December 12, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Laredo, Texas)
Christmas slowdown...Called dispatch today and was told there was no way I would be going out. I went to Wal-Mart and got some “hobby” stuff to play with and went back to my room. I had picked up a couple old pizza boxes so I decided to perfect my "fiberglass pizza". I spread out on my room's table like I did before (September 8, 1989) but I didn't have the visitors I did then. I had to leave the room for a short time while the room clearer did her thing. As I was working on the “pizza” I started thinking about a desk for my tractor. I thought about the desk and when I got done with the “pizza” I went out and got measurements. I didn't get the materials for the desk; I just did the “thinking” part. Afterward, I went to the pool and talked with a couple other drivers. This, and the other motel we use, looked like a terminal parking lot with all our tractors sitting around. Went to sleep watching the TV.

SECOND 5 YEARS: (the cost of not following directions...)
I was in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to do a pick up with other company trucks. There were four docks to back up to and I got the far right dock. I backed up to the dock and went to my sleeper for awhile. When I went to my sleeper, the only open dock was the far left one. Next to that dock was a BIG sign telling drivers to do a “straight back” docking. That meant that the driver needs to pull straight forward in front of the dock and back straight into the dock. There was plenty of room. Well, the reason for this was that next to this far left dock was a large gravel pit containing pipes covered by the gravel. While I was busy in my sleeper I noticed activity out in front of me. The truck that was to back into the far left dock had not done a straight backing. He had driven into the pit and his steering tires had sunk into the gravel. Things would have been OK if a vertical pipe hadn't ripped a small whole in his driver side fuel tank. He had to drop his trailer and put his tractor in an area designed for leaking tanks..Before it was over, all kinds of company(shipper) and government people were standing around talking while others were dumping powders and dirt on the leaking fuel. Of course there was yellow tape all around. When the fuel stopped leaking, there where shovelers and front loaders picking up the dirt and powder and sealing it in 55 gallons drums. I don't remember if the tractor had to be towed or not(no fuel left in tank) after this ordeal, but this mistake could not have been cheap.