Happy Memorials Day to all my past, present and fallen Veterans. THANK YOU for serving!!!
Well I guess its that time again for me to get off my lazy rear and post an update.
After my delivery in Ste. Genevieve, MO, I got a call from an agent that asked if I would be interested in a load from Clayton, MO to Chattanooga, TN. The rate was decent and Clayton was only about 60 miles up the road from where I was. I loaded crane parts at the Washington University campus in Clayton with 3 other trucks. Getting in and out of the job site was a bit of a challenge in its self as I am sure you can imagine that the lay out of a campus was NOT designed with a big truck in mind. I was the first one in and after almost 2hrs of sitting, they finally loaded me. The other drivers came over to help me secure the load since they had nothing better to do. That is one thing I have always admired about flatbedding.....the comradery (*sp) amongst us. Once I was all secured, I in turn went and helped each of them out.
Although none of us really planned on running together, we did all rolled out at the same time with me in the lead. Along the way though, one by one we all got separated. The owner of the crane was on site and said that we could park at his shop in overnight in Chattanooga if we wanted. So that was where I was headed. I got there just after dark and parked right in front of the gate. About an hour later the 2nd trucked showed. He was the only one there with me by the time I went to sleep. When I awoke in the morning, I seen that the 3rd truck had arrived sometime in the night but not the 4th.
While waiting to be unloaded, I get a call from another agent asking if I wanted a load from Chattanooga to Knoxville. It was a short run but paid decent. This would also allow me to stop by the TA there in Knoxville and get a PM service done on the truck, so I took it. It was a light load of machinery and easy to secure.
Once unloaded, I headed over to the TA for the PM. While in the shop, the mech tells me that my left steer wheel seal is leaking. I go and inspect and sure enough. I tell him to go ahead and replace the seal (crossing my fingers that the bearings were not shot) When he gets it apart, there was barely any oil in the hub.. Fortunatley everything was still in good shape. While he had it apart, I noticed a crack in the top brake pad and told him that he might as well change the brakes too. Some $400 and 3hrs or so later I was rolling out of there.
Unfortunately i was not able to find a decent paying load to carry me through the long weekend. There were plenty of loads around, but they either went to the NE (which I avoid like the plague) or too cheap to even look at.
So by Friday off I went and got a hotel room for a couple of days and just relaxed while drinking a few cold beersI have been out for about 3 weeks now and am ready to head back towards the house so will be looking and crossing my fingers that something good pops up within the next day or 2.
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Originally Posted by TWJAX853
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He then tells me that he grew up around trucking and was very familiar with the equipment and that he knew a spread axle trailer was going to be a little more challenging to maneuver since they are located in downtown Jackson which is full of narrow streets, traffic, etc. He tells me he is going to have me pull into a certain parking lot and then help back me up the street about a half mile to where they will unload me. 
oh boy this sounds like fun.
. I look over the tire the best I can and it does not appear that it has any foreign objects in it. Of course there are no air hoses at the pumps, they are located at the shop. My conclusion is that the valve stem must be shot so since I had to go to the shop for air, I went ahead and told them to replace the stem. I figured I would be in and out & back on the road in no time. I was wrong. They had only ONE mech working and he had about 5 different projects going on at the same time. $42 and 3 1/2 hours later I decided to just park, get a hot shower, something to eat and call it a night.
Boy I must have joined the wrong branch of service. I can make Las Vegas by Friday with no problem, but that means I would have to sit until Tuesday before I can final out.
I just showed my wife the link, she shook her head and laughed saying you boys. Whatever is behind the green door is not free....
And to think, I've been looking for you and that Western Star.
