18wheelsandwomen

I get to take another rented semi because the one I was using is not here.  It is a International 10 speed and the front bumper is not hanging right on the right side, but its still OK. It is not in any danger of falling off but it has been bumped into.  There is a slight shimmy around 60 mph but not bad. I’ll write it up so it can be checked out. This unit also had some guages/switches that I have not seen. There was one for the brakepressure when you used the jakebrake and that was neat to see how much PSI you used. There was also a temp guage for the front axle and one for the rear axle and for the tranny temperture too.  The radio even worked better as I could listen to the country station from Fort Smith all the way to Texas.  The radio on the other truck did not work that well. 

I left the shipper at 4 and all the way to Fort Smith, another semi and I played leap frog. This gets really old for an hour but it can’t be helped as both trucks are wanting to stay at the same speed and the one with the heavier load will loose some speed going uphill and the lighter truck will get out in the passing lane knowing that you probably can not pass but you can keep your same speed and get up to the slower trucks trailer wheels or just ahead of it.  To have to stay behind that slower truck in this situation will slow you down 10 mph.  Once to Fort Smith it was flat land and our “game” was over.

I need to buy fuel so I decide to do it going to Dallas shortly after getting on US 69  and I knew the time picked at the 6pm hour would be crowded but I sure did not expect to find myself sitting on the highway waiting to get into the fuel lane!!!  I was not a happy person but I was stuck and had to wait till I could get to the fuel entrance where I did a U turn and left.  About 5 pumps with at least 10 trucks waiting behind those fueling for their 50 to  300 gallons.  I can fuel at another stop or even this one on the way back tonight or tomorrow.  I also turned on the weather channel as there is lightning to the south and west and a chance of hail and 60mph winds that was passing thru Oklahoma City and other points to the south and west.   I hate storms and can do without all of this excitment.  It was pretty to watch the sunset and the storm approach and see the lightning.

I got a lot of green lights going thru McAlester and that helped me gain back some of the lost time. There were a lot of semi’s out tonight heading to Dallas and beyond and we were doing the posted 75 mph. Lightning all the way to Dallas.  I even passed a slower moving semi and that driver had his TV on the passenger seat and was watching it!!  I do not agree with that at all but is it any different from glancing at your map while driving, drinking, eating, using the CB or phone??????  I had a trucker pass me with a GOAT in the passenger seat!  I about drove off the road when seeing that one. 

 I arrived at my reciever at 9:45!  I was happy with that time as we need to be here my midnight and my personal goal is 10 pm.  Soon I head northbound for home.  For some reason I am not tired so I keep on rolling and watch the lightning. I stop for fuel at the same place I tried to stop going to Dallas.  I purchase 165 gallons. 

When I left, a 4-wheeler followed me and stayed behind me from the truck stop to just nano seconds from the ramp of I-40.  It was then that this idiot jumps into the left lane goes around me and squeezes in front of me and behind another big truck at such a speed he SWERVED into our lane.  Its a wonder he did not hit any of us, or I hit him. Its even more amazing he did not roll the vehicle.  OK, the signs for this exit have been up and readable to all so why did this idiot do this stupid thing???  I have learned to watch for this and perhaps that saved 3 of us from an accident or at least me.  And the public wants to know why there are wrecks between us and them!!!  And all think it is our fault.  It takes us a football field to stop this rig and maybe even longer.  Law enforcement is now doing something about this.  In the latest trucking magazine, the State of Washington is now having police ride with the drivers to report this activity and the cop waiting will pull car over and give out a ticket.  (many more states are now doing this.) I make it back to the office and park the truck and go home.  This trip pushed me over the 300,000 mile mark on tractor trailer.  Thats something considering I never wanted to drive a semi to begin with!  Its a wonder how I ever got  just over the 300,000 miles accident free so far with the stupidity on the highways.