How can people do this?

2 June, 2008. Monday

Did I miss a day?

23:00. I feel like hell. Note to self, do NOT drink soda on this job.

Drove through Kentucky and an Tennessee. Some really pretty highway. There's also a stretch of about 10 miles or so with 6% grades - up and down. Not nasty the way the ride down from the Eisenhower tunnel is, but still fun.

Got into Atlanta at about 23:30 last night, and to the consignee at about midnight. Badly designed yard - if the word 'designed' is applicable. Tight squeeze. Trainer took 4-5 shots before he got backed into the dock. It's just about 60 feet from the front of the trailer to the curb in front of the tractor.

We loafed for a few hours - and they were done with us. That was quick. Apparently this place has a history of .. well, let's just say speed is not an option.

Trainer had to drive around for a bit. Got turned around and lost, for a bit - but got him straightened out. Looking for parking place for the rest of the night. Local QT jammed. Down the road a bit is a Citgo stop.. plenty of parking, but the odor of skank permeated everything and marched aggressively out onto the highway. About 10 trucks parked there, and 30 or so open spots - but this job is dangerous enough. Don't need THOSE problems!

Trainer finally found a spot about 30 miles away - at about 03:00. Crash and burn time. Had to idle the truck, though. Even at 03:00, it was in the upper 80s outside, and muggy as hell.

Today, dropped trailer in Macon, GA, and picked up one loaded with 39,000 pounds of ceiling tiles. Not one of those things you think of when you contemplate the trucks running on the interstate.

Headed north at about 16:30. Missed most of the Atlanta rush hour, but caught the tail of it on the north side. Trainer had us weigh the truck - legal, but balanced all whacked. Slid the tandems and all is good with the world. With the tandems slid, it's my turn do drive.

Just north of Chatanooga, started getting really tired and feeling effects of soda I had with lunch. What's the point of making notes to myself if I never read them? Asked Trainer to drive. Good thing. Corp never came through with out of bounds fueling we'd asked for (getting low). He drove **very** carefully all the way up to Oak Grove, KY (where we'd fueled Saturday). Made it - but he was a wreck when we got here. Little red needle was below the 'empty' bar.

My shifting is improving. It's not good yet, not by any means, but it's far better than it was even just Friday. The future is not completely void, it appears.