Getting passed on a hill in Montana

Ice fishing in Idaho

    

Cold Saskatchewan

    

Warm me in cold Montreal

Xmas update

Firstly sorry for the lack of posts, it's been a combination of lack of internet and time. We did the Montreal, then over to Delta, back to Calgary, took a reset, ran an m/t to High River, picked up a trailer for Oregon, dropped that in Lethbridge and picked up our load. We got a Salt Lake City for xmas eve and a tip off we might be loading in Calafornia boxing day. We got tipped in SLC and sure enough we were told to head to Bakersfield Ca. So we decided to park in Las Vegas xmas eve night. On xmas day we had a late start and ran to Barstow Ca to have our xmas dinner in the flying j. We then ran to Bakersfield and parked up. On boxing day we loaded oranges to go to Calgary, which is tipping tuesday.

Eastbound again

This is what we've got next trip. We havn't had a Montreal yet, so it's something new.
Tres bon!

Big improvement on the the weather today. Its now a scorching -10 with a -22 wind chill. You can definately feel the differance, my beards not freezing!

Weather update

This is the current weather we're having in Lethbridge at the moment. Daytime highs of -22 deg cand nightime lows of -34 deg c. The wind chill this morning took the temp down -44 deg c! I am having a few days off to look at houses and run some errands. We saw a great one this afternoon with a double garage and a big garden. I got back in town yesterday afternoon, did my delevery, then back to the yard to by 3.30pm. So a real good result yesterday. Since i last posted i've been running hard through the mountains everyday, but i have really enjoyed the work. The weather hasn't been too bad, just cold. I woke up in Golden BC and it was -36 but the truck was toasty inside. I did a bit of diy insulating in the roof and doors before winter hit and it seems to have worked well. Also running the night heater full blast now and again through summer has paid off, as it works like a dream now.

At the moment i'm a bit confused with this blogging lark. I tried to tell our story as it happened and as truthfuly as i could. But because i havent had any negative experiances with h&r yet, people are saying that the company is censoring this blog. This isnt true. This is our story of our experiences as they happen. I have no doubts that h&r may not be the best company to work for, but i also know its not the worse. Every job is what you make it, one week its the best job you've ever had, the following week when things dont go your way its the worst job in the world. The thing with this job that stands out beyond all the other jobs i've had, is the oppertunity i've been given, for a new life. So i shall continue to post on here for the people that are genuenly interested in our story, anyone who isn't, then don't look.

Another great tv ad showing at the moment

Bridgestone: Potato Heads

FOX Sports | MySpace Video

Back in Alberta

I'm back in the flying j in Calgary, and after 16 days out of Alberta, it feels good to be back. Got to deliver this load in Calgary at 0800, so i get to lie in again! I'm hoping after this that i'll get a run over the mountains into BC. Once i've finished on here i'll take a run round to the yard and get a shower and do some washing. Nothing exciting to report on the run across, pretty boring really.

Back in Saskatoon

Made it into Saskatoon for 21.00, dropped the trailer and ran solo round to the flying j. Been in and had a shower and now i feel all squeeky again. Nothing much to report on the trip across, apart from a bit of heavy snow near Kirkland Lake, and -13 c just outside Saskatoon. Only wildlife i saw was a fox, so no panic. Got a pre-plan while i was still 2 days out, to pick up a loaded trailer from the place i just dropped at, to deliver Calgary on monday. Its only 7 hours across there, so i'll have a bit of a lie in tomorrow( it is sunday) then go back round and pick up the trailer. I've had to book a couple of days of in Lethbridge, just to get back to pick Barbara up (the laundry is building up now).

Very funny tv ad

Next trip

Just had a pre-plan through. Got to pick a trailer up in Kitchener tomorow morning to go to Saskatoon again. So that will keep me occupied for the next 3 days. Hopefully this time i'll get something going west from Saskatoon, which might give me a chance to pick Barbara up. The friends she's stopping with are beginning to plan for her still being there for xmas!

Canadian weights

As i've got a bit of time to kill, and someone commented that i was running over weight, i thought i might try to explain canadian weights.                                                                                                                       Gross vehicle weight for a tractor and tailer on 5 axles is 39,500 kgs (all provinces except atlantic and quebec is 41,500 kgs. ontario is 44,100 kgs. yukon 43,700 kgs)
Gvw for tractor and trailer on 6 axles is 46,500 kgs (all provinces except atlantic and quebec is 49,500 kgs ontario is 53,700 kgs. yukon 48,600 kgs)
Gvw for the B-trains on 8 axles (most popular) is 63,500 kgs ( yukon, british columbia, alberta and ontario)
all other provences 62,500 kgs.
The gross weights are determined by the individual weights on each axle group.
Steers 5500 kgs
tandem drives 17,000 kgs
tandem trailers 17,000 kgs
tridem trailers 23,000 kgs ( 12 ft spread axle 24,000 kgs)
eg. if your running 5 axles 5500 kgs + 17,000 kgs + 17,000 kgs = 39500 kgs
So for B-trains ( super B's) which run 3 axle power coupled to a 3 axle trailer and a tandem axle trailer
you have 5500 kgs + 17,000 kgs + 23,000 kgs + 17,000 kgs = 62,500 kgs.
There are lots of weird and wonderful axle configurations, you see lots of 7 and 8 axle trailers in ontario, with odd axle spreads. These are generaly used in certain applications eg steel, stone, logging and anything too heavy to fill trailer to capacity, they are not used very much by companies who operate interprovincal.
H & R are permitted to run at 46,500 kgs when using the 12 ft spread tridem axle trailers, so all the weight variations above this are not relavent to us.Where the GVW 's vary from provence to provence, can be seen by the different axle weights allowed. Ontario allows 9000 kgs on steers 18,000 kgs on tandems. Also you have to be legal for every provence you travel through. So you could load in Toronto for Calgary, and gross at 42,000 kgs on 5 axles You are legal to travel in Ontario ( assuming you're axle weights are legal) but you cant get to Calgary because you're over gross in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. If your're gross is ok for travel to final destination, but if you are over on an axle group then you need to start axles. If your'e drives are over, then you move your trailer axles forward(shorten the wheelbase) which will reduce weight on the drives and increase weight on the trailer tandems, and vice versa if your trailer tandems are over. You also need to allow for fuel, unless your tanks are full. If your steers are over, then you need to slide your 5th wheel back, but you will find that once you get your weight correct on the steers, they dont really alter much.Whilst moving your trailer axles about you also have to remember to keep your wheelbase legal. Wheelbase is measured from the trailer kingpin to the center of the trailer axle group. The maximum is 41 ft and the minimum is 37 ft, also you have to watch the REO ( rear effective overhang) which is 35% of the wheelbase, also measured from the center of the axle group. So if you have a tridem on, and the axle group is set to 41ft then your max overhang is 14.35 ft from the center of the axle group, to the very rearmost point on your trailer. This all probably sounds a bit confusing to those of you that haven't yet had the Canadian experiance, but once you've done a few loads, it will be second nature. From experiance, i have found if your picking up an m/t trailer, and loading a heavy load, and the axles look like they haven't been slid for a while, slide them backwards and forwards a few times. If you don't and need to move them when your loaded you'll find it almost impossible. Hope this helps anyone coming out, it helped me pass an afternoon.

Rockies mentor trip

This was my mountain mentor trip. A very enjoyable 4 days.

My mentor trip

Just learnt how to do this, so i thought i'd put my mentor trip on. 16000 kms!

3118 looking a little dirty. hwy 11 Hearst

Tuesday 24th nov

Well got the load delivered on time yesterday, ran back to Brampton and dropped the trailer in the yard. I ran round to the flying j and started a reset. Today i got the truck cleaned inside, had a shower and watched a bit of tv. I think i might treat myself to a burger for tea from bk. Haven't had a preplan yet, so i dont what'll be doing from here, just have to see what tomorrow brings.

Last two days

Got to the flying j in Kapukasing at 2pm, so i'll be rolling out of here at quater past midnight, oh joy. Last couple of days have been fairly unaventful, appart from a close call with a female moose. As i approached it, it was stood on the other side of the road facing away from me. But when it got spooked, the stupid thing turned round and ran across the front of me, it was even looking over it's shoulder at me! Whilst i was in the flying j at Saskatoon, i noticed they had some energy drinks on offer (2* 475ml cans $4) so i thought i'd give them a go. About an hour after the moose incident, the adrenalin wore off, so i thought i'd try one. And i have to say it worked very well, about every 30 mins i had to stop the truck and take a leak. This happened 4 times. It was getting light by then so i didn't bother with the second can, i'll save it for the next emergency.

Friday 20th

Well i'm back at the flying j in Saskatoon, loaded and ready to roll. I'll leave here really early in the morning so that i can do 2 full days and that should leave me loads of time to run in on monday. I've just had 2 big slices of pizza for tea, and it was awesome!! Anyway feeling a bit tired now so i'm going to get my paper work upto date and then go to bed.

Woke up this morning and just laid in bed for ages. When i finally got out of my pit and looked at the time it was only 9am, damn. Oh well not to worry, so i gets up, pulls the curtains, realised everyone around me had gone and left me sat in the middle of the truck park, like a billy no mates. So i thought i'll move it to a proper stall, second mistake. As soon as i moved a pre-plan came through to load Saskatoon today to be in Waterloo Ontario for monday. So that'll be 10,000 kms in 11 days. Anyway got to go to Yanke's yard on the other side of Saskatoon, then back.

Saskatoon

Well made it to shining Saskatoon as the sign says when your entering the city limits, not sure why they call it that. But anyway i'm goosed and i'm going to bed. nite nite.

Rush hour!

Busy as usual on highway 11 in Ontario

Update

During our last reset, we got a pre-plan for a load from Lethbridge, typical. Anyway, night despatch couldn't find an m/t trailer for us to run down with, so we sacked it and went back to bed. In the morning we got an m/t,and ran down to Lethbridge to pick up our loaded one for London Ontario. Barbara had decided she was going to have a bit of time away from the truck, so i dropped her in Lethbridge. The load was due in London at 09:00 monday morning, so i would be three days of hard graft! There was heavy snow in Dryden Ontario, and a couple of trucks had jacknifed and were blocking the road. I got to the drop on monday with about 10 mins to spare. As soon as i had tipped i got an assignment to load asap in Mississauga, about an hour or so away. What a great result. Usually when you get into Toronto you drop your trailer in the yard and wait for a loaded one to come in, this could take hours and hours. So to tip and load the same trailer in half a day is perfect. After i'd loaded i couldn't be bothered to go anywhere, so i parked up at 2pm in the husky. The load is going to Saskatoon, for friday am, so i've got 3 days. That will take me close to 7000 kms in 7 days, thats similar to driving from Leeds to London and back approx 11 times in 7 days! Anyway i'm parked in Kapukasing Ontario which is in the middle of nowhere, and coronation street's on the telly, so i'm going to be sad and watch it. ta tah

Here to stay

We had some great news on the 18th oct, it seems H & R are very pleased with  my work and would like to sponser my application for permanent residency! So hopefully in about 18 months or so we will have our pr.We had an appointment with the immigration company who will be helping us, on the 11th nov, and all the forms have been filled in, the money has been paid so it's offical. The offer was made by H & R just 3 days after i completed 6 months service. So Barbara's going to stay in Lethbridge for the next trip, and have a look at houses. We've been pre-approved for mortgage of $350,000 which will definately buy something decent in Lethbridge.

Moving house

We caught this house up on highway 16, which is two way

traffic, and he was travelling at 45mph!

Update

We got tipped in Brampton and got a reload same day, but as it was my birthday i just couldn't be bothered to do anything, so we watched a bit of tv and had an early night. The load we had was for Saskatoon, which is 3000 kms from Brampton, and 3 days to do it. The first day we got to Hearst, next day West Hawk, then 3rd day run into Saskatoon. We got up this morning and recieved a pre-plan for Calgary to tip wednesday morning, so that'll take us up to our 2 weeks so we'll just reset when we're tipped. Perfect.

Next trip

We got to the drop the evening before we we're due, went in and dropped the trailer. The next morning we went in and picked up the same trailer (m/t). Within 10 mins we had a preplan to load in Kansas City the next morning. So we ran down there and went in to see them. They told me to stick it on a bay, drop and go to bed in there yard while they loaded it. Result. At 5.00 am we got a knock to say it was ready. The load is going to Ontario for friday, so a steady 1600 kms to in 2 days. Also we get to see St louis and Indianapolis. So all in all another good trip, plus we get to run across Canada, more good mileage.

Wall drug

You see bill boards for this place for about 30 miles along the I90 and we've often fancied stopping, but never really had time, this trip we had the time spare so we did. It's basically a huge gift shop, with lots of stuffed animals. We spent a good hour or so wandering around looking at everything. I think we'll call in again during the summer season, when there are more people about, as there was only 5 of us in the whole place.

Rockies

We had a really good steady trip both ways this time. The weather is starting to get worse now. The second photo is the Coquahala summit, a little further on the snow had compacted and was really slick. We were ok as our gross weight was 100,000 lbs (45.5 ton) but all the light trucks that flew past us on the big climb, slowed us down, until things improved. When we got tipped in Calgary we took a reset, then ran to Brooks AB for a load to Souix City NE. We've got 3 days to get there instead of 2 like normal, so we're taking it steady.

quick update

Well what a busy week. We left on sunday morning with a Soiux City for 6.00 am tues, which didn't give us anything to play with. After we tipped we flew over to Little Chute WI for a load of frozen pizzas. At the moment we're in Swift Current SK, in the morning we'll run back into Calgary, drop this one and pick up one for Richmond BC to tip monday morning. We had sausage rolls with brown sauce on for tea and they were so good we bought 8! for tomorow. Got stopped by a sheriff today in North Dakota, he just stood in the middle of the road and flagged me down, he did a full paper inspection on me and i passed. Tomorow night we will go as far as Golden, i'm looking forward to seeing how much snow is about as we haven't been over there for a while, but we've been able to see the mountains turning white from Calgary. Will get some pics and get them posted.

North Dakota

Here are a few pics of the truckstop we parked at, in Jamestown ND. We stopped here on our way back from Wisconsin, which is where we reloaded after Waterloo. At the moment we're on a reset in Calgary until saturday night. We already have our next assignment, South Souix City NE, so we'll crack on early sunday and get to the border for 8 am. When we've cleared, i'll probably run untill about lunch time then call it a day, which will leave us a 1000kms to do on monday, then an easy run in for tuesday.

snow on Rogers Pass Montana
me getting cold. same place
there is a sign just before u get here thats says
the lowest recorded temp here is -70!

Hwy 200 Missoula to Great Falls

This kitten just sat on the door with the window

down, even with the door open it didn't even try

to jump out.

Driving into a dust storm in Washington that

lasted for about 4 hours

update

After we had a week of we got a really steady run to Salem Oregon. We arrived at the delivery first thing monday to find the place deserted. So i made the call to dispatch, and it turns out the customer had moved from those premises about 5 years ago, and the shipper hadn't bothered to update the address. So we got the proper address and delivery time, which wasn't until the next morning. After we tipped we reloaded for Vancouver,in the evening, about 5 miles away, so a steady day again. Once we got loaded i was asked if i minded doing a switch with a trailer coming up from Calafornia as the driver needed to be back in BC, so i said ok, then they said great he'll be there tomorow lunch time! So we finally got away from Salem on wednesday afternoon with a drop on for Calgary at 05.30 friday morning. We tipped that and by 08.00 we were heading south again for a trailer to go to Waterloo Iowa, for sunday night, and thats where we are now. Not sure whats going to happen in the morning as its Thanks giving here, so tomorow is a public holiday, we'll just take it as it comes.

Back to work

Well were at the end of our week off, and what a great week its been. Had plenty of beer, done lots of suffering. Bought a car. Got a full safety bonus from work, which means i've done the miles required without incident. Got all the defects on the truck fixed, so all in all a good week. Spent a couple of hours this evening getting all the gear back in the truck. The load we've been given is for Portland Oregon, which is a good scenic drive. We have also had reports this week, of snow in Montana, British Columbia and Idaho, so we could be playing in snow pretty soon.

Lazy Day

What a lazy day we've had, we have done nothing. On saturday though, we went and bought a car. Its a 2002 Buick Centuary 4 door saloon with a 3.1 lt v6 in it. On monday we need to go and insure it then register it and then we'll be mobile when we're off. At some point next week i'll try and get some pics on. Once we've got the car the next job will be getting our winter gear together before we go back out.

Week off

Made it back into Lethbridge late so we just cleared the truck, booked into the hotel and went to bed. While we're back at base this week we've decided that we are definately are going to buy a car, it'll make time off in winter a bit easier, and give a bit more freedom than you have with taxis. Anyway its time to check out of the room and head off to friends, so bye for now.

Nipigon

Ran from North Bay On to Nipigon On and didn't see any wildlife other than a wild dog. Saw alot of rain tho' and the temperature has dropped since we came across last time. However we managed to get a photo of this huge snowman ( about 25ft tall) in a small place called Beardmore.

missassauga

Well we got tipped in Cambridge, ran upto Brampton, dropped the empty trailer and started a reset. Were parked in the flying j in Missassauga at the moment. On sunday were loading at 9.00am in Toronto,for Calgary, so i'll have just enough time to get there when i've finished the reset. We should have been three days into a weeks holiday by now, but things are busy and we didn't have anything planned, so we agreed to postpone. With a bit of luck we should finish this thursday for a week. While were off i think were going to have a look for a car. I've got my eye on a pick up truck that has a 5.7 lt engine, Barbara doesn't seem to keen tho' , i think she fancies a dodge ram van thats been converted to a camper. If i agree, it'll be on the condition that i paint it black and put a red stripe down the side. Anyway you crazy fools, i'm off to bed now. The posts may dry up a little for a while due to lack of internet, whilst travelling across Canada. nite nite

Michigan

Had a good run today. Stopped off this morning at the Iowa 80 truckstop, the worlds biggest. We've been in there a few times now but i always forget the camera. Anyway after a nose at all the goodies, we carried on east, into Illinios and round the south side of Chicago and into Indiana. We stopped for fuel in Gary, which was on the news a couple weeks ago, for being the murder capital of the states. The truckstop has armed gaurds on the door! We left Gary and ran up into Michigan. I like Michigan, the countryside is very similar to the uk, and you can still smoke inside the truckstops. We are currently parked in a flying j in Lansing ( which is where Oz and Stiffler go to college in American Pie). We'll get a bit of a lie in tomorow cos this load delivers at 4pm and we're only 5hrs away. The Montreal drop was cancelled so we've just got Cambridge to do.When we've delivered we'll shoot up to Toronto, drop the trailer at Brampton then start a reset. Hopefully we'll get a load out of there on sunday.

Colorado to Iowa

We got our load of chocolate delivered nice and early tuesday after a long drive through the Colorado rockies, shame it was dark, i'm sure it would have been stunning. One of the passes was ten miles at 6% up and seven miles 6% down and at the top it was 12,000 ft above sea level. The view was'nt up to much (pitch black) but the amount of stars really was amazing. Anyway after tipping we headed into Denver for fuel, then across to Fort Morgan for our reload. We picked the loaded trailer up this morning and got going. I managed to drive all the way across Nebraska without coming off cruise (6 hours non stop). We're parked in the flying j in Des Moines tonight, tomorow we'll be in another flying j in Lansing Michigan, then over the border into Canada first thing friday morning.

Utah to Colorado

I 70 east utah
canyonlands national park

as above


Well we've made it as far as Montrose Colorado, so we will be kicking off at about 2am as i've got 5 slow hours of mountain driving, and we have to deliver at 9am( 8am our time). We already know what our reload is, its a meat load with a drop in Toronto and another in Montreal, and thats coming out of Fort Morgan Co. Weve got a week booked off to start whenever we get back so i'll be hitting it hard coming back across Canada, cos we're definately ready for a break(and a beer) other than resets we haven't been stood anywhere.

thats new

fresh snow on the mountains

Oregon pics

3118

double trouble


view from a scenic lookout I 84 Oregon

as above

everything in the states is bigger

awesome!

Updates

Well we got back to Calgary and dropped the trailer in the yard, then went off to walmart to do a spot of shopping, before parking at the flying j to do a reset. Our next assignment was to Richmond BC, which means a day in the mountains. From Richmond we loaded pepsi on Annacis Island, and again, dropped that in the Calgary yard. Next we did a safeway supermarket load with three drops on, Salmon Arm, Kamloops and Burnaby which was a proper flyer. We didnt leave Calgary until 10.30am and managed to do both drops and get to Burnaby, which is a trailer drop. When we got up friday morning i'd had a preplan to load a trailer of chocolate(no samples, i asked) to go to Colorado. Result! So we loaded it and headed south to cross the border at Blaine. This must be the busiest border we've been through so far, three hours of queing to get to the booth. Anyway we finally got through (dont think it been 9/11 helped) and headed south to Seattle, and then on to Ellensburg where we are now parked. Once again we are short on hours after running hard in Canada, so i'll only be doin 6 hours a day for the next 3 days, then run into the drop on tues morning.

Texas

Well we survived the Mexican border town of Laredo, and we're heading north again with a load of carpet. Considering the Mexicans are on the verge of civil war, the amount of freight going north and south over the border is unbelievable, on sunday night every truckstop was jammed full with trucks. On monday morn it was like wacky races cos everybody was trying to get tipped asap so they could get back to the truckstops, to wait for their reloads. Anyway we dropped our full trailer and got an m/t and went and parked up no problem. We were given a reload and told to pick it up later, much later. We didnt get it until midnight, so i just coupled up and went back to bed. We are now parked up in a flying j in Lubbock Tx, when we got here i worked out my hours, and found i've only got 13 hours available for the next 2 days, so were going to have a lazy time until i recover some hours( when i get time i'll explain how it works). Anyway i'm going to watch NCIS now so bye bye.

Drumheller Ab

Apparantly this is the worlds largest dinosaur

and it was found in Alberta

changed again

Last time i posted, i had a load for Toronto. That got put on hold during the night and we were given a pick up in Edmonton with 2 drops Lethbridge. After that we got a load of bananas to go to Saskatoon. From Saskatoon we reloaded ham for Calgary. When we tipped in Calgary we got a preplan for Laredo Texas, but it wouldn't be ready until next day. So we took another reset, did some washing, went to see district 9 at cinema. Were now parked in the flying j truckstop in Cheyenne Wyoming. Weve got 7 miles to do in the morning and we'll be in Colorado. The load we've got on is a bonded load for Mexico, but we cant deliver it cos it's a bit dodgy south of the border, so we drop it in a compound and a mexican takes it over. Next stop will be Amerillo Texas, then into Laredo Tx for sunday night.

quick update

After our last reset in Calgary, we did a flyer over to Vancouver, then a heavy load of pepsi back to Saskatoon. We tipped and loaded the same day then flew back to Calgary and tipped 2 drops the next morning. While tipping we got a trip preplan message for Toronto. It's not ready until midnight friday so we'll have 3500kms to do in 3 days! It's a really good earner, but hard work. I'll have to do 3 days, driving 13 hours per day to get there. So we're going to watch a film, then go to bed for the rest of the day, night night.

Viva Las Vegas

the strip to the north

the strip to the south. notice how many lanes
of traffic there is!

sunset in utah

ripon ca

Ripon Calafornia, alot better than the other one!

dancin