Getting up Again

Korena left our carrier for a new one two weeks ago, and I went with her.

I completed my last load in El Paso and hit an International dealer to take care of a slipping clutch and get a DOT inspection for the new carrier...which will pay me 87% rather than 75%.

ELEVEN DAYS later, I had replaced the clutch, the rear main seal, mounting brackets, pilot...I had to cough up six thousand six hundred bucks. This brought my total in repairs for the last 3 months to over twenty thousand bucks, and my total money to under one thousand bucks--with bills rolling in.

They did a TEXAS STATE inspection, so I still need the DOT, and now I had a check engine light on, which is a DOT issue. The truck ran fine and all fluids and charges were normal. I couldn't hang around any longer. I spent much of what was left of my money on fuel.

I bobtailed to Ohio, where I had to get license plates, pay my delinquent 556 dollar road tax bill, and file with Ohio IFTA for my own stickers. I will now be an independant contractor, of sorts--responsible for my own licensing and fuel taxes. (IFTA collects fuel taxes. If I get cheaper fuel in other states, they gouge me for the difference).

The new company sent me to a Freightliner dealer for my DOT inspection. I failed due to the engine light, a cracked brake cylinder, a frozen slack adjuster, and some other stuff.

After some negotiation, the new company actually fronted me money for the 1,490.oo plates (due for renewal in November...I'll guess near 3 grand for the year), the road use tax, and some fuel to get out here to Thomaston, CT where they have their own small shop.

From here, I faxed my IFTA application to Ohio IFTA. Ohio IFTA called me back and said that I had failed to file or pay for one quarter in 2009.

I was driving for Jamestown Transportation at that time. Per the lease agreement, they were responsible for filing and paying. So now, along with not paying me 5 grand they owed me and putting me out of business--breaking me (again) after six weeks downtime--now I'm supposed to provide intimate details on how many miles per state I drove, and exactly how many gallons I bought in each state, for one quarter of 2009.

I saw the form they faxed me and was horrified. Bad enough that that now I have to keep these detailed records and file quarterly, but I have no CLUE about what I did three years ago!

I called them back and cried, begged, and pleaded. They'll get back to me. I might still have to pay them something since I no longer even have Jamestwon's lease agreement to prove who was responsible...

It just never stops. It just keeps getting better. I'm not even allowed to save money by fueling in states with lower fuel taxes now!

My appointment for the repairs is tomorrow, but I got here last night. I'm working on the IFTA thing, and already made a chart that I'll use to track fuel purchases and approximate mileage--what a PAIN IN THE ASS they just never stop piling this crap on you know?

I surrendered my title to the new company pending repayment of the 3 grand they've already fronted me, and I presume some charges for these repairs. I asked them to leave me 700/week so I could FIX the bastard like I usually do, and take the rest.

Oh--does that sound like a lot? Why am I whining? Because I'm BROKE again!!!

3 grand a year for the license, 556 road use taxes, IFTA, and repairs--I'm an ATM for my truck!

Glass half full: I'll net a little more with this carrier, I'm getting fixed, they loaned me money and there's no legal lien on my truck, and I've now replaced everything except the drive shaft, engine, and tranny at least once. All but one of my $400-600.00 tires are in good shape, I got Korena, and should finally be rolling again in a few days.

They mail their checks. I have to Fedex my paperwork to Korena so she gets it by monday, then they pay friday. I called ATT and asked me to delay my next charge so I shouldn't get an NSF this month.

While I'm here I'll try to get them to fix my a/c and re-align my springs, which are screwing up my one 600.oo drive tire and probably costing me .1 cents per gallon.

I'm not beaten, or depressed. I'm just pissed off. I'm a real american...with a "c".