Runaway Truck!

 Not long after getting the truck back, by the way, they hadn't take care of any of the extra things they had asked me to make a list of; I was helping out on another account. This route took me to Vegas. Was I looking forward to doing something different? I always prided myself on  being adventurous must be age, cos I would rather keep things familiar, if I can help it, nowadays.

What is this? A Christmas tree?

Friday afternoon traffic on the I-15 north. The foot is on the brakes a lot! (Thank goodness someone just turned on the A/C where I am. I was too lazy to even turn on the fan. sidebar). I noticed that I wasn't getting the oomph I needed on the brakes. I would keep pressing the pedal harder and harder onto the floor. We’re going downhill; cars everywhere, my freaking truck won’t brake. I pushed the hazards (flashers), luckily the guy to my right immediately made space for me. Trucks aren’t usually allowed on the fastest lanes in urban areas (not urban as in Black people). This came in handy when I needed to get off the road. There wasn’t much of a shoulder this part of the freeway but I had no choice. I got off the passenger’s side of the truck and put my orange cones behind truck. So much traffic! This time, I had cell service. But I may not have needed it because I turned off the truck for a bit, checked around for any irregularities,made sure the connections between truck and trailer were in tact. I start the truck again and it seems ok. I crawled a bit and tested the brakes. Of course, I had no idea what I was doing but I was banking on my common sense  brakes were working. I pulled over a few times on shoulder to test and everything seemed to work. It was already late afternoon, so I didn’t want to drive into the night. 

I’d lost one of my trailer mud-flaps when I pulled over the first time. Not sure how that happened but I grabbed it and put it in the truck in case I got pulled over. Not far down the hill is a scale house. My transponder (it signals for you if you have to go into the scale house or not  it’s located in truck) went red. That’s a sign to stop at scale. I was like, man, this is awkward! Let me quickly visualize myself getting out of here in one piece. The cops can randomly pull you aside after you weigh and do an inspection on your truck. Lo and behold, this happened that day! When it did, I just had to breathe. My wish was to make it to Vegas that night. 

The officer was nice. We started off with basic things such as checking my signals (indicator), left! I’d do left and he would keep telling me left as if I didn’t just signal, so I would just do the right. I’m like, is this guy one of those people who don’t know their left from their right? Ayways, whatever, dude! Then, he went under my truck. What? They do that? He got on those wheeled pallet like things that mechanics use to go under cars. He rolled his ass right under the truck and did a thorough inspection. “Brakes! Brake! Brake! Turn of engine, on! Off! Mam! Please come out, I wanna show you something!” Whoa! This just got real! He showed me a hole on my brake line. What the freaking f*ck! This thing had me stranded for hours on the I5 just recently, now, it’s got me on the I15! What is this? He told me all the air was going out that hole when I apply brakes. It wouldn’t be safe for me or other road users for me to drive that truck. I was then told to go on the parking lot and figure out a way forward. Great! Just great! Did I mention I was loving this new account so far? Hashtag sarcasm. 

I called for help  they arranged for mobile service to come out  they got to me at night. Long waiting periods based on traffic alone, let alone, the line to get to me. The guy worked on the truck while I slept. He left, came back and worked on it some more. It was 2am and there was someone under my truck! Eventually, he got done. I start truck and drive off. The thing died right there in the parking lot! I couldn’t believe my luck. Probably should’ve tested it before the guy left but half asleep and everything else. I called again for help. Long story short, I was at the scale location for a total of 30 hours! I’m not kidding. In those 30 hours, I kept getting calls from some annoying woman in the office asking me for eta (estimated time of arrival) in Vegas. They could’ve sent someone else to take that load from me but I guess they didn’t have anyone or didn’t want to.

Finally made it to Vegas where I had to replaced a docked trailer. That meant, dropping my trailer on the side, hooking up to the one on the dock, dropping that on the side, hook up back to mine, dock it and then hook up to the other one and leave. Confused? You’re lucky this is not your problem. The worst thing that can happen in thus scenario is to end up leaving with the loaded trailer you brought with you. Back to California with an empty trailer. I did this run a few more times and didn’t hate it. Normally, I would arrive in the evening, spend the night in the store parking lot, deliver first thing in the morning when the warehouse opens, then do the trailer dance and head back to Cali. I know someone who’s on this account. We went to trucking school together, one of the only people I’m still in touch with from there. He loves this account and has been on it from day one after running cross country with his trainer. 

Most of the folks from my class are no longer with the company. I wonder why? 

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Thanks for reading 

Just stumbled upon the very list I took to the shop!