Van Buren, AR, USA

I left Little Rock wednesday after considerable research and mission planning. At about 2:30 pm I reported in a day early with my new address (a box at the local UPS Store) and my new social security card applied for at the local office (and a letter stating same).

I got ahead of the paperwork, and then was sent on the shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn in downtown Fort Smith. The desk person wanted to know who the hell I was, since there had been no fax from USA on me. Got that resolved.

Next day I show up for some more processing, and am sent on the shuttle to the Howard Johnson. This time, there was no confirmation fax on me, and the night shift wasn't authorized to do it. After extensive phone ping-pong, they send a cab for me and had it take me here, to the Meaders Inn (a step down, naturally).

Next day I go in and ask the receptionist who was playing childish games with me and why. She said she thought I was this other guy named Ken. Only no other guy had gone there with me. I went to the classroom and met the director of training. I informed him that I exist. "My name is Wile E. Coyote and I exist." Then I told him how I had been dicked around. Later, I told another training person the same thing.

You can't let people treat you like that. You can't be a good sport. I'm sick of people losing this and forgetting that and leaving me hanging, and--because of my history with some Jr. Highschool reject here (identity unknown), suspected that it was deliberate.

Because of my much-delayed drug test (couldn't go), I missed the road-test (yeah, they even test experienced drivers. Fortunately, they're going to test me in my own truck. I haven't driven an automatic in three years--I could have done it in their truck, but would have looked pretty sloppy.)

I had requested several times of several people a separate hotel room, for which I would pay half. But of course this was also ignored, and I got a roomate.

But he was great, and a real american. Former marine TAC, combat vet in Nicaragua. Married, three kids, Jersey native. He'd managed service center from which he'd had a view of the World Trade Centers.

We agreed about literally everything. When the islamofascists bring their war of conquest to your doorstep, and you are thus forced to face certain realities, you will wish the two of us were with you. Until then, you may continue calling us capitalist pigs, or whatever less stigmatized version of same you're thoughtlessly using these days.

Anyway, I got tomorrow (sunday) to go. (They start at 6:30 am--the bastards). Then monday we graduate (I'll get my road test in there somewhere) and they'll decal my truck and stick a new Qualcom unit in it. I'll also meet my Fleet Manager (dispatcher) monday and let him know how I run best.

As I've mentioned, my operations record is impressive, so he'll already know I mean business. However, I sort of expect him not to believe it until I show HIM, which is fine with me. I've heard good things about this guy. (And second-hand bad things...

Ok like a Cal-Ark driver told me that a USA owner-operator had told him that "they" only get about 2800 miles/week. Well, it's a good bet that "they" are married and need home-time and stuff, whereas I am a gypsy. And I don't mind telling you yet again, the odds are heavily against this second-hand source being as good as me. Sorry, it's the truth.)

I was the only owner-operator. Some guys were experienced drivers, but most were students, getting ready to start new carreers. I was glad to spill every tip and bit of advice I could to my roommate, to spare him some of the stuff I learned the hard way.

I told him and other guys not to listen to the bitchers and moaners in re this company. It's not perfect, by any means, and have some downright stupid policies. But this company saved my life and turned me into a success (remember my definition: doing what you love for a living.)

And the rest of you: You can't listen to that crap--or at least not with your emotions engaged. You can take it in and think about it, because some of it IS true, and you ignore that part at your peril. But most of these guys are just permanent bitchers and moaners. They'd be bitching and moaning if they made twice the money running half the miles. Many have been with USA for several years, and been whining and crying about this and that every day of it.

If they ever DID pick up and go somewhere else because it looked like a much better deal, they'd be bitching and moaning about THAT company, too.

There's good and bad things everywhere you go. On balance, USA is pretty competitive with the industry--actually maybe even above average. I was there to tell a couple of the new guys this, and glad to do it. When I was here, there was an ongoing issue about my average length of haul, and somebody higher up in operations screwed me over a few times. But I still averaged around 3000 miles/week.

So there it is. Some shithead worked here with the power to screw me over, but I got my miles and got paid for them. They put me in a brand new experimental automatic after one year. They forgave me a couple incidents (of which I was reminded yesterday. They weren't on my DAC record; the DOT one...but they had occurred while I was here, and USA had them recorded. Ouch!)

So what do you want? Utopia? Grow up. Don't listen to the whiners. If you think you can do better, you can move on, like I did--and leave on good terms.

Good thing I did, huh?

The moment I get done here, I'm going to track down my birth certificate, and (today online or monday on the phone) get it sent to my new address. They've started a new program to expedite loads into Canada. If you're in the program, they have you in their database and know you're not a terrorist or smuggler or whatever, so you can bypass some of the customs ragamarole.

I was happy not to go to Canada before, but if it's somewhat less difficult than it used to be, it's worth it to me. I'd get some longer runs that way...like from Laredo to Toronto! And anyway, I want my proof-of-existance. I'll probably dig up my DD-214 again, too, and get a new VA hospital card.

Well...here I go okbye

Aint the innernet cool? I just ordered my birth certificate from vitalcheck.com. Paid for it and everything. I used regular mail, so it might take a couple weeks, but then I'll get my app in to this program, and get a passport to boot. I just gave myself another raise (trust me).

I'd go after the DD-214 (military stuff) but the Browns will play their first exhibition game pretty soon and I'm going to listen to THAT on the internet. I love this!

Murphy in Little Rock

Well, over the weekend I chgecked out every post office branch and UPS store in Van Buren and Fort Smith in the internet, made one actual phonecall, and have pre-decided on a UPS Store 6 miles from my new home base in Van Buren as my new alleged address.

Today (tuesday) I went to Kenworth to get my truck back, and found my batteries so dead that there was no LED display or other sign of life. Great. Well, I'd known ahead of time that it would probably need a jump after sitting over the weekend with my cooler running...ok ok it was my fault. I should have written off the food in there and unplugged it, along with every other possible battery drain.

They jumped it, ran it into the shop, and immediately shut it down. Then (big surprise) they failed to start, then jumped it again to get it back out. And shut it down immediately. And then, the next day, they tried and failed to start it, jumped it, and drove it back in/shut down immediately to complete the repairs. Then (ditto) to get it into the paint shop. Then ditto to where they left it for me.

The batteries are about 3.5 months old, but most likely have been bludgeoned into fried city. My poor innocent alternator might have caught too much shrapnel, too.

After getting jumped at Kenworth, I drove to HQ to complete the processing. They took my decals and license plates and stuff, and I got new fuel cards and stuff. I had Tony, my Leasing co. handler, go back in time and tell me how my exploded tranny was handled--(adequately; I paid labor but not for the tranny).

They wanted my social security card. I couldn't find it. Searched the truck and still couldn't find it.

They let me go. Without license plates or a temp tag. I'd missed the post office and it was about to close, and byt the time I got to the truck it was close to 5 pm. I was sweaty and pissed off, so I just took the truck. If I get pulled over, I'll be an innocent dumbass and blame my leasing company.

I hit the post office, too late. I cleared my box and then buzzed the "employee only" door to get a change-of-address form from the very decent dude I knew was there and would answer.

Took the truck back here, to my hotel, where it still idles in the optimistic hope of recharging to 14...searched for the social security card some more. Back to this room and laptop, to the internet.

I can apply for a new social security card with my license and and insurance card (and other
stuff) (in lieu of my birth certificate) per the website (unless I run into an asshole)...SO, tomorrow I need to get the shuttle downtown to the Federal Building...

...or a cab. Go apply and hope I don't get an asshole who insists that since I can pribably get my birth certificate within ten days, my other evidence of citezenship won't work....

I'm a vet--I was a c/o--military and GS, and freely offer my fingerprints and stuff--(ohmmm...ohmmm...)

Then I HOPE to come back here and chill for one more night before going to Van Buren.

I intend to open my UPS Store box before going to HQ, pre-paying for a year. Then I'll go on in, and as soon as possible change addresses on all my accounts. Then, of neccessary, I'll tell the Van Buren service center to check my alternator and batteries as they stick USA decals on my truck...

And use some "application pending" statement in lieu of my social security card...ARRRGH!

OK that's it okbye

Little Rock, in Transition

In the trucking industry, we are vulnerable to parasites.

Parasites and the naaive and soft-headed have caused a lot of difficulties, and made everything you buy cost more. Also put more trucks on the road than would be neccessary. Low sulphur fuel is less efficient, so we consume more of it. Hours of service regulations impose a cieling on the best drivers (including me) which prevent us from running as hard as we can. So you have about 15% more trucks on the road than you need.

Some lawyers even specialize in extorting trucking companies. They run ads "Been in an accident with a big truck? Call me now and I will make them give you money!"

Doesn't really matter whose fault it was--and over 85% of the time it's the "plaintiff"'s fault.

Because of this: In three years, having driven over FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND miles, I have a record. Two citations will drop off my license in November. One is...well I just don't know. The state of Maryland decided to give me a ticket, without using a cop or a courtroom. It just appeared there. Can't figure out what it's even for.

Another, which will also go away in November, is a ticket for an improper lane change in NC.

Well, I had to climb a curb on a right turn, and some guy hit me...I think. He was adverse to me--waiting third in late for his light to change, facing east. I was southbound, and turned west.

I was supposed to have hit him with my left trailer tire without running him or anyone else over with my tractor, and while my right tires were on the curb.

It was easy for me to prove that this was impossible. But for this, I end up with an improper lane change, and most likely the company settled with the asshole and he got the front end repairs he was angling for for free.

I had an asphalt shoulder collapse under me as I pulled onto it, and rolled a trailer.

Now, some other idiot or asshole such as the guy in NC could decide to run into me at any time, and fall out of his car grabbing his neck, and a parasite ambulance chaser gets into it and takes my company to court. "Look! Improper lane change! This other thing! This guy rolled a truck! These guys will hire ANYBODY!"

And a bunch of idiots, even if it's obvious that I did nothing wrong, will decide to transfer a bunch of wealth simply because they feel sorry for the fake whiplash and loss of affection and pain and suffering and all that crap. That's why most suits are settled.

My company's deal with their insurer is set to specific standards. The safety man really dragged me through it, like I was seven years old, or retarded. They agreed to these standards in order to get cheaper rates, and I had become unqualified based on my history.

I went online and applied to my old company, USA, as an owner-operator. My leasing company (that I lease my truck from) has a deal with USA, as well as my current company, so that I can go there with my truck.

Happily, they accepted me, and as soon as my truck's bodywork is done I'll bobtail over to Van Buren for orientation.

New truck? Landstar? Well, I've paid for two years on this truck, and to turn it in would cost me about 20k to pay off my negative balance in my maintenance account. That would be 20k and starting over.

I'll make 2c more/mile here--basicly most likely over 100 more/week. I won't have to switch trucks, and I'll just keep doing what I'm doing--just moving different trailers.

I won't get screwed by politics and stupid policies like I was as a company driver. There is only one dispatcher for the o/o fleet, and all he cares about it production.

One of the load coordinators at USA hated me for some reason. When I left them, having given three weeks' notice, they sent me as far away from Little Rock as they could get me, so that I had to turn in my truck in PA, rent a car, and come all the way back. They could easily have brought me to their own headquarters in Van Buren. It was deliberate.

I've head enemies at other places I worked, and still don't know why. Somebody was simply out to get me.

Well, I'm pretty sure that this childish, evil bastard can't screw me again. My dispatcher, once I prove to him how easy I can make his job, and how productive I can be, will look out for me. I'm starting fresh, and should do fine.

I guess I'm lucky.

Right now I'm in a hotel. Paid for a week, because it was cheaper and I don't expect my truck's bodywork to be done til monday or tuesday.

More later.