My New Truck/Trailer is AWESOME!!

My oldest son has been driving my newest truck/trailer for about two weeks and the early returns are fantastic.  Besides the fact that he is running like a horse -- just over 5,000 miles by the time he gets home tonight -- the expenses have also been reduced because of the light-weight trailer.

When I was a driver, much of my 'windshield time' was spent visualizing the Perfect Truck and the Perfect trailer.  This setup above is almost it, for what we do.  The perfect truck -- in my mind -- is a 2005- 2007 Dodge Ram with the 5.9 Cummins.  (Yes, the early model 2007s still had the 5.9.  They switched to the 6.7 mid-year to meet the new EPA requirements).  Dodge finally figured out an automatic transmission that could handle the torque the 5.9 generated. 

The perfect trailer -- to me -- would allow us to carry pipe up to 40' or two cars at a time.  Because many of our out-bound loads are relatively light (10-12,000 lbs) we really didn't need a heavy, beefy trailer.  My older trailers all have dual, tandem axles - 4 tires/axle -- and were rated to 24,000#.  They also weighed about 7,500 lbs empty.  The one above is rated to 14,000 lbs and weighs 4,200 lbs empty.  Less weight = better fuel economy.

I am having a 'bridge' built that will mount across the very rear of the trailer -- on the end of the dove-tail -- that will give us a support point at deck height for really long pipe.  The bridge will lift off and store on the gooseneck when we are hauling cars.

About the only thing I want different on my next trailer is a solid deck at least 96" wide.  This deck is open in the middle (it's technically a car hauler) and only 84" wide.  And I have my eyes on one now.  But it's going to be 2-3 months before the cashflow will allow more expansion. 

Those 5,000 miles Nathan has driven consumed more than $1200 in fuel.  That's on top of all the other money I spend getting this equipment setup.  It is typically 45-60 days before the out-go and the income get in balance because most of our customers are on 30-day billing.  But we pay OUR expenses (fuel, oil, insurance, motels, tires, maintenance, etc) as we go.

It would be nice if I could find another experienced driver or two.  They need their own diesel pick-up truck.  Brand doesn't matter; age and mileage do.  They need to be a motivated, self-starter anxious to make some money by working hard.  There is more to this than holding the steering wheel and keeping it between the lines.  Ask Nathan!

Detailed info is on my website here:   www.stsHOTshots.com  Click on the 'Owner/Operator' tab.

FINALLY -- My PERFECT Job

It's taken quite some time.  For several of the past summers I have been soliciting my friends HARD to built a pool so I could be their Pool Boy.  But no.  Until THIS year!!

For the past month I have been staying at my middle brothers house while in the southern IL area.  And he has a walk-out basement with a very nice pool.  I'm in heaven.  There is a lot more work to keeping a nice pool than many people think.

You have the chemical balance to maintain, obviously, but there are several filters that need cleaning and the pool needs skimming daily to get the leaves out.  Then there's the area around the pool.  Weeding and watering and picking up.  It's tough work being a Pool Boy.  The pay isn't so hot but the benefits are outstanding!

My Pool Boy days are about over, for now.  I'm flying back to FL this weekend.  Trading in my skimmer net for a beach towel.  Works for me.

One 'business' note; Nathan (my oldest son and newest driver) just completed his first solo trip - 1200 miles from St. Louis to Minot, ND.  At least it's the middle of the summer up there, actually quite nice.  So in the two trips he and I did together and now his first solo trip, he has yet to cross an open DOT scale.  Oh well; he's gotta get home now.  I'm betting they get him before he gets here.

I Wanna Go Home!!

I am so tired of living out of a suitcase.  I'm hoping to get things wrapped up here in IL by mid week and get back down to FL -- where it's cooler.  Crazy world.  Today is the 9th or 10th consecutive day with temps over 100.  It's after 6 pm and still 103, now!!  The last three days have been particularly brutal around here with temps closer to 110.  Yet my little spot on the beach has only got to 91 during this stretch.

But I'm really ready to be in MY space.  MY bed.  MY paradise.  I have been staying with my middle brother while up here.  And I don't mean to sound unappreciative.  He has a big house with a pool, hot tub, 3 refrigerators and practically anything else you could want.  But it isn't the same.  I'm still a guest.  I want to go home!

Things are going quite well here.  My new truck and trailer are loaded for the first time and will head for Cedar Rapids, IA early Monday morning.  For more than a year I have visualized what I thought would be the perfect combination vehicle to do the type work we do with the most efficiency.  That dream is now a reality and it looks like the maiden voyage will be a very good one, financially.

One of the main barometers I use is the dollar/mile income generated for the whole trip -- out AND back.  This first trip for my new rig will beat my average by about 10 cents.  Doesn't sound like much but I expect my cost to be down with this trip by as much as 20%.  Add it all up and this should be a great trip.  I'll know Monday night.

And, my oldest son will be doing the driving.  He is getting into the biz and this will be his first paying job with STS.  It's all exciting.  He is the main reason I'm still hanging around here.  I want to make sure he is totally comfortable since he is brand new to truck driving.

But, I really am ready to be home.

Sunday -- My Most Favorite Day (Now)

It has nothing to do with religious significance.  If that were the case, I'd like Saturdays the best; it's the sabbath.  No, it all began when Sundays were my WORST day.  I was in restaurant management and the places I worked had a different menu on Sundays -- Sunday Brunch.

So first off you have new menu items for cooks and servers to know about and perform at the same level of expertise even though we only do this for four or five hours out of the 100+ hours a week we were open.  Not alot of practice time.

Next the staff itself is usually your newer people.  It was typical to reward our 'core' people with the schedules they wanted, within reason.  Not many wanted that shift and, if they got it, were quick to trade it away.  The result was the same.  Your lesser experienced people working this crazy shift.

Then church gets out.  And all of a sudden the place goes from empty to SLAMMED in 30 minutes.  Are you getting my picture?  I HATED Sundays because as I was always the guy ultimately in charge.  Even if I wasn't working that day, I'm a phone call away from, "Nik, the prep cook that always makes the hollandaise called in sick.  What do I do?"

So when I got to the point in my life I wasn't working Sundays anymore -- because I'm out of the restaurant biz -- it became a sign of success.  Laying around in bed all morning, occasionally with good reason, watching movies or other fun things people might do when being lazy in bed.  But doing nothing but chillax.

Today I have the pleasure of sitting on the balcony at my brother's house looking out over a pool, lake and wooded area watching the sun come up.  I'm sitting with my coffee listening to the wildlife, mostly birds.  There are more visible birds in FL.  These guys up here make a lot of noise but stay fairly hidden.

A lot more trees here.  And BIG ones, at that.  I'm looking OVER the top of the house next door to the end of the cul de sac where there is a MONSTER Oak tree at least 80 or 100' WIDE and more than 200' tall.  It's REALLY big.  And majestic. There are actually a lot of mature trees around but this one has been nurtured to the point that it dominates the corner.

It's the sunrises and sunsets everyday in my life that give me pause to thank GOD for what I have and hopefully be just one HALF the man that Dizzy (my brothers dog) thinks I am.  With the Fourth falling on Wednesday this year it really screws things up for people as they try to plan their time off.  But we should always remember these seven special days out of 365 to commemorate something very significant that should not be forgotten or taken lightly.  This Fourth of July remember to thank GOD that you live in the greatest country on Earth.

 (Not that Canada, Mexico, Spain or any of the others are bad.  I have been to these places and more. But, there is NO WHERE else I want to call home.)