The Trucks Are Not Ready!!!

Thursday morning, August 14, 2008 we arrived at Werner Transportation yard, their Fleet Sales Division to get the trucks that had gone from one dispatch office to another. 9 am we were there and ready to get to work.

Three of the trucks were parked in the lot, the fourth one was still in the body shop being repaired. I figured this would be an ideal time to get the available trucks inspected while we waited for the arrival of the other one. One of the perks with these trucks was two of them would be full of fuel for this trip. It turns out that the two trucks full of fuel were assigned to Joe. We made a decision to change the truck assignment then inform the dispatch office later.

Continuing in my inspection, one truck has a noisy sound that is not "normal" to my ears. There is a very loud air hissing noise coming from behind the cab. Go inside to the Fleet Sales Manager and inform him there is a problem with one of the trucks. A service person is called to check this out. I continue with my inspection. The next truck I inspect is the one I will drive. The tail lights are not very bright and when the left turn signal is one both rear lights flash, same happens when I turn on the right signal. Back into the managers office to tell him there is another problem.

There were a total of five trips into the manager's office to have service out.

The truck with the hissing noise, the governor failed (haven't a clue what that is except it has something to do with the build up of air for the air brakes and other items that use air - wipers and windows).

The truck with the rear lights blinking, the ground post had rusted badly enough it had broke off the truck frame. The service person had to do some torching and soldering to get that post reconnected to the frame.

From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. we messed with these trucks until we finally got hooked up. All day long working on these trucks that we were told "Were Ready and Have to be in Clint by Monday". Part of the job, just deal with it.

Our plans of being home for the night were off. One more night on the road in a hotel then home to our own bed.

We took Interstate 80 out of Werner Transportations lot in Omaha, Nebraska. Cross the river into Iowa and merge onto Interstate 29. Take I-29 to exit 10 and get on Iowa State Road 2 over the river that divides Iowa and Nebraska on another border and onto Nebraska State Road 2. Take this road to US 75 at Nebraska City, Nebraska and take that road all the way to Interstate 70 in Topeka, Kansas.

Going down US 75 we first encountered rain passed Nebraska City, within two miles the rain had some hail in it. This is a two lane road with twists and turns, oncoming trucks splashed my windshield with a huge amount of water my wipers could not keep up. This rain and hail lasted for more than 15 miles. I was on the edge of my seat and just this side of panic by the time I got through the worst of it. I made it through and no one suffered, all turned out well. We passed out of the storm and you would not know there had been one.

Dawson, Nebraska is a small town divided by US 75. This little hamlet is about six blocks long, and maybe just as many wide. About four years ago, the last time I had been through there, this little town looked like it was on the brink of falling down. Going through Dawson on this day the town looked as though it had perked up. There is a fairly steep grade in this town and trucks in the past would go through with their engine brakes rumbling. I have often wondered how upset the towns people would get being woken in the night by the loudly rumbling engine brakes and hear that loud noise during the day. This would be almost constant because it is a major road for truck traffic. Going through the town on this day I noticed a sign just before entry that "Engine Braking Is Prohibited". The towns people must finally be getting some sleep. That might be the reason the town looks to have perked up.

One of our stops on US 75 is near Hiawatha, Kansas. The Sac and Fox Casino. It is out in the middle of no where it seems but there is always a lot of vehicles in their parking lot and several trucks in the truck parking area. We stopped for something to eat and just a couple hours of entertainment. Joe is the only one that left with the money he came with. The machines kept all my money.

We are not going to be home this night. Wichita, Kansas and the Comfort Inn is as far as we are going. It was real late when we finally checked in. I didn't do my paperwork, I just got undressed and went to bed.

Today was spent driving home. We arrived here at 1:30 this afternoon and I have several hours of paperwork to do and a little bit of laundry. Tomorrow, Saturday, we are leaving for El Paso.

14 days remain before we see all of our kids in Colorado. I am getting excited.