And Away We Grow

So I was able to get together with the salesman at the Dodge dealer and I am now the new owner of a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500.  I have nothing negative to say about my salesman - Joe -- in particular.  He was pleasant, professional, helpful .... all the stuff you expect.  But there was nothing at the end of the day to change my feelings about car dealers.  They still rank in my Top 5 -- along with dentists and lawyers -- under Most Painful Experiences.

I thought I had a pretty good game plan going in.  I have been researching the kind of truck I wanted and this Dodge was near perfect.  Then I determined the average retail price for this vehicle nationwide and set my own 'Top Dollar' number before even showing up at the dealership.  If the truck looked as good in person as it sounded and looked online, this was all I would pay.  Period.

Once there, the truck indeed was near perfect.  The right year, miles, motor, transmission, cab size, accessories, etc.  It was a one owner and the Carfax verified my inspection.  The truck was well maintained plus there was one unknown option that I recognized instantly when climbing in the drivers seat.  This truck had the optional engine brake.

If you are a truck driver, you know what this is and how significant it can be when towing something downhill.  Engine brakes -- AKA compression brakes -- use back pressure from the motor to slow the truck down saving the truck brakes.  Have you ever seen an 18 wheeler slowing down and heard the very load rumbling of the motor going "blap-blap-blap-blap-blap-blap-blap"?  That's the engine brake at work -- probably un-muffled.

The well-maintained condition of the truck (<90K miles) and the engine brake sealed my decision.  I made my top dollar offer -- about $3k less than the price on the windshield.  Now this is the part I hate most about car dealers.  They have a number - the price of the truck - and then there's this for that, this for the other thing, tax, title, registration, dealer fee, this fee, that tax, sumor fee, yada-yada-yada.  Doesn't take long before you are back at some number you did not want to be at.

I held my ground.  My number was an 'out-the-door' number.  I won't bore you with the details of our 3 hour haggling.  But when I walked out the door -- with the keys to my new truck -- I held to my number -- almost.  After the salesman and I did our dance -- and we have a deal -- I go see the business manager to sign papers.  Surprise!!  They aren't done trying to sell you stuff!!  But they are tricky about it.  They show you things as financing options and how it changes your monthly payment -- not as the cost of the item.  Big difference.

Would you be more likely to say "YES" if you saw the cost as only $5 more per month in your payment or as another $700 cost of the vehicle?  Sneaky.  I hate (most) car dealers.  Smoke and mirrors!  Buyer beware.

But I really liked this truck.  It was perfect for what I want to do next.  And the price was close enuf to what I planned.  There ended up being a $529 "Aftermarket Equipment" charge on my final paperwork that I do not understand.  This happened during the financing portion of the negotiations.  I can't count the number of times I either signed my name or initialed something during that phase.  When there is that much paper and signing, you know who's getting protected don't you?  Why does the dealership need that much protection? Is it possible their sneaky ways leave people feeling taken advantage of the next day?  I hate (most) car dealers.

But I got my truck.  And for a price that I think is fair.  Actually, all I have are the keys and a stack of paperwork.  I was on my motorcycle and had no way to get both home.  So I will run back over there Wednesday morning and pick it up.

And here she is.  STS Hot Shots truck #207.  Welcome to the fleet.

Another Milestone Today? Maybe!

I'm a little stoked and probably premature with this post, but what the heck.  Who knows when I'll put something up again, right?  I am killing time this morning because I'm an early riser and don't have to be where I am going for another 4 hours, if even at all.  I can back out.  But I won't.

I have an appointment to see -- and drive -- a new (to me) truck.  STS is on the verge of DOUBLING it's fleet!  Yes, I know.  Perhaps I exaggerate a bit.  Everybody has two cars anymore.  But this is a very big deal to me.  Perhaps the biggest thing -- a NEGATIVE -- is that I will have a truck payment.  But the flip side to that is I will also have more income because this is definitely a work truck.

The faithful readers here will instantly ask, "But who's going to drive your new work truck since you can't be both 'driver' and 'office boy'?"  Herein lies the real motivator for me.  My oldest son has expressed an interest in doing what I do.  I think he's getting tired of living in an apartment the size of a closet and living off PBJs.  My present truck has a lot of miles on it -- almost 500K -- and though still very reliable (A/C blows ice cubes too) is at a point where semi-retirement is a better idea than an everyday workhorse.

So I'm off to see a new Dodge Ram.

What's to Love about Paradise?

A rhetorical question or perhaps even facetious. Isn't the definition of Paradise, "a place where everything is wonderful?"  Who won't love that?  But Paradise -- like Bar-B-Que sauce -- is different to each person.  Some people think living on a mountain top is Paradise.  Not me, although it IS a nice place to visit.

For me the sun is a major factor.  I need lots of it.  I can stand the heat (>90) way better than the cold (<30).  We get a bunch of sun here on the Sun Coast of FL (I did NOT make that up).  Many years ago, the St. Pete Times use to give their newspaper away free the next day if we got a day without sunshine.  We average more than 350 days of sun per year.

Yes it can get hot.  Consecutive days of upper 90s are not unusual thru July and August, with humidity to match.  But I live on the beach so there is almost always a cool breeze coming off the water.

(Weather Facts 101:  The sun heats the land much faster than the water during the day.  This causes the air to rise over the land, creating a vacuum that draws the cooler air over the water inland.  This same routine in Summer leads to the afternoon showers when the moist, cool air begins to rise inland and rain is squeezed out.  Violent thunderstorms are not unusual.)

Interestingly, the average highs in St. Louis -- where I spent a large part of my adult life -- are within one degree of the averages here.  Even crazier, STL has higher 'Record Highs' than St. Petersburg in the Summer.  I can't say that it NEVER freezes around here because I live about 75 miles north of THAT line.  But it is a very rare event.  The only snow I have ever seen here was on TV.  I'm very okay with that.

And with the sun you should have some sand -- in my mind; preferably with a body of salt water rolling onto it.  Is there ANYTHING that is more relaxing and soothing than the sound of waves crashing onto the shore as the winds blow thru the palm trees?  I think not.  This time of year, my windows are all open.  Paradise Maximus!  (Other than the salt and sand that accumulates on window sills and slats of the shades.)

And the birds!  Cannot forget the birds.  All kinds of birds.  From the cacophony the squawking Quaker Parrots make as they announce their arrival to the cooing of the Doves in the Sea Grape tree just outside my living room.  Sandpipers, Seagulls, Pelicans, Terns, Egrets, Herrins and more patrol the coast line fighting over food.  Blackbirds, finches and a hundred others I don't have a clue what they are, all call this home; with me.  I've even seen a Humming Bird here.

Let's not forget the natural phenomenon that happens almost daily when you have a large body of water to the west -- SUNSET!  This big orange ball settling on the horizon is made unique everyday by the variety of clouds present (or sometimes not) and the winds churning up the sea surface (or not).  Mother Nature's Fireworks.  It still boggles my mind to see the sun disappear and yet you actually see nothing moving.  Or the explosion of colors as the sun drops below the horizon line yet still illuminates the clouds and sky.  I have been coming to this beach for more than 30 years and watching the sunset is still one of my most cherished events.

In case I'm starting to sound like a Chamber of Commerce commercial, let me give you the bad news.  Sometimes I think there are too many people here.  Traffic can be absolutely horrible.  Actually, it's not the people.  It's the cars.  It seems like everybody is driving two at a time.  And since many folks are in a hurry to get wherever they are going, they can be VERY aggressive.  Because I live on a very narrow sand bar (literally) there is just one main road - Gulf Blvd - that runs the 25 miles or so up and down the coast here.  It gets crazy sometimes.

But I have adapted.  Too many positives for the few, minor negatives.  Besides, can you truly appreciate the good if you don't have something bad to compare it too?  If this was the ONLY sunset you ever saw wouldn't you think that they are ALL like this?  Hmmmmm.  On second thought; what's wrong with that?

FINALLY -- a 2-Wheeled Roadtrip

I can't remember the last time I took a motorcycle road-trip.  For the last couple of years -- at least -- it seems like I have been relegated to the beach here; not that that is a bad thing.  In fact I brag how almost everything I need is with-in a couple miles of the house.

But I'm a driver.  And it doesn't really make alot of difference WHAT I'm driving.  I just like to go.  But I can not drive AND do the office work required to keep my other drivers moving.  There is a lot of freight out there moving everyday.  But a lot of truck drivers too.  To get the best paying loads you have to be quick to respond when a new load is posted.  That requires active, aggressive monitoring; something very hard to do while holding the steering wheel going down the road.

I needed to be back in the St. Louis area last week.  I had both my truck and one of my trailers down here in FL as well as my motorcycle.  The last time I left STL, there was a load going to Valdosta, GA that I decided to take.  It's on the way to where I stay in FL. I put the trailer in a nearby RV storage facility for the month I was in FL.

When it was time to leave FL, my mother rode along with me; her first trip in my truck while working.  We went 30 miles south first and picked up a car going to IL and then headed up I-75 thru GA.  We got a motel room the first night outside of Atlanta and then detoured slightly east to Augusta, GA to add a small tractor attachment going to KY.  That piece got delivered late the same day and then on to north-central IL where we delivered the car after spending a second nite in a motel.

Mother was visiting family and planned to stay a month or so.  My business required less than a week and then I was ready to get back to paradise.  I have very little need for my truck -- and NO need for my trailer -- in FL.  It makes more sense to leave it in Belleville where I can usually find a driver to put in the seat for the day, if a special need comes up.  So back to FL on my motorcycle.

Almost 1100 miles in less than two days.  One point I'm particularly proud of (although one may question my sanity) -- NO windshield.  I have one but hate the way my bike looks with it on.  I like that olde tyme nostalgia look.  The windshield detracts from the totally chromed out front end.

The wind-in-your-face at 80+ MPH presents a number of considerations.  Breathing is at the top.  I wear either a face mask (specially made for this application with breathing slots and soft fabric on the inside) or sometimes just a large bandanna worn like the bank-robbing cowboys of yesterday.  I also wear long sleeves regardless of the heat.  Keeping the wind and sun off your skin is paramount to making this ride tolerable.  That leaves dodging bugs and tiny rocks thrown up in construction zones as the next important thing.

Also at 80 MPH, the wind is doing all it can to rip you off the bike.  I have a special bag (called a T-bag) that sits on the passenger seat forming a large cushion (assuming I have nothing 'pointy' like belt buckles in the wrong place) for me to lean back against.  This bag mounts on the sissy bar and keeps me in position with minimal effort.

Many will question the logic of putting ones self in such a grueling position when more comfortable options are available.  All I can say is, if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.  I CAN tell you one thing though; seeing the world from a motorcycle seat is so different than ANYTHING else that until you have done it, you can't really imagine.

I rode more than 600 miles the first day making it to Macon, GA.  After getting a motel room and a shower, I ventured downtown Macon to Cherry St. and found a neat little restaurant -- The Bird --and sat on the patio watching the world go by.  Great time.  I'll be back.

The next morning was out early and finished the last 400+ miles.  I got in here about 3, plenty of time to clean-up and enjoy one of my top-5 things -- FL Sunsets.  And bonus!!!  There was also a full moon that nite.  And not just any full moon but the biggest of the year since the moons orbit was at it's perigee -- closest point to the Earth.  Moonrise was almost the same time as sunset. 

So now, I'm back in FL.  Still just two drivers.  I had a third, I thought.  But things changed at the last minute -- literally.  We shall see how that goes.  Business is good.  Life is great.

Oh, and a shout-out and Mozel Tov to my cuz in Cali -- she had a baby girl a couple weeks ago.  This is the cuz who went to Israel for a couple years, got married last year and moved (with hubby) back to LA earlier this year.  I'm very excited for both of them and my #1 cuz (her mom)!

R.A.K. -- Try It; You'll Like It!

Random Act of Kindness -- RAK.  Such a simple concept.  Do something nice for someone with no expectations.  Open the door for someone.  Pick something up they may have dropped and return it to them.  We have opportunities many times every day at RAKs.  But I can tell you from personal experience that it is easier said than done for most people.

I have an incredible life.  The opportunities I have been given, the people I am surrounded by, the life I lead -- all fantastic!!  A random act of kindness is a chance to pay back.  I even think it's a chance to pay forward. 

When I was in the corporate world I was sent to many management classes.  One of the lessons that stuck for me was the "10 to 1" rule.  This concept proposed that people will remember a negative comment or reprimand much longer than most positive ones.  Therefore you had to do 10 'positive' things to balance each negative.  The context this was in pertained more to people management and positive reinforcement but I apply the same theory to RAKs.

I try to do as many RAKs as I can to balance the many negative things that I tend to do -- which will go un-mentioned in this post, but those who know me best -- KNOW.  And I believe this works.  There certainly is a lot of good stuff going on in my life in spite of my screw-ups so it must work.

Many times a RAK is such a simple, effortless thing for you to do and yet can be a big thing to another.  For guys, I think many times testosterone gets in the way.  Things become a competition in our unending efforts to be the best.  But if we slow down and look at the big picture -- put things in perspective of what is REALLY important in the long run, not 'just this moment' -- I believe better decisions will be made.

Perhaps the one RAK we can all do -- me included -- would be to drive friendly.  Pretend we actually KNOW that person in the other car and are going to see them again face-to-face.  Be nice.  Drive Friendly.

A Passover 101 Lesson

Tonight, at sunset, Jews celebrate Passover (think: Charlton Heston and the Ten Commandments).  The tenth plague that GOD beset on the Egyptians was the slaughter of the first-born.  The Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb and therefore 'passed over' by the plague.  Passover is a seven-day festival celebrating our liberation from slavery.  Exodus 13:8 instructs us to share this story with our children.  What better way than at a dinner table?

The Passover Seder is a feast on the first night with seven symbolic foods, a little wine, readings from the Haggadah (an ancient writing that tells the story of the exodus) and some song.  The seven foods include:  two bitter herbs (horseradish and romaine lettuce) to symbolize the bitterness and harsh life of a slave; charoset (sweet, brown mixture of honey, ground nuts and cinnamon) to represent the mortar used by the slaves to build; vegetable (usually celery or parsley) dipped in salt water to symbolize the pain the slaves felt (salt water = tears); a lamb shankbone that represents the sacrificial lamb; a hard boiled egg is a symbol of mourning (eggs are the first thing served after a Jewish funeral); and 3 pieces of Matzah or unleavened bread (the Jews didn't have time to bake before Moses led them out).

Of course there is a ritual associated with all this.  And prayer.  But the main point is to never forget.  Many of the customs surrounding the dinner were designed to get the children to ask questions, why is tonite different than all other nites?  Why do we only eat unleavened bread?  Why are we reclined while eating?

There is also the major house cleaning that goes on -- usually for days -- before Passover.  The goal is to remove every last morsel of chametz.  Chametz is something made from the five grains and then mixed with water and allowed to ferment, like bread.  There is some controversy about exactly what these five grains are but varieties of wheat and barley are accepted by many.  But as with religion in general, everyone has an interpretation.  Interestingly, the Torah provides a very high level of punishment for even OWNING chametz during Passover -- spiritual excision.  Hence the aggressive house cleaning to remove EVERY morsel.

(Since this is my blog, I get to share opinions about things without justification, like this)  I feel that many of the Jewish Laws -- like not eating pork, or removing ALL chametz in the Spring -- were a method for the Rabbis of old to motivate healthy lifestyles amongst people.  What better way to protect people from poorly cooked pig?  Or get them to 'Spring Clean'? 

And now I have done my mitvah (a religious duty outlined in the Torah) as well as posted here three days in a row!!  Hopefully you learned something today.

STS Update

How about this!  Second post in as many days.  WOW!  Can he keep it up?  Time will tell.

I thought it might be a good idea to update folks about my trucking company, seeing how I've not posted anything in a very long time (yesterday excluded).  I'm back down to one driver besides myself.  But he has been with me almost from the beginning.  George is a horse.  He runs hard and is as reliable as the rain on a summer afternoon here in FL, where I have been spending most of my time.  Before you give me too much grief about living in FL while my company is based in southern IL (near St. Louis); remember that I can not do a good job with the back-office stuff (dispatch, billing, marketing, etc) when I'm driving down the road.  And thanks to the internet, a laptop and a cell phone, my location is not really important.

I do have a couple other guys that are close to coming on with us.  The first one maybe my oldest son.  That is a business owners dream, I think:  to see his son (daughter) take over the company and watch both of them grow.  I'm planning on buying a new (to me) truck in the next 30-days or so.  Nathan has expressed an interest in driving it.

In case you aren't aware, STS fills a very specialized niche in the trucking industry.  We are hot shots.  I'm not talking about the personality disorder but the type of freight we haul.  We use one-ton, diesel pick-up trucks to pull flatbed, gooseneck trailers.  We can handle loads up to 15,000 lbs and 36' long.  We offer time-sensitive delivery for those Less Than a Truckload items.

Here's a link to our website with pictures and more details: STS HOT SHOTS.COM

I have another guy, former truck driver, who just bought himself a brand new 2012 Dodge Ram dually and is planning to start with us later this month.  He had some personal business to resolve first and expects to be available after the 15th.

Then there is the retired guy from Boeing that worked for us last summer.  Boeing called him up and made him an offer he couldn't refuse doing a temporary, contract-labor thing in Macon, GA.  He was suppose to be done Jan 1 but they gave him a 90-day extension.  Then gave him another 90-days just last month.  Apparently he's doing a little too good for them.  But I got an email a week ago and he assured me he will be back, eventually.  I can't blame the guy.  They are paying him very handsomely in addition to an apartment and a car to use.

So the future is bright from that angle.  But now I need to get busy growing our customer base.  These drivers are going to want to work.  And things have slowed down a bit for us over the last couple weeks.  Not sure why.  But I think there is opportunity.  And I need to get drivers available before I start promoting our business.  It won't do any good if I start getting phone calls for trucks and my ONE guy is already out.

Can't forget my lady in Indiana.  She is a freight broker.  She has a few clients that buy and sell cars, usually off the internet.  She finds carriers to move the cars for them using my federal Motor Carrier Authority (permission to haul freight interstate for-hire).  This is a side of the industry I intend to get much more into, eventually -- Freight Forwarding.  I frequently get calls to move freight that is beyond our ability (too big or heavy) or in a place I don't have a truck.  I can still help these folks by using my network of connections to find a truck that can do the job for them.  That's down the road.

And at some point I'm going to need some office help.  The feds are extremely demanding about paperwork and compliance.  The trucking industry is second only to the financial industry in federal oversight.  You've seen those weigh stations along the interstate?  There is a lot of stuff going on in there besides just checking weight.

So now you're up to speed on my biz.  I've kept my promise from yesterday, at least for now.  And it's beach time. It's 87 degrees and  not a cloud in the sky here.