It's a Team's Life

A night in the life of an Expediter!

By Linda Caffee
Posted Jan 12th 2013 3:23AM

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We had a load picking up in Salt Lake City, UT going to Yakima, WA.   The load picked up late afternoon and delivered first thing in the morning in Yakima.   The weather report was checked and it did not look too bad.... famous last words.

As we waited to get loaded, we watched the skies to the north become more and more overcast... Not a good sight.   I started out driving towards the ominous clouds and before I got very far my shift was over.  I handed the steering wheel to Bob for his shift.  After I am done driving  I usually spend a few hours on the computer, eat supper,   and then get ready for bed.

I had not been asleep long, when I felt the truck slowing down and heard the CB chattering about an accident up ahead.   Darn and darn again it is hard to get back to sleep with the truck moving forward a couple feet then stopping.   Luckily we stayed at a slow steady pace and I went back to sleep easily.

Later on in the night I wake up to slow going, a rough road with the sound of jingle bells... That sound does not mean Santa Clause is coming it means Bob now has the chains deployed.   I am once again thankful we have automatic chains, as these were deployed without either one of us getting out of the truck, getting cold, getting wet, and then me trying to go back to sleep.  

Before to long I heard my name being called, which means time to get up and get ready for my driving shift.   I make my coffee, prepare my breakfast, and pack my lunch bag.   Bob usually gives me about 1/2 hour to wake up, get oriented, and get prepared to start driving.  

I asked Bob about the temperature and he says, "The dash says 43 degrees but that is hard to believe" so I check my phone and yep it is 43 degrees in Pendleton, OR.   All I can think is "NICE" I have good roads and I was right.   No problems till we get to the receiver.   They have some really slick spots and where we need to deliver is a hard right turn and up a hill with an ice patch at the bottom.   I make the turn and lose traction and let the truck roll backwards.   Now I get to deploy the chains and up the incline we go to wait being unloaded.

After unloading we stopped at a Walmart and I could not believe how dirty our truck was after one night!   We started the load with a clean truck and now it looks like we have a beige truck!  

Another winter night in the life of an Expediter!



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Bob & Linda Caffee

Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 


TeamCaffee


Saint Louis MO

Expediters 8 years been out here on the road 13 years

[email protected]

 

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 


Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;


Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;


Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.