Shattered

Heyyy, I need to go back to bed and catch up on a lot of sleep. I though my last trip out was busy. This time was just as busy in miles, like always, but in order to keep up the miles, I had to do long days every day, between fourteen and sixteen hour days, parking up after each day not before 1am and 4am each morning. It was all urgent short trips, which meant driving flat out for nine and eleven, even thirteen hours on the last day, then sit on two loading bays for hours (one for unloading and one for loading) before off to the next delivery point by the next day. I don’t mind short trips, as long as I get long ones in the mix too. Its because of the time it takes to unload and load that is the problem. If it only took 45mins each time, it would not be a problem, but that only happens one in ten times. Any longer than 45mins and im working for free. Normally it takes two hours or more for each load and off load, so then drive for nine hours on top of that makes your days thirteen plus hours. Having that every day soon catches up on you. Not only that, I usually get to my customers the night before, and sometimes, you may only be there a few hours before they are getting you up to back onto a bay so they can off load you. So your sleep gets broken up too. Its good if there are no red and green lights on the loading bays, as the only way you know they have finished is when they come and bash on the side of the cab to get you, so if you wanted to go back to sleep, you could, but if there are lights, you have to stay up and keep checking for the green light, then pull off the bay when they have done to go back to sleep, but that’s only if you still have any hours out of your ten you need to take off left. So this job can be really tiring most of the time, then other times it can be a breeze. The breeze loads are the ones where it takes three or four days to get there. The tiring ones only take one and two days.

Ayr Motor are what I would call and aggressive company. They don’t like it if you take your time, they expect you to be hard working, as we have that much work on all the time, they need you to get your deliveries off ASAP just so you can get onto the next. For every tractor we have on the road, including owner operators, we have two trailers, and most of them are full all the time. That’s over five hundred trailers. Not including the load of brand new ones we have just got. If drivers start slowing down and not getting deliveries off on time, it can cause a back log, which makes it hard for us to catch up. I work hard and fast anyway, as it makes my pay packets better, so in less I make a boob or something, they stay off my back, but this last month, I have felt a little like, the more I gave them, the more they expected from me, or maybe it was just the way the loads fell, you just never know, but at the end of the day, with the knowledge I have of some of the other trucking companies out there. Im so glad I work for Ayr, as it is much better having to bust a gut to get everywhere and having your reload waiting for you, than making your deliveries, then having to wait hours or even days for reloads like a lot of the other companies out there. One of the things some companies do to their drivers is make them reset their hours, (once they have reached 70hrs prematurely) by having 36hrs off, but they don’t get them home for that. They end up parked in a truck stop somewhere in North America instead of spending that time at home with their families. To me that is very wrong and im so glad Ayr Motor never do that. We have to send our hours in every day, so dispatch know what hours we have left, so they can give us loads we can cover and still get back for our home time within our hours. Don’t worry, he doesn’t do it for us, he just wants to make sure he can get another driver in the truck while we are off, so the truck is not sat about doing nothing. but what works for him, works in our favour too. the only times our trucks are allowed to stand is Christmas day and if we want to stay out more than fourteen days, Canadian driving laws require us to have a 24hr period off either before or immediately after the fourteenth day. So the way we fit it in is say we started that morning of the fourteenth day at 6am, maybe drive for eight hours till 2pm, then we would park up till 2pm the following day and set off again driving till when ever, therefore fitting in the 24hrs but not having a day off. Trust me though, if we are near Woodstock at the time, Joe would kick you out the truck for the 24hr just so he could get another driver in to do a quick load to somewhere and back in that time. I may have covered over 161,000 miles last year, but including all the miles other drivers did while I was off, my truck covered 250,000 miles, but Joe really only runs the trucks like most of the companies in the UK do. Like when I worked for Woolworth. I would use my truck in the day to do store deliveries, then the night shift would come in and use my truck to do the trunking runs, so again the trucks where always on the go. I do go on a bit don’t I? but what set me off, besides been tired was the other day when I was on my way back to Woodstock with a load. After ten hours driving I decided to stop at a truckstop three hours west of Woodstock, where when I pulled in, I noticed a truck from a company that one of my fellow bloggers work for. I usually take note just in case it is one of my fellow bloggers and I get to meet them. Anyway I went to sleep then set off the next morning back to Woodstock noticing that truck was still there not thinking anything of it. At Woodstock I went home for a few hours to have a shower and lunch with the family while my truck was been serviced. Then I was suppose to take a US load, but Joe changed it at the last second giving me a Canadian load, which meant I had to pass the same truck stop I had left that morning, over ten hours earlier to find the same truck still parked up. So it looked like he was either taking the 36hr reset, or waiting for a reload. Personally I wouldn’t put up with that crap. I guess its ok working for those companies that make you do that if you are single and it doesn’t matter where you take your time off, but not if you have family here and are missing out on spending that time with them. Anyway rant over now I can go relax ready for my next trip out on Sunday. The map is a little confusing this time as a lot of the time I had to go back the way I came so its best to follow the numbers to see where I went. So till next time, have a great day.

You can just see the Deer on our drive in front of the house 

They roam our land most evenings

Still alot of snow in Quebec, everywhere else is clear now

Leamington, Ontario

Bus Fire that shut the road on the other side for a long time

You will recognise this house from christmas and one other time.

They always go overboard for occasions.

This time easter

Border Crossing at Buffalo/Fort Erie

Cool Truck

Down town Pittsburg

The roads where very narrow and the only way out of the customer with a sleeper cab truck was down a one way road the wrong way.

My truck was too long to go any other way, so I was told

Floods

Hey people. Well things are starting to warm up, melting the snow in most places, which is great. The only places that still had a lot of snow was when I was going over northern Ontario and Quebec.

These guys went a bit far with the garden Gnome

These guys live in the middle of Know where.

hence the helicopter instead of a car

Everywhere else had either the odd patch or none. Where we live its totally gone. Even the river is clear now.

Down in the States, it was great to be able to walk around with no jacket on etc. I packed my shorts just in case, but didn’t bother with them this time round, even though while I was down in Missouri etc it was warm enough.

Well it has been crazy, busy this time round. Its always busy anyway, with no waiting around etc, but this time I needed a rocket powered truck. My first load was to Oxford, Pennsylvania, which had to be there the next day. Luckily I timed it right going through Manhattan, and New Jersey, so traffic didn’t slow me down. I got there the next morning as required. Got my reload from Hanover, PA after which I called at Aldi to get my lovely wife some British Chocolate and Haribo‘s. only place I know where to get them. Got to suck up some how. It’s the only Aldi I know that I can park my truck next to. I collect from Hanover regular, and Aldi is just round the corner, so if im loaded in the day, I try to call, time allowing. Then it was foot down to get to St Cesaire within receiving time the next day. When I got there, we had a couple of empty trailers in the yard, so they just got me to drop my trailer on a bay and hook to an empty. Normally that would have been great but this time, I had 10hrs to kill before my reload for Winnipeg would be ready at 1am. So I didn’t mind either way. I just took the empty and parked at my reload and waited. I had predicted I was going to Winnipeg AGAIN, because of the day I would be back in Canada near Montreal. That’s the day when single drivers take team loads out west with us having extra time over the weekend to get it there. At first dispatch asked me if I would take a Calgary load for delivery by midnight Sunday. I told them in so many words, they was nuts. That would have meant I had to drive for 13hrs a day at an average speed of 62mph for three days just to get it there on time. For two of the days, you are on back roads and you could not go that fast, as the speed limit on those is 56mph or less. As you go through many small towns. So legally it could not be done by a single driver. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like going out that way, is because of the slower speeds. I cant cover as many miles per hour so its like getting a pay cut with me been paid per mile. There are no four lane highways in northern Ontario just yet. Its all back road. They are building major highways up there, but they will take years to complete as there is over 1200 miles to cover between Ottawa and the Manitoba border, just to take the traffic off the back roads. So because I had pointed all this out, they gave me a Winnipeg load instead. Im the kind of person that when someone else is applying the pressure, it annoys me and I back off, because I don’t need someone telling me what I already know, but if im left to it, and provided its possible, I get the job done fast and efficiently. Because im that kind of person that likes to avoid pressure from others. Before I came to Canada, I owned my own company, and before that, when I did work for others, I worked in management, or worked up to management very quickly. That’s why I don’t mind doing this job, as its like been in middle management. You have others above you, but as long as you keep your department running smoothly, no one will bother you.

By the time the Winnipeg load was ready at 1am, I had had enough time off to allow me to drive up to 13hrs again, but if I can avoid driving at night, I will. Joe has said in the past, if its not really necessary to drive over night, not to do it. The Canadian roads are bad enough, never mind driving on them at night. They are pitch black, no street lighting, painted lines are a waist of space, as they have not mastered how to get the paint to reflect or stop rubbing out after five minutes yet. Plus there is a very good chance of getting some kind of wildlife as an hood ornament, as they roam the roads, and with it been dark you don’t see them till its too late. So with all that in mind, I went 15mins down the road, parked at the truck stop then set off in the morning. I had said to dispatch, because they was putting me through the pain of driving across Canada, I wanted a decent western US load from Winnipeg to make up for it. I was willing to stay out longer to do it too, but nope. I must be to fast for my own good because as im half way to Winnipeg, I get my reload. A rush load to East City, Missouri. 1049 miles away from Winnipeg. So from that point, accounting for the ten hours I had to have off each night. I only had two hours spare to get me there within receiving hours on the Monday, not including off loading time. Luckily I normally only stop for 15mins a day regardless of how many hours I drive, (plus my 10hrs or more at the end of the day of cause) so I managed to get there and be off loaded before the 2pm deadline. Despite the flooding in North Dakota for three miles of not been able to see the road if it was not for the road works bollards

Then it was off to Jefferson City, to reload leaving me no more hours to drive on once loaded, as I had already done nine hours to get me to East City then two to Jefferson City. So I stayed there over night. The following day I could only drive for three and half hours, because of all the above average hours I was having to do to get me to places on time, so that was a nice easy day. Then it was off back to Toronto the next day. From there it was back to Woodstock for my time off, covering in ten days and 47 minutes 5775 miles. (the truck records the time im in it )

Anyway its back on the road on Monday so till next time, Have a nice Dayyy

Ski Slops in northern New Brunswick still snowed over

Crossing the Border back in Canada.

Detroit on left, Windsor Ontario on right

TV series opportunity

Hey people. So winter in Canada is still not willing to give up just yet.

Just before I went out last time. A TV Director from Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd contacted me asking me if I was interested in been in a new TV series they will be filming this summer. Im still thinking about it, but they are looking for others too. Here are the details.

Dragonfly TV is currently looking for intrepid truck drivers to take part in an exciting new series entitled 'Worlds Toughest Truckers' (working title). The series will feature highly skilled truck drivers from around the world competing against each other in a competition of skill, pace and mental strength. They will be taking on trucking routes around the world which include some of the world's most infamous roads and hard to handle cargo. The series will be filmed between June and August and any professional truck drivers who believe they have the skill and strength to become the 'Worlds Toughest Trucker' should Contact truckers@dragonfly.tv


I got my truck back on the Monday and seen where I was going. I had the biggest smile on my face. We have several loads go there every week, but Its been exactly a year since I last went there, but finally I get this fantastic load, down to where the sun was hot, the Lone Star State

 Texas. I was well happy, even though at first I thought my Air Conditioning was faulty. I didn’t care, I was willing to put up with no AC, just to be able to take this load. It takes four days at nine hours per day to get there. The first day was snow flurries most of the way, but by the third day it was really warm, so I decided to connect my AC back up and see if it would work, and luckily it worked fine. I had to disconnect it at the end of last summer. Some how it was making my engine fan come on and run all the time, which takes some power of the engine. With the weather cooling down, I was not worried. Im told all the AC parts have been replaced, before I got the truck, but it still not solved the problem, but turns out it behaves as long as the AC is turned on all the time. Well I got to Houston, mid afternoon their time on the Thursday, with temps in the region of 30 degrees C. it was great.

My new Temp Gauge

 I switched trailers, then went straight down to my reload in Sugar Land, Texas. It was one of our big customers that normally have a 24hr operation, That way then they could load me on my off time. I get there at 5pm, im told to back onto a bay and they will come get me when finished. I watched TV for a few hours then dosed off. 2.30am I wake up, popped in the office to see if they have loaded me. I sleep like a brick, so I don’t normally notice. They tell me then, that they only load between 7am and 3pm. What a pain that was. I could have stopped at a truck stop all night, got up, fuelled and showered, then got there for 7am. Well I got to have a lay in, but that ment I had to stop in the day for fuel and my shower. I’d rather do that first thing before I set off for the day, so the only stop I normally make, is once for the bathroom and make my lunch time sandwiches, which takes 10mins then its straight back in the seat and off I go again. The only other reason I stop is to go grocery shopping about once a week. I usually go to a Walmart, or Target, but only ones I can see from the Highway, as I quickly look to see if there are any other Semi‘s in the parking lot. I know I can get mine in then.

Once loaded, it was back up to the Great White North. At one point about hundred miles south of Memphis, it only took fifteen minutes to go from 21 degrees down to 11 degrees, which then by the next day was down to minus again as I enter back into Canada. I off loaded and reloaded at the same place, then back to Woodstock I went. I was short on US driving hours but had plenty Canadian driving hours, so for the last couple of days before it was home time again, I just went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Waterville NS back to Halifax, to Belledune, NB, Inkerman, NB back to Woodstock, then Moncton, NB, Hartland NB then back to Woodstock and home, getting back Thursday afternoon. weather was that nice I got the BBQ out and friends came round.

Friday was just a lazy day, starting off like this,

snow mostly gone except for St Johns river behind our house is still frozen, but then in the evening it only took three hours to get like this.

Saturday morning, we ended up driving through snow just to get the car out of the garage. We was going down to Bangor, Maine to stay the night, which is just over 2hrs away. Lots of shopping malls but one day was not enough to get round. We had to be back for my eldest sons birthday party Sunday. It had warmed up again melting a lot of the snow.

Now its back on the road again Monday. Hopefully going somewhere really hot again. This time ive packed for it just in case. So till next time, Buy for nowww

The US Part

The Canadian Part

Both total 6150 miles over 11 days

This is the St Johns river an hour and half east of Woodstock

This is how much snow was left up the east cost of New Brunswick

before it started again Saturday

Houston, Texas

The 18 mile Bridge in Grosse Tete, Louisiana

A Bit of Colour Down south