Credit where its Due

Before i get into this i want all to know that im no ass licker, im not after any brownie points, alot of companys get bad press and the good things they do get shadowed,and i did mention right at the beginning this is about what happens to me, not about the company that i work for,but i do think its quite relevent for what im about to say.I sent a message back to our office over a week ago to ask them i need to get back home by the 25th as my wife flys in that evening Please,now at this time im on my way to Calgary so it isn't as if im just around the corner(probably over 3000 mile away).I haven't had contact with anyone except load offers etc,so while im sat in Winnipeg awaiting another load i started to plan ahead also realising that i will need to take a reset of 36 hrs on the way back as well,im now starting to think this is going to get a bit tight but i await.My load offer arrives a load out of Jamestown North Dakota for Moncton New Brunswick which is about 2 hrs from PEI for thursday morning what a result,this couldn't have been better if i tried to do it myself, so i thank the guys for sorting this out for me, i haven't had to badger whine or anything else.I need to enter the USA empty, now i haven't done this before so i send a message with regards what paperwork should i present at the border,well i wasn't expecting the reply,just turn up there and tell them what your doing and you will be fine was the answer.Now im thinking oh yeah that sounds right, seeing what ive come across in the past, if i do that im going to end up with a full body and internal search,(no sir they really are piles)sorry !!! anyway i thought i would create my own document, i need to have something so after a bit a creativity i ended up with a trip sheet and off i went slightly nervous i must admit.I arrived at the Border crossing at Emerson Mb and presented to the very nice lady my Fantastic document,and then babbled of some lame excuse that i haven't crossed Empty before.I think she was well impressed at my handiwork because she just kept turning it over and over,looking it over and over again.After a little consoltation i was told to go over to the xray machine then back on to the bays behind the building when finished, then report to the office when i had done that (she kept hold of my passport)oh no i thought shall i get the vaseline out cos those hands off hers looked really big.I was told to sit in the corner this might take some time, I wasn't on my own here so i felt slightly releaved.After a cab search i was handed my passport back and was told to Have a nice day, in which i did with slight releavement.So i headed for Jamestown which is a small town between Fargo and Bismark,where i stayed that night,I loaded handy in the morning they even had a weigh bridge there so i could make sure everything was good to go,back to the truckstop to fax all paperwork through to the broker, then i was off i wanted to get to Toronto Sunday evening.I crossed North Dakota into Minnesota,then into Wisconsin where i parked up just before the state line with illinois for the night.Next morning i planned to skirt around Chicago this time, i made the mistake last time of travelling through it and the traffic was horrendous, so ignoring Mr Tom i kept on straight down the i39 to the i80 which kept me well clear,leaving illinois and entering Indiana before Driving into michigan and heading for Detriot, the bridges on the Heighway seem to get lower and lower one at 13-6 im expecting some skimming at any moment but we were good.To enter into canada you have to go over The Ambassador Bridge then you come up to the check points there must have been about 20 trucks in front and only 2 points open, derr!!.It certainly reminds you off home when you head out of Windsor the signs were for Tilbury, Chatham, London,have ive been teleported back to the M25, no we weren't in a traffic jam phew!!!I parked in Milton just outside Toronto,nice little place with free internet and ready for a quick off in the morning to beat the Toronto rush week.Heading out of Toronto for Montreal, i must admit i started to feel a bit down and maybe a little homesick, this is probably the first time ive missed home,i miss not being in the local with my mates, i miss not being around my family i even nearly started to miss the mother in law,OMG what is up with me,maybe after so many drab, grey, foggy, snowy days have taken its toll.I stop at Belleville for diesel,this place isn't the most upto date place i have been to and the actually showers might not be the newest, but it is probably the best one i have ever had, the jet is so strong its like having a message.Feeling fully refreshed im now ready to tackle the Montreal traffic man the guys there do like to weave in and out you really need to be on your toes they come at you from all angles (maybe they take there driving test in Paris).I wanted to get to the Irving at St Liborie for my reset where its clean and free internet (have you noticed a pattern free, free, free)But also it only leaves me with a 10 hour drive to Moncton and a very nice drive it is as well.So im all set to be back on P E i thursday and truly it can't come quick enough.

Calgary to Edmonton

The last time i was in Calgary was last summer when we flew over to visit my wifes cousins who lived there at the time,what a contrast in weather it was about 90 odd degrees then,this time well it was bloody freezing with snow.I made it to the flying J truckstop for a big scrub up after the pig incident,to say i was minging was a bit of an understatement and anyone who knows me knows that i like to keep very clean, i cant wear the same clothes twice even if they have been on for a couple of minutes, i even get back into the shower because i feel that im not clean enough (i know im very strange)and this leaves a very big washing pile.I could quite easily have 3 showers a day but as this would become quite costly, most truckstops charge you $10 a throw,unless you have a loyalty card which you can use when you are fueling etc, in which you can redeem things such as showers, so if you work it right you can get a least one free shower a day.Remember to keep all receipts as you can claim the cost of these back off your tax at the end of the year.So im sat there all clean and i have met up with another one our drivers for a bit of dinner and a chin wag before i got a little sleep.I had to do 2 deliverys very early in the morning ,1 in Calgary and 1 in Edmonton which is about 200 mile north of Calgary,4 pallets dropped and off i set of up heighway 2 this was where the fun started,its snowing like mad i can't see the heighway then the fog decended on me, i couldn't see 10 feet in front of me so i reduced my speed to about 55mph, this being a bit slow for other drivers behind as they kept coming past me as if im parked up,which sort of made my path a bit easier as i could follow in there tracks well for a bit anyway.I like to think im a pretty good sensible driver i know what my limits are and i don't get paid enough to drive like a mad man in this weather, unfortunately for a couple of the trucks that had flown past me they obvisously didn't realise thet were out of there depth,about 10 miles up they road there were 2 of them who had just passed me jack knifed in the big central median.I think they will be a little late for there delivery now.This journey seem to take forever, by the time i hit the city limits i was struggling to keep my eyes open, thus missing a turning and ending up well i didn't know.Eventually i made it to my delivery point, onto a bay straight away and tipped within 1/2 hour,first job truckstop then shower, sleep.I had my 10 hrs of then i got a message to reload back out of Calgary for Winnipeg so off i trotted,i was greeted with please drop your tralier and come back later a time was discussed and off i went happy.My delivery in winnipeg was for 3am friday morning, which after a little working out meant i could get to moosomin sk, take 10 hrs off then reach my delivery point on time which i did,i was told that they would give me a shout in a little while, so of to sleep i went.Eventually tipped a few hrs later, i headed off to Headingly Flying j for yep another shower some breakfast and a hot cup of tea,while i wait for another load to take me further back east i need to get back for next thursday as my wife flys in that evening.

This little Piggy didn't want to go to Market

I parked up on the border at North Portal on the USA side for the night,wanting to get a good start i got up pretty early,Now i have taken to driving in shorts,soon as i get out i put some traccy bottoms on,not this morning though,the entry into Canada is only a small customs point i drove up to the window and waited,after a couple of mins a guy shouted at me from another window to come over to him,so i duly got out with my papers and proceeded up to the window.The customs guy sort off looked at me gone out i don't know why,he told me to come into the office or dear i thought there must be a problem, but no he stamped my paperwork and said he couldn't leave me standing out there like that, heres me stood there in shorts and a t shirt no socks and trainers off i went, when i got back to the truck the reading on the thermometer was -28 he must of thought i was a right plonker.I set off through saskatchewan through the fog and got a call on the CB that there was a truck ahead in trouble one of his pigs he was carrying had escaped and running along the heighway,as i got up to the truck i saw this guy struggling so i pulled alond side to trap this dude from running off,and out i got to lend a hand there i was again in shorts and t shirt with another driver chasing a pig up and down the Trans Canadian what people must of been thinking as they drove past, we got the pig up to the side of the trailer opened the side door and tried to lift him in well i got the back end and my god did it stink as were trying to lift him in the other pigs are trying to get out he's kicking and snorting and im gettin covered in s**t.We managed to get him in, in the end and i sent off stinking so there i was spraying myself with fabreezetill i got to the Flying j in Calgary where i quickly darted off for a shower.So i made it over here, delivery in the morning then off to edmonton.

Happy Presidents Day

Today is Presidents day in America, as the UK is now the newest State in America i thought it would be apporiate to go with it.There has been a big change in the world over the last few years and unfortunately it hasn't always been for the good.At the moment Barack Obama has just passed his first year in office and hasn't he had a tough time, unfortunately for him he came into office while america was left in ruins by one George Bush (Tony Blairs puppeteer).We are in a global war with terrorism but haven't we learn't that the only way forward is negotiation, how many years were we at war with the IRA before the good friday agreement.9 11 was terrible but we haven't moved forward since that day if anything we've gone backwards making the USA and the Uk public ememys no1.There seems to be alot of unrest here at the moment when you speak to people over here, the quest of what seems global domination by the Americans, maybe oil does speak volumes.Over the years there certainly has been some colourfull presidents MR Bill i didn't have any sexual relations with that lady Clinton who was very well liked to the Actor Ronald we will just tax tax tax everyone Reagan.Now in this new era the first Black president who is trying to change things (probably a bit to much) isn't it time now for a New Beginning and to make Peace to the rest of the world. Happy Hoildays

A Guilty Trip

Since arriving over here i have met some great people one being a guy called joe who came over to Canada later on last year,we have sort of clicked, he has really hepled me with loads of info and has been teaching me german (although i don't think what i have learn't will be much use in everyday talking) so thanks mate,Iwas introduced to his lovely wife susanne on skype the other day i know that March can't come quick enough when she comes over for good, he was already parked up for the day when i arrived at Carneys Point so off we went for dinner.He got a load offer for the morning running to Calgary and Edmonton he was looking forward to that since alot of our work revolves around the Eastern Seaboard.He gave me a knock next morning to tell me that the load was cancelled and he had one back to Moncton, i left him with it and went back to sleep.I had to kill some time as i hadn't anything so i went off to do the washing (no rest for the wicked)There i was in my own little world when another one of our drivers came in to ask me to call the office.I was greeted with we have you a load to Calgary and Edmonton apparently the load was back on again and needed loading asap so i greatfully accepted with a tinge of guilt beause joe was looking forward to doing this so sorry mate.I sorted out everything and set of for gloucester NJ a load of grapes was the order of there day.While sorting out the paper work looked at the delivery date bloody ell this is a truck not a jet anyway after sitting down and working out a route etc with a map and Mr Tom i calculated i could just about do it using everything to hand, fingers, toes, matches etc then i realised that Alberta is 3 hours behind Atlantic time so this gives me more time Nice.It doesn't matter where we are we always run on on home time (Atlantic time so when we travel west we should always arrive early).So i set of for Philledelphia then out on the i76 for pennsylvannia and on to Ohio where i called it a night.I always have a brew before going to bed just to wind down unfortunately due to the milk taking a turn for the worse i had to do without.So a little sleep is in order ready for the next few long driving days.

A Time for Reflection

Its certainly can be a lonely place sat in a truck for nearly 40hrs especially when you have encountered problems,it gives you plenty of time to digress the situation and reflect what could of been done to avoid this,i try these days not to get into confrontations i found from my passed it only seems to back fire so i try and walk away sometimes easier said than done,having said that i stick to my guns on this one, there is no way i'm am been treated like that by anyone and i wouldn't expect anyone else to do so.I was asked to call the office and explain what went on,in which i did,i didn't need to glamourise anything or make anything up in fact i did leave out the taunting while i was getting reloaded by the gimp i think he was disappointed he didn't get a response, and that i made him stand out in the cold while i was in my warm truck because he thought it would be funny not to give me my paperwork back while walking back to the truck well he who laughs last as they say.There are so many things that start going through your head, basically i don't need this, im so close to Newark airport it would be so easy to jump on a plane back to Manchester but why should i let some A*****E get in the way of my future,i don't think i ever got close to that descision but it did go through my mind.I received a message to mark a layover down for the previous day i didn't expect that but thanks,then i got a message a new load offer for the load i had on, delivery in Newark and they would recieve straght away so off i set and arrived about 40 mins later,what a contrast to The Evil Twins, the Guy Santiago was so nice, happy and friendly it sort of restored my faith in human nature.Whilst unloading i was to recieve another load offer from Glassboro NJ to Toronto by heck these were coming thick and fast now so i greatly accepted need to make up a few miles now so off i went.This load was booked in the next morning so off i set for a 8 hour drive back up to Canada, Straight on the bay and unloaded i headed of for my rest.Shortly after awaking im offered another load from Cambridge ON back to Moncton NB and was told the tralier was already loaded, result i can get on my way,Unfortunately there is always something to kick you when your down i just got on the Heighway and i heard a big bang luckily for me im only 1 km from a service plaza so off i pulled after a quick look i rang the shop and explained what happened,now ive been sat on the side of the m6 for hours waiting for a fitter to come out before now, so i wasn't expecting anyone to come out soon,how wrong was i just as i was nodding off a guy appeared bloody hell that was quick.He sourced out the problem and i was on hand to help (well actually i nipped off to macdonalds for a quick bite to eat sorry),Well the week got better just before i set off i was asked if i could do a change over at woodstock and do a delivery back in New Jersey for Friday morning (today)so readily accepted which takes me up to where i am at the moment, i ran down to the flying J at Carneys Point NJ and not expecting a load for a day or two, gives me some time to get a bit of rest and do the weekly chores, yep the washing needs doing and while the maid isn't on hand i will have to do it myself,speaking of maids i'm on the countdown of 13 days till she comes out for a couple off weeks i can't believe it will be nearly 3 months since i left the UK and to say the next 2 weeks can't go quick enough is a understatement.As for what will happen when i get back to PEI im not sure, the company haven't indicated what will happen,but there is one thing for sure im not going back to deliver at Goshen NY.

The Evil Twins

The title says it all, i was warned about these w*****s before i set of on my next trip,a load of potatoes for Goshen NY.Loading out of PEI saturday morning for a 3pm delivery sunday afternoon,no probs,i ran all the way down to chelmsford massatuchetts then parked up for the evening leaving me with a 4 hr drive for the next day.The macro was bleeping as i was having breakfast saying they would take the delivery early if i wanted to get on my way,sound i thought of i headed towards New York sun blarring and premier league football on the satelite radio what more could one ask for.Arriving 2 hours early i thought this was going to be a good day well how wrong was i this is where it took a massive downturn,after being told by one of the guys where to take my paperwork i headed to the office,knocked on the door and waited iwas greeted by somone shouting at me in these exact words (sorry for the the swearing in the next few lines)the f*****G things over there, sorry i said i dont understand what you mean, the f*****g tote is there get it on your truck and f**k off,ive come with a load for you not to collect anything i said,he ripped the notes out of my hand then threw them back at me saying im not booked in,now trying to keep cool and trying to explain that i was, and i was early, it just went over this guys head,ok i said when do you want it,his reply was tomorrow,No probs sir i said still trying to restrain myself see you tomorrow.I had just got to the door when he came running to me let me have those notes and back on to the door when its free,I said i thought it wasn't booked in rather scarcatically, i thought you were someone else he said.I was unloaded pretty quickly so i went back to the office to retrieve my notes now this is where it all went down hill,i knocked on the door it opened some papers were thrusted into my hand then the door slammed, nice i thought except they weren't mine,so i knocked on the door again to be met with a barrage of verbal abuse after explaing that these weren't mine i tried to enter the office to show him he pushed me back through the door shounting f**K off your not aloud in here, obvisiously by now i lost it telling him what i hought of him etc and if he ever put i finger on me again i would rip his head off,thus enter the other Evil who came out shouting etc,i walked off back to the truck to send them a message explaining the situation,whilst awaiting a response they sent out one of their what i would called young gimps out telling me that i had the wrong PAPERWORK well f**k me i said i wondered what all the commotion was about.Off i headed back to the office a pretty regular trip now,knocked on the door to be greated with we want $80 off you for your paperwork so yep i replied well you can guess by now what i said,i also said if i dont get the paperwork back now load the truck back up. so thats where im at at the moment the truck was loaded back up and all paperwork was given to me by the gimp and off i headed to the nearest truck stop.So now im not sure what is going to happen i know i should off just driven away and got our transport team to sort it out, but there is no way on gods earth am i going to let some foul mouth,intolerable,abusive, bully talk or try and treat me like that.Maybe the company will want to either sack me for pulling the load back out or request i leave, and if thats the case i will leave head held high,i will finish this trip and when i get back to PEI decide on what to do.Until then !!!!!!!!!

Haulage the world over

Let me remind myself how long ive been doing this job,hummmmm yep 20 years, so why on my first trip out am i a nervous wreck.Ok things are done different over here but surely its got to be the same wherever you are.My first run was pretty straight forward i had been there a week before so i had a good idea which way to head for,I was pennsylvania bound leaving saturday for a 8am booking monday morning,plenty of time to meander through New brunswick then down to Maine, then taking in a couple of other states before arriving in pennsylvannia.I arrive in the yard we had just had over 10cm of snow and gale force winds that had closed the Confederation Bridge for the last 12 hrs,Right all the paperwork in order,what do i do next, der!!!!! blank i can't think Calm Down Calm Down i kept saying, Ok Pretrip i must admit it wasn't as thorough as the one i did on my test but it was ok,right lets get my trailer engage reverse let clutch out and roll nope i just sit there in the same spot, i'm stuck not going anywhere right ive seen this done rock it back and forward that works, nope not for me after about half an hour a quick call "Blaine im stuck i need a hand"just rock it back and forward i was told or see if anyone in the yard could pull me out the long and short of it was i was being a bit girly with it and not giving it loads as another driver showed me what to do.I set off not long later and was doing ok now,i need to fuel up so at one of the Irving Big stops i pulled into,now i put my gloves into the side locker (that is relevant as you are about to find out)i filled one tank up then the other, now i need to fuel up the reefer so i need to pull the truck forward for the pump to reach, i reach for the handle, Nothing happened, in the cold light of day Cold being the opperative word it was minus 16 now ive only gonna locked myself out.After one almighty OH F**K the driver who was on the pump opposite came over to me after some dissucission we decided that i try to climb in(well pushed in) the side locker and through the underneath of the bed Well it worked so many thanks to the guy From Day and Ross who gave me one massive shove up luckily im pretty slim and at least it put a smile on his face.I went on my way Releaved to say the Least parking up in Massatusettes for the night.After waking mid morning and some cornflakes im ready for the off what a beautiful day for an 8 hour drive the sun was blaring down all afternoon what an absolute pleasure it was.I arrived at the customers that evening and relaxed with a 40 year old virgin nooooooo the film not a women (emma).After tipping my reload was from the Port of Wilmington in Delaware now not having a TWIC card im not allowed onto the docks because i haven't gotton security clearance by the Pentagon or someone from the whitehouse except if i pay them $25 im now allowed in, Magic or is this just a form of racketeering,IM loading Clementines bound for Toronto,now i had 18 empty pallets at the front of my trailer and due to the pallets of my load being double stacked i asked the nice gentleman on the fork truck if he wouldn't mind if he took them off and put them back on at the rear,well you would of thought i had asked him to unload the entire ship by hand the way he went of on one.19 Pallets later and clearance by the U S customs (this was a bonded load) im on my way first stop Flying J at Carneys point NJ for fuel for me and the truck and a nice free shower.We arrived in Toronto the following day i ran up with another driver Joe, thanks for all your help with the paperwork etc,we were empty within 20 mins, off to park up for a bit.My reload out of Toronto was 10 mins away so of i trotted off there, straight on a bay 2 hours later loaded and on my way back to Moncton NB which is just short of 1000 miles and plenty of time to do it.I made my booking in plenty of time then headed back to P E I.So after all the commotion, i made it unscathed and live to fight another day,the driving maybe different due to the distances etc but it sure is a lot less stressfull than sitting in the traffic back home i couldn't imagine trying to cover these distances in the uk or europe for that matter.