May 13 – 16, 2021

First, let’s catch up where we left off. . .

They called the first two of us in at 12:30. The first truck drove in and right under the crane, and we drove to a different location to wait. Within an hour, they were unloaded, and were shrinking up. But the crane had to move to our location to unload us and the third truck. Thankfully, it was a crane on tracks, because if it was one on wheels, it would take 3-5 hours to move it. This one just took 30 minutes to crawl over and get ready!

We saw our first truck pull out as they hooked up to our load. They will definitely make curfew out of Omaha!

We got unloaded by 2:20, and pulled forward to shrink and our third truck pulled under the crane. By the time we had ours shrunk and ready for travel, they were unloaded – but it was almost 3 PM. I ran back to ask the third driver what his plan was, and he said “Oh, we’ll never make it out in time now, so we’re staying overnight.” And I said “What if we helped you! Would you try it?” He said yes, so my driver met me there.

They had already started the shrink process, so my driver and I helped them finish, and we were pulling ahead at 3:14. We had to manually steer a turn getting out, but were on the road by 3:35. It was a long shot, but we went for it!

With no delays at all, we got across the state line with about 1 minute to spare, and the third truck crossed exactly at 4! Woohoo! The power of a team!

We only drove an hour to a rest area and parked for the night, where our first truck was parked and waiting for us. Their steerman had saved us two spots! We decided to stop there because the next place to park was too far to make by the time the drivers reached their duty clock limit. All 6 of us got a room at the Motel 6, and had supper together. I got to see a picture of one of my favorite audio personalities for the first time!

Thursday, May 13, 2021

My driver and I were up early enough to check out at 6. In fact, I was running early enough to check out, pack up my van, drive across the street, fill with fuel, drive back, and be sitting in front of the hotel when my deiver walked out at 5:55 and got in! LOL I LOVE being early!

Because we all could leave early, and not have to wait until 9 AM curfew, we knew we could all make it back to the shop today. My truck left about an hour before the other two because my driver wanted to get his truck into the dealership shop this afternoon. We pulled out of that rest area at 6:33, and were at the shop, 415 miles away by 1:30. It was all highway, we are empty, so can do the speed limit, which was 70, and we made no stops.

We parked,

unhooked, and he drove off to his 2:30 appointment. I took advantage of the empty wash bay, and cleaned my van, went to town, bought some work boots and sneakers, did some grocery shopping, and had a huge salad and some chicken at the Pizza Ranch.

I was back at the shop, and plugged in by 7, and went to bed by 9.

Friday, May 14, 2021

I was up at 6:30, made sausage, eggs and cheese for breakfast, and was on the phone by 8 to see when my driver would be here. He was delayed, and I happened to meet up with a fellow escort/truck driver who had given his 2 week notice, and this was his last day. We have worked together off and on for several years. He was one of the 5 truck drivers when we did that huge load in UP Michigan 3 years ago. Remember that one? He was driving that very first truck who was towing the lead truck to help us get up the gravel hill after it rained.

Annalou has worked numerous loads with him as an escort as well. He will be driving a double trailer for UPS up here in Minneapolis. It will give him much more home time with his wife and 3 teenage kids. I told him that the best part was not the money, or the benefits, it was family time! He agreed!

Once My driver arrived, we pulled the truck and trailer into the wash bay, and the two of us spent the next 3 hours washing it for the next person.

He is taking a different trailer Monday to carry a tank to Texas. He insisted on taking me to lunch, so another driver joined us as well. I love the time with certain drivers like these. We spend most of our time talking about our families, and how we can improve our efficiency and take better care of the equipment on the job. It creates a bond, and makes me better at what I do.

When we returned, I got a call from dispatch with my next assignment. I am needed as a HP to help move a huge tank from a location just 50 miles away from here on Monday. Both my driver and I were disappointed, because we were both hoping I’d be steering him to Texas and back. But the driver I’ll be working with on my next job is also very good to work with. We will have police escorts, and take it just 80 miles to a town in Wisconsin to unload Tuesday. The tank itself is 145′ long, so the truck and trailer will be 180′ long! Sounds like a short but intense job! Those can be really fun!

I cooked the last two turkey burgers for supper, took a shower, and wrote this blog up to now, and I’m going to bed!

Saturday, May 15, 2021

This morning I slept in. Really in! Woke up at 8:15 but didn’t get up until almost 9! Not sure if I’ve ever done that before!

I saw a familiar driver walking by, so knew he and his steerman must have arrived this morning. We talked for a while, and he left for home. I went to find his steerman, and found him in the shop cleaning out a company pickup truck. Lloyd is the one who took my place after I got run over by the truck, and was out of work for 3 months. We had met just once before that, but they kept him on, and we have worked together many times since, and have become good friends. He loves the Lord, so we have some great discussions! He has been steering trailers for 8 years, and I have learned a great deal from him. Annalou has worked with him many times as well. He is also an excellent mechanic, so helped me get my generator running properly this afternoon. We think we have it right now, but won’t know until I fill my van with fuel. Once the van gets below 1/4 tank, the fuel to the generator is shut off. We plan to go to church together in the morning.

Later I did my laundry, bought some groceries, filled my van, and fried some smoked sausage for supper.

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After supper, I took out my lawn chair, and took my drone up for an evening flight as the sun was beginning to set.

These are the two trucks going out Monday to pick up those tanks. Right now, the rear dolly is being pulled by the front dolly as we go over empty. Once we get there, we will disconnect the rear dolly, and attach it to the end of the long tank, so the tank becomes the trailer. I will be working as HP (High Pole in the lead with a pole 6″ higher than the load to make sure he doesn’t hit anything) with the second truck – the one with the sleeper cab.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

I had checked the church web site last night, and found that for the next 3 weeks, while they renovate their sanctuary, they will be having their services on the youth hall, so need to have 2 services. We decided to go to the second one at 10:30.

Lloyd picked me up at 10, and we were walking in the door by 10:15. We chatted for a few minutes with the greeters, and chose a seat, and were talking. A couple sat next to Lloyd, and the wife introduced herself, so we responded. Lloyd said to her “We are friends from out of town, and work together.” She said “Oh, where do you live?” He said “I live near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and Dave lives in Massachusetts.” Right then, the leader said “Good morning! Let’s stand and worship the Lord together!”

I bet she was wondering for the entire service how this guy from PA was working with this guy from MA and found this church in Minnesota! LOL It was a great message about how the enemy tempts us when we leave a “door” open for him, and how we need to keep the “doors” closed. It was a good confirmation for both of us.

I was right, because as soon as they said amen, she asked him to clarify! LOL They invited us to their little farm and home on a private lake nearby. We ate a BBQ chicken lunch on their deck overlooking the lake, complete with my favorite desert- strwaberry shortcake! (back to Keto tomorrow!!) seeing the chickens and ducks, and horses,, swapping testimonies, telling our life stories and lessons learned, and explaining our jobs.

What a wonderful couple!

And what a great afternoon we had meeting new friends!

I LOVE the Family of God! I have met some of the nicest people on this earth during my lifetime! I got saved the summer after my High School graduation, met Annalou just a few years later, and it has been a wonderful, exciting, and rewarding life ever since!

When we got back to my van, I pulled it back into the shop, and after some troubleshooting, we discovered that the fuel pump I installed for the generator had lost it’s electrical connection, so wasn’t pumping fuel to the generator. Because of that, it was actually restricting fuel flow. He would tell me what to check or do, while he finished his job cleaning out that pickup truck so he can use it instead of his while working for this company. Once he repaired my connection (with proper weatherproof connecrors) my generator worked fine!

It was after about 830 when we went to a small local restaurant and I bought him supper to thank him. He will be doing some mechanical work tomorrow, and doing a route survey Tuesday, while I help move the propane tanks.