Oil Well Fracking All Over

Been a busy 90 days, probation is over, 25,000 Tanker miles in , some of the worst Winter weather in history 35 below Zero and to many Blizzards to count. Been to PA & Wyoming, got back from Killdeer ND. last nite , leaving midnite for Newport Ohio for a 4:00 pm delivery. There is Oil and Gas Drilling and Fracking going on all over this country, I deliver the Frac Gel right to the Well sites. By 2020 we will out produce Saudi Oil and be an oil exporting country. 4years ago we were importing natural Gas, we are now exporting it. we need to do this to fix our trade balance and bring the Jobs back here. I'm doing my part to make this Country Energy Independent,,,,, Turbo Dan

I just hope we don't have to wait for 2020 to get some sane prices at the pump. If the Hollywood crowd gets its way, frackin' will be dead and gone by 2020.

Stephen E. Birch

Turbo Dan there's no question - working up there where you're at in the fields this winter is a grown man's job in a big way. I respect you for that. I respect all the drivers that are out there gettin the job done this winter. It's been the toughest winter I can ever remember and still you guys are out there keepin those wheels turnin. I love to see that.

Got back tonite, after I fueled and scaled , I ended up going to the chemical whare house to do a 5,000 gal preload incase some well runs short this weekend. OMG, can't believe what I did yesterday, was about 25 miles south of Wheeling WV. on rt 7 on the Ohio side of the Ohio river, had to go about 3 miles on rt 255 west to the well site. my DM said there would be an escort to take me there, used to that so I would'nt get lost in ND. I soon found out that the roads were so hilly and steep that they ran a lead pick up truck to clear the way for us, the road was paved and center lined, but not wide enough for 2 18 wheelers to pass in most places, and no guard rails with 100 to 200 foot drop offs down from those winding hilly roads. when I figured what I got myself into it was to late, no room to turn around and no turning back. I was pulling and turning up those hills OK till I almost hit the wall,,,,, I have an automated eanton fuller 10 speed with a paddle shifter, I already had it in manual control. as I hit that incline I started downshifting as fast as I could,,, I almost lost it,, engine was lugging real bad and I thought it was going to die and I would be rolling backwards out of controllll. when I got it down to first gear it took every last ft lb of torque to pull my 80,000 tanker rig up that hill. made it up there, unloaded before dark, got set up with the down escort, I followed him with a fuel tanker ahead of me, I was 44,000 pounds lighter but it still was a challenge to get back down. ran the short temperary road to rt 255 where I saw the SIGN, 15% down grade for the next mile, try to pick a safe speed for that. don't remember what gear I was in and trying to slow up with the brakes,, finally found 3rd or 4th gear worked with full engine break without having to use up the breaks. thats how my day was yesterday, at least it wasn't snowing. I guess I can cross mountain trucking off my bucket list, I won't be 66 till may,,,,, Turbo Dan

Wow, that is crazy!

I remember when I was in truck driving school back in '93 the one instructor said, "Whatever you do, don't get off the Interstate in Pennsylvania unless you know trucks can handle the route you're on. Because once you start going up and down those steep, winding back roads there's no going back."

He had a similar experience to yours.

I had one similar to yours also and it happened to be in Pennsylvania actually. I was pulling a food grade tanker. I had to take it to a tanker wash off I-80 not too far from the center of the state. I got off the interstate and had to go down a 12% grade for about 3/4 mile. I was empty fortunately because that grade was so steep I was standing on the floorboard where it angles up behind the pedals. I mean, I thought I was going to go head over heels through the windshield and onto the hood!

There is absolutely no margin for error in situations like that. Good grief!!!!

Sure glad you made it through that safely! Now you can back to safer things like driving jet-powered dragsters!

Thanks BRETT, I keep thinking I should get one of the new Dash Cams, would have made a great Utube video, also can't wait for the weather to break so I can get ready for the Racing season

also can't wait for the weather to break so I can get ready for the Racing season

Whenever you find out your schedule for this year let me know. I live outside of Buffalo, NY and I very much hope to get to Norwalk, OH and/or Reading, PA for the NHRA events this year. If you won't be at one of those you might be somewhere close enough for me to get to. I almost never travel anymore because I raise some animals but I think this summer I'm going to get a chance a time or two.