A trip(or load in trucker's parlance) from hell

[liberaltrucker]

It all started normally enough. A simple drop and hook at the Wal Mart DC
in New Braunfels, TX. Did the deed Wednesday night and was offered a trip to
Portland, OR. So far, so good. The load to Portland was ready at 1 PM Thursday.

Picked it up and drove 450 miles to Van Horn, TX, where my GODDAMED A/C
DIED!!!! Now West Texas in June is a helluva place to have a dead A/C.
But being the trooper, I chalked it up to Mr Murphy. Thursday night was
a bit uncomfy, but not unbearable-the desert being dry.

Friday was pure hell. Driving I-10, I-25, US 550, US 64, and US 491 to
Cortez, CO was a very small lesson on what our troops in Iraq are going
through-very hot, very dry. Jeez, I went through a lot of water!

Saturday was a bit better. I left Cortez at 11 AM after getting a prescription
refilled at the W**M**t. Temp stayed in the 70's thru SW CO, UT and ID. Spent the
night near Twin Falls.

Today, it got a bit warmer. By the time I got to Portland at 7 PM PDT, it was
still 82 and a bit humid. as I type this, it's 10 PM PDT and pretty darn cool!

I learned an important lesson from this experience. Not only was I reminded of
what my trucking antecedents went through, but what our sons and daughters are
enduring, climate-wise, in Iraq.

We're just too goddamned spoiled!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Ah, my dear liberaltrucker!

Sweetie, we like it like that!

Great story!

:loveya:

:hug:

[liberaltrucker]

3. Thanks

I'm getting the freakin' A/C fixed as soon as I'm unloaded.

:loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. And it can't happen a moment too soon.....

Can it?

Good to see you tonight!

:loveya:

[liberaltrucker]

7. You got that s*** right

:rofl:

:loveya:

[swag]

2. Welcome to Portland. Glad it's cooling off for you.

Sounds like quite a trip.

[liberaltrucker]

5. Portland is a beautiful city

Anytime I'm offered a load here, I snap it up.
I'll get the A/C fixed at the Freightliner shop
off I-5 Exit 306 near Jubitz T/S.

[khashka]

6. Wow ,dude.

Trucking ain't no easy job. And Texas is going through a bad temperature thang - record temps, etc.

But you care more about our kids. Cool, keep it up, we need more people like you.

Khash.

[liberaltrucker]

8. Thanks, friend

I am who I am. Always trying to keep things in perspective.

[Aristus]

9. Glad you made it through, trucker.

Take care of yourself and get that A/C fixed. :thumbsup:

[Floogeldy]

10. This friend of mine delivered food products to a restaurant chain . . .

And one of his deliveries was about 100 miles away. For several days he complained about the gawd awful heat while driving during the day and said that he couldn't stand it anymore.

Then he came home one one night and admitted, "The heater in my truck was turned on all the way!"

I shit you not. It was summer in Oklahoma and was about 100 degrees outside. :)

[liberaltrucker]

11. .....

:rofl:

:dunce:

[SeattleGirl]

12. Oy! Sounds like the trip from hell.

But you are right -- we are very spoiled! Thanks for the story, lt. And I DO hope you make it up to SeattleLand sometime! :hug:

[liberaltrucker]

13. Just 177 miles south of Seattle

Ya never know.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

14. I know!!!! Not far at all!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Ikonoklast]

15. You are a better man than I, Liberaltrucker

When I was a company driver, I always followed this rule:

No heat in winter, or no cool in summer, no load gets delivered.

Had a fellow employee get sick with heat prostration in a tractor w/no a/c, back when we were having one of the hottest summers in N. Ohio. He was shaking and vomiting in the parking lot from the heat. (Driving a cabover, no less!!)

Didn't the company let you take it to the nearest T/A Servicepoint?