Well, this has been an experience! We were going to go to California for a delivery, but last minute change of plans, we met up with another driver and switch loads in OR. We then went to Texas... a block from the boarder to Mexico. We arrived at the loading dock in Lorado and they said they couldn't unload us until Monday... they stopped unloading deliveries at 12pm and it was 12:30pm. It was Friday and we didn't want to sit there that long! Jeff and I convinced the office folks in Lorado to take the load now and not wait until Monday. While we were waiting to be called to the dock for unloading... we went to a little Mexican diner that was in the parking lot of this docking terminal. It was like stepping into Mexico. A movie about Jesus crucifiction was on the TV and the family owned diner was taking orders for hungry truckers. We noticed they didn 't take credit/debit cards and we didn't have a lot of cash with us. Jeff pulled $6 out of his pocket and we split a combo meal of beans, rice, 1 taco, 2 cheese enchelada's. I think the owner thought we were flat broke and gave us some tortila chips as we were leaving-lol. It was very good food! Jeff and I have really taken advantage of being near Mexico... eating at Mexican joints.
This run was hard. We literally kept the truck rolling continually. We stopped to gas up... that is it. Not much time to enjoy the sites, but it is good money!
Our next stop will be out East. Our company doesnt usually go East, but here we go!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Another Day
Here is the truck I drive with my husband, Jeff. I work for MC VanKampen out of Wyoming, MI.
We went through Chicago today, on our way back from Washington. First stop was in Chicago to deliver trees to a green house/landscape company. Then, we went to Battle Creek, MI. We have 2 stops tomorrow. One in South Lyon, MI and lastly, Grand Rapids.
Jeff and I walked around the truck stop for exercise. I have him eating fresh fruits and veggies in the truck... exercising... I am wondering if he is wishing I didn't join him on the road! lol.
Meals on Wheels (literally):
I was given an idea from Tonya (my trucking friend).
Burritos
4 frozen beef and bean burritos
1 small can Enchelalada (spell) sauce
cheese
Put burritos in a microwave safe dish
Pour Enchelada sauce over burritos
Cover with Cheese
Microwave til cooked through
I made these and they were yummy!
Omletes
I have a microwave omlete dish.
Spray dish with cooking spray
Pour South West Style Egg Beaters into dish
cook in microwave until done- stop and stir as needed
add cheese.... yummy!
Friday, June 25, 2010
First Trucking Trip
Well, I Have had 4 days behind the wheel. We went to Sumner Washington and dropped a load and picked one up in Oregon. Jeff drove more than I did, but as I get used to it, I will drive more. I drove about 5-6 hours a day. Downshifting still isn't easy for me... Jeff tried to teach me how to shift without clutching... maybe one day, it will click in my brain. I drove through some mountains, but the real steep mountains were handled by Jeff. Once in Oregon, we picked up trees and bushes from a nursery on the Pacific coast. I went for a walk at the nursery- it was huge! Shrubs, trees and plants as far as the eyes could see! The mountains in the background... it was beautiful.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Trucking School
The first week of trucking school was very cold and rainy. The second week was hot, and I mean HOT! It was 98 degrees out and God only knows how hot on the black top 'range'. I stood outside for 9 hours a day on the range... in the heat. I stood there... watching my team mates practice their maneuvers... when it was my turn... I wasn't freaked out about getting in the truck or doing my back docking... I was just glad that for the short time I was in the truck, I was in air conditioning! Our maneuvers consisted of pulling forward through the cones, backing up through the cones, then doing a 90 degree back dock and then a right turn. You could get no more than 9 points on the actual test. I still was having problems back docking... everything else was easy. That back docking would be the death of me! I watched my new friends struggle with the docking as well.
Andy was now taking us out on the streets of Grand Rapids. I was so nervous! He told me when to turn corners and how to turn corners... he helped me get out of messes when I didn't turn the wheel fast enough. EE gads!!! "remember, you are driving the trailer, not the truck" he would say to me. "Use those shiny things connected to the truck! (mirrors)". Clutch, neutral, clutch to gear... Double clutch! Downshifting was the hardest thing for me. Watch the tack, watch the mirrors, watch the trailer and watch everyone around you... oh, and what did that sign say? What is the speed limit? What did it say on that overpass? Good Grief!!! My respect for truck drivers has increased with each and every minute.
Week three: I finally got the docking. I only missed once the whole week. Consider that I am doing this constantly for 9 hours a day... that is pretty good! I am more comfortable driving out in Grand Rapids... Infact, the only really scarey part is downshifting. Friday arrived and so did my driving test. Andy was more nervous than I was. I went with the tester... to the truck for my pretrip inspection. Properly mounted and secured... no bent broken or missing pieces.... castle nuts and cotter pins.... Phase one complete! On to phase two. I had to do the range for my test. I missed the dock by a foot so I pulled up and redid it. The second time, I pulled right in. The rest of the range was easy. I passed the range. On to phase three. Driving for an hour in Grand Rapids. This is the first time that Andy wasn't with me. I was very nervous. I did pretty good... some mistakes, but I knew I had passed. Once we pulled into the range, after the road test, Andy came to the truck. He stood nervously outside until the tester went over the good and bad of my driving. Andy had to go back to his other group on the range. After the tester shook my hand, and said, "congratulations, Driver." I got out and ran to Andy and gave him a big hug and a thank you!! I then went and looked for Tonya. My new friend and school mate. What a relief!!!! I PASSED!!!
Yesterday, I went to MC Vankampen and applied for a job. I now am Jeff's driving partner. My adventures driving across America will begin soon.
Andy was now taking us out on the streets of Grand Rapids. I was so nervous! He told me when to turn corners and how to turn corners... he helped me get out of messes when I didn't turn the wheel fast enough. EE gads!!! "remember, you are driving the trailer, not the truck" he would say to me. "Use those shiny things connected to the truck! (mirrors)". Clutch, neutral, clutch to gear... Double clutch! Downshifting was the hardest thing for me. Watch the tack, watch the mirrors, watch the trailer and watch everyone around you... oh, and what did that sign say? What is the speed limit? What did it say on that overpass? Good Grief!!! My respect for truck drivers has increased with each and every minute.
Week three: I finally got the docking. I only missed once the whole week. Consider that I am doing this constantly for 9 hours a day... that is pretty good! I am more comfortable driving out in Grand Rapids... Infact, the only really scarey part is downshifting. Friday arrived and so did my driving test. Andy was more nervous than I was. I went with the tester... to the truck for my pretrip inspection. Properly mounted and secured... no bent broken or missing pieces.... castle nuts and cotter pins.... Phase one complete! On to phase two. I had to do the range for my test. I missed the dock by a foot so I pulled up and redid it. The second time, I pulled right in. The rest of the range was easy. I passed the range. On to phase three. Driving for an hour in Grand Rapids. This is the first time that Andy wasn't with me. I was very nervous. I did pretty good... some mistakes, but I knew I had passed. Once we pulled into the range, after the road test, Andy came to the truck. He stood nervously outside until the tester went over the good and bad of my driving. Andy had to go back to his other group on the range. After the tester shook my hand, and said, "congratulations, Driver." I got out and ran to Andy and gave him a big hug and a thank you!! I then went and looked for Tonya. My new friend and school mate. What a relief!!!! I PASSED!!!
Yesterday, I went to MC Vankampen and applied for a job. I now am Jeff's driving partner. My adventures driving across America will begin soon.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
From nursing to trucking
Well, I did it! I have been a registered nurse since 1995. I married Jeff Pincheck March 31, 2009. Jeff drives a big rig and is on the road most of the time. On May 28, 2010, I passed my truck driving class and became a proud owner of my CDL. One day, when working as an RN, I decided to join Jeff on the road. I turned in my letter of resignation. My nursing peers were all very supportive. They sent me off with a bang! I even got a farewell cake with a semi-truck on it!
I signed up for a 3 week truck driving coarse. My first day was interesting, to say the least. I walked into the classroom and saw all men. I watched the door and prayed that another girl would walk in the room. Another man walked in... and another... and another... then finally, two gals walked in! I was not alone! The instructor began the day by saying... "This is not what you are expecting. This is hard work. Most of you came here thinking it would be easy. It is not." Good Grief!!! I already am terrified, I didn't need that.
After class, we went out, in groups of 4 to the 'range'. In my group, me, Lee, John, and Tonya. I was soo happy to have another woman in the small group. My instructors name was Andy. Quickly, I became attached to Andy. That man is my hero! As I explain my adventure, you will understand.
Andy tells us that we are going to get in the truck, one at a time and drive forward and then backward between the cones. I gulped. Andy saw my fear. I wasn't paying attention... maybe we all had that look on our faces. All I know is, that HUGE truck made me feel panic!!!
Andy showed us the basics of shift putting the truck in 2nd gear and reverse and he even demonstrated what we needed to do. I can't remember who went first... I was third. When my turn came... Andy said, who is next? I walked toward the truck. Andy looked surprised that I volunteered to go next. I new I had to do it. That was the single most frightening moment I can remember. I got in the truck and put the truck in 2nd gear... I let the truck coast... no gas... through the cones... forward. Then, when it was time to go in reverse through the cones, I couldn't keep the truck between the cones. I was so upset...so scared. Andy got in the truck and gave me a 'pep talk' and taught me how to do it.
It took 3 days before I could do the most basic of maneuvers... backing up. Finally, I did it with ease.
The first week was raining and cold. It was so cold, I went to the store and bought sweat shirts, boots, rain gear. We ended up not being able to do much on the range. We did classroom work. I needed to be in the truck, not in the classroom. We all felt that way.
Week One... completed.
I was backing up and stopping within the cones!
I signed up for a 3 week truck driving coarse. My first day was interesting, to say the least. I walked into the classroom and saw all men. I watched the door and prayed that another girl would walk in the room. Another man walked in... and another... and another... then finally, two gals walked in! I was not alone! The instructor began the day by saying... "This is not what you are expecting. This is hard work. Most of you came here thinking it would be easy. It is not." Good Grief!!! I already am terrified, I didn't need that.
After class, we went out, in groups of 4 to the 'range'. In my group, me, Lee, John, and Tonya. I was soo happy to have another woman in the small group. My instructors name was Andy. Quickly, I became attached to Andy. That man is my hero! As I explain my adventure, you will understand.
Andy tells us that we are going to get in the truck, one at a time and drive forward and then backward between the cones. I gulped. Andy saw my fear. I wasn't paying attention... maybe we all had that look on our faces. All I know is, that HUGE truck made me feel panic!!!
Andy showed us the basics of shift putting the truck in 2nd gear and reverse and he even demonstrated what we needed to do. I can't remember who went first... I was third. When my turn came... Andy said, who is next? I walked toward the truck. Andy looked surprised that I volunteered to go next. I new I had to do it. That was the single most frightening moment I can remember. I got in the truck and put the truck in 2nd gear... I let the truck coast... no gas... through the cones... forward. Then, when it was time to go in reverse through the cones, I couldn't keep the truck between the cones. I was so upset...so scared. Andy got in the truck and gave me a 'pep talk' and taught me how to do it.
It took 3 days before I could do the most basic of maneuvers... backing up. Finally, I did it with ease.
The first week was raining and cold. It was so cold, I went to the store and bought sweat shirts, boots, rain gear. We ended up not being able to do much on the range. We did classroom work. I needed to be in the truck, not in the classroom. We all felt that way.
Week One... completed.
I was backing up and stopping within the cones!
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