It was a tough day for a trucker.

[Tobin S.]

We had some snow and the temperature when I started work was negative 2. It never got over 14 degrees today and the wind was gusting. Three hundred miles in that crap in a thirty year old truck that rides like a hay wagon. When a gust of wind would broad-side the truck it would come right through the door and window seals. I had to strap and tarp three loads out in that. I could hardly move when I got home today.

Tomorrow is going to be even colder. The high temperature won't get out of the single digits. There is a wind chill advisory with wind chills expected to feel like 24 to 30 below zero at times when the wind gusts. At least it's not going to snow.

Spring can't get here soon enough for me. My wife knew I had a tough day and brought home some of my favorite beer. A hot shower, two beers, two ibuprofen, and a warm supper loosened me up considerably. I'm 42 and it takes almost everything I have to get through a day like today. I work with guys who are older and I don't know how they do it. I know a few of them come into work wearing the same dirty clothes they wore the day before. I don't think they take them off when they go home. One guy who is around 60 says on a normal day after work he'll get a bite to eat, sit down in his easy chair, and then the next thing he knows its 4am and time to do it again.

It could be worse, I guess. I could be out on the road most nights instead of here with my wife. I could be unemployed. But it's hard to look on the bright side when it's going to be six below in the morning.

[In_The_Wind]

1. You have my sympathy, Tobin.

Stay safe. Tarping a load can be dangerous in good weather.

[cwydro]

2. Watching trucks jack-knife on the southern roads around here yesterday -

I really felt for the truckers who have no choice but to get on the road. Nasty ice conditions here yesterday and early today.

Ice Road Truckers is a show that I love to watch, and it amazes me how they tie those loads down or put the chains on in those conditions.

[femmocrat]

3. Stay safe, Tobin.

[Laffy Kat]

4. That sounds absolutely miserable.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

[oldandhappy]

5. I am sorry. Sounds awful.

Glad your wife cares for you. And I hope Spring comes quickly. Thank you for the work you do. I am sure I benefit somewhere along the line. Please be careful. We want you alive!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Oh my dear Tobin...

It sounds awful. I know you're being careful..........but be careful, OK?

I wish spring would arrive for you folks too.

[cwydro]

7. I swear by wool.

I spend a lot of time outside in the cold out on my farm.

Get some good wool underwear if you don't already have some. Silk is good too. But wool keeps you warm even if you get wet.

Take care Trucker Tobin!

[denbot]

8. Yeah, I hear ya.

I started out on the IL/WI line late this after noon. I fueled in Gary IN and even doubled gloved I could barely stand it. How you chain down loads in this crap is beyond me.

Headed to Jersey, but had to pull over into an over crowded reststop after only 400 miles. Felt my rigg wiggle a bit, and decided I had pushed it too far as it was.

Don't have to be at the Costco DC till early Friday, so hopefully the roads will shape up and the snow will hold off till I can get my candyass back to Los Angeles for a few days of rest.

[Sherman A1]

9. I work with drivers all day

and have a great deal of respect for them . Jumping in and out the backs trucks on often icy tailgates, hand-stacking 200 cases of heavy product and getting them 100% correct. Keeping those rigs both big and small under control when some other "charming" drivers are buzzing around them. Delivering in the dark, in the glaring daylight. I don't know how they do it either, particularly the older guys, but they do each day. So that we can all benefit from the goods that get to the destinations, whatever they happen to be.

[Scuba]

10. And Republicans think you should keep doing this until you're 75.

[CanSocDem]

11. I thought you were on the verge...

...of putting the 'dirty work' behind you. You just have to stop showing them how valuable you are as a driver.

BTW- are you having any trouble getting winter fuel?



.

[Tobin S.]

14. I graduated from college in December

and I've been putting in applications and sending out resumes ever since then. No dice.

In this part of the country "winter" fuel is standard at the pump. It probably is everywhere now days. It's good to at least 10 below and we have an additive that we can put in the fuel that protects it down to 40 below.

[Worried senior]

12. My husband

drove truck before he became disabled.

He hauled heavy machinery that had to be chained down and many times tarped. Crawling around the machinery trying to get everything covered and tied down was a real drain on his system.

He drove all over the states so generally after he was loaded and he had any hours left he got to take off in all kinds of weather, generally dirty and drive a few more hours.

His only consolation was they didn't have sleepers so he was able to get into a motel room and have a hot shower before finding something to eat.

It's a hard job and it took it's toll.

[hunter]

13. Ouch.

My wife and I lived in Illinois a few years, and I remember ice and cold wearing on me, and I was half as old as you are now.

There was one time it was twenty below with some wind and I was fueling up the truck at two in the morning after loading it in the cold...



Good beer, an ibuprofen, a warm place to sit, and a lovely wife sounds great.

I'm cheering spring on for you!