i really didn't want to take this short run from the yard to IA. Only about 240 miles. The short ones usually don't pay enough for the trouble, but no-one else was available to do it. This one is really turning out to be trouble.
Last night two of my older straps broke while running down the interstate. Luckily they weren't both on the same piece or it probably would have fallen off the trailer. I had to pull off a ramp and replace the two busted straps. I hate working in the dark on the side of the road. When I get back to the yard I am turning in all of my older straps and replacing them with new ones.
My truck has also decided that this would be a good time for a break down. As I was rolling along last night I started to noticed that the turbo didn't sound right. It's whine was going up and down in pitch. I watched the turbo boost pressure guage as I climbed a small hill and noted that the boost pressure was below normal and was surging up and down. Oh great! The turbo is going out. These large diesels can produce an amazing amount of horse power thanks to being turbo charged. But when the turbo fails you're done.
I managed to nurse it along and made it here to the delivery/pick up point. I am just waiting for dispatch to call me back with the pick up numbers before going on into the plant. Once I deliver these tanks I'm to pick up a few generators to take back to the yard.
At this point I can't know whether the turbo will hand in there long enough to get me back to the yard or whether it's going to leave me sitting on the side of the road. I passed a Western Star dealership in Dubuque on the way here but it'll be my luck that the turbo will wait until I am well past that point before going South on me. Such is the nature of Murphy's Law.
As soon as I get the delivery and pick up made I'll call our shop and find out whether they want me to stop and the dealership or try to nurse it back to the yard. Turbos can be funny critters. They can just blow out all at once, spewing thick clouds of white smoke out of the stacks, or they can whimper and whine for weeks before giving up the ghost. There is just no way to predict it.
Personally, I'd much rather be back at the yard getting the repairs done than sit around at some dealership for God knows how long. But sometimes Murphy doesn't allow us those options.
Either way it's definately going to be one of those days.