TRUCK 91832

When securing a load, typically the front portion is all that's between you and the rest of the load. In the event of a hard stop (or accident), I'd prefer the load remain on the trailer and not come forward, that's why I make sure and use more than enough securement. See here how I used TWO straps AND a chain to hold the front in place accompanied by a bulkhead? I usually use extra securement on the rear bundles as well. This helps to prevent material loss and possible injury to following motorists.	Here I couldn't use two straps as the wheel prevented me from positioning a winch over it. What to do? Use a chain if the load permits it!

Beautiful New Mexico!!

Here's a load of Black Griffin Iron Pipe. Five straps per bundle are what secure this load. It's one of my favorite loads as it takes no time at all to secure, requires no tarping and is fairly stable while underway.
Hello everyone, my apologies for not posting here lately. The last couple of weeks have been a bit hectic. One weekend I chose to work, running hard out in the mid west through southern New Mexico. The following weekend I got back on Saturday and had to leave out earlier than usual on Sunday. Thankfully I was able to score a fairly decent weekend this week an so have time to post here. Thus far working for TMC has been pretty much what I expected it to be: Hard work loading and unloading the truck, followed by beautifully scenic travel between destinations. I hear a lot from other company's drivers about this being the slow season but so far, TMC has been ANYTHING but slow. The freight is always there and pays fairly decent. Last week I had to bring my trailer in for regular service while in Ohio and had the brakes done and the T/A (Travel Center of America) also replaced a leaking load leveling valve. Well after a hundred miles or so things started to go wrong. The slightest application of the brakes caused the trailer tires to lock up completely, a fairly frightening experience on dry roads, absolutely deadly in the rain. I pulled into a rest area late that night and got underneath with my flashlight to see what was wrong. Being a fairly competent mechanic I found that trucks are a lot like cars, with the exception that everything is bigger, much bigger! Having only a Leatherman tool and a vise grip, I wasn't sure what I could do but I knew I couldn't proceed with the trailer in it's present state. The first thing I noticed was that the all four air bags comprising the trailer's suspension were completely deflated. Not good. Exploring further I noticed the arm on the load leveling valve was just hanging there. Apparently the genius at the T/A forgot to put a washer on the bolt holding the arm onto its bushing thus enabling it to pull free, dumping all the air from the suspension. I had no replacement washer and now it started to rain, damn it. The solution came from a "borrowed" nut, bolt and washer from one of the mud flaps on the trailer. The repair took about an hour and I was on my way. No more skid marks!!! Well time to go, I've got a birthday party to attend so I'll write more later if I can!
WEEKEND HOME TIME: I've been asked a lot about my home time and I can honestly say that TMC is real good about getting me home on weekends. I haven't missed a weekend yet with the exception of one when I CHOSE to stay out to run "out West". I wanted to go to New Mexico and TMC accommodated my request. I love Southern New Mexico and TMC got me a load near Silver City which ran me diagonally from the Southwest through the Northeast of the state. It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL ride! See some of the pictures by clicking here.
Today's Tuesday and I was supposed to deliver a load of iron rebar to a mining supply company here in Kentucky but as fate would have it, it wasn't to be. While traveling South on Interstate 81 a bearing went on my primary turbocharger and I was dead in the water. The Peterbilt 379 has absolutely NO power without its turbo assist and I was unable to continue. A call to service at TMC had a heavy lift tow truck from Hugh's Body Shop on the scene in a couple of hours and as I type this, the turbo is being replaced at a Carter Machinery, the Caterpillar dealer here in Virginia. See the pictures below. The work should be finished tomorrow when the new turbo arrives via overnight express. My first breakdown with my new Pete was fairly uneventful. I was able to pull over safely, put out my three safety triangles and get help quickly thanks to Mike in TMC's road repair department. Thanks for the quick assist Mike.



My first breakdown and it was Hugh's Body Shop to the rescue! If you ever need help in the Troutville, VA area, Give Hugh's a call at 540-992-2543. They provide 24 Hour Heavy Duty Wrecker Service and are a PLEASURE to deal with. I didn't catch the drivers name but he was fantastic and had me on my way in minutes! Thanks driver for all your help getting my Pete and I off the interstate and safely in for service to Carter Machinery in Salem, VA 540 562-5133. They are the local CAT dealer and their facility is spotless and features friendly, competent service personnel, a real pleasure to do business with! As you can see from the pictures, I was loaded with rebar when disaster struck. It turns out that a bearing went on one of my turbochargers. I'm in a hotel room now while Caterpillar changes out the bad unit.


Here's a load of shingles. Front two and rear two bundles have two 4" straps each while center bundles got one 4" strap each. Both front and rear of load was X-strapped with 2" ratchet binders. Edge protectors were used all around for product protection.

Note the X-straps and double 4" straps on the bundles? THIS load is secure and protected and is the only way shingles can be safely transported.	Here's an example of what NOT to do. This guy used only 1 strap per bundle pair, NO X-straps, NO edge protectors, and strapped on the OUTSIDE of his tarps. In my opinion, his load was NOT secure nor protected from strap damage/crushing.
Delivering the shingle load was an adventure in itself as seen in the pictures below. The customer location was a private residence in an exclusive section of New Jersey accessible only by a narrow winding dirt road. The customer's driveway was narrow, hilly blacktop. To make matters worse, it had just finished raining to create a muddy, soft mess.
	The driveway was barely wide enough for a 102" trailer on the straight sections, never mind on the turns!



Here's where they expected me to turn around! It took 3 pull ups in a CAR for it to turn around, no way was a big truck going to do it!	Here's the drop zone. Soft, muddy, red dirt.
	I finally convinced the contractor that I was NOT taking my truck into that mess and he unloaded me where I was. Getting off the property had me running down a back fire access road, across a small, fragile rock bridge over a stream followed by a hairpin turn back onto the country road I entered on. WHEW I MADE IT!!!
Here's a beautiful rest area in New York State's Adirondack Mountains.
	See those mountains in the background? My Qualcomm routing was sending me right up and over them through the Adirondack State Park, at night, and in the rain. Not me baby. I took I87 North, skirting the park (and bears, deer, mountain lions and more) which cost me about 25 miles added to my "out-of-route" but saving me about 1-2 hours drive time and lots of white knuckle driving!
I feel it necessary to say a word or two about my new fleet manager Tim. At 25 years old (I think) and relatively new to TMC, he's doing a fantastic job getting me profitable and more importantly, deliverable loads. He seems to understand the Northeast's traffic patterns and problems associated with them and rarely, if ever, has requested I make a delivery or pickup that would be physically impossible given the location of the customer. Thanks Tim for a job well done! I'd also like to thank Jeff Steele for selecting Tim for me when I felt my previous fleet manager and I weren't working out for various reasons. Thanks Jeff, good pick! Thanks too to Charlotte North Carolina's Peterbilt dealership for servicing my tractor this week quickly, professionally and with a personal touch. They did a GREAT job! Next week I have to get to a T/A truck stop and have my trailer in for regular service. Let's hope the one I go to does a better job than the T/A in Ohio I had the misfortune of choosing LAST service!
Here's a 45,000 pound coil after tarping. I used 6 chains and snap binders on this one!


	Several drivers have asked how I tarped this coil and why this way so here goes: Using your steel tarp, center it on the load. Pull and secure the 4 corners using 2 bungies each. Alternate adding a bungee or two on left and right sides until load is secured. Finally lay a 4 x 4 across the very front and rear of the load and secure with your nylon straps and you're done. Tarping a coil in this manner accomplishes several things. First it completely protects the coil and is very secure. Second, it allows air to circulate slightly under and around the coil keeping it dry and rust free. Finally, it just LOOKS cool!

A picture of my new friend and fellow driver, Brian Moore. Brian and I met on the road while loading at a customer. Brian is a driver/trainer with TMC and is also currently an active member of the armed forces. We helped secure each others' loads getting done in half the time it would have taken us normally and then spent some time comparing notes about driving for TMC. Stay safe Brian and remember to keep the shiny side up!!!
Here's a series of pictures showing a two stop load of wire spools I loaded in Richmond, Kentucky. One delivered to Illinois and the other to Minnesota. Each row is secured with two chains and snap binders except for the two smaller spools which got one chain each. This load was TALL in the rear so caution had to be exercised when turning corners!






I'm in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend for a week long stay for some training, the details of which I'll share with you all in the next week or so. In the meantime, I'm know I'm going to enjoy my stay here as it started out perfect the minute I walked into the Baymont Hotel's lobby here at the TMC Terminal. Toy, the cute girl behind the front desk, remembered me from the last time I was here MONTHS ago!! She really freaked me out remembering where I was from, that I liked to go swimming as soon as I get here, put me in my favorite room which she also remembered, and more!!! I told her she should go to Vegas and be a card counter. With her memory and friendly disposition, she'd make a FORTUNE!!! Thanks a lot Toy. You make me feel at home far, far from home.
	Two more of the Baymont's Finest. Above we have John and left is "K.J." who I nicknamed "Skittles". They're two of the friendliest and helpful people I've met. Giving me tips on where to eat and what to do while spending time here in Des Moines, IA. Thanks You Two. Hope to see you again!
	Clockwise from the left: Bryce Christensen, Pam Boylan, Lukas Rold and TMC's weekend dispatch. I stopped by the fleet managers' offices today (Saturday) to see who's covering the phones outside normal business hours and had a few laughs with the weekend dispatch crew. Turns out the crew is made up of some "heavy-hitters" including a Team Leader, Load Coordinator and even an Iowa State fan who was in on his day off!

	One of the students in training practices looking good next to a TMC Pete left, while above, The load securement and tarp repair building hums with activity. Below my friend and new TMC driver Kevin Berry poses next to his new ride

	Rebecca
	Matt
Denise	Suzanne
Brianna	Just a few pictures of my friends in TMC's Recruiting Department. After spending a week or two with these lovely ladies i may NEVER want to get back on the road.... hehehe ONLY KIDDING! I actually miss driving in the short time I've been here and can't wait to get "back out there".
	Jason Weems, TMC's IT. technician gets the "flatbed fred" laptop connected to the mainframe at TMC from my temporary office in Des Moines. Thanks Jason!!!
	Training here at TMC is going well and I've met a lot of new friends like Jim Giffin (left) standing beside his BRAND NEW Peterbilt 379. Jim drove road trains in Michigan prior to hiring on at TMC and I'm sure he'll be an asset to the company. I saw him earlier today tossing 80 and 120 pound tarps around like toys as he stocked up his truck at the load securement supply building. He was so good at it that he ended up carrying EVERYONE'S tarps to their trucks for them! He's well on his way to being a true flatbed driver. Below is an 88,000 pound oversize/overweight load that cruised into Des Moines this Friday evening.


	Above, TMC drivers I met while staying at the hotel in Des Moines, Iowa. From Left to Right are: Jesse, Rusty, Stephen, Kevin, a Steelers Fan, Neal and Lorenzo. Left are two of my readers Sharon and Kevin Wright. Kevin just completed his 6 weeks and is in Des Moines to pick up his truck.
My first "load" when I left Iowa to begin my dedicated route job was a "supply run". I brought these three trailers to the East coast to outfit one of the dedicated accounts in Buchanan, NY.

My friends in the office at Des Moines decorated my temporary office space there for my birthday while I was outside loading those trailers seen above. I was surprised! Thanks to all of my new friends at TMC, I miss you all and hope to see you again. I'll have to think of an excuse for attending a meeting there or maybe get myself in trouble with safety so they route me out there for a tongue lashing. (Just kidding Todd)	The Iowa 80 truck stop is awesome! They sell EVERYTHING for trucks! It's like a Toys-R-Us for truckers. More pictures and writings will follow this weekend when I have more time. See you all then!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS !!!


	John Deere Tractors. 10 of them! Going to 4 different locations in the Northeast.
	Firebricks before tarping. 12 4" Straps and 2 2 " Straps used as an X-Strap against forward movement. Edge protectors prevent the bricks from cutting through the nylon straps.

TMC DOMINATES THE LINE AT A SHIPPER IN KINGSTON N.Y.
A load of soft, light insulation boards. Note the edge protectors used and the X-Straps both front and rear. These are used to keep the load from shifting or "walking" during transit. Hardly ANYONE there used this technique unless they worked for TMC. My load also included half-twists on each down-strap. This prevents the wind from catching and vibrating the straps at highway speeds which would damage the fragile load and usually cause your edge protectors to fall out. This load was originally loaded indoors and I was told to go outside to strap. Problem was we were under a tornado watch and it was fairly windy and raining like hell. I asked the shipper if he'd take responsibility if anything went wrong and he assured me he would so out I went. Five minutes later they had a forklift outside with me picking up the 3 bundles that blew off the front and onto my tractor. Guess loading AND securing INSIDE was a better idea after all. From then on that day, EVERYONE secured inside before leaving. No harm done and after several hours I was on my way.




	The load pictured above was of finished board lumber. It was bundled and shrink wrapped before loading making it fairly difficult to secure properly. It was VERY springy near the ends and damaged easily. The shipper recommended 2-straps per bundle. I used 4. At 78,500 pounds, 6 straps would not have been enough but 12 worked perfectly. I then used padding tarps both front AND rear topped off with 2 full lumber tarps. This one took close to 3 hours to complete because I had to secure it outside after closing without benefit of a ladder or wind-free conditions. Close to 250 bungee cords were also used to hold all the tarps in place.