Some Loads Just Dont Want You To Deliver Them

Sometimes the world just fights you. No reason, stuff just happens. Like in the original Poltergiest when the indian says "Your car, it is angry at you." Perhaps some loads just dont want to be delivered.

Im in a loaner truck, my beloved Edna decided that she didnt really like her drag link assembly and wanted a new one. The loaner truck was behaving reasonablly well for an Intertrashinal. Then I got dispatched on a Sams load to Rapid city. Theres a winter storm coming in that will mostly be a wind event, no problem, I should be up and back before it hits, just in time to get Edna from the doctors office with her new hardware on.

The trailer situation, its like the Bonnie situation in Pulp Fiction. Its one of our vintage trailers, a charming antique. Its DOT inspection is out of date, the mud flaps are hanging on by zip ties and the landing gear is begging for the three pound sledge-o-matic. I get the inspection resolved (it was done and tagged wrong), get the mudlaps secured and beat the landing gear into submission. Nothing bothering me, for some reason, im just ok with it all.

Of course, our contract is up for renewal an so its critical that we dont have a failure on this load. Of course they moved the rigid delivery time to 0400 , cant be early, that counts as a failure. I get the load with just enough time to be a day early but just late enough to be late for the butcrack of dawn delivery time if they move it up a day. So, Ill take a day of layover on isle 5, Bob. of course that puts my favorite load of empty granola bar boxes back down through the Wind Tunnel state (Wyoming) right infront of the gale force winds.

So the cornbinder with a seat thinks there is water in its fuel system. I call dispatch to let them know. We schedule a visit for her to the Dr too. Turns out there really is water in the fuel, It starts shaking like a drunk on the first morning at the Salvation Army rehab clinic under load. Im already committed, so Ill just make the best of it. I call my dispatch again, tell them that Ill get the load delivered even if I have to have it towed there first, make arrangements to dtich the loaner bucket at a dealer and take a rental car back to Denver after. At least Ill get out of hauling a 4000 pouind load in high winds.

Ive been in a really good mood through all of this, nothing bothering me. So out in the no mans land of Wyoming and South Dakota, far outside where normal people and cell phone coverage travel, I stopped at a local watering hole and fed the bulbous cow of a loaner beater some deisel treatment in the hopes of curing her water problem, no effect. Coming down a little 6 percent grade, the Jake brakes decide to take a break. They must have figured that with the water in the fuel, they shouldnt have to work so hard as well. I have 42k in the box, the sphincter tightened a bit to say the least. I kept it in control though, both the truck and that.

No problem, Im within striking distance of the reciever, almost 12 hours early, but close nonetheless. And then the incessent dinging starts from the dash. That peircing discordant musical tone that screams "Turn off engine now, service DPF system". Yeah....Thats not going to happen with 53 miles to go. I call breakdown, explain the situation and ask if its going to derate. They say "Youll know if it does, you have our blessings to keep driving it." So, I drive the remaining 53 miles of rolling hills at about 15 mph up hill and playing Russian Roulette with the wounded Jakes and spoungy service brakes on the downhills alll while listening to the greatist hits of continous alarm buzzers dinging. The Check engine lights, service engine now and DPF warning lights make a lovely blinding display at night.

I made it to the reciever, Ill do my arrival call at 0400 and my empty call. Then bobtail over to the Intertrashinal dealer and drop off this poor ole girl. She did go the distance after all. Ironically, I picked her up from the dealer, apparently they might have missed a few things.

So sometimes that load might not want to get delivered, but I just take it all in stride, laugh about it and make it work.

Davy, I always enjoy when you tell a story and put your creative flair into it! :) I'm glad to hear that you survived this adventure and came out (mostly) unscathed.

Davy, you are a man of great patience. I’m not sure that I would be as patient as you when you get all these defective trailers.

You could come drive at Helwig and never have a trailer issue except the occasional flat tire or burned out light. You would think you died and went to heaven.

Here is a twist. I had a great run last week that I DID want to deliver. Pulp from a paper mill across town from our terminal that went 1200 miles to New Hampshire. I get on the dock, get locked in, and the guy gives me the BOL with the words rejected on it due to minor contamination as the shipper did not clean the trailer prior to loading for this higher end consignee. Currently parked in Maine, to offload this load scratch and dent to a warehouse in central Maine then back to the Midwest. BTW this load did have a flat tire that delayed last home time, now weather layover and load reject will keep me out a 2nd week. Beautiful views out here and NH has the best bacon on the planet! Got a great Avocado, Bacon, Cheddar Sandwich at the service plaza on I-93 south.

Sorry Davy, I'm a little off topic here, been stuck in my truck for 4 out of 5 days in New England.