11/19/09 Sterling Update

Our load was ready on time last night. We ended up leaving Atlanta at about 2045 by the time we got our paperwork, hooked to the loaded trailer and I performed a pre-trip inspection.

After we left, after we got well on our way and they knew we would go on to the receiver, they changed the destination to the airport cargo area at Washington/Dulles International Airport(IAD). We were about 30 miles or so from the Atlanta terminal when we got a message, via Qualcomm, that the destination had changed and then they sent directions to the new destination. Now, I believe they knew where the load was going in the first place but waited until we were gone to tell us because they know how we feel about going into airports...But I digress.

I called dispatch, and like a child, threw a temper tantrum about the change. I knew it wouldn't do any good. They couldn't care less as long as they get the load moved. I probably would have made the move anyway, but it would be nice to make that decision based on truthful information. Airports can be tough to get into sometimes in this truck because of the length. I just like to look at the facility on Google Earth before I agree to make the move if we've never been to the facility.

We arrived at the airport facility at about 0800 and it ended up being no problem. The area was plenty large and had a lot of room. We were unloaded by about 0845 and headed back to our IAD terminal.

We are now at our terminal, sitting and waiting for our next dispatch. We were assured by dispatch that they would be able to keep us moving from here, but they told us we were going to be delivering to our terminal at IAD and not to the airport too. Wee shall see.

Be sure and check out Tina's brand new, just released for the very first time, just in time for Christmas, Scream-n-Fling Dolls. Below is a slightly comedic infomercial about Tina's Scream-n-Fling Dolls.



In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

Off to Sterling Tonight

Well, we took a call, actually a message by Qualcomm, a bit ago from dispatch and it seem that they need someone to run to Sterling VA tonight. The load is to be ready about 2000. We'll see.

We accepted the load, more for something to do, rather than just sit around here. The Sterling facility is pretty slow for freight too though. My guess is that we will be sitting when we get there as well.

We will travel up I-85 north out of Atlanta to Charlotte and get onto I-77 North to I-81 and then take I-66 east to 28 N to the terminal off highways 606 and 28.

We should be there about 0800 and then who know what from there. I'll let you know when I know.

In the mean time be sure and check out Conservabid.com for our new Scream-n-Fling dolls. Released just in time for Christmas. Below is the infomercial for the dolls.

Waiting For Dispatch From Atlanta

We arrived in Atlanta yesterday at about 1630, dropped our trailer, and turned in our paperwork. It was raining a bit and chilly when we got here. Tina decided she'd do laundry, so she went to the driver's lounge and I sat in the truck, like any and all self respecting males might.

We have yet to get a dispatch out of here. Freight is very slow right now. We just received a message from dispatch, via qualcomm, and it doesn't look very good for today either.

Another friend couple that we know, drivers for this company, came by here last night on there way back to their house in Chattanooga, Tn. They had been in Florida for a short vacation and just happened to be coming through. We had a great visit with the couple and always enjoy their company. He is a former military cook and she used to work for Covenant as a driver qualifications verifier. They now run as a team for this company.

Tina has been making some crafts to sell, over at a friends website called Conservabid.
She has made several items but for now we are posting an item she has named the Scream-n-Fling Doll.

Below is a slightly comedic infomercial about Tina's Scream-n-Fling Dolls.



Finally, we hope that you can find it in your budget for a small purchase or a donation in support of our mission.
We have launched into a couple of apparel stores so that everyone can show their support of the 912 Truck. Click here to show your support, or go to www.printfection.com/912truck. For those of you that would rather have a hat or mug you we have another outlet at cafepress.com/912 Truck. You can also use any of the donate buttons on this page to make a contribution directly to our endeavor to Waking up America.
Thanks for your support.


In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

Headed For Atlanta This Morning

We were dispatched back to Columbus before we ever actually got to DFW on Sunday evening. The load was to be ready at about 0600 on Monday so we accepted the load and moved on. We got to DFW at about 0130 on Monday and since we had been dispatched out already I fueled the truck and checked it over.

We had some shopping we had to do to restock the truck with food so we headed to Wal-Mart. We could neither one believe how stripped the shelves at Wal-Mart were after everyone done their Sunday shopping. We were there for bout an hour and finished our shopping. Headed back to the terminal and to bed at about 0315 for a nap before our our load was to be ready at 0600.

I woke up about 0800 and called dispatch to check on the load and when it might be ready. I was told that they had about 14000#'s on the trailer then and that it should be ready soon. The dispatch on the phone said they were waiting on the arrival of some late freight. No problem, we need the sleep so we went back to bed. We got up at about 0900, worn out from sleeping, and the load still wasn't ready. I called again at about 1300 and was told by a different dispatcher that there was about 14000#'s on the trailer and that it should be ready soon, they are just waiting on some late freight to arrive. I decided I wouldn't call again. It was actually pretty obvious to Tina and I that the load wasn't going to run but they(dispatch) didn't know about the apparent cancellation.

We went to bed early, just in case they decided to call in the middle of night with the load or with something else. Good thing we did. The phone rang at about 0100 and they told us our load had been canceled but that they had a load to Atlanta we could pull if we wanted. The load to Atlanta was to be ready about 0200. We accepted the load and drifted back off to sleep for another hour.

Just as promised the load was ready at 0200 so we got up and got ready to go. I hooked to the trailer and performed my pre-trip inspection and we were on our way by about 0245. We are currently in, or near, Pelahatchie MS. There is an accident just ahead and all lanes are blocked. The Highway Patrol is routing everyone off the interstate at the exit 69 and right back on on the other side of the exit.

We should be in Atlanta, depending on how long this hold up is, by about 1630 or so. Unsure of where we will be headed from Atlanta.

Finally, we hope that you can find it in your budget to help with a small purchase or a donation in support of our mission.
We have launched into a couple of apparel stores so that everyone can show their support of the 912 Truck. Click here to show your support, or go to www.printfection.com/912truck. For those of you that would rather have a hat or mug you we have another outlet at cafepress.com/912 Truck. You can also use any of the donate buttons on this page to make a contribution directly to our endeavor to Waking up America.
Thanks for your support.


In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

11/15/09 On our Way to Back to DFW

We kinda feel like a couple of ping pong balls right now. We have been bouncing back and forth between Columbus and Dallas for about a week or so. Now I'm not complaining, this is a good route, great weather, decent roads, other than Kentucky, but I woke up this morning and had to ask Tina where we were.

The Qualcomm, the satellite device we use to communicate with dispatch, sounded an alarm to let us know our load was ready at precisely 0600. I jumped up, looked at the clock, tried to clear the cobwebs, and asked Tina, where are we, Dallas or Columbus? After she rolled out of bed laughing, she answered Columbus. I proceeded to get dressed, cleaned up and went to the office to get our paperwork. The load was ready on time but the paperwork wasn't ready for another 1/2 hour.

At 0630 I headed back to the truck and drove to the onsite fuel island. After fueling the truck we went and found our trailer, hooked to it , performed a pre-trip inspection and we were off and running for Dallas.

I was starved to death, as you can see in any of my pictures, so I stopped at a McDonalds in Jeffersonville OH where they have truck parking and got us some breakfast. I have never eaten a McDonalds hamburger, I can't hardly stand the smell of them, but I have a nealy unquenchable hunger for their Egg McMuffins...How sad huh? We have facilities to fix breakfast in the truck but we are currently running pretty low on food stuff. We have a middle of the night shopping trip planned when we get to DFW.

We ordered our food to go and headed south again. I knew there was going to be heavy traffic in the Louisville area if we didn't get through there early because they have a lot of construction going on on I-65 south of town. We got through Cincinnati, continued south on I-71/I-75 and I missed my exit to take I-71 to Louisville. Now, never mind, I've driven this route probably 5 times in the last 30 days or so, but we were just riding along, listening to our Cowboy Church on XM radio and I just missed the exit. I ended up running 14 miles out of route to turn around and go back to the I-71/I-75 split. Okay, so I get the mindless driver of the month award.

Incidentally, as a short side note,XM radio, The Cowboy Church, Bill Mack's Sunday Social, and Enlighten is how many of us, who drive for a living, get our church. Most of us work 7 days per week and we too need refilled after being drained for an entire week so thanks I'd just like to say thanks to Dr Harry Yates of Nashville Cowboy Church, thanks to XM Radio for the broadcast, and thanks to Willie Nelson of Willies place on XM and To Bill Mack for doing his Sunday Social where he plays all Southern Gospel Country music for 3 hours on Sunday morning. Our cups, too, need refilling from time to time.

I got turned around and we are now headed south again. We just came through Nashville, TN on I-40 and headed for Little Rock where we will get on I-30 and run that to DFW. We should be in Dallas at about 0200 or so and will do our shopping then get some sleep.

In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

Location and Destination Update

Tina and I left Dallas this morning at about 0445. We were notified at about 0400 that out load was ready. By the time we got up and got ready to go, I hooked to the loaded trailer, fueled the tractor and performed a pre-trip inspection though it was about 0445 before we drove out of the gate at the terminal.

We ran I-30 out of Texas and into Arkansas all the way to Little Rock. We got onto I-40 in Little Rock and ran that to Nashville TN where we got onto I-65N and went into Louisville, KY. From there we will run I-71 into Columbus OH.

We were contacted early this morning about a load back to DFW, so that is where we are headed at about 0600 on Sunday morning...if the load is ready on time.

We are going to need to run out to the Flying J travel plaza, East of Columbus, to empty our waste tank after we drop this loaded trailer at the terminal. We really don't want to run out there, it is about 40 miles round trip, but the tank has to be emptied and we can't do it while we are hooked to a trailer, there just isn't room at the truck stop to turn around where the dump stations are located. Oh well, we should still be in bed shortly after midnight and get a pretty good nights sleep.

As far as routes we will travel back to DFW, just reverse the routes above and that will get you there. Assuming the load is ready on time we should be in Dallas at about 0100 on Monday and then who knows where we will be headed.

We have another 5 weeks before we take off for 2 weeks over Christmas. We have actually worked the last two Christmas', so we decided we would take this one off and spend it with family. We will, however, be on the road for Thanksgiving.

Finally, we hope that you can find it in your budget to help with a small purchase or a donation in support of our mission.
We have launched into a couple of apparel stores so that everyone can show their support of the 912 Truck. Click here to show your support, or go to www.printfection.com/912truck. For those of you that would rather have a hat or mug you we have another outlet at cafepress.com/912 Truck. You can also use any of the donate buttons on this page to make a contribution directly to our endeavor to Waking up America.
Thanks for your support.


In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

Sarah Palin Radio Talks With the 912 Truck Owners

On the 13th of September, the day after the 9/12 Event in D.C., LaDonna Curzon with Sarah Palin Radio came and spoke with Art and Tina who own and drive the 912 Truck. Below is the culmination of that conversation. This video was put together, in amazing fashion by the curator of annieoakley.org and conservabid.com. Please do all you can to show your support for her and all or her endeavors. Not only is she a talented video producer, she is a gifted writer as well. Karen also writes over at ThePalinNation.com. I would just ask that you watch this video and consider the amazing work, the talent, and the hours involved in it's creation. This is truly a highly talented, blessed young lady. Thanks again Karen and thanks to LaDonna Curzon at Sarah Palin Radio for speaking with Art and Tina.



Thanks again Karen.

In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW