First Year Solo. Knight Flatbed

Was the military facility in York u delivered to " in the side of a mountain"?

P.s....For Momma Anne or any other OTR driver that reads this....., is it possible for you to send me links to posts about cooking food on the road? I know there are some in this site but I can't find them and I don't want to make another thread about it.... I'm staying out for 6 weeks this time and the most I have ever done was 4. I usually cook 4 weeks of food at home and bring it to the truck. But I have ran out of food on week 4 right now and I'm already tired of eating this truck stop garbage. I do have a microwave on the truck and I was thinking about bringing my air fryer and/or crockpot to the truck. Also I will need another freezer for the extra food, if anyone has any ideas on which one I should get.... Thanks.

Two sides glad you are doing better, I run swift flatbed, I usually pack / prep for 3 weeks plus and store in a alpicool freezer that is about a 36 qt. It sides behind my passenger seat in front of my cabinet in my kenworth. You can find it on Amazon. It works great. I just slide it out if I need to get in the cabinet. My air fryer is built into my microwave, saves space, and getting cooler I will start using the crock pot more. I’ll still hit a Wally World about every 2 weeks to get fruits or veggies coffe creamer etc. I just time those Walmart trips so i am at a terminal doing a 34 usually and bobtail to it. I allow 1 cheat fast food meal a week. And I force my self to eat in a actual restaurant once aweek as well to get out of the truck and interact with other humans and be civilized. Tonight’s menu is honey bbq chicken strips, steamed and seasoned broccoli and a salad for me and my student

My other half found a bunch of new prep crockpot recipes for me, I’ll get her to send me the link and get it over to you.

And stay with knight flatbed… or do a transfer over to our side of flatbed. Knight swift is a great company with a lot of great people supporting us. I know we have quite a few drivers that have left knight and swift that come screaming back because the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.

George, I wouldn't say the military facility was "in the side of a mountain" unless you are speaking code and I'm missing the whole interpretation haha. It was off of US-30...

Thank you Grinch for your ideas. You are a week late about the freezer haha. I ended up ordering a 10 qt freezer from Amazon. I chose this one because I didn't want anything too big and I could not find an upright freezer slim enough that could slide behind the passenger seat. It's a bit small but it works. It holds 3 bags of chicken and a LB of salmon. In the truck fridge I have another bag of chicken and placed raw spinach leaves in the freezer. Please do send over the link for the crockpot recipes.

Two sides my younger brother used to set up cubicles and office systems for the government. He was lost in Pa one time searching for the site. He was freaking out b/c he was late etc and boss told him he was right the first time but forgot to give him some clearance code or something(been years memory fails me) but once there the mountain literally opened up to let him in. He was a little spooked

I have learned a valuable lesson today. I will get to that shortly...

My first day back from home time Im assigned a six stop run going to FL. First stop is in Acworth, GA and the other five are in FL, from Jacksonville to Orlando... I get to the trailer and as usual I don't like how it is loaded.... Side note.... I really do not like going to that Hydro plant in Cressona. It is a total cluster ****. That is our main account and where all the loads come out of. You would think I would have gotten use to it by now but no.. Seems like there is always a problem when I go in there, very rarely does everything run smoothly.... but anyway, while securing the load I hit myself in the face with the winch bar while tightening the strap. Not hard enough to break teeth or anything but i do have a fat lip now, that **** hurt haha. After im done securing the load I have to wait to tarp. There are drivers everywhere blocking everything, it's chaos. Starting to lose patience I quickly calm down. It's Friday and the first appointment is Monday so I have time, everything is fine.

Finally after spending 5 hours in that place I'm able to leave. I get weighed and I'm 70,500 LBS. It was daylight when I went in now it is dark. I don't feel like driving that day so I head over to the terminal and rest. The next day I wake up ready to hit the road. I go to my favorite place, the waffle house! and enjoy a good breakfast. I do my pre trip, trip plan and head out... but didn't get very far...

Driving down 81s into Virginia, I get pulled into the weigh station at mm 306 which is normal, I always do. Coming up to the scale house I'm prepared to bypass the scale so I creep over to the left. But the arrow directs me to the scale. I thought that was strange because they always bypass me here. I start thinking am I over weight? Naw... I cant be, Im 70k with a split axle trailer... So I drive onto the scale and it is taking a while for them to give me the green light. Now Im second guessing life itself.... There is no way I'm over weight, no way. Buuut, I was wrong. The guy comes on the speaker and says I'm 1,100 over on the trailer. He tells me to come in to adjust the weight and if I cant, then come inside with my paperwork...My heart sinks...

During the inspection of the trailer back at Cressona I saw that it is a fixed 10ft spread. Haha, I can't fix the weight. Just for giggles and laughs I move the fifth wheel all the way forward. I drive back around and of course it didn't help anything. He then tells me to come inside with my paperwork. I am overwhelmed by my nerves at this point, my whole career flashes before my eyes. I go inside and the guy is extremely nice. He could tell I was nervous because I walked in there without my license, cab card or Ifta paper. He told me to relax and assured me that everything was fine. That my CDL was not at risk, no points were going to be given and it wouldn't go on the DAC report. That is good to know but I still have to hear from Knight and see what they will do about this situation....

After writing the fine he tells me I am free to leave. I don't understand this because I'm still overweight. I have two more states to drive through until my first stop which will take 17k off the trailer. Tomorrow is Sunday but I'm not risking driving through Tennessee hoping their weigh stations are closed. I go back to the truck and call after hours. They tell me to sit tight while they figure it out. I'm prepared to drive back to Cressona to have the load reworked. Which means that Monday appointment time in GA for 8 am is not going to happen and everything will be pushed back... After hours never called back so I drive to the Loves at exit 291. This sucks, I'm still thinking about the situation and what actions Knight will take. I don't want to down play it like it's no big deal because it is. Just have to wait and see now...

This is how the load looks.... Please do not pay attention to my crappy tarping haha. After hitting myself in the face and waiting over two hours to start tarping the load, I just wanted to get out of there. The feight is tarped, it's secure and protected from the elements, that's all that matters haha.

But in the photo you can see how the load is a good 10-12ft from the front of the trailer, everything is towards the rear. Like I said, I didn't like how it was loaded and even shook my head at how far back they loaded this but I never thought it would be overweight. In my ignorance as a rookie, I thought since the axles are split then everything is fine. Also, I have been heavier than 70k and had no issues but now I see that the placement of the load made the trailer axles over by 1,100 LBS. I know this is completely the drivers fault. I should have went to a Cat scale and got weighed. For now on, any load over 35k will be getting weighed at a Cat scale.

This really sucks, plan A went astray in Cressona, this was plan B that is now a wash. Plan C is to go back to Cressona and get reworked. Like I said previously, nothing ever goes as planned.... Hopefully it won't turn into a plan D and E.....

Why didn't you weigh it immediately upon leaving the shipper? Any overweight ticket with Knight will be on you.

I have learned a valuable lesson today. I will get to that shortly...

My first day back from home time Im assigned a six stop run going to FL. First stop is in Acworth, GA and the other five are in FL, from Jacksonville to Orlando... I get to the trailer and as usual I don't like how it is loaded.... Side note.... I really do not like going to that Hydro plant in Cressona. It is a total cluster ****. That is our main account and where all the loads come out of. You would think I would have gotten use to it by now but no.. Seems like there is always a problem when I go in there, very rarely does everything run smoothly.... but anyway, while securing the load I hit myself in the face with the winch bar while tightening the strap. Not hard enough to break teeth or anything but i do have a fat lip now, that **** hurt haha. After im done securing the load I have to wait to tarp. There are drivers everywhere blocking everything, it's chaos. Starting to lose patience I quickly calm down. It's Friday and the first appointment is Monday so I have time, everything is fine.

After writing the fine he tells me I am free to leave. I don't understand this because I'm still overweight. I have two more states to drive through until my first stop which will take 17k off the trailer. Tomorrow is Sunday but I'm not risking driving through Tennessee hoping their weigh stations are closed. I go back to the truck and call after hours. They tell me to sit tight while they figure it out. I'm prepared to drive back to Cressona to have the load reworked. Which means that Monday appointment time in GA for 8 am is not going to happen and everything will be pushed back... After hours never called back so I drive to the Loves at exit 291. This sucks, I'm still thinking about the situation and what actions Knight will take. I don't want to down play it like it's no big deal because it is. Just have to wait and see now...

But in the photo you can see how the load is a good 10-12ft from the front of the trailer, everything is towards the rear. Like I said, I didn't like how it was loaded and even shook my head at how far back they loaded this but I never thought it would be overweight. In my ignorance as a rookie, I thought since the axles are split then everything is fine. Also, I have been heavier than 70k and had no issues but now I see that the placement of the load made the trailer axles over by 1,100 LBS. I know this is completely the drivers fault. I should have went to a Cat scale and got weighed. For now on, any load over 35k will be getting weighed at a Cat scale.

This really sucks, plan A went astray in Cressona, this was plan B that is now a wash. Plan C is to go back to Cressona and get reworked. Like I said previously, nothing ever goes as planned.... Hopefully it won't turn into a plan D and E.....

My GOSH, man!! Somebody is getting their workout, mentally and more!!! I'm so SORRY for my momentary absence; husband's carrier sold out, as did my WiFi provider; literally within days. Life's been a struggle 'here' as well, but then again, I've not got the flatbedder cojones (male or female kind!) as you do . . . . l still see what you see; regarding the 'basic' laws of physics, as that appears to be too far to the rear of the trailer.... ouch.

Even so, I guess you'd still be over on weights. . overall .... or no? Gosh, I hate that this happened to you; then again, your company pays for the scales so...why not "just do it ?!?" Ouch.

I'm sure hoping this eventually turned out okay for you, man. . .

And in reply to your initial question (on my new notebook!) I shall leave you with all you asked, and then some, good sir:

All articles/posts: Food and Eating on the Road~

And a great blog: Your Health on the Road !

Part of Brett's inclusion into the TT Career Guide: Chapter 9; Food and Eating on the Road~

I know, lots of info...sorry it took me a minute; hope this finds you healthy and happy (and out of hot water!)

Glad to see ya back; glad to BE back myself, too~!!

~ Anne ~

Pack, to answer your question itbwas a rookie mistake and also bad advice from other drivers here. But I will make no excuses, it was a rookie mistake on my part that I have learned from....

Momma Anne, glad you are back and thank you for those links. I knew I could count on you haha. I tried looking but wasn't able to find what I was looking for, so thank you much!!

About that load, I sent a picture to 2 seasoned drivers here at Knight and an O/O guy I met a while back. I didn't explain anything to them, just the picture and told them the weight of the load. All I asked was for their thoughts on it. The guys from Knight said nothing was wrong with it but the O/O guy said it will probably be overweight on the trailers. I was impressed by his answer. A little disappointed I didn't notice that given the placement and weight, that is something I should have caught before driving...

I can't wait until I'm done with this run haha. It has been one headache after another... On Sunday I called my DM and let him know the situation, needless to say he wasn't happy. He gave me two options, either drive 200 miles back and get the load reworked or keep going.. I want this load delivered just as much as he does and told him my concerns about the weigh stations in Tennessee. I don't usually drive the Southeast so I had no idea if they are open Sundays. He made a few phone calls, called me back and said they would closed. So I made the decision to keep going, probably not a smart decision but I took the risk anyway.

Made it safely through Tennessee and got within 20 miles of my first stop that night. I am 1,100 over on my trailer and the first stop is taking 17k off the rear, whew I'm in the clear. Still I will say it's not something I would do on a regular basis but I'm glad it worked out and I was able to save time and miles....

I wake up Monday and arrive at my first stop at 730 for an 8 am appointment. Everything is going fine until I realize they don't have enough pieces coming off... They are suppose to get 15 pieces but I only counted 12 as the forklift operator was unloading. They are missing 3 6x6 aluminum bars and the only places getting those bars are this stop and my last stop. While he was taking his stuff off I noticed that the bottom 3 bars had another companies name on it. I just shake my head at this point because I realize now that this was loaded incorrectly. The forklift operator says to me, "I bet the missing bars are underneath the tarps in the front, go ahead and untarp the rest so we can take a look" I politely declined that request and told him I know exactly where they are. I know where every stop on the trailer is. I go to the front and lift up the tarp.... They are sitting smack dab in the middle of everything on the bottom haha. That is just wonderful. I tell the forklift operator that those must be yours and he questions me about it. The tag is not visible so he is not sold on the idea that they belong to them but I'm pretty sure those are the missing 3 bars...

He goes to get his supervisor and I call my DM. Surprising to me when I call someone else answers and says my DM is out for 2 weeks and he will be taking over his board for that time. This is bad timing for my DM to be out. I explain the situation to the substitute and he asks me 101 questions. It's understandable because they want to get this situation handled correctly. I take pictures and send them to him. He tells me to sit tight while he figures it out. Meanwhile the supervisor comes out and I show him the bars underneath everything and in the middle of the trailer. I tell him they belong to him but he doesn't want to be responsible for unloading then reloading basically the entire trailer.... He signs my paperwork for 12 pieces and tells me to have a nice day haha. Now I'm thinking my backhaul is a wash because I will have 3 extra pieces on my trailer. I don't leave yet because I'm waiting on a return call from the replacement DM.

After sitting there for 3 1/2 hours the forklift operator comes over to me and says I have to leave. So I put the tarps back on and leave. 20 mins into my drive the DM calls me and asks why am I driving. I tell him I have been sitting there for over 3 hours and they told me to leave. I tell him they refused the load and signed for 12 pieces. Apparently I did something wrong because he tells me to pull over and stop driving, so that's what I did. I wait another 2 hours and call back, no answer. I wait another hour then call again. This time he answers and says he hasn't heard back from operations. I'm now frustrated and tell him I have an 8 am appointment in Jacksonville tomorrow and I haven't made it past Atlanta yet. We get into somewhat of an argument and I told him I'm going to finish this run while they figure it out. I don't understand why I should sit when that place signed for what they received and refused to take the remaining load. I can't force them to unload the trailer to get to their 3 pieces. I have 5 other stops with 2 appointment times. I have to get rolling...

Now Tuesday comes around and I make it to my 2nd stop at 8. That went fine then went to my 3rd stop. It is now that I am able to see the tag on those bars and as I already knew, they belong to the first stop... I call it in and the DM tells me I will have to go back now and deliver them. I'm in Ocala, FL now and I ask him to explain to me why that is a good idea. He tells me because I need to do a backhaul, so I ask him will I get paid for those extra 300 plus miles to go back to Ackworth, GA then from there to my next stop in Beverly hills, FL?? His response to that was the company will lose money if I don't do a backhaul. Oh I see, nevermind the fact that the trailer was obviously loaded incorrectly and this was not a driver error. Make the driver do 700 more miles for free as long as the "company" doesn't lose money.. ok I get it. I can't say I politely declined that request. I told him I wasn't going to do that, this is something corporate will have to figure out, I'm going to continue the run I'm on. I know my attitude maybe out of hand but there is no way I'm doing 700 miles for free. For any company....

Continued.....

Now onto my 4th stop, I was very much turned around and confused. It was going to a job site in Beverly hills but when I got to the place I saw that the way in was not accessible for my big ass truck. So I pulled past the place and found somewhere to pull over. I called the number provided to me but noone answered. I'm not having a good day at that point and I decided to stop for the day and try again tomorrow. I go to a nearby Pilot but it is completely packed, it is 230 pm. I'm perplexed. How is it full at 230 in the afternoon? So I have to find another place to park. I find a TA several miles away and it's almost the same issue. How is 215 parking spots almost full at 3 pm? Does the South not do any work? How is this possible haha. I was able to find a spot there and did the most horrific back I've done in a while. This has been a terrible experience so far and I can't wait to be done with this run and out of hot and humid Florida.

I wake up Wednesday morning and call the place again. The guy answers and tells me how to get into the site. I'm glad I waited because the way he explained was a lot easier then what I was about to do yesterday. I get there and it takes them forever to unload 3 pieces. I have an appointment for my last stop which is looking like I will be late. Finally get unloaded from there and onto my 5th stop. They also take their sweet time unloading me. I am now late for my appointment for my last stop. When they were finally finished I called the last stop and told them I was running late. They said I had to reschedule for tomorrow because they stop unloading at 1pm. That's great, now I have to spend another day in Florida haha. So I go to a Pilot and it is the same issue as yesterday. It is 1pm at this time and the parking lot is almost full. Seriously, do Southern drivers not drive or do they have all night appointments? This is weird to me... Im waiting for this to be over at this point. Right now im just going through the motions, it doesn't even matter anymore. I have one more stop to do which will be done at 6am tomorrow then I can worry about these 3 extra pieces on my trailer....