MacLuckey's Road Trip

[David MacLuckey]

This is the place you read about in the bar. I will post here as often as possible, but BEARLADY will be doing most of the stuff daily for me. I am currently on my weekend home. 48 hours of rest and honey do chores. I have already been all up and down the eastern sea board, Florida to Maine, and as far east as Indiana and Kentucky. I should be getting assigned my own truck next weekend. Don't know what kind it will be, but I am sure it will be RED and say Super Service on it. Will close for now and get started on my list, it seems to never end. Blessed Be to all.
"May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future."
Author unknown, but I have used this line for a really long time.

[BEARLADY]

[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=4][COLOR=Magenta]
This is BEARLADY, David's wife, and the one who will be doing most of the stuff for him. Welcome to all and Blessed Be!

[LadyTrinity]

:confused:

[BEARLADY]

This thread is for any and all who wish to follow my old man in his cross country travels as an over the road truck driver. Please feel free to post your comments, rants, or what ever here. Blessed be to all.


BEARLADY
(Mentandents Better Half)

:thewave: :veryweird :frosty:

[OriginalWacky]

Oh cool. Let him know I say thanks for bringing me my stuff.

[David MacLuckey]

You are quite welcome, my friend. Not many people realise that if they got it, a truck probably brought it some where along the line. Be safe out there, and keep an eye out for the "Other Guy (or Gal)".

[Ahava]

Blessings for a safe journey, I am looking forward to reading your posts.

Ahava

[BEARLADY]

:fpraiseyo HELLO EVERYONE, THIS IS BEARLADY, I GOT TO HAVE DAVID HOME WITH ME FOR OTHER DAY. TOOK HIM TO CHARLOTTE N.C. ON SUNDAY AND HIS RIDE WAS RUNNING LATE SO DAVID TOLD HIS RIDE THAT HE WOULD WAIT OTHER DAY OR TWO. HE WILL PROBABLY LEAVE OUT TODAY FOR SOMEWHERE. IT WAS NICE TO HAVE HIM HOME WITH ME , BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEM WITH MY BACK AGAIN. I WILL POST EVERY DAY TO GIVE A UPDATED ON HIS JOURNEY. BLESSING TO ALL AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.:santasmil :cutesanta

[OriginalWacky]

You are quite welcome, my friend. Not many people realise that if they got it, a truck probably brought it some where along the line. Be safe out there, and keep an eye out for the "Other Guy (or Gal)".
Some of us not only realize that, but appreciate it deeply. There is never a time on the highway that I don't try to make any little bit of a driver's trip easier. If I am passing a slow vehicle, and I see that a truckis approaching behind me faster than I am going, I will speed up to keep him from having to use his brakes. If I see a blinker on, I will slow down and flash my headlights to make sure he knows he can go in front of me. As he passes, I will flash the headlights so he knows he has room to pull over again. I don't ever follow too close.

Not only was I married to a truck driver, but I've dated others, and my father sold semis (Kenworth, YEAH!). I fully intend to buy a CB for when I have to travel back and forth between SD and here, and chat with drivers along the way. Not only does it keep me from being bored, but it may just help one of them make that lonely stretch of road a little shorter.

[BEARLADY]

Hello everyone, David, is back on the road again. I took him to Asheville to his truck. He will be back home in time for christmas. Thank you for writing back, it help me to past the time away while he is gone.I miss him already but I will see him in 2 weeks.:uhhuhuh:

[BEARLADY]

Hello everyone , Sorry for that posting lately have been sick. But Dave is doing good he got stuck in Fl. for the weekend. He called last night and said that they do not have a load yet. He should be calling me tonight to let me know where he will be going next.

[Nighthawk]

I am so glad David will be home for Christmas... It is as it should be.

[BEARLADY]

Christmas is hard on me because I lost the most important person in my life. My GrandFather, past away on Christmas day, and I was taking care of him. My Grandparents was the people that rise me up. My GrandMother past in Nov, on Thanks Giving day. So these two months are very hard for me. Dave has been so good to help me thur, these two month. He has been here for me and I love him for that. He told his company that he had to be home for Christmas, and they ask him why and told them want happen, they told him that they well make sure he is home.

[WynterWynd]

Hey Bearlady:hugz: Glad to hear that David will be home for xmas!! Give that trucker a hug when he gets home!

I'll be sending lots of 'dispatcher get your *bleep* together and get that man home' energy out that way!!!;)http://homepage.eircom.net/%7Ebray/em/hotlight.gif

Happy Yule and Merry Xmas to ya both!http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-005.gif

[BEARLADY]

;) I will be happy to give hime a hug from you. He calls every night to see how I am doing.:frosty:

[WynterWynd]

:hugz: to you to hun!

Are you ever going to be able to take a run with him? My hubby and I drove together for years. We really had a blast! Maybe onece again after the kids are grown and self sufficiant.....and we can still hoise our old keisters into the rig:rofl:

[BEARLADY]

I well not be able to go with him. My health would not let me. I am on alot of meds and I have a very bad back, so it stops me from doing alot of things.

[David MacLuckey]

Hey Bearlady:hugz: Glad to hear that David will be home for xmas!! Give that trucker a hug when he gets home!

I'll be sending lots of 'dispatcher get your *bleep* together and get that man home' energy out that way!!!;)http://homepage.eircom.net/%7Ebray/em/hotlight.gif

Happy Yule and Merry Xmas to ya both!http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-005.gifDear VroomBroom, my old friend,
Thank you for the dispatcher energy. Yesterday afternoon as I was on my way home, I got a dispatch to return to the town that I had spent the night before in to pick up a load. I had already been on the road for about 6 hours, and would not have made it back in time to pick up the load on time. He threw a fit, but fortunately it was only on the computer and not on the phone. We himmed and hawed for a while, and then they decided to go ahead and send me on home. But I had to promise to call inj on Monday morning to see when they would have the next load for me. Thank you again and I will see you soon.

Blessed Be to you and all the Familures in your family!!

[BEARLADY]

:thewave: Hello everyone this is Bearlady,
Dave is back on the road again, he was home with me for 3 days.
He called this morning and he was in Ohio, at his drop off point.
It was good to have him home for Christmas with me. I will close for now need to go to the doctor.

[Faeawyn]

Hope everything goes well with your doc appt and hubby gets home for another visit real soon :)

[BEARLADY]

:durrrr: Good morning everyone this is bearlady with a update on Dave.
:fprtyman4 He will be spended New Year Eve, in Baton Rouge Louisian_pounce_ He is going to call me at midnight and we both are going to be looking to the north , to wish each other a Happy New Year.
From the both of us we wish all of you a very Happy New Year, Take care and be safe.:fprtyman4 :boquet: :fprtyman3 :fprtyman2

[WynterWynd]

Happy New Year to the both of you!!!:hugz:

[BEARLADY]

:spinnysmi Hello everyone it's me again.:uhhuhuh: Dave came home last night to spend a night, had a load going to Asheville, in the morning, which was just 2hour drive from our home.

_inlove_ It was nice to have him home with me, for a little while. Now he is on his way 2 Tenn. 2 pick up other loaded and took it to :cool: Fl. state.:hugz: He is going to have alot of mile under his belt this week.
If things goes right he will be back home this weekend.:woot: :smoochypo Well going to sign off now, I will write again soon.

[BEARLADY]

:sunny: Hello everyone, Dave is doing good until last night, when he got a ticket.
:G The ticket is going to cost him $156.00 for not having his log book up to date.
:dis: His company is being charge 60.00 for being over weight.
:hrmm: He told his dispather that he well be taking 2 days off so his log book is up to date.
:hearthear He told me that I am the only reason he is out there to make money, to pay for our bills.
:sunny: Would love to hear from you guys. Take care and have a good day.

[WynterWynd]

OMG!!! :bug: I hate log book tickets!!! Where did he get caught?

Tell him, that if he ever comes out this far west, to have all his ducks in a row!! We got a log book violation out here about 10 years ago, that sucker cost us $900...and that was busted down from $1800 thru pre-paid legal services (something that when you guys get alittle ahead, he may want to look into) California log book tickets are murder!!! Last I heard, they were almost $3000:collapse: Thats why alot of drivers fight about coming to this 'communist' state (a trucker nickname for California)

Tell him be safe!!!:D and :hugz: to you Bearlady!!

[BEARLADY]

He got caught in his flavor state Ohio. He is now on his way to n.j. to drop off a load.

[WynterWynd]

Ohio.......that figures:rolleyes:

[BEARLADY]

Hello everyone this is Bearlady.

Dave called and he is in Indiana, right now for 1 day because is out of hours.
He said that he could not get warm in his truck so he is getting a room for the night.
I had to call him this morning with some bad news,I will be going into the hospital on Feb 3.
My Doctor call me this morning and gave me some bad news, I went last month for my yearly check up.
They find 3 lumps on the right side and 2 on the left side, this has got me very scare.
So if you could please keep Dave and I in your prays.

[WynterWynd]

...energy for both of you:hugz:

[David MacLuckey]

Dear Friends,

I got in last night about 5:30 for a day and a half. I have to be in south Florida Monday morning with half a load of car batteries. Will leave out about 6:00 am to make sure the weather does not foul things up. Thanks to all of you who read and/or post here. Your support for BEARLADY and myself is very much appreciated. I have yet to make it across the mighty Mississippi, but that will come in time. The company I am with just seems to think that "over the road" means staying on this side of the river. I am planing on changing companies come March, not really a big deal. The turn over rate industry wide is about 115% annually. That is right, most companies change out the equivelant of the entire force of drivers and then some every year. That says something about this industry. One driver I spoke with said that all the carriers are the same, you just have to find one that pays better right now and stick with it. I currently make 28 cents a mile, empty or loaded. When I trade companies, that will go up to at least 30, and if I bring a codriver, 40. I have already found some one to partner with. We are just waiting for March so that we have enough seat time to make the switch profitable for both of us.
Thanks again for the support, it really helps me out knowing that you are all there for us. Blessed be to all. And again thank you all.:hearthear

[audi]

:vanish:

[arctic splash]

Driving a truck... one of those little fantasies of mine, that'll probably never happen because... well, I don't even drive currently! Just something about being on the road, being able to get from here to there. :) Thanks for the thread, and the info -- I had no idea the turn over rate was 115%, I didn't even know you got paid by the mile... interesting!

[Shatril]

Oh Geez where were you in Ohio. That is where I live. It's a great state.

[BEARLADY]

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for not posting on the site for a while, but I have been in the hospital.
Dave is doing good so far, he is in mass right now and he said that it is very cold up there.
He said that it is snowing alot and he will be glad to get back to the warm part of the state.
From the both of us have a good day.Please reply to me on my e-mail address smokiemountain826@yahoo.com

Thank You

[David MacLuckey]

Good evening friends and other strangers,

Rolled in about 5:30 last night, dog tired and ready for some home time. Feels great to be home again, even if it is only temporary. Waited for 20+ hours outside a Clorox distribution center just north of Atlanta, Ga. for them to load my trailer. They told us they were running about a day late on things and we would have to wait it out. Got $80.00 for waiting from my dispatcher, and he got tired of me waiting and sent me home. At least the day was not a total loss. Could have made more money driving, but at least I got paid to sleep for a while. Will be here through Saturday at least due to BEARLADY going in the hospital. Told dispatch that when she is well enough they can put another load on me. They are learning that my family comes first and I really don't like to be lied to. Who does?
Thank you for the support and love you all are showing BEARLADY and myself. It really does me good to know my Kith and Kin are here for us. Will write more before I head back on the road. Need to make a pile of phone calls and deal with some snail mail. Love to all and blessed be.

[Shatril]

Hope everyone is better at the homestead there?

[WynterWynd]

Glad to here you got your dispatcher by the ba......reins:devil:

Watch it if you ever haul reffer (produce wagon...no one get that happy:lol: ) The whole thing there seemed to be hurry up and wait (sometimes daaaaays) and then haul ass with the produce:eek:

Good luck to you and energy to Bearlady!:hugz:

[BEARLADY]

:vanish: HELLO EVERYONE THIS IS BEARLADY WITH A UPDATE OF MY BETTER HALF.
:jumprope: DAVE WAS HOME WITH ME FOR 4 DAYS, AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE HIM HERE.
HE LEFT AGAIN ON TUESDAY FOR NEWPORT, TENN. TO PICK UP AND HEAD TO CINCINNATI, OHIO.
NOW HE IS IN EDINBURGH, INDIANA TO PICK UP, AND TO TAKE IT TO CLEVELAND, TENN. FOR A TOMORROW DROP OFF.
FROM THE BOTH OF US THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PRAYS. YOU ARE GOOD FRIENDS TO HAVE.

[David MacLuckey]

Hey folks,Got in last night after two weeks out on the road. Got a few miles here and there. Still not getting the 2500 a week that I am supposed to be getting. Dispatcher says freight is slow. Trade magazines say freight is at an almost all time high. Am off for a week to attend to some family business in Florida and take a much needed break. BEARLADY is suffering from cabin fever, so we are going to roll thru Daytona Beach for a visit to her favorite bar. We will have a spot in the school bus at the Iron Horse Tuesday or Wednesday. Then back to central Fla. for family stuff and some drag racing at my old track. On the look out for Jim Beam and his friends. I will find him soon.
I got two things in the in box from MOL and SEMELE about the postings here at MW. I just guess that they missed the junk that BEARLADY and I put here as there was not any complaining or that kind of stuff. Almost like an attempt to build the site up in a pep rally form. This site is more than fine as far as I am concerned. The friendship that we have found here says a lot about the community. I have met many other people of our faith while on the road and never fail to recommend this site to all. I will be glad when I get the laptop fixed so that I can post from the road instead of having to wait till I get home. Should be able to check email from Fla later this week and will post again from there.
Blessings to all and have a happy....

"May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future."

[Shatril]

O gads a vacation, wow, I love that idea. I'm home for a week and am in hog heaven.

[WynterWynd]

Hey Bear and David...have fun on the vacation!! :hugz: and :smooch: to both of ya!!

[David MacLuckey]

Thanks to all for the support and wishes. We got in last night, safe and uneventful trip down and back. Got to see many friends and family members and spent a day at my old drag strip. Man do I miss the smell of burnt rubber and race fuel, even if it was coming from Fords!! Will call dispatch tomorrow morning and see when I get to go back on the road.

Blessings to all...

[David MacLuckey]

Sorry about the delay but I have been kept pretty busy here. I reached my saturation point with Super Service last week. After driving almost three hours to the terminal near Atlanta to get back into my old truck, it was assigned to another driver. This was after my dispatcher told me that my old truck was still mine. He never bothered to return my phone calls as he had promised so I left a message on his voice mail telling him I was going to another company. So in the mean time BEARLADY has kept me busy knocking out the long "Honey do" list that has been getting longer every week. Have about got the yard work done and just need to do a plumbing job and install a shackle and hasp on an outside door to be caught up. I still have a black walnut log about 30 feet long to deal with, but right now it is a good foot bridge over one of the creeks. I am trying to find a saw mill to cut it down into useable sizes, but they are hard to find. I would love to make a set of cabinets from this beautiful piece of wood rather than use it for fire wood. Blessings to all...

[WynterWynd]

Good luck in finding a new job. I'm sure you'll find another one soon, truck driving jobs are very easy to find.
Tho don't ever expect your truck to be sitting there wiatng on you after a 'vacation'....no matter what those lying :bastard: dispatchers say. You have to find a very special company that will allow a truck to sit idle that long without it making them any moolah:rolleyes:

[David MacLuckey]

How true!! I have been in communication with USXPRESS out of Tenn. and I go in for orientation this Wednesday. Will be back on the road Friday. They have a regional run opening up in June that will let me be home every weekend. Plus it pays $155.00 to unload with all the freight in wheeled containers. The unload pay is in addition to mileage. And that is supposed to be 4 cents a mile better that I was getting. Some times things just work out.

[WynterWynd]

USExpress is a good company...at least they were when we were 'on the road' :p

Just don't ever let me hear your gonna drive for JBHunt.....or I will have to come to NC and whoop on you for a while:lol:

[David MacLuckey]

I have talked to several of their drivers and they all were very happy with USXPRESS. I certianly hope that they live up to thier reputation. Only 2 or 3 more things on the honey do list and I will be done for a while.

[BEARLADY]

Hello Everyone This Is Bearlady.

Dave, got his new job and is working for US XPRESS. He is much happy with this company. He is in Ohio right now getting his truck fix. Will write more later.

Thanks be being here for me .

[Jenne]

Never saw this thread before! Dave and Bearlady--I wish you guys all the best! :hugz:

[WynterWynd]

Hey BearLady!!

Glad to here he got the job! Tell him to watchout for the Ohio D.O.T...those are some vicious :bastard:'s

:hugz:

[David MacLuckey]

Dear Friends,

Got in Friday evening after three weeks on the road. Made a lot of miles and even got extra pay for going to Long Island, NY. Did the rail car shuffle out of Jersey City, NJ for two days and later did the WalMart pull out of Tobyhanna, Pa. for two days. Finally got home after having to do two 34hr resets. Was Able to help out the Charlotte NC Fire Department on my way home Friday out on I485. They got stuck behind a slow 4 wheeler and couldnt get out from behind it. I gave them the break and when they got out of my way they turned on all the lights to thank me. Not often a driver is happy to see the discos burn behind him. I am driving an '04 Freightliner with autoshift. Man, let me tell you, that autoshift rocks! Dont miss a gear, always in the right gear, dont wear my left leg out going thru town or in city traffic. Still looking foreward to getting on a dedicated run so I can spend more time here with BEARLADY and the animals. Being gone 3 weeks at a time really made me miss being here. We should be back above the financial water line in a few weeks and can get started working on stuff around the house instead of worrying about the bills. Just saw a feature on my old drag strip on the tele. Seems they are now getting the national recognition we have worked long and hard to earn. Lond live the 24o+ MPH door cars! But enough of all of that...Will sign off for now, got to get busy outside getting things ready for spring. It snowed this morning and I need to get ready for spring?!?!? Go figure.
Blessings to all and lets look out for each other out there.
And a big thank you to MOI and Semele for this wonderful site.
:yourock:

[BEARLADY]

:steppy: Hello Everyone this is Bearlady.


:smoochypo Dave was home with me for 3 days, and now he is on the road again.

:spinnysmi Dave, is doing good with his job, he is driving a lot of miles, and sending home a nice pay check for me to pay the bills and feeled all of the kids.

:kooky: He will be home again on the 13th thur the 15th. with well be good to have him home.

Thank you for being there for the both of us, there is time when I need a friend to talk to.

I have bad days, that I am in so much pain that I wishI could just gave up.

[David MacLuckey]

Dear Friends,

My apologies for taking so long to update all of you. I have been on the road for quite a while now and there is not a lot that I can say in my defense. I am home now for three days, not near long enough with all the chores to do. But I will get over it. I got switched to a dedicated part of the fleet, supposed to be home every week end and maybe a night or two during the week. Deliver to the second largest retailer in the US. Who is the second (behind Wal-Mart)? Would you believe Dollar General? Seems like almost every cross road has one, and most towns have at least two. And they are growing like mad. They have a lot of former Wal Mart employees working for them, all of them happy with the new positions and glad to be out of WM. I got a new truck for making the switch. Its a 2006 Freightliner, Detroit Diesel, fully automatic Eaton transmission, Smart cruise control, side mounted camera for the passenger side blind spot. I am still learning about the toys this thing has. I get to do a lot of back road runs, lots of two lane out in the boonies, through the heart of the south. This is a big switch from the 3 or 4 hundred mile runs on the interstate that I was doing. And surprisingly I am liking it. I have the option of picking my own routes, as opposed to the computer generated shortest distance stuff I had been doing. Makes it kinda nice to be able to pick and choose how to get there. And the home time is what really rocks. BEARLADY is happy that I will be home more often and on a some what predictable basis. That means that soon the honey do list will start to get smaller and I will start to have a life again. This weekend we are putting a new floor down in our trailer next door to replace the old one that was damaged by a water leak. The insurance company paid the claim and we decided to do the work and pocket some of the labor costs. Its always good to make an honest dollar.
Will sign off for now, got to get busy. Best wishes to all and Blessed Be...

[David MacLuckey]

My Dear Friends,

I have nothing to say in my defense. I dropped the ball in keeping this page updated. My fault entirely. Throw brick bats or old shoes or whatever you feel is appropriate, I deserve it all and then some. Please forgive me. So now an update from the road...


Lasted all of 6 weeks on the $ general account. Lost 1/3 of my take home pay, worked a whole lot more hours and didn't get home like they promised. Shortly after I transferred back to the over the road account I was put on to the FEMA acct. out of Pineville Louisiana. I was dispatched out of Camp Beauregard on an as needed basis. I moved 5 trailers in a little over 2 weeks. I know it don't sound like a lot, but the pay was good and the base went out of its way to help us out. BEARLADY came over to see me after I was there a week and stayed a week with me on the truck. She got to go with me on a trip into the combat zone of downtown New Orleans. It was my third trip down, my first with a police escort. She took some pictures while we were there and on the way out. The stuff you got to see on the news can't touch you like seeing it in person. Working with FEMA allowed us to go places most other folks were not allowed to. It looks like a war zone. Whole sale destruction, massive damage, National Guard everywhere. I know that there is a lot of criticism going around now for FEMA. Some of it is deserved, some is not. There is a lot of finger pointing going on also. Most of it is from the elected officials that are afraid of loosing their job or otherwise looking bad in the eyes of the public. My opinion, and that is all that it is, an opinion, is that FEMA did a decent job with the rules that it had to deal with. They were not allowed to send out supplies with out a request from some organization that needed it. Simply flying over and dropping food and water to the survivors would have caused even more chaos as people fought for it. As a native Floridian, I have seen my share of hurricane damage. Maybe that is why I was chosen to go on this account. I do know that when local officials tell you that you need to leave the area, you probably need to leave. Now. Leaving your home is hard. Rescuing people who didn't leave and/or bagging bodies is a much tougher task. I feel that those who stayed behind, weather they were throwing a hurricane party, thought their home would survive the storm, to scared or stubborn to leave, or what ever the reason, they knew they were taking a chance. And now they are angry because what they had is gone or damaged. Hey folks, when you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you have to expect a flood now and then. Lets not forget that Mississippi got hit pretty hard also. And "Sweet Home Alabama" took a whipping as well. I will try to not get into politics on this site. But the role of the government, our elected government, is protection from our selves and others. Not protection from the elements. That is a luxury, a very expensive luxury, that you and I pay for with our taxes. All the money that Uncle Sam has pumped into that area is going to be paid for with the tax dollars from our pay checks. Its bad enough that the New Orleans area has a very high rate of unemployment and homeless people. But now we, the American Tax Payers, are going to be asked to pay for the costs of rebuilding it. Please don't think that I am a cold hearted orb; uncaring, unfeeling, autonomous. My heart goes out to those who lost all that they have worked for their whole lives. But reach down and grab your boot straps and pull your self up out of the mud. You are on the green side of the sod, a blessing I am thankful everyday. Take a deep cleansing breath, and even if the are is a bit pugnent, be glad you are alive and get on with living. Work hard as you have all your life and start over again. So long as the Gods have allowed you another day, make the best of it. If the prospect of rebuilding your life in the devastated area is to much for you to handle, change your address. All right, I'll come down off of my soap box now. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

[WynterWynd]

Wow! You've been a busy beaver!

Well, beware my truck driven friend....HuntinOwl and I are back on the big road too!! So look out:imout:

[David MacLuckey]

So now there are three out and about. What is this world coming to?
I got back in Monday morning, lots of chores to catch up on, miles of messages on the computer, and that is not to mention regular mail. (Yes I have a few friends who still use paper and ink). Spent two days getting things caught up here at the house. BEARLADY and I have gotten some quality time, both alone and with friends. She is trying to get certified by the Red Cross so she can do some volunteer work to help out the community. Had time this morning to send out a letter to a friend who is locked up in Florida. Always makes me feel good to do that. Got a new dispatcher a few weeks ago, he seems to be a nice guy. I sat in Richmond Virginia for two days last week waiting on a load. I have to call payroll to make sure they pay me for it and have them make some adjustments on some stuff they "forgot" to pay me for. I think I should be paid a premium for finding their mistakes and making them correct them. There is another hurricane out in the Gulf of Mexico as I write this. Maybe I'll get lucky and get put back on FEMA again. Lets all be careful out there and remember those who are less fortunate that us. The Gods know what we feel, and guide us to where we are needed. So lets do the tasks that need to be done, and be thankful that we have the ability to do them. And if you see a red Freightliner truck with US Express and the number 41295 on it, give me a wave. If I have the time, maybe we can get together and drink some meade and break bread together. I'm still trying to get a moniter for the lap top so I still can't give updates from the road, but that day is coming.
Blessings to all and blessed be....

[David MacLuckey]

Rolled in yesterday morning from Florida. One load of water for FEMA from Tennessee two days before scheduled home time. Dropped it in West Palm Beach. There was no shortage of supplies at the fair ground where I dropped. At least 150 truck loads of water, and probably half that many loads of ice. Electric generators, construction equipment, mobile kitchens and shower facilities were there also, waiting on requests from the affected areas for them. Why is it that two+ weeks after landfall all this stuff is still there? Im here to fix up the rental property next door. Our tennant of two years moved out and we are doing some improvements before we rent in out again. It promises to be a long weekend full of home improvement projects. At least Ill be able to get out to Lowes :) for supplies and that sort of thing. BEARLADY confessed that she is having a hard time being home alone while Im out on the road. We are still trying to find a local driving position for me, but all jobs in this region are few and far between. And us from "over there" dont make it any easier. Will sign off for now, its time to get busy. As always....Blessed be to all....

[David MacLuckey]

Rolled in yesterday afternoon from Tenn. BEARLADY went out with me this time. Two weeks out and she still wanted to stay out. She took a lot of pictures, got to see some of the country she had not seen before, (New Jersey, Long Island) and had almost too much fun on the CB. She now under stands when I say this road is like the Jersey turnpike. She was not impressed with Long Island either. It snowed all the way from the Jersey line at Pennsylvania all the way into Columbus, Slowhio. It stayed cold thru Kentuckey and it was only 19 degrees this morning here in the mountains. Have lots to do, as usual, but wanted to update those of you who do come here. Please dont be shy about posting here. Its not my site, just a place for me to communicate with you.

[phoenixblayze]

safe travels, and yes, ky is freezing today

[David MacLuckey]

Got in town Tuesday night, late. Long drive from Memphis, Arkansas to here. Got to be in South Carolina in the morning to deliver the load I've got on now. I have about had enough of this group. They have cut our miles way down on account of the price of fuel, sending almost every thing that they can by rail. Picked up a load in Kansas City, Ks. at the rail yard, took it to the rail yard in Chicago and put it back on the train rather than take it into New Jersey. Went up into Sapphire, NC to a dear friends home up there. Changed the locks on the doors and will send the keys out as he asked us to do. Our renters have a new puppy two days ago. They are doing their best to get him house broke, but he was an outside dog before he came into their lives. And we have yet another stray that wondered up. A coarse haired terrier about one year old. She is very calm and friendly, and as of now she is getting along very well with our resident dog, Junebug. The stray's collar had a name and phone number on it, so I called the fella and told him that we had one of his dogs. When I described her to him, he said that it was not one of his dogs, but a friend of his who lives arround here has some like that and he would get in touch with him and call us back. Im kinda hoping that he doesn't, she is a good companion for Junebug. Will close for now, got to start looking for my next employer while Im here. Lets take a minute to be thankful for all the Blessings that the Gods and Goddesses have bestowed upon us, and please remember those that are unable to be with us. Even though I was not in favor of the current military action in the Middle East, it is the price we pay for our freedom. I know that one of my fellow drivers recently signed on for a 12 month tour as a civilian driver, and I regularly get e-mails from him. He is scared and missing his wife and family. I know that they would have to pay me a whole lot more than the $120,000 to be there for a year. Look for next post in about two weeks.

[David MacLuckey]

Pulled out yesterday about 5:15 am. Made it about 9 miles and blew the turbo out on the first good up hill pull. Sounded like I blew a tire, lost power in a big way and had fire 6 or 8 feet out of the exhaust pipe. Ive been complaining about the turbo for over 6 weeks, and the maintenance department insisted that there was nothing wrong with it. So they got to tow the truck and trailer from the top of Cowee Gap to the Freightliner dealer in Asheville. I get a little bit longer at home. They offered to let me go to Asheville and get a cheap motel on them but I explained that I was only 9 miles from home so thay let me come on back to the house. That gives me more time to do a job hunt. And Ill bill the company for layover pay to boot. Till next time, keep an eye out for each other.

[David MacLuckey]

All righty then. Got a fresh truck from the Freightlined dealer in Greenville SC. Then they gave me next to nothing for miles. Had two weeks in a row that I didn't take home more than $150.00. Complained to dispatcher's superviser. Got moved to another dispatchers board and started getting liveable miles. Then came the "Black Thursday" of 26 Jan 06. I sent in a request for a payroll update from the on board computer for the amount of my check for Friday. It came back that my check would be for -$117.50. Thats right, 117 in the hole after driving 2300+ miles with no late deliveries or damaged product. BEARLADY spent most of Thursday and a good bit of Friday on the phone trying to get it fixed. Payroll and dispatch, from the bottom thru supervisors all said there is nothing they can do. So I took the load that was supposed to deliver just outside of Atlanta on Friday morning here to the house and pulled my stuff out of the truck. Then I took it back to Tunnel Hill Georgia and turned it in. They did everything they could to try and keep me working. I told the fellow that he would have to find a way to get my payroll put into my checking account by yesterday because my bank is closed on Saturday for me to stay employed there. Spent over 20 minutes trying to convince this guy that I was quiting and that there was nothing he could do that we had not already tried. He finally got the picture. So now Im an unemployed driver enjoying the freedom of being home with my wife for a little while. Ill start to look for another place to work Monday or Tuesday. Im sure it wont take long. And I have noticed that next to no one has posted here. So this will probably be the last update. No reason to write if no one reads. Will continue to try to stay in touch here at MW on other pages. This is still my favorite site on the web and I guess that most folks are just to busy with their own lives to be concerned with this poor practicioner in the woods. So Ill count my blessings and take stock of the situation. Never been one to react, much better to respond. Till next time blessings to all and make merry...

Dave