Where in the world is Otter?

Apollyon67 · 07-13-2006, 09:10 PM

A rolling stone gathers no moss SKS. Can't call Otter an old Mossy Horn I guess. How is Kitty doing these days Otter?

Otter · 07-14-2006, 11:34 AM

Kitty is great. We're in Clear Brook Va. for fuel. Next stop Clinton NJ. for the family re-union.

Oxford · 07-14-2006, 04:42 PM

Otter...man those ICC rules have changed a whole bunch. Is it still against the rules to keep two sets of ICC log books, just in case you need to stretch your hours occasionally in order to reach a destination?

Otter · 07-16-2006, 07:14 PM

Yes, it is against the law to have more than one book. The best thing about the new rules is the 70 hour reset after 34 hours off. You're no longer limited to 70 hours in eight days based on how many hours you worked seven days ago. Just take 34 hours off and the 70 hour rule resets to zero. The problem is these rules are being writen by people who don't or have never driven truck. I don't work late nights, I'm a safer driver if I work passed my daily limit in the afternoon or evening than I would be if I went off duty in the afternoon took ten hours off and started work again early morning. I get up around six every day and start work about seven. When I park for the night, I point my dish, watch television and eat dinner, I go to sleep around 21:00 and get up at six. I don't like being forced to work odd hours, it isn't safe.

Oxford · 07-19-2006, 01:31 PM

Otter...I know you wouldn't break ICC's driving rules...but I believe there's just a small possibility that some truck drivers years ago might have pushed those rules a tad bit over the allowed driving hours allowed...but I'm not mentioning names.

Fact is...I know one driver who made log adjustments in the 2nd book during his flight home in order to keep within the hours allowed. But...he will deny everything.

Otter · 07-23-2006, 07:43 PM

Kitty and I are spending a couple of days off in Westfield Massachusetts. We deliver in Shrewsbury Massachusetts Monday morning. We had a nice weekend at my friend's home, the weather wasn't the best for flying but I managed to get some time in the Augusta A109. Saw a 1958 Sikorsky S-58JT at the airport that was here from Illinois doing some lift work at Yankee Candle. A twin turbine conversion capable of picking 4500 lbs. From Westfield they went to Pittsburg for an afternoon lift and on to Indianapolis.

Otter · 07-29-2006, 08:26 PM

Back in Westfield Massachusetts again, got Sunday off and deliver in Northampton Monday morning, then back to Vermont.

Otter · 08-03-2006, 05:33 PM

Rock Hill, SC. on the way to Augusta Ga. for Friday Morning. Then possibly going to berryville Mo.

FutureMarine · 08-03-2006, 05:39 PM

too much drivin for me

Otter · 08-10-2006, 11:34 AM

What a trip! I left Vermont Wednesday the 2nd. with a load of chocolate going to Augusta Ga. I arrived in Augusta Thursday afternoon and delivered Friday morning. Dispatch wanted to get a load going toward Kansas City so I could pick up engines in Maryville Mo. going back to Vermont. No luck. After failing to find a load gointg toward Kansas City, dispatch tried to find a load going to New England. No luck. Dispatch was looking at a load of tomatoes from S.C. going to New Hampshire to load Saturday. No luck. We had a load that would pick in three places going to Vermont, so the boss had me wait for that, on Saturday I drove from Augusta to Orangeburg SC. and sat until Monday morning only to find that the load wouldn't load until Tuesday morning. So Otter spent another day in Orangeburg with no internet access and nothing to do but watch television. It was too hot to go outside, I kept the AC on and stayed in with kitty. Tuesday morning I loaded out of Orangeburg and went to Talbott Tn. for the second pick, I got to Talbott after shipping had closed for the day and spent the night. I loaded out of Talbott and went to Parker Ford Pa. for the third pick, you guessed it, I arrived in Parker Ford after shipping had closed for the day and spent the night in their driveway. I loaded out of Parker Ford and started northward bounding back to Vermont. The place I'm delivering to in Vermont is haveing their company picnic this afternoon and I can't deliver today. You guessed it again, I sleep in their driveway and deliver Friday morning, then I have to cross Vermont to take some of their product to Lyndonville Vermont and get that off Friday afternoon. Then I'll go back to the shop where my chew chief will scrape the moss off my tires so I can start another trip.

Apollyon67 · 08-10-2006, 10:09 PM

Otter, not to get personal but, Do you stay in the cab of the truck or a hotel room when you have stop over?

toolman · 08-10-2006, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apollyon67

Otter, not to get personal but, Do you stay in the cab of the truck or a hotel room when you have stop over?

From reading his posts, I'd guess truck. I did that for several years until i got a real job!

Sorry Otter, I couldn't resist!

Otter · 08-12-2006, 06:46 PM

I stay in the truck, I have a refridgerator, microwave, Directv dish system, 13" television, Ham radio station, and my Kitty.
I just arrived in Max Meadows, Va. for the night, I'm on my way to Rome Ga. for Monday morning delivery, should be there tomorrow afternoon.

WALCKER · 08-13-2006, 03:17 PM

Say Otter, what part of the country do you like driving in the most? I haven't seen alot of the country but I would like driving in the western part the most. Just the wide open spaces interest me the most.

troy2000 · 08-13-2006, 04:17 PM

But how do you hook up to the internet? Do the truckstops have wireless now?

I carry my laptop in my work truck, and look for "hot spots" where some home or business has wireless and isn't encrypted. I have a signal finder that searches for signals strong enough to use; when I find one I open the wireless utility in my laptop and tell it to connect. I also add that one to the networks it'll connect to automatically in the future if I'm close enough.

Free to me, without costing them any extra either. But I only do stuff like check my email, read the news and move in my chess games, which shouldn't slow them down enough to notice if they're on at the same time.

One guy in San Bernardino must've had trouble with a neighbor playing bandwidth-intensive games on his signal or something. When my utility identified his network, it was not only encrypted but named, "F****r, get your own internet."

I've thought about getting Verizon's wireless internet; then I'd be able to get online pretty much anywhere their cellphone signals reach. But I can't bring myself to pay $79.95 a month.

toolman · 08-14-2006, 12:09 AM

Troy, not to hijack Otter's reply, but several of the truckstops now have a system in place that gives the driver telephone, heating and A\C, cable, and broadband on either a daily, weekly, or monthly fee basis. Most truckstops anymore are also wireless hotspots. You might keep that in mind while you're out and about.

Otter · 08-15-2006, 08:30 AM

I use Flying J travel Centres the most, so I buy their wireless internet for $149.00 a year. I like to travel the South and Southwest, but I do like the Pacific Northwset, I did some flying there after the war and really like Oregon and Washington, and BC. some beautiful flying in that part of the world. I dislike Ohio, Illinois, & California. Most of my work takes me to Georgia, The Carolinas, & Tennessee, My cat was born in Tn. I'm in Clear Brook, Va. on my way to Danvers Massachusetts for delivery Wednesday 09:00.

Otter · 08-17-2006, 05:46 PM

Well Kitty and I are enjoying a day off, I got the sights back from Metaloy and installed them on the slide, Friday I load a load going to Augusta Ga. to deliver Monday. Still waiting for the barrel from Barsto.

N2914J · 08-17-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

I like to travel the South and Southwest, but I do like the Pacific Northwset, I did some flying there after the war and really like Oregon and Washington, and BC. some beautiful flying in that part of the world.

I totally know what you mean. I spent my first 14 years in Washington, and took my first five hours of flight instruction in Cessna's and ultralights north of Seattle. When I moved to California, the scenery was horrible compared to the P.N.W., but when I moved to Georgia/Arkansas, it was a little more comprable. I remember on my third flight lesson, we were flying around up in the mountains, and it started to snow, very very lightly. I had some time to enjoy it before my instructor turned us around. I remember that fondly; it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

Otter · 09-04-2006, 08:04 AM

Hubbard Ohio, on the way to Newton IL. to deliver Tuesday Morning.

07-13-2006, 09:10 PM	#81
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,238 Images: 17	A rolling stone gathers no moss SKS. Can't call Otter an old Mossy Horn I guess. How is Kitty doing these days Otter? __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

07-14-2006, 11:34 AM	#82
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Kitty is great. We're in Clear Brook Va. for fuel. Next stop Clinton NJ. for the family re-union. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously. Last edited by Otter; 07-14-2006 at 11:36 AM.

07-14-2006, 04:42 PM	#83
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,101 Blog Entries: 4	Otter...man those ICC rules have changed a whole bunch. Is it still against the rules to keep two sets of ICC log books, just in case you need to stretch your hours occasionally in order to reach a destination? __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

07-16-2006, 07:14 PM	#84
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Yes, it is against the law to have more than one book. The best thing about the new rules is the 70 hour reset after 34 hours off. You're no longer limited to 70 hours in eight days based on how many hours you worked seven days ago. Just take 34 hours off and the 70 hour rule resets to zero. The problem is these rules are being writen by people who don't or have never driven truck. I don't work late nights, I'm a safer driver if I work passed my daily limit in the afternoon or evening than I would be if I went off duty in the afternoon took ten hours off and started work again early morning. I get up around six every day and start work about seven. When I park for the night, I point my dish, watch television and eat dinner, I go to sleep around 21:00 and get up at six. I don't like being forced to work odd hours, it isn't safe. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

07-19-2006, 01:31 PM	#85
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,101 Blog Entries: 4	Otter...I know you wouldn't break ICC's driving rules...but I believe there's just a small possibility that some truck drivers years ago might have pushed those rules a tad bit over the allowed driving hours allowed...but I'm not mentioning names. Fact is...I know one driver who made log adjustments in the 2nd book during his flight home in order to keep within the hours allowed. But...he will deny everything. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

07-23-2006, 07:43 PM	#86
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Kitty and I are spending a couple of days off in Westfield Massachusetts. We deliver in Shrewsbury Massachusetts Monday morning. We had a nice weekend at my friend's home, the weather wasn't the best for flying but I managed to get some time in the Augusta A109. Saw a 1958 Sikorsky S-58JT at the airport that was here from Illinois doing some lift work at Yankee Candle. A twin turbine conversion capable of picking 4500 lbs. From Westfield they went to Pittsburg for an afternoon lift and on to Indianapolis. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

07-29-2006, 08:26 PM	#87
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Back in Westfield Massachusetts again, got Sunday off and deliver in Northampton Monday morning, then back to Vermont. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

08-03-2006, 05:33 PM	#88
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Rock Hill, SC. on the way to Augusta Ga. for Friday Morning. Then possibly going to berryville Mo. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

08-03-2006, 05:39 PM	#89
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,952	too much drivin for me __________________ Semper Fi

08-10-2006, 11:34 AM	#90
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	What a trip! I left Vermont Wednesday the 2nd. with a load of chocolate going to Augusta Ga. I arrived in Augusta Thursday afternoon and delivered Friday morning. Dispatch wanted to get a load going toward Kansas City so I could pick up engines in Maryville Mo. going back to Vermont. No luck. After failing to find a load gointg toward Kansas City, dispatch tried to find a load going to New England. No luck. Dispatch was looking at a load of tomatoes from S.C. going to New Hampshire to load Saturday. No luck. We had a load that would pick in three places going to Vermont, so the boss had me wait for that, on Saturday I drove from Augusta to Orangeburg SC. and sat until Monday morning only to find that the load wouldn't load until Tuesday morning. So Otter spent another day in Orangeburg with no internet access and nothing to do but watch television. It was too hot to go outside, I kept the AC on and stayed in with kitty. Tuesday morning I loaded out of Orangeburg and went to Talbott Tn. for the second pick, I got to Talbott after shipping had closed for the day and spent the night. I loaded out of Talbott and went to Parker Ford Pa. for the third pick, you guessed it, I arrived in Parker Ford after shipping had closed for the day and spent the night in their driveway. I loaded out of Parker Ford and started northward bounding back to Vermont. The place I'm delivering to in Vermont is haveing their company picnic this afternoon and I can't deliver today. You guessed it again, I sleep in their driveway and deliver Friday morning, then I have to cross Vermont to take some of their product to Lyndonville Vermont and get that off Friday afternoon. Then I'll go back to the shop where my chew chief will scrape the moss off my tires so I can start another trip. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

08-10-2006, 10:09 PM	#91
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,238 Images: 17	Otter, not to get personal but, Do you stay in the cab of the truck or a hotel room when you have stop over? __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

08-12-2006, 06:46 PM	#93
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	I stay in the truck, I have a refridgerator, microwave, Directv dish system, 13" television, Ham radio station, and my Kitty. I just arrived in Max Meadows, Va. for the night, I'm on my way to Rome Ga. for Monday morning delivery, should be there tomorrow afternoon. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously. Last edited by Otter; 08-12-2006 at 06:53 PM.

08-13-2006, 03:17 PM	#94
WALCKER Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Northern Dakota Territory Posts: 137	Say Otter, what part of the country do you like driving in the most? I haven't seen alot of the country but I would like driving in the western part the most. Just the wide open spaces interest me the most.

08-13-2006, 04:17 PM	#95
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	You may have told us and I missed it, Otter But how do you hook up to the internet? Do the truckstops have wireless now? I carry my laptop in my work truck, and look for "hot spots" where some home or business has wireless and isn't encrypted. I have a signal finder that searches for signals strong enough to use; when I find one I open the wireless utility in my laptop and tell it to connect. I also add that one to the networks it'll connect to automatically in the future if I'm close enough. Free to me, without costing them any extra either. But I only do stuff like check my email, read the news and move in my chess games, which shouldn't slow them down enough to notice if they're on at the same time. One guy in San Bernardino must've had trouble with a neighbor playing bandwidth-intensive games on his signal or something. When my utility identified his network, it was not only encrypted but named, "F***r, get your own internet." I've thought about getting Verizon's wireless internet; then I'd be able to get online pretty much anywhere their cellphone signals reach. But I can't bring myself to pay $79.95 a month. __________________ I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting you really believe what you just said.* WF Buckley, Jr

08-14-2006, 12:09 AM	#96
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,852 Blog Entries: 24	Troy, not to hijack Otter's reply, but several of the truckstops now have a system in place that gives the driver telephone, heating and A\C, cable, and broadband on either a daily, weekly, or monthly fee basis. Most truckstops anymore are also wireless hotspots. You might keep that in mind while you're out and about. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

08-15-2006, 08:30 AM	#97
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	I use Flying J travel Centres the most, so I buy their wireless internet for $149.00 a year. I like to travel the South and Southwest, but I do like the Pacific Northwset, I did some flying there after the war and really like Oregon and Washington, and BC. some beautiful flying in that part of the world. I dislike Ohio, Illinois, & California. Most of my work takes me to Georgia, The Carolinas, & Tennessee, My cat was born in Tn. I'm in Clear Brook, Va. on my way to Danvers Massachusetts for delivery Wednesday 09:00. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

08-17-2006, 05:46 PM	#98
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Well Kitty and I are enjoying a day off, I got the sights back from Metaloy and installed them on the slide, Friday I load a load going to Augusta Ga. to deliver Monday. Still waiting for the barrel from Barsto. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-04-2006, 08:04 AM	#100
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Hubbard Ohio, on the way to Newton IL. to deliver Tuesday Morning. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.