechanic and I went to Roanoke Rapids NC to pick up two customer straight trucks that were scheduled for PM. The ride to RR was uneventful except for the steady parade of "Yankee" four wheelers heading North after their holiday excursions!

On the ride back on I-95 South I followed the mechanic as he had a habit of running slow and disappearing for long moments of time. The two trucks were not asphalt burners by any stretch of an over-active imagination so the stream of left lane runners kept me entertained enough to keep from dozing off. That was until a beat to death Chevy pick-up came up along side of me. This gem from GM was making alot of racket. At first, I thought the owner had an annoying muffler system or lack there of!
That thought was shattered when the pick-up got a few feet in front of me and the motor let go creating a huge smoke cloud I slowed down cause I lost sight of the pick-up and the other straight truck. I did have visions that the pick-up would come back across the highway and I would hit it...
The driver did manange to stop on the median. I called the Highway Patrol and noticed the crowd coming up behind me had slowed down during the smoke screen..

When the mechanic and I stopped for coffee and Dunkin Donut break he told me he could not see the truck I was driving when the pick-up melted down. I did tell him that it had made my night and I just may add the incident to the book of never ending insanity!!!

[Trukrswyfe]

This past Friday A Ryder mechanic and I went to Roanoke Rapids NC to pick up two customer straight trucks that were scheduled for PM. The ride to RR was uneventful except for the steady parade of "Yankee" four wheelers heading North after their holiday excursions!

On the ride back on I-95 South I followed the mechanic as he had a habit of running slow and disappearing for long moments of time. The two trucks were not asphalt burners by any stretch of an over-active imagination so the stream of left lane runners kept me entertained enough to keep from dozing off. That was until a beat to death Chevy pick-up came up along side of me. This gem from GM was making alot of racket. At first, I thought the owner had an annoying muffler system or lack there of!
That thought was shattered when the pick-up got a few feet in front of me and the motor let go creating a huge smoke cloud I slowed down cause I lost sight of the pick-up and the other straight truck. I did have visions that the pick-up would come back across the highway and I would hit it...
The driver did manange to stop on the median. I called the Highway Patrol and noticed the crowd coming up behind me had slowed down during the smoke screen..

When the mechanic and I stopped for coffee and Dunkin Donut break

Is there any other kind?

he told me he could not see the truck I was driving when the pick-up melted down. I did tell him that it had made my night and I just may add the incident to the book of never ending insanity!!!

Love your tales.... Dr. Who

You never fail to entertain...

Thank you!

[Jackrabbit379]

That's too funny.

[Doctor Who]

Not so long ago on a rather boring night a driver pulled in for the nightly fueling ritual. As I proceeded to go through the motions of quenching the trucks need for fuel and what ever else an aging Freightliner Century required, the driver noticed a couple of the stray Ryder cats hanging around the truck. The driver asked me about the cats and I told him that they were the only source of entertainment out at the service area.
Well the conversation continued as the driver told me he liked one of the cats and that he would like to take it home. I told him if he could catch the critter it was his I then turned my "undivided" attention back to the fueling ceremony.

With the fueling done and tickets signed I went on to take care of a minor detail when I heard a rukus emminating from the cab. I turned to look and saw the cab rocking hard side to side and then saw a gray object flying out the passenger window. I wandered up to the cab as my curiosity peaked and noticed the driver had several scratches on his face and hands. Of course, I had to ask what had happened.
The driver had tried to lure the cat into the cab and the cat was not happy with the new "living" arrangements.

Needless to mention, the driver now avoids any eye contact with the gang of cats that come to greet the trucks.

[mommee]

generally those kinds of cats don't make good pets. they are used being 'wild'.

[Doctor Who]

The "Ryder gang" are a pretty well fed "wild" bunch.
They get to eat left over Golden Corral dinners the food delivery drivers bring back from their tours of duty, so to speak.
The gang don't like regular cat food and they definitly don't like raw fish. Someone left two fish that were caught and the gang turned their collective noses up at them. The smell did get bit overwhelming after a while!

[Jackrabbit379]

Good to hear from ya, Doc.

I would have paid to see that, Doc.

Wild cats are what they are. 'Wild, cats'. Wild cats seem spooky, and skimmish, but they can turn into fierce creatures.
I hate cats, but the ones we have around our barn do a great job of controlling the mice, and other rodunts.

[Thunder Trucker]

Back in 1994, on my very first trip, I actually stole a guy's TV...

I was running team at the time, and my co-driver/instructor drove into the plant in Lawrenceburg TN. While we were loading, he sacked out, and I was to drive out. I got directions from the shipper, and followed them to the letter, making sure each turn was a signed, designated truck route. ABout 5 blocks from the interstate, I heard something hit the stack, and figured it was just a tree branch. WRONG! a few seconds later I heard shattering glass. So I stopped and got out to investigate. Here some guy had strung his own illegal tv cable from the pole to his house, but had not strung it high enough. I had hooked the cable, and as it grew taught, it pulled his TV stand (on wheels) across the floor until it hit the wall, and the tv continued out the window onto his front lawn...

[Doctor Who]

Well sort of!!

I was sent on a mission to Roanoke Rapids to retrieve a customer tractor that was due PM. The ride to RR was annoying at best but all that would change when I found the tractor and pulled away from the customers yard.

I was heading back towards I-95 when a Highway Patrol officer passed me and made a very quick U turn. and rolled up very fast behind me with the siren wailing and blue lights flashing!!
I knew I wasn't speeding and I did have the bright orange seatbelt on! I pulled over at a safe spot for the LEO and me.
The LEO walked up to the truck and asked me to step out very slowly. All the while I kept thinking "What in Hell did I do??"

The trooper asked me where I was going with the truck. I told him to look at my shirt and pointed to the name Ryder and then pointed to the ID sticker which read Ryder 642. I told him I was sent on a mission to retrieve the tractor and to bring it back to the shop for some TLC and whatever else the vehicle needed plus, I gave him the shop phone number so he could call to verify the mission!

The trooper told me that someone at the customers site called to say one of the trucks had been stolen.
As we conversed the trooper kept looking at my CDL then at me.
I did tell him that the person in the photo was me.

He then asked me if I was related to---- and I said yes. I then asked if he was going to tell my cousin I got busted for Grand Theft Truck!

We both had a good laugh and he let me go... Never a dull moment!!


One added item: When I got back on I-95 the entertainment value went way up. The one thing I do miss about driving is the VIEW from the driver seat.
VW Jetta, bright pink panties and a pair of big thighs!!!

[ironeagle_2006]

That is the one thing I do miss is seeing the SEAT COVERS that cover some of those seats.

[Jackrabbit379]

That is so funny!
Good to hear from ya, Doc.

[Doctor Who]

Once again I was sent on a mission to swap out vehicles at the only customer in that part of NC. I had to bobtail up and bobtail back with the customer tractor.

I eased onto 95 north and cruised along watching all the other occupants of the interstate whiz past until I approached the Enfield scale. As luck would have it the scale was open and a yahoo in a large car came flying past me and then decided he had to get back in the right lane just about running me onto the shoulder. I took it all in stride figuring the IQ level was equivalent to the drivers shoe size. The large car took the right hand side of the scale and I stayed straight and eased over the scale only to get the red light. Keep in mind I was bobtailing!!!

The scale cop came out and told me he was going to inspect the truck. I couldn't argue so, the inspection began, he took my CDL and proceeded with the motions until he ran back toward the house and then jumped into his SUV with blue lights flashing and hauled ass to the scale entrance to intercept a 4 wheeler.

I wandered back to the house and the lady scale cop was watching all the commotion. She told me I could leave and I told her the officer had my CDL. As we watched, the driver of the wayward 4 wheeler was pulled from his vehicle and was slammed to the hood. All I could say was "damn, just like CSI!!!"
The lady scale cop laughed.

Although the entire incident was quite entertaining the officer kept me at that scale for just shy of an hour. He came back to the house handed the CDL to me and told me to leave before anything else happened!!!

Needles to mention I hauled ass out of that scale made the swap and rolled on back to Ryder. Fortunately the southbound scale was closed which made me happy I couldn't handle anymore excitement!!

[Jackrabbit379]

I wonder what that was all about! Makes ya wonder why the one in the 4 wheeler was cuffed and stuffed. How funny..

[ironeagle_2006]

NO worse than when that time in Salinas when a cop thought I was a wall at a curb and bounced his Squad Car off me. Totalled out his Squad Car the only thing he did to the trailer where he hit was knocked off the side turn signal that was mounted at eye level for CARS. That night really SUCKED.

[Doctor Who]

The new year begins and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...

As my driving large vehicles comes to an end I think it may be time to end the tales from the asphalt side!

This last bit of driving adventures is not amusing but it just might be an attention getter for anyone holding a steering wheel... Be aware of the surroundings as they are driving!!!

A stormy Friday.. Heavy rain, lightning, tornado watches and warnings made for a fun trip to, where else? Roanoke Rapids. I was sent to pick up the customers tractor and trailer.. The tractor was due PM plus the trailer was having problems with the ABS.. Did I forget to mention I am the only person at Ryder on Friday who holds a class A CDL??

Upon arriving at the customer I found the trailer was partially loaded. After a few phone calls I was instructed to bring it anyway... It was OK with me, I despise bob-tailing in the rain, snow or ICE!!
I eased back on to I-95 south and as Mr. Murphy would have it the rain came down harder!!!
I ran below the 70 mph limit. I will also mention the tractor was a single axle. Needless to say not a great combination with a partially loaded trailer.

The visibility became increasingly worse as the rain fell harder then, just as if I was in a nightmare, a 4 wheeler from New Jersey swerved in front of me and locked up the brakes. All I could see was three little heads in the back seat as I locked up the truck brakes to avoid any collision. I looked at the right mirror and could see the rear of the trailer coming around to meet the tractor. All I could do was pray that I would survive the inevitable!!

I did but the tractor did suffer some damage as did my nerves. The Jersey 4 wheeler went on down the road!!!
The investigating Highway Patrol LEO and the wrecker driver said I did a good job avoiding anything worse.
I did tell them that the "son of a bitch" who caused the mess got away. The LEO told me they would get him. I wasn't so sure!!!

The wrecker driver asked what I was going to do when I got back to the yard. I told him I was going to fill out all the paper work then go home and hide for the next 7 years!!!

The Jersey ass-wipe was caught and given several violations.. Leaving the scene of an accident, reckless endangerment and whatever else the LEO's could come up with!!!

Well that's about it...

May every ones 2010 be better than the last decade!!!

[Roadhog]

ooops

[Jackrabbit379]

We'll miss your stories, Doc. What are your plans for the future? Are you retiring, or finding something different? I've enjoyed reading your tales of the road!! Let us know how you are doing. Don't be a stranger!

[mommee]

hope you are ok after that adventure.

[Doctor Who]

We'll miss your stories, Doc. What are your plans for the future? Are you retiring, or finding something different? I've enjoyed reading your tales of the road!! Let us know how you are doing. Don't be a stranger!

Well Mr. Rabbit
I have at least 6 years before considering retirement!! My main concern is that my health is deteriorating and I may not pass my next D.O.T physical plus, when I renewed my CDL Ryder would only pay for the basics not the endorsements so I had to give up the X, the T and the passenger endorsements I had so, moving to any trucking company would be for naught!!!

As for any plans on leaving CAD that will be somewhere down the road I'm gonna stick around just to collect the "pay check"

And mommee: I questioned my sanity and to this day I regret ever climbing in a truck. It is amazing how one's psyche can be distorted after a near miss!
I was asked what would I have done if I had hit the car. I told the person asking the question that if the kids in the back seat were hurt, I would have asked the Highway Patrol LEO to take the truck keys and take my CDL!

[bulldozerbert]

Well Mr. Rabbit
I have at least 6 years before considering retirement!! My main concern is that my health is deteriorating and I may not pass my next D.O.T physical plus, when I renewed my CDL Ryder would only pay for the basics not the endorsements so I had to give up the X, the T and the passenger endorsements I had so, moving to any trucking company would be for naught!!!

As for any plans on leaving CAD that will be somewhere down the road I'm gonna stick around just to collect the "pay check"

And mommee: I questioned my sanity and to this day I regret ever climbing in a truck. It is amazing how one's psyche can be distorted after a near miss!
I was asked what would I have done if I had hit the car. I told the person asking the question that if the kids in the back seat were hurt, I would have asked the Highway Patrol LEO to take the truck keys and take my CDL!

Was it you, Dr, who was putting all their stories in a book?

I would love to have a book with all your stories.