No Family day for me.

Here in Ontario, Canada we now can celebrate "Family Day". Its like a normal holiday, but the push is for families to spend time doing things together than don't require a Mall, Movies, or activities which force others to work.

Nice idea. I saw lots of people being together outside since all the Malls etc were closed. But there is glitch.

My employer is  a Federally regulated one. So we get to work today if there is work. Driving a federal truck means no Family Day for me. But if like last year our customers were provincial, it means that there would be no work and no pay.
This year, our larger customer is Canada Post. They are a federal company and so are working. Nice eh. They get Remembrance Day off though.

So I got to enjoy very light traffic during my working day, and it made things faster when most of the 4wheelers and other truckers are at home with nothing to do.

So. I like family day if I get to work it.

The joy of trees.

Isn't it so pretty when the leaves are bright and wonderful along your tree lined street!

Well while they are nice to see. What about having delivery on your street of building supplies? I should have said "NO, the trees are not being trimmed back, and its too dangerous to go on your street;" to the customer. But I drove on down their street. Mind you the 80 year old Oak trees did look wonderful. And I could just think that they would be wonderful during the summer and really during the fall time. But my truck is 3.8meters tall, or for our souther friends 13 feet tall. Well this one tree, must have taking a interest in my truck and wanted to badly to touch it. Problem was that the tree wanted to stop the truck, instead of just touch it. So truck box VS 80 yr Oak had a fight instead of a love pat.

My box lost. So now I have a sky light on the passenger side of the truck.

I am sorry about the damage, and the tree too. But my bigger questions is who should have to pay for the damage? The City should have trimmed the trees back so that trucks who were making delivery could do so. The residence should have allowed the city to do the trimming in the first place.

Agr!

Movember 2010

For the past few years, my friend has been growing a Mustash each November to help support Prostrate Cancer research here in Ontario, Canada. This year, I wanted to get involved, but needed some help from my lover.... I needed her support since she hates facial hair... Mostly because I have a hard time growing it, and she hates kissing me with it. So for the next month,  I get to let it grow... Not sure what style I am trying for, but only time will tell. ca.movember.com

texting fine for truckers?

Can you believe it? If a trucker is caught texting while driving in the USA they can be fined up to $2,700 USD. Here in Ontario, the fine is $155 for any driver regardless of what they are driving. Yet when the law can into force a while back, I didn't see any change in behavior of drivers. WTF

You are still 33% more likely to get into an accident while texting than not.

Mind you, I did see a TTC bus driver on his personal phone while driving. I could have just ignored it, but didn't. We as "professional drivers" are being held to a higher standard. Fine. So I called the TTC and made a formal complaint. I just hope that the union won't protect this driver.

update: There is little dent in the no-texting law here in Ontario. I am sure there is little difference between a drunk and a textor while driving.

I am a addict

Yes, I am addicted to coffee. 2-3 large coffees during the AM to start, and then  coke or pepsi during the day. No water or even fruit juices either. Its stripping my teeth and the heartburn is killing me.


So I have a plan.


Week one!
Only brew 2 large coffees in the AM and only drink that during work. Once finished its water or pop like sprite, or 7-up.


week two!
Only brew 2 mediums and then water


week three
1 medium coffee then water!


stay with 2 cups in the AM only no coke or pepsi.


I will post to let you know


"Regular users of caffeine who try to quit, may experience increased anxiety, headache, irritability, and fatigue during the first few days of abstinence. These caffeine withdrawal symptoms are temporarily relieved by caffeine consumption which contributes to the habitual use of the drug. Caffeine is considered an addictive drug, and its regular use can lead to dependency. Some have suggested that its use may lead to the use of a stronger drug. "

checking your shorts....

Have you ever had a situation on the road which afterwards you took a deep snift to see if you messed your pants? Ya know that type of thing which if you had been just a little bit faster or slower or in a different position you would have had a major wreck?

We have all had those types of close calls.

Do you want to hear about them?

Justice will not be mine?

Biggest pet peeve of most people is those who you think cut you off in traffic. Well it happens way too much to us professional truck drivers out there. The typical driver in a car or small truck don't see what we do, and we don't see what they do. OK. But if you are driving where a truck driver can't see you, then well you are in a blind spot and we couldn't have cut you off if you were driving in that spot.

So leave 3-4 car lengths of space when passing a in front of a truck to ensure that they see you and can have time to react if you need the space. That's the space you need to be safe.

So this week, and wonderful little Infiniti G35 passed be to an on ramp to the 401. He left only inches between himself and the wall to slip in front of me. Well that same driver was pounding the trunk of his car about ten min later when I passed him... He had TWO flat rear tires and was stuck on the shoulder of the 401 WB.