STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21229: Ripon Revelry

August 26, 2005 on 7:55 pm | In On The Road |

Sunday, the 21st, was not a good day to be a Doggie. I ate breakfast about 0800, then played around on the computer until about noon. I then drove to PetSmart for the Shot Clinic. The MMM were due for about 3 shots each (I finally have their vaccination schedules syncronized) plus a renewal of their Heartworm medication prescription. They do not like these visits. After the clinic, they got to go ’shopping’ for treats in the store. They do like these visits. I went to the Tony Roma’s in the same shopping center for dinner. I had a Pulled Beef Sandwich, Fries and a bowl of Baked Potato Soup. I was unimpressed. After that I went back to the Flying J and ‘computering’.
On the 22nd, I ’saved Swift’s bacon’ (again). After making my ‘live’ delivery at 0500, the Planner gave me a load that picked up at a Truck Repair Shop in Needles (needless), CA and delivered ASAP in Maricopa, CA (109 miles empty and 314 miles loaded). Evidently, the drivers’ truck was brokedown and they needed someone to make the delivery on this load. I accepted it and left Vegas at 0730. I arrived in Needles 2 hours later. When I arrived, I found the trailer right where it was supposed to be, but it was still attached to the original drivers’ tractor so I couldn’t hook to it. I knocked on his door, but got no response. I was on the phone with my DM telling her what was up when I tried again this time knocking (loudly) directly on the sleeper by the driver’s head. This time I got a response. After hooking to the trailer, doing the Loaded Call (which actually involves the QualComm and not a telephone), and walking the MMM, I left Needles at 1115. I drove to Barstow, CA and took a 1/2 hour break. At 1430, I left there and drove to Bakersfield. I took a quick dinner break here at the Burger King next to Bruce’s Truckstop at the junction of CA-58 and CA-178 (Morning Drive). At 1745, I left and drove to Maricopa. I delivered the load then went to bed at the Customer. Of the 9.75 hours I logged today, I used 8.25 driving 418 miles.
I awoke at 0600 on the 23rd with a PrePlan on my QualCom. It picked up in Oxnard, CA and delivered in Las Vegas, NV (120 miles empty and 327 miles loaded) with 1 extra drop, also in Vegas. I left Maricopa at 0815 and drove to Oxnard. This was a drop/hook Customer, so all went quiockly and smoothly. After the drop/hook, I drove to our Terminal in Fontana, Ca for fuel and a MMM jaunt. I left at 1515 and drove directly to the TA Truckstop in Las Vegas. I had a TacoTime dinner here, then tried to get online and do some computer work. They still haven’t fixed their WiFi yet, so I packed it in and drove to the 1st Consignee and went to bed. Of the 10 hours I worked today, I utilized 9 driving 450 miles.
After making both deliveries on the 24th, the Planner offered me a load which picked up in North Las Vegas, NV and delivered in Tracy, CA (2 miles empty and 519 miles loaded). I arrived in NLV at 1215, did the drop/hook, and left at 1230. I drove to Primm (Stateline), NV and had lunch there at Whisky Pete’s. At 1400, I departed and drove to Bakersfield. Again, I had no time to linger. A quick MMM walk and off I went Harris Ranch. I had dinner here. On the recommendation of my brother, I had the Chicken Fried Steak. It was excellent, but a little too “pricy” for my budget. It will be a good place to stop when I want to ‘treat’ myself, but not as a regular stop. After dinner, I drove to Santa Nella, CA where I stopped for the night. Of the 11 hours I logged today, I expended 9.5 driving 482 miles.
I left Santa Nella at noon on the 25th after having lunch. I had my usual Tuna Sandwich and All-You-Can-Eat Split Pea Soup. I can’t seem to stop here without having at least 1 meal at Split Pea Anderson’s. I drove to Tracy and made my delivery. I then went to our Terminal in Lathrop. I fueled as I entered the Terminal, then put my truck into the Shop. I was due a PM Service. I also had a “nasty” vibration in my front end; I think due to an out of balance steer tire. I checked in with the Service Desk at about 1430. They said that it would be “a while”. “A while” turned out to be over 8 hours.
Swift is celebrating National Driver Appreciation Week this week by providing lunch for its employees at each Terminal from noon to 1500. I just barely made it in time. The fare that Lathrop offered today was assorted Sub Sandwiches, Chips, Soft Drinks, and Chips Ahoy Cookies. I selected 2 Sandwiches (a Dagwood and something called City Streets: The only discernible difference between the 2 sandwiches was that the Dagwood was dressed with a Gouldens-type mustard while the City Streets was dressed with Mayonnaise). I also selected 4 bags of Chips (they were small and I only selected 1 of each variety remaining), 2 cans of non-Pepsi soda (an A&W Root Beer and a Dr Pepper) for a change, and 2 pakages of the cookies. ( Who says there’s no such thing as a Free Lunch). Having just had lunch 4 hours prior, I saved them for later. About 1930 we finally had our ‘dinner’. I don’t know whether the MMM were able to ascertain a difference between the sandwiches either (as a matter of fact, I don’t think they gave the contents of the sandwiches a moments’ thought) as they ‘wolfed’ down their meager portion.
Finally the Mechanic came for the truck at about 2300. The MMM and I exited the truck per Swift Shop policy. Lathrop is a ‘pet friendly’ Terminal as they provide 2 6×6 portable dog kennels for use by drivers with pets. I put the MMM into the one which was on grass. About a hour later, the sprinklers came on, and I had to ‘rescue’ them. I took them for a walk, then put them in the 2nd kennel which was on a concrete slab, but at least wasn’t wet. I then went into the Shop to check on the progress of my Service. As I came out of the Shop about a 1/2 hour later, Walter greeted me at the door. The ‘clever little scamp’ had discovered a hole in one corner of the kennel just large enough for him to squeeze through. Wolfie was upset when I returned with Walter. I don’t know if it was “separation anxiety” or the fact that Walter had escaped and he was too large to fit through the opening and go ‘play’ too. As I was walking the 30 odd feet to the “smokers’ patio”, a ‘little black blur’ shot past me. Walter had escaped again. Realizing that it would be impossible to keep Walter incarcerated, I surrendered and put them both on a ’short leash’ and kept them with me on the patio . About 0245, they finished my Service. However, the Mechanic had found some things which needed attention. Because they were getting ready to close for the night, the repairs would have to wait until the Shop re-opened at 0700. GREAT!! Now I’ll have to waste most of tomorrow getting the necessary repairs done. I went to bed shortly after 0300. Of the 2 hours I managed to work today, I used 1.25 driving 64 miles.
I pryed myself out of bed at 0645 on the 26th. After walking the MMM, I checked in with the Service Desk (again) at about 0715. They said that they would “get me right in”. “Get me right in” translated to about 4 hours. Since they said “get me right in”, I took the MMM out of the truck right then, put them into the ‘escape proof’ kennel on the grass again and began the vigil. About 1000, they moved everyone off of the patio and began to set up for the Driver Appreciation lunch. I ascertained that the menu du jour was going to be Tri-Tip Steak, Hamburgers, and Hot Dogs along with Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Green Salad, assorted Chips and Soft Drinks, Chips Ahoy Cookies and of course, condiments for the ‘burgers & dogs’. YUM YUM!! It’s nice to know we’re appreciated. I took these photos as they were setting up.

The MMM were anticipating the arrival of a Tri-Tip “sample”. They were disappointed this time but not later. The 2nd kennel from which walter kept escaping last night is located on the concrete slab just to the left of the pictured kennel about 10 feet away just out of the photograph.

Representatives from the CHP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit arrived. They set up under the awning next to their vehicle with some literature and some ‘trinkets’ (ie: key chains). They answered questions ranging from the pertinant to the inane. For instance: The reason that California has a 55 MPH speed limit for Commercial Vehicles is “stopping distance” and has nothing at all to do with “revenue generation”. Right. Mostly drivers wanted to know the ‘key items’ they were looking for when they did their CVSA inspections and how they selected which vehicles, of all the ones that go through the ’scales’, they would inspect. It was interesting.
Meanwhile, back at the shop, the ‘Tire Guy’ finally brought my truck in just before noon, then promptly took lunch because the food was ready. After they replaced my steer tires, I moved my truck to the Maintenance Bay so the Mechanic could start on it. The Service Tech last night had found that: 1) The left front Shock Absorber was loose. 2) There were cracks in both of my steer axle brakes. 3) The actuator for the 5th Wheel Slide mechanism was not working. 4) The left front Wheel Seal on the drive axle was seeping. 5) The Diamond Seal on the engine is leaking. 6) The Transmission Seal is leaking. 7) The Air Line to my right front drive axle is chaffing. The Air Filter is clogged. 9) The Glad-Hand (the connector that connects the airlines from the tractor to the connections on the trailer) seals are deteriorated. And 10) The windshield washer is inop. I decided to leave the Diamond Seal (which requires being sent to either Freightliner or Detroit Diesel to have the “heads” removed and takes a minimum of 5 hours once you’re in their shop), the Transmission Seal (which was not leaking at all that I could see) and the Wheel Seal for another time. I also changed the Air Filter and Glad-Hand seals myself to save a few bucks on Shop Labor charges. About 1400, the Mechanic began to work on my truck.
Meanwhile, back at the kennel, the MMM finally obtained their first morsel of Tri-Tip from me about 1130 after I had finished lunch (part 1). About 1300 after lunch (part deux) they each recieved a bite of Cheeseburger and a bite of hot dog. Thereafter, I sporatically gave them tid-bits which had fallen to the ground (either by accident or design) from other drivers. They were well fed. I took them for a couple of walks where they recieved much attention and ‘tummy rubs’ from those gathred around. As the festivities were scaling down, I asked what they were going to do with the disposable roasting pans which the cooks had used to serve the meat. They said that they would just be thrown away, so I appropriated a good one (with many crumbs) for the MMM to “re-cycle”. They thought they were in Heaven. A bit later, the cook came by with a plate of “crusties” from the grill for them. They knew then that they were in Heaven .
Meanwhile, back at the Shop, the mechanic finished with my truck about 1730. By this time I was ready to “call it a day”. I’d been up since 0645 with only about 3 hours of sleep the night before. I’d been standing around in the sun most of day because the Bar B Q had usurped the use of the patio ( the only source of shade). The MMM were in the “same boat”. I re-set my PTA for tomorrow at 0800, and drove the 10 miles to the Flying J here in Ripon. On a brighter note, by the time I’m available tomorrow morning, I’ll have accumulated enough consecutive hours off (34+) to re-start my 70 hour clock.