TruckAbout Reia: Parked for the night in a livestock auction yard in Glenwood, AR!

I am deep into Arkansas country where the county is dry (no alcohol) and the accents thick! I am in Glenwood, AR for the night and driving 20 miles west in the morning to pick up bottled water (at least that is what the locals think I might be heading and getting). It is a very rural location but a beautiful drive on a two lane road landscaped with thick trees in multiple colors of autumn.

It was not a money making day but then again, I do work for this company so it is expected! I arrived at my drop at the Wal-Mart distribution center and my load was turned down as the drop number given to me……..didn’t exist! I KNEW this was going to take awhile so I parked the truck across the street and we walked to Wal-Mart for supplies. I am so sick and tired of waiting in the truck for instructions that I told them to call ME when my load can be dropped!

Three hours later, a new drop number was given, I dropped my load and headed to this location 100 miles west (stopped for a shower first), and now we sit until 7 AM.

McDonalds is across the street so I will update the blog in the morning while enjoying my senior coffee (better price and they know better than to question meJ) We will have a warmer evening so I don’t expect to run the truck later tonight. I haven’t heard a word about over idle since the weather has cooled and I don’t turn on the truck unless I wake up cold.

I met another company driver at a distribution center who pulled up to me to see if I had an APU unit. He is from Jamaica and the over idle from his 10 hour breaks has gotten him written up. I think he was afraid his skin would turn white from freezer burn (he is after all, born with a natural tan)! He stated he was going to quit and I gave him a few suggestions that might help him last longer or at least until he finds a replacement job. When you wake up cold, start the truck; buy an electric blanket that plugs into the lighter and use the word “safety”. I had to idle my full 10 hour break as it was for my safety, it is too cold not to do so otherwise.

It really stinks when you become a number; a number that could take an extra $33 from the company’s profits in order to stay warm or cool for an evening in this moving tin can that we call home that should stay in the corporate wallet. So it is easier for the company to use scare tactics or just point blank fire us as there are 20 students waiting at each terminal to fill our driver’s seat………..what a bunch of crap!

I was listening to the radio the other day and they stated that the poor’s income has raised 18% in the past 15 years; the middle class raised 44% and the upper class…….200%. I am really starting to feel those numbers! I don’t understand all these protests that are happening across the world as I don’t really see them making a difference but I can understand the frustration with those percentages. I am not asking for a share of their wealth, just equal taxation/cost of living wage increases……….or something! Why work so hard for so little………I thought I was rich at $45,000 a year. We can now cut that in half as I will be lucky to make half that much this year.

Good night! And yes James, I whine too much…………gotta love freedom of speech, at least it is free……for now!