March 13 – 17, 2021

Saturday, March 13, 2021

We met at the trucks as the sun was rising. Of course, after a nice quiet night in my van, I was the first to arrive. We have 2 trucks, so 2 steermen, but 4 HP cars. That is because these loads are 17′ 4″ tall! That’s almost four feet taller than a normal semi! There will be a lot of wires to check and lift, as well as trees to avoid! We all met together to decide on who will do what.

One of the steermen, who I have not seen in quite a while, was not feeling well at all, so when I went up to greet him, he said “Stay away from me, Dave, cuz I feel really sick!” As we left that yard, There were 3 of us HPs out front, and one in front of the second truck. With the extra 2 people, it makes it much more fun, and easier to navigate intersections. When making a turn, one stops traffic from the right, one stops it from the left, one stops it coming from in front, and the last leads the first truck through the turn, followed by the second truck and steerman – regardless of what color the lights happen to be. Then, once we have made the turn, that first HP lets the others know when the coast is clear, and they race past from the back up to their front positions again. It takes a bit of trust to race past the trucks who are taking part of the oncoming lane you are in, while on a curve or up a hill, but you know everyone is watching for the oncoming traffic, and has you covered! The ultimate team experience! It’s like locking you knees and falling back into someone’s arms. Total trust!

By the time we were near the Iowa line, our lead HP guy announced that he was feeling so much worse that he wanted to peel off and get checked at a local hospital. Everyone fully supported that, so we went on with just the 3 HP cars.

We heard back from him within an hour or so, and he told us that he was told he had Covid, and will be there at least for a few days. No one was surprised. He already has some health issues, so things might get complicated for him. You could pray for Chris, as I will be. He needs spiritual healing most of all.

We drove to Forest City IA, and parked in a small truck stop there. We tried to park with the other trucks, but you can see that we are so long that the two between us would have a tough time turning left and getting out.

So we moved the second truck, and parked it along the curb.

I took the hotel because the truck stop didn’t have showers, and I wanted one. That hotel owner knows me on a first name basis now, because I’ve had to stay there several times during that really cold weather. I made my favorite hamburg, green pepper, onion, and double cheese pizza for supper at the hotel.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

We had a beautiful sunrise, so I’ll share a couple of pictures of that.

During that morning, I was asked to fall back and be the HP for the second truck because he had trouble keeping up with the first truck, and a serious gap was forming in between.

I don’t have many pictures of this trip because it was pretty intense! The two HPs in front would lift wires, and have to wait for us to finally get there because we were sometimes a mile or so behind, and then they would race ahead again. I did jump out a few times to help direct traffic in some intersections, but even though it began to rain, I still felt as if I was missing all the fun!

We parked in Weston, Nebraska for the night. By then it was windy and pouring rain. I slept in my van, and it was a very restful and peaceful night.

Monday, March 15, 2021

Today was different. The rain had stopped, but when we met together, we emphasized that neither truck would be able to drive off the pavement for fear of sinking into the mud. Therefore, turns would be tighter and slower. The electric company met us there with two trucks and three men to lift the high voltage lines. We would still be needed to lift the phone, cable, service drops, and fiber optic lines. At one point there was a discussion about the route, so one of the drivers spoke up and said “we all just follow Dave, cuz he is the route expert!” He has worked with me many times over the last few years and knows I always have 2-3 GPS systems working, and always do my homework to double check the routes according to the permits.

Off we went at 10 AM, with a very intense 52 miles through the streets of Omaha to the site! It took us over 3 hours, and it was a lot of fun! Traffic is always impatient, in a hurry, and everyone thinks only of themselves and their time schedule – because it seems everyone is late. Everyone!

At one point, the other two HP guys were working together to lift a blinking stop light for both trucks to get under when I noticed that a dump truck with a trailer had pulled so close that there wasn’t room for our first truck to pass him. So I darted up, around that stop light, and got in front of the first truck. I had to “get rid of” at least 7 cars now behind that dump truck so he could back up 20′. I was in a hurry, because I knew my two HP buddies we groaning under the weight of that light as they waited for all this! I parked the cars on the side, in a gas station, redirected some on a side street, and a few in driveways as fast as I could. But they just kept coming!

Just as I finally could tell that dump truck to back up, the guy I parked at the curb behind him decided he’d rather turn out and cross over to the gas station. LOL “Stop, STOP!” He stopped and so did the dump truck, just inches from smashing his hood! He pulled out to the gas staion, but it almost became an expensive trip for him! We got the dump truck and trailer back, and I watched clearances on both of his sides as that first truck cleared him on one side and the parked cars on the other by less than 4″. His steerman watched clearances for the second truck, and we were on our way again. I was out lifting lines, passing the trucks with my left tires on the sidewalks, and directing traffic in the rain. I love that stuff! I love it!

We arrived on site at about 1 PM, and since the trucks only need a rear car back when they are empty, the 3 of us HPs were cut loose. We were the only non-employees in the group, so that makes sense. I called in, and dispatch said there would be a gap because things had slowed down a little due to the drop in the economy. I suggested that I go to MA and find some work there while I visit family, but they found me a job leaving from the MN yard on Thursday. I drove to Altoona IA where hotels are cheaper, and checked in for two nights.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

I made a nice breakfast

But I was excited to finally open the box to my new laptop, because the one I have occationally gives me the blue screen of death, and sometimes won’t charge and the battery dies. I depend on that laptop to do GPS navigation, book keeping, invoicing, emails, and video editing.

It will be a great replacement, as it is actually slightly larger than my present one.

EXCEPT that it will not turn on! Nothing. No charging lights, no lights when I push the button. Called the company, they can not help me. Have to contact the manufacturer. They are in China. Is there ANYTHING left that is not made there? I have to register first, which requires way too much personal data that the agreement says China gets to use in any way they wish. So I called to get return authorization, and will drop it off tomorrow at the trucking company and have UPS pick it up and get a refund. I know where this country is headed, but I want something American made while they still exist. I’ll gladly pay more, and pick one up on my way back to MN tomorrow.

The company owner called me and said he wants to keep me busy, so I’ll go Thursday to WI, load and steer that one to Omaha, steer him back empty to WI, and steer that one to New Mexico. Then steer him back to the shop in MN. I think dispatch told him I was thinking of leaving for a while! LOL

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

It felt so different to have my alarm clock wake me up, but not be on a schedule to get ready, make breakfast, and check out! So I spent some time looking for the laptop I decided on. It will be a Dell. I know that most of the parts inside it will not be American made, but at least the company is. I used to work indirectly for Dell when I did Next Day On Site Repair for laptops, desktops, and lazer printers years ago.

I did a search all along my route and selected a Best Buy store close to the highway that had it in stock, and made the transaction so all I would have to do is walk in and pick it up. Then I checked out and was on my way. I picked up the laptop at about 1, went grocery shopping, and was at the company yard taking advantage of the empty wash bay by 2.

I’m getting more comfortable there now, as I know more and more people by first name. The dispatcher I have worked with here the most will retire at the end of this month, so I spent some time with him, and I met the new guy that will take his place. I’ve actually worked with him several times before, so we already know each other pretty well.

I will meet with my driver at 8 in the morning to make adjustments to the trailer before we leave at noon. So I had time to go into town and get my oil changed. I have 40,000 miles on this van now. That means I have have driven over 550,000 miles around this country escorting Oversize Loads so far.

After supper at one of my favorite restaurants, I drove back to the shop and plugged in my van beside some bobtails and got ready for bed.