So this is the pic of the motor of my truck. Isn't it lovely? And I'm finally getting used to the shift pattern in the Mack.

I haven't really gotten a lot of miles this week, but it is the first week and I only really got started on Wednesday late in the day. Hopefully this next week will be much better since I'll get a start on it on Monday this time. Yes! I am actually at home tonight! Relaxing in my own room...in my own bed...with my furbabies by my side.

Yesterday picked up at a Faygo plant in Detroit. Another backing job I did pretty darned good at. Although I kinda screwed up afterwards. After backing in I had to unhook from the trailer until they were done loading it. When I went to hook back up I didn't get the heights between the tractor and the trailer quite right and ended up with the pin going over the fifth wheel and down over the front of it. Crap...and it was stuck that way. I maneuvered little by little to the side as far as I could get the tractor to go but the pin was still caught on it by just a little bit. Thanks to the help of another friendly driver...we got it unstuck. By just using plank of wood, he had me pull forward and he maneuvered the fifth wheel with the wood so the pin could go back over it. Thought was the end of my problems. Nope...when I pulled out, I went to move my tandems back forward (as they were required to be all the way rear for loading) and the tandems were stuck! We ended up having to get a roadside service out to fix them since in Michigan you cannot legally run with the tandems all the way to the rear like that. After that was fixed I immediately went to the next truck stop I could find...with parking. Went to Motor City truck stop but it was tiny and completely full. So on to the next one...The Detroiter. Pulled in and wouldn't you know it...it's a pay-for-parking truck stop. But I was willing to do it as I was tired and needed to be off the road. Pulled in and the gal at the gate said to go on in...she let's the ladies park free so they can be safe. Well bless her! They will get my patronage again if I need somewhere to go up there again. After all...they have a built-in iHOP! Yum!

Anyway, delivered this load this morning to a Giant Eagle distribution warehouse in Bedford Heights, OH. As you can see...that is the view in my driver side mirror as I sat and waited for them to unload me. Had to keep an eye on that light so once it turned green it meant they were done. Then from there I was off to Erie, PA to pick up a load. Turns out it's a load of plastic crates that you see bread stored and moved in. So it's actually a light load...about 10k pounds. Not very often you get to haul a trailer that's FULL and weighs so little. 

So anyway...I'm home for the night AND tomorrow! Woohoo! Delivery isn't scheduled until noon Monday so I will actually get a 34-hour restart. I can get two good nights sleep two nights in a row! Next time I post I'll have a pic of the truck for you! I'll be out there tomorrow actually getting it setup for my comfort (as I've been missing all my "truck stuff").