Truck Driver Shortage

[edbenton]

High Iron I have to agree on monteagle that is the meanest SOB east of the Mississippi river. But nastiest one I ever ran has to be east on I-70 out of the IKE tunnel very long grade not steep but if you dont watch it it WILL BITE YOU IN THE *** . I had to come down it one time grossed out with good old sweet corn thank god for top ice on it kept the brakes cool truck I was in was a reginal truck and was not supposed to get west of Kanasas City. I had fun that run but at least when I got to the yard my regular tractor was fixed. My fini***rainee dropped the tranny out of it. I still don't know how he did it it was a Super 10 no going back thru the pattern.

[Overmod]

Shades of the Wreck of the old 97:

I got to get past Atlanta as soon as I can tonight
I got to try to dodge the scales and stay out of Smokey's sight
But there's one big thing standin' like a nightmare in my way
I got to top Monteagle Mountain a little bit later today

Goin' down Monteagle Mountain on I-24
It's hell for a trucker when the devil's at your door
He'll tempt you and tell you come on let her roll
Cause the mountain wants your rig and trucker I want your soul

When I started down Monteagle the brakes just wouldn't hold
I knew I was in trouble and 'bout to lose control
The runaway ramp was waitin' I saw the warnin' sign
I said Lord help me make it have mercy on this soul of mine

Well I ploughed into that runaway ramp and I could feel that bigh truck groan
My life flashed right before my eyes and for a minute I thought I was gone
But when the smoke cleared I thanked God that I was still alive
Cause when there's a runaway on Monteagle some truckers don't survive

(Johnny Cash!)

Still. I have to think that PA route 115 going down into Wilkes-Barre (below the Turnpike extension exit) is one of the nastiest pieces of road in the East...

[arbfbe]

Overpaid delivery drivers? By definition, if they were overpaid then there would be a drive surplus. Since there is such a shortage they are obviously under paid for the work and working conditions.

[Anonymous]

I'll indulge you a little bit on the terror in the hills.

I was told a story by a west virginia trucker one night. Here is what I remember of it...

I a-fixing to come across that dar sandstone. If you aint nevah seen dat sandstone you will someday. One night it was raining at the bottom and snowing at the top and fog in between. First thing I noticed was a bad wheel on the way to the truckstop near the line at a place called sulphur springs.

I see folks on the side saying bad wreck down there, they be souls seeking god tonight. I passed them seeing it aint dinner time yet and this rig has to go. Long grade towards the bottom the brakes start to smoke and fade. The more air I spent on the hot and hotter brakes the less stopping I had.

Shifting the cigar to the other side and seeing the big red low air light as the broken springs fell away in a shower of sparks... a CB call came in.. please mr. trucker stop your rig before you hit that wreck at the bottom on sulpher springs my family is still stuck in that car.

Wal.. Ive driven many a year and seen many a problem to be solved. This one jest calls for some sacrifice. No brakes, rig on fire, steepining grade and a failing engine from being over driven by the tranny to hold it down on the roadway. The broken concrete hammers at the wheel making it hard to hold the increasingly unstable rig.

The lights of the police, ambulance shows on the windshield in the glare of the fire behind my cab advancing towards me. I need to decide if I will go to the right and into the great river 300 feet below or to the left and hit the rocks off the side... what to do?? what to do..

As I hear the last pleas of the people moments before deciding my own fate I wake up in a load of sweat and fear. Thru the window can be seen the sulpher springs truckstop where drivers are filing into the restruant for breakfast on the faint dawn of a sunrise.

I suppose you know the story of sulphur springs... as I said if you see Sandstone get ready for the springs because it will get you someday.

[Sterling1]

I may not be a truck driver but my uncle is . . . been driving for years he's almost in his sixties

From a few of the stories he told some were as bad those mentioned above .

I'm not sure but I think he was based mainly in the Rochester NY area as a commercail trucker not interstate . . .

He had a certain story which he told that I won't mention here unless asked for it
It had something illegal to do with the fuel . . .

If there are any gov't types out in the trains forum . . . leave you don't want to hear this

By request only . . .

[passengerfan]

Probably tried it myself . I unloaded X-ray equipment at Edwards Air Foirce Base one friday and found I did not have enough fuel to get to LA so found out their was no place to get diesel in the Lancaster Palmdale area i pulled in to a home heating oil agent and asked if he could spare enough diesel to get me to LA he said better than that i'll fill ypur tanks and charge it to the California Highway Patrol who are getting there tank filled in the morning at there regional headquarters. I paid him for what the meter showed no fuel taxes or sales taxes of any kind. He was right it was the cheapest fuel I ever bought in California and I wonder if he really did bill the home oil to the CHP.

[Anonymous]

There is a 76 off I-78 in Jersey about 7 miles this side of the PA line.

Parking problems that time. Cops were in force writing tickets. One trucker pulled out of the no parking I pulled into his spot. Walked into the restraunt while angry bear was writing one down the line.

Eat dinner and watch about 6 officers show up, and continued to eat dinner very slowly watching them across the road.

3 hours later I came out to the rig and all 7 were irate. They were very angry that they lost command of the english language. Between shouted gibberish reinforced by spittle I gathered that I will be:

1- Inspected
2- Rechecked
3- papers checked, load checked
4- weighed
5- ticketed
6- charged and hauled off to jail
7 billed for delay of law enforcement personel

and any number of dire problems ranging from casteration to the spanish inqusition.

Seeing both sides with doors open in the cab and several pairs of boots swinging as all of them fought thier way into the cab was one for the books. I didnt know that many could fit in at once.

$130 dollars later I headed on my way. I suppose it was worth it to just sit for 3 hours at dinner (and desert, conversta5tion coffee etc) while they waited.

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by greyhounds

Carload railroading sucks!

I once wrote a simple computer simulation of a carload system and it showed the system would (suprise) produce erradic delivery times, cars would pass each other in transit and arrive out of order. They would also bunch up.
Just like the real world.

There are too many "events" in loose car railroading - and each event has an opportunity for failure. And there's little anyone can do to fix reliability on the carload side.

Intermodal and unit trains work becuse they reduce the number of "events". Basically solid trains just run from origin to destination with intermediate handling (such as the cross town in Chicago) being done by truck.

Railroads can, and do, produce good reliable truck competivie service with their intermodal operations (UPS proves that). And the apples will some day find their way into double stack service.

Here is some data from the real loose car world. A car of acetic acid from a ???? in Bayport, TX to the then GATX tank farm in Wilmington, CA, if operating exactly according to schdule, would have experienced 132 events back in 1995 on this main line route. If the process performs correctly 95% of the time that means there is a miss 5% of the time. 132x5%=660%. Rail is cheap but you better have a lot of safety stock inventory in Wilmington.

[passengerfan]

If you want a rough Mountain pass to run I would suggest you eaterners try highway 160 across southern Colorado they have a pass down there called Wolf Creek and have seen it make grown men cry just driving an RV over that one. Got caught by a early fall storm and the trucks didn't even have their plows on yet Yes I Chained up and I probably would have put even more chains on if I had had more. Going westbound there is a very sharp curve at the bootonm of the long downgrade with what lokks to be a thousand foot drop if you miss this turn. Between my daughter, wife and Wolf Creek Pass I earned every gray hair on my head.

[Anonymous]

Pshaw... that is pretty good for mountian driving passengerfan.

I heard stories about a place called "Salt Lick" which is down in Arizona. I have had it described as a pass so dangerous that your "Inside" trailer wheels are rubbing against the broken rock wall on a curve while your tractor's outside dual wheels are hanging over open space that spans thousands of feet. As you drove you had to hang out the window and look at your left steer to make sure you did not lose the pavement.

I dont know if this was a story designed to scare non mountain driving folks white or not but legends have a kernel of truth.

I personally had to a dangerous drive at a quarry in the Northeast. They had a rock bridge that reached the exit gate at the plant. This bridge is nothing more than a spacer between two seperate quarries that have been worked on since America became a nation or so they say...

On that bridge there is hundreds of feet drop on either side. It is just 2 feet wider than a tractor trailer's wheels. On the pavement is painted a 1 foot wide yellow line. There are gaurds at either end of this path which was several hundred feet long. These gaurds take your waiver and next of kin information and in some cases your last will and testament should you choose to provide one on a peice of scrap paper.

On signal you are allowed to take as much time as needed keeping the left steer tire on that yellow line. You are told that if your steer tire goes "Out of bounds" off that yellow strip you are going to die that day.

believe me, I saw nothing but yellow paint on that cracked and worn pavement. After I made that trip I stood at the other gaurdshack smoking a cigerette and appreciating how wonderful that day was.

The regulars who work or go in and out of the plant daily takes that bridge in stride. It was the outside drivers who deliver freight in there that were taken care of with special care.

[passengerfan]

Might also suggest if you want a hair raising experience with a big rig try alternate 89 from Prescott to Sedona. First and only time up their was in the middle of the night and the signs said no trucks. But rather than turn around and turn at Prescott and take the truck route I guess it was my bull headedness or maybe stupidity or maybe both I kept going. It probably was a good thing it was about two in the morning when i descended as I never meant a car on the entire descent and it was just as well. I took the entire highway and watched my doughnut wheeled trailers rub the guard rails as i negotiated the tightest curves I have ever seen. When I got to Sedona where my Morning delivery was I was shaking to much to crawl in the sleeper for some much needed rest. In the morning when they were unloading the Grocery Store Check stands and Produce tables one of the grocery truck drivers I was talking to said it was a good thing they didn't catch me on that highway as the fine was 500.00. As I weaved my way through Cottonwood that early AM even the local Police car was parked and in bed where anyone with any sense would have been. Can't say I'm sorry I no longer drive trucks but today I don't think I would have attempted that little drive.

[Sterling1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by passengerfan

Probably tried it myself . I unloaded X-ray equipment at Edwards Air Foirce Base one friday and found I did not have enough fuel to get to LA so found out their was no place to get diesel in the Lancaster Palmdale area i pulled in to a home heating oil agent and asked if he could spare enough diesel to get me to LA he said better than that i'll fill ypur tanks and charge it to the California Highway Patrol who are getting there tank filled in the morning at there regional headquarters. I paid him for what the meter showed no fuel taxes or sales taxes of any kind. He was right it was the cheapest fuel I ever bought in California and I wonder if he really did bill the home oil to the CHP.

Yeah that's the same stuff only he found it in the southern part of Rochester when he ran out and yes it was true cheaper mainly because it was home heating oil with a different tint or coloring in it.

[Anonymous]

There is an arizona scale house with a picture of a semi trailer lost on a mountain curve at near 8,000 foot from someone trying to by pass it...

Was this the road passengerfan?

[Anonymous]

Any of you guys ever try U.S. Highway 14A between Sheridan and Lovell Wyoming? When we were kids on a family vacation back in 1970 my dad pulled a trailer over that road. The signs said "No Trucks" so we should have taken notice, I guess. Three hours, three screaming kids and one screaming mom later, we finally made it into Lovell with some bent trailer parts in tow. On the plus side, I got to see my only CB&Q train near Lovell (it was right before the merger).

[passengerfan]

Yep tried 14A had deliveries for Cody, Powell, Sheridan and Gillette all scheduled for the same day. I made it and it was my first and last time I ever ran that highway I guess the boss took pity on me. Being the Senior driver the boss use to send me to all the armpits of the Western U.S. his argument was I had more experience therefore he didn't have to worry if I was on the load. My argument was how are the younger drivers ever going to get the experience if you don't send them on these routes. I liked it better when his dad was sending out the loads he agreed that all drivers will have to learn sooner or later so it might as well be sooner. I was sorry when he retired. But I must admit i did have one favoirite somewhat regulkar route and that was starting in Washington State and deliverinmg down the Oregon and California Coasts to L A. Another of the nicer routes was along the Columbia River and making the deliveries all the way to Salt Lake City. But probably the most enjoyment was the summer i ran cback and forth for the entire summer between Sparks and Las Vegas NV. Our company was one of the largest transporters of Slot Machines out of Las Vegas so got to see all 48 states and even some of the Canadian Provinces while employed their. The best part is we ran empty back to Vegas for then next load and got paid the same as if we were loaded.

[Anonymous]

Them younger drivers ought not to go that far west.

They get lonely and bored being so far from nothing.

Stick em on the North east runs. If they can survive for a year accident free, then I send em west as much they want to.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9033

So, when is enough enough! I'm a LTL driver - got good medical, retirement...

Jim

Enough of you was enough when you made your first post. GET LOST.

LC

I can certainly understand your sentiment about GETTING LOST. Maybe I should GET LOST. But, I think what I really need to do is become a part of this online community. So, I'll end the salty tongue the glebe remarks and the pot-shoots.

I'll endeavor to be an asset. It will not be easy, but I'll work towards that...Not positive or educated postings to a thread, call me down!

I feel good posting this within this thread

Jim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9033

So, when is enough enough! I'm a LTL driver - got good medical, retirement...

Jim

I'm ever so glad you are proud of being an overpaid delivery man. Not what I'd want for my son.

LC

Well, I'm so proud of all of my sons. But, one became an overpaid deliveryman just like his DAD. Without any help from me, he got a LT company to train him, after his servitude, he found a Monday through Friday job, during daylight hours which pays him $50,000 bucks a year with good benefits, thats company paid health and welfare, not bad for a young man who for one reason or other didn't follow the college track.

Like I said, he did it with no help from me!

Jim

[edbenton]

Another grade that will make the butthole pucker is Parlay in Utah headed for SLC on I-80. I almost lost one in winter headed west on the 6% strech and got lucky. My engine failed and i lost the Jakes. Another one in UT is echo canyon narrow and watch for the g****** rocks falling.

[Jack_S]

QUOTE: [i]
Often thought when I was driving that California required chaining up many times when it wasn't really necessary.

If you've ever seen how native SoCal drivers of cars drive in rain (they speed up for flooded sections for one), you'd understand why the CHP gets paranoid about weather conditions that would go unnoticed in the Northeast.

When I lived in NY I was an avid skier and I never even had snow tires on my 2 VWs or my two SAABs. My sister lives in northern Vermont and I don't think she has ever used chains. Of course she drives a Jeep Liberty which sure helps.

Jack

[Anonymous]

In Upstate NY we don't need no stinking chains!!

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

In Upstate NY we don't need no stinking chains!!

LC

Perhaps because Pennsy used up all the Hills that God had in supply when he created this world he he.

=)

In a winter storm one afternoon to the East of Allentown, I found myself confronted by the sight of the 3 mile long westbound downgrade shining with ice that was so.... slippery smooth all the way down. This was with a empty flatbed and a Mack CH model rig daycab. I made it down but thank god I was a young man as the stress level was very high that day. I think I took 10 years off my life on that hill that icy day.

As bad as that one was I was to see even worse ice in the deep south near the end of the 90's. The kind that renders a foot of beach sand irrevelant. (They used to sand bridges to give you a chance to cross down there in the south.)

The previous night I slept at a reciever on top of a hill. The wind would blow very hard and you can feel and see the entire rig shift a inch or so to the side with every gust. I figured if I woke up the next morning in the ditch that is ok because I arrived at the customer on time with very valuable freight that they cannot work without.

Be safe and good luck! See you all on the flip side.

[passengerfan]

Leaving Spokane late one afternoon at the start of a snow storm I was tired after loading all day so thought I would drive for awhile. Heading east I pulled to the top of Mullan Pass and took the offramp which is right on the Idaho/Montana state line. The after turning onto the overpass I backed up to the be clear of the on ramps as this was dead end road that went maybe 100 feet. I parked crawled into the sleeper and before I knew it was fast asleep.
When I awoke it was daylight and the truck was practically buried in snow. Aftter answering natures call I found the snow was about twelve to fourteen inches deep and crunchy. I crawled up in the cab and filled out my comic book then started down the eastbound on ramp. The first thing I noticed is I was the only truck on the highway in fact I was the only traffic on the highway. As I approached Superior about an hour later I saw the Montana State troopers had a eastbound roadblock. When the spotted me they waded across the highway and flagged me down. The first thing he asked me was where was I coming from as the highway had been closed for the last eight hours. When I told him I was on the top of Mullan he said he was surprised as usually the Idaho troopers or Montana troopers run any drivers away from where I was parked when the highway was closed or going to be closed. His next question was did I see anyone else on my way to Superior I said no he said have a nice day and I was on my way east once again headed for Minneapolis.

[ajmiller]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

In a winter storm one afternoon to the East of Allentown, I found myself confronted by the sight of the 3 mile long westbound downgrade shining with ice that was so.... slippery smooth all the way down. This was with a empty flatbed and a Mack CH model rig daycab. I made it down but thank god I was a young man as the stress level was very high that day. I think I took 10 years off my life on that hill that icy day.

Which highway was that east of Allentown? I'm trying to picture where this hill is, but nothing sticks out in my memory.

[Anonymous]

I-78 .. there is a small hill that is rather long in grade from the east up and over before you hit the big one near the Jersey line.

Keep in mind that the interstate is somewhat south of town. If memory serves there is a Nestle's warehouse on the flat section just before that grade.

[ajmiller]

Is that the section of I-78 that also carries PA-309? That goes up and over South Mountain which borders the southern side of Allentown and Bethlehem. It doesn't seem that bad in a car which may be why I didn't think of it.

I know of that gigantic Nestle warehouse. It's in Fogelsville just west of Allentown.

I-78 is kind of hilly, but I think I-80 is more hilly. I-81/78 between Harrisburg and Allentown is not a very nice ride though. The road is a bit old and crumbly. I drove home to my parents that way last weekend and got stuck in traffic where the road is under construction near the Berks/Lehigh county border. When I get to Allentown, I usually take US-22 instead of I-78 since my parents house is north of the Allentown/Bethlehem city area.

By the way, I mentioned US-322 through Lewistown Narrows in a previous post on this thread, and it's still under construction. Long traffic delay there, and it looks like it will take years for them to expand the highway to four lanes. Now, I did travel through there late on a Friday afternoon, so that may have contributed to the traffic density, but I think I will avoid that route and stick to I-80.

[Anonymous]

South Mountain.. that's it. A small mountain but in bad weather something to think about.

Is that I-78/I-81 STILL in bad shape? UGH! What's going on with you PA folks? I personally witnessed all of the highway between Harrisburg East all the way to Scranton stripped down to bare dirt, repacked and a new interstate built (and relocated in some areas) twice.

That is twice.

Arkansas had bad crumbly concrete. too. We went ahead and stripped down to bare dirt, poured 3 feet of gravel, some concrete in some areas and 2 feet of apshalt on top of that.

Nice smooth ride right now. But 10 years from now I think we will have to rebuild it again.

In history Germany built autobahns that are still in use today on some sections. They know how to build highways. You also dont see Airport runways under repairs either and those airliners are way heavier than we truckers ever will be.

Build em big and strong the first time and have done with it.

I am sorry for a bit of a rant here, but I have seen I think, in the last 16 years sections of our interstate system torn down and rebuilt once or twice. Maybe Im wrong but those schnieder eggs are still in some places 10 years or more.

[arbfbe]

passengerfan,

Likely you were on Lookout Pass on the MT/ID border. Mullan Pass is near Helena and the highway goes over McDonald Pass anyway. Mullan is dirt road only and closed by drifts at the top during the entire winter, generally reopens in June.

[ajmiller]

I-78 ends where it connects to I-81 about 20 miles east of Harrisburg. I don't ever travel between Harrisburg and Scranton, so I'm not that familiar with I-81 between I-78 and I-80, but I assume it's probably similar to I-80.

I think that I-78 in Berks county predates much of the interstate system and the road seems a lot older than most interstate highways. I think it was built as an upgrade to US-22 in the 1950's and connected with the Lehigh Valley Thruway in Lehigh and Northampton Counties which was also designated as US-22 and built in the 1950's. Later I-78 was connected to I-81 in Lebanon County, but US-22 still follows its original route in Lebanon and Dauphin Counties.

For a long time, I-78 had a gap between Fogelsville PA and Phillipsburg NJ. Drivers could follow US-22 on the Lehigh Valley Thruway from Fogelsville to Easton PA, but at Easton the expressway ended and US-22 followed ordinary streets through Phillipsburg until the expressway resumed at I-78 in NJ.

I remember that there was a lot of debate as to whether US-22 should be expanded to six lanes and carry I-78 or that a separate highway for I-78 should be built to the south of the Lehigh Valley. Finally in the mid 1980's they built the separate route to the south.

A few years ago they extended PA-33 to connect to I-78 between Bethlehem and Easton. PA-33 is a north-south 4 lane highway that orginally connected I-80 at Stroudsburg PA to US-22 near Bethlehem. It took over ten years from the completion of I-78 to get the route 33 extension started.

[passengerfan]

Arbfbe
Absolutely correct Lookout pass it was . Guess memory plays tricks on me sometimes.
Mullan Pass is where the old NP line runs guess I get confused.
I have traveled many roads in the east over thirty years of driving and have seen the look on many eastern drivers faces the first time thy encountered the Rockies say on I-70 out of Denver, or better yet the first time they encounter Rogers Pass on TC1. Longest load I ever hauled was from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt to Candain Forces Bas St. John Newfoundland. had to ride two ferries one from Vancouver Island at Sidney to Tawassen znd the other was from North Sydney Nova Scotia to Port Aux Basque Newfoundland. Literally from one end of the Trans- Canada to the other. When I ran Alcan for six yeras loaded one special load in Houston and delivered it to Anchorage pretty hard to beat that for a North -South distance run.