Trip 19 and 20 - Daleville, VA to Hattiesburg, MS

Monday, January 9, 2006

I had told dispatch I'd be available this week, but they didn't have anything lined up by Friday, so they told me to call back today. Took them a while, but about 11:00 am got a call from dispatch saying they had an Altec truck from Daleville, VA to Hattiesburg, MS. No indication of how I'd return.

As I've told many, I first got the idea to do driveaway work the last year or so before I took early retirement from 30+ years in higher education. I got the idea from watching out my window the drivers leaving from the Daleville, VA Altec plant with their shiny new trucks to points unknown. After all those years in office work, the idea of driving around the country seemed right appealing. Since this one met my final major goal for driveaway work, I took it.

Daleville is only about 10 miles away from where I live, so after doing my pre-trip work (packing, paperwork, maps, etc.), I headed on over and got there around 1:00 PM. Easy pre-tripping since this was a new International 4300, 6-sp. Was on the road by about 1:30.

Had a good, uneventful trip down I-81, to I-40 and I-75 in TN. Made it to Athens, TN by about 7:30 PM and decided to call it a day at the Days Inn.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

I'm of the belief that each trip has some unusual challenges, so I thought it strange that this trip was going so well. This morning gave me the challenge for this trip. I did the normal daily pre-trip and all was good, so started it up. I noticed that Air 1 was low, which was unusual, but it started building up right away. However, along with the build-up in pressure, came the very distinct sound of air escaping from someplace. I immediately had flashbacks of the Sterling air problem in KY. Don't recall if I said the "F" word out loud or not, but I was a bit taken back anyway.

So I turned it off and started checking for the leak, which continued long enough for me to unlatch the hood and find that it was coming from an air hose connection on the firewall. I pushed it in, and magically, it stopped - never to be heard again on this trip. But, knowing it was there was enough to keep me well awake for the rest of the trip to Hattiesburg, which went well.

I arrived at the dropoff point at an electrical contracting company in Hattiesburg. Dispatch told me they were trying to find a rental car, since bus schedule and train schedule was missed for the day (OK!). I was to go back to Meridian, about 90 miles away, to bring a truck from there to be staged at Roanoke, which was on the way to MA. They also told me that it had broken down on the previous driver and had been left at a Cat. dealer for repair. Needless to say, that didn't leave any really good feelings.

Dispatch also mentioned they'd found no rooms available in the Hattiesburg or Meridian area (still due to the hurricane), so I'd better be careful. That made me feel real good, but I didn't have any trouble getting a Days Inn at Meridian. Took a while to get lined up with Enterprise, who picked me up. Found that I was only a block from the Enterprise location, so I'd waited around for nothing. I could have walked there easily.

Got to Meridian around 7:00 PM and saw the Cat. dealer location off I-59. Got a quick glance at an old boom trucking sitting in the back, and I had the feeling it might be mine.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

This was where the trip started going in the tank. I arrived at the dealer by 7:30 AM, while I still had the rental car. Thought it might be a good idea to make sure the truck was roadworthy before I gave up the car. On first glance, my heart pretty much sank. The truck was all I'd hoped it could be. Very old looking GMC 7500 boom truck with Spicer 7-spd - my first time with this type tranny. Even though it only had 27k miles on it, it was really well worn. Passenger window was down about 3 inches and had been duct taped in that location since they couldn't get it all the way up. Looked like everyone who'd eaten a lunch anywhere near the truck had left the remains inside. I'm guessing it had been brought from MA for hurricane work in the gulf area. I pre-tripped it and tried to find enough wrong to say "no", but didn't, so decided to give it a try after talking with the mechanic that had worked on it.

The mechanic basically said he couldn't find anything wrong with it when they brought it in, so he changed the alternator (go figure). And, by the way, there may be some panel problems that would have to be fixed at a GMC dealer. The panel problems became the bane of the trip. I assume the driver that dropped it off had made up a problem so he could get out of the truck.

The shop foreman was kind enough to take me to the rental car place to return the car, which then got me on the road about 10:00 AM. Within 5 miles up I-59, the Check Gauges light began flashing intermittently. That, along with the exceptional roar of the taped window kept me very awake until the audible alarm began sounding about 20 miles down the road. All the gauges were looking good and it was running good. I checked fluids again and couldn't find anything wrong. Called my tech guy and he said to keep on driving, so I did. I put up with all that noise all the way past Knoxville, TN, where I stopped at a Ramada for the night. Nerves were frazzled from all the noise and commotion in the truck, but it had basically driven well, except for no cruise control, but I did sleep well that night.

Got on the road to Roanoke early the next morning and staged the truck at the T/A in Troutville. Never been happier to be out of one, but it did get me back safely and I guess that's all I should ask. Don't know when it will be picked up for delivery in MA, but I do know it won't be me, and I pity the next driver.