Hell Week!

Ok, so the first week was very interesting on the new job. Let's start with picking up the truck on Sunday. My other half and I drove to Raleigh, NC to pick up the truck that would be mine to drive until they replaced it with a new one. Upon arriving, we noticed it was in fact a 2005 Volvo and looked very nice. And that is where it ended. The inside was not wiped down in any way and the mattress was dank and nasty. I went ahead and took it to our home town to load it with my things. I called my dispatcher on Monday first thing and requested to be taken through a service center to replace the mattress with a new one. I got a load to Chattanooga, TN. Not a bad first trip! I went through Knoxville, TN to go to the service center to replace the mattress and the guys there were really nice. I then asked them if they would install my inverter, (a device that has 4 electric sockets to use for things like a microwave, phone chargers, computer...etc). They did and I was all kinds of happy. That is until I realized my phone charger was left at home. So I had to find the Walmart and purchase another one.

That was just the first 24hrs. Then after delivering to my destination, I received a load assignment to pick up at 6PM. I was delivered and ready at 9AM. So I took my truck to the service center in Chatt. and they proceeded to do a mild PM, (preventive maintenance) and switch out some bad tires which turns out that I had one steel wheel and the rest aluminum. By the time they were finished, it was 4:30:PM and I hadn't gotten to rest at all. I then had to pick up the load and by the time I did that, it was now 6:30PM and the load delivered at 7AM the next morning 500 miles away. With no sleep, I called the dispatch and told them and they told me to drop it so they can get someone on it that has the hours and the rest. I did and stayed the night at Chatt. The next morning they gave me a load to Richmond, VA and Chantilly, VA. I was on the way to get them picked up and stopped at 2 more service centers to find a shower. There were no women's showers. So I went in and said something to someone, and was told I could use the men's shower in the men's room, jut to put a chair in front of the door. Yeah, like that would work! I went in and told the HR person that it was sad that today, with so many women drivers, a company as large as this one and as well known, wouldn't have the accommodations for women.

After that, I was directed to a service center with a woman's shower and promptly left my blue tooth on the door after I left and was too far to go back and get it. So I called them and they are going to send it to me.

I made my pick up and got to my first destination on time, then made my second then was told to drop my trailer. My dispatcher was very kind and understanding and tried everything to help me. He then sent me home for the weekend for some much needed rest.

Just a side note: Driving through Washington, DC on the beltway is not a good idea around 5PM. It took me 3 1/2 hrs to get from Washington DC through Richmond, VA. That is only 100 miles.

The highlight of my whole week was coming home to my other half and enjoying time at home! Monday, I'll do it again.