Hopefully, we are on a roll.

Things continue to go pretty well. No major problems, just a little routine maintenance, a tire here, a tire there.

We did get stopped by DOT for the first time. Received a warning for a tailight and a tire, but no ticket. They have both been tended to. The tire was on one of the spread axle bale trailers, and they do take a beating. Lots of scrubbing and sliding as trucks make their turns. Of course the big plus for these is the increased weight allowance for a spread. I had been watching this particular tire, and had already checked on availability, so it was no big deal.

The little "Gambler" truck is running from here to Fort Worth hauling grain.
Josh, the driver, said the other guys who were running down there really gave him a lot of lip talking bad about his little truck, and how he lagged behind. He said when he unloaded a 56,ooo pound payload it shut them up. In about nine loads it will be just like he got a free one!

They don't pay for pretty!

This little truck is not a whole lot to look at, but it has been a pleasant surprise. If it keeps itup, I will feel compelled to remove the Peterbilt nameplates and put Timex or Everyready in their place.

Josh was the second truck stopped by DOT. It turned out the officer was a friend of mine. He went over the truck and didn't find anything, then as he was returning the truck papers to the driver he noticed a scratch on the driver side window. He asked if the truck had window film on it and Josh told him he didn't know, he had just got on it, but that he hadn't put any on it. The DOT man decided to get his gauge and check it out. Turns out, the windows were two percent to dark.

I'll have to take my "bud" to task next time I see him. That is picking at straws. Of course he had to be a little
embarrassed when he discovered the truck was empty. After that he "had" to find some violation.

I have had a dilema out here. Our contact calls for settlement on Monday. With the previous two office managers, I could walk in with a bill and walk out with a check. It might take a maximum of an hour. The current office manager seems to have a real problem with generating these checks. She has procrastinated so much I told Krl you would think she is paying the bill personally. Each Monday she has gotten progressively later, even though I have presented my bill earlier in the day.

This past Monday I waited and waited, figuring I would make a trek to the bank, on to Stanton, Odessa, and Midland. At twelve minutes to three,the office manager generated the checks. It ws too late to get to the bank by three, so I left the check with Krl and began my parts trek. I made the drive and completed two stops before stores were closing.

What really miffed me was the parts run would require a second attempt Tuesday. If I had only received the check mid-morning I could have completed all my tasks in one trip.

Krl decided to go with me yesterday. We made two stops in Odessa, and three in Midland. It seemed that each one was progressively more expensive.

My first stop was a Volvo Truck for two light bulbs. $61. Yikes! And it only went up from there!

We made it back, and began unloading and dispersing parts. I kept one forklift operator from the dayshift on a couple of extra hours so Delfino could service machines.

For the first time this season, the plant encountered it's first extended breakdown. They broke a drum roller on the module feeder about four this morning. At seven they completed replacing it and cranked back up.

I had an interesting conversation with the burr contractor Monday evening. He is handling the dispatch of all the grain trucks out here this year. I knew my boat would be loaded so I was not even interested. He told me that he has watched over the years at the ease with which I move the seed, bales, and motes. He says it is with an all new respect after his brief experience with the grain. He told me, he handled 100 loads last week, just over half of what we did.

I reassured him and told him it would get easier with each week.

I have had one driver who refuse to communicate. If he wants to do two loads he will haul two and park the truck. He was off six days and called only after I was looking for him.

I no longer have a driver who refuses to communicate. He failed to show up yesterday and didn't call so now he is replaced. I didn't think he deserved a call either. He just no longer has a truck to drive.

By the way, in keeping with my ex-forklift operator, and George "Dumbya" Bush. White boys just ain't no good! Now we can add truck driver to the list.

Back to the grindstone.

I have computer data to enter, and tax deposits to complete. So while I am not covered up, I have enough to get my day going.

Hope yours is a good one!

FATHER, thank YOU for the good days which make the hard days bearable!