On the Road with Dick McCorkle

Heading south on I55 in Mississippi exit 185 there is a small cafe .Two sisters cafe this is one of the best places on I55 to eat so I. stopped there today and had lunch. Meat,two vegetables,and bread  was five dollars I couldnt belive  it Linda and Peggy owners The locals call the two sisters Thelma and Louise one being a redhead the other a blond and one owning a convertable. So for some great food stop in and see them

While having breakfast a Georgia D.O.T. officer was eating also, answering questions .Not to my supprise he stated that when inspecting trucks, a  dirty truck and a dirty windshield is usually the first to be inspected. Oil on wheels, the use of tarp straps to hold parts on, this usually means there is something broken or missing. And if a driver is running so hard as not to wash his or her windows, they are not current on their log books.  Just something to keep in mind…

Have a good day.

Well folks the weather is changing to the better warm that is. I checked my air pressure in my tires right rear inside was 12 pounds low.So as the cost of tires keeps on going up, to keep ware down we need to check the air pressure .I use a good air gauge to be sure,it only takes a little time and could save a tire . Till next time have a good week and be SAFE .

  People talk about the good old days, well folkes I think we are living the good days. Trucks with no air very little heat vacuum wipers and brakes no air ride frame or seats tires with tubes .Well with the new CASCADIA I have all the modern things to keep me comfortable.I have air plus a park vac that runs on batterys , great heat when I need it. eletric wipers air brakes air ride frame and seat. So to me I am living the good Ole Days

My last truck had a narrow entrance door just like most.I would have to use the passenger door to put most things in my truck.Well it just came to me I am now using the drivers door for the same thing that I couldnt before. So I measured the doors the CASCADIA is about ten inches wider than my old truck And I dont hit my knees anymore. Untill next time have agood week.

It was a beautiful day in Nashville ,Tn. So I stopped in talked to some drivers.And the help at ,the T/A I think things might be a little better for drivers. One driver said his co. had given him a raise two cents on the mile. Thats pretty good when a lot of companys are taking away well anyway everyone that got in the CASCADIA couldnt belive how quite  and how much room.So its off to Atlanta ,Ga for delivery tomorrow.Till next time have a great week end and be safe

It all started when I was fourteen years old.  My uncle had a ’49 Studebaker straight truck.  We hauled hay and stone in the summer, and wood in the winter.  They worked with me so i could learn to drive.  In those days you still needed a driver’s license, but if you were working for the local farmers the law would look the other way. 

By the time I was fifteen, i graduated from the Studebaker to a ’50 Chevy.  This was a gas truck that had originally been with Mayflower.  It was owned by Pete Ewing.  He was a local farmer.  We hauled hay to the barn, and livestock to Indianapolis.  My pay was twenty dollars a week which was a lot of money for a kid back then. 

By the next summer, I landed a job with Fairchild Trucking.  Their general haul was hay, straw, and livestock.  That’s where I started with my tractor trailer experience.  A.J. Fairchild and his brothers were very good to me, and taught me a lot of the things I needed to know.  i got experience with a 50 Ford Straight truck, 49 Ford Cab Over, both were a gas truck. 

Then, I graduated up to a 57 Chevrolet Fleetside.  By this time, I was eighteen and had my chauffeur’s license.  I started working casual in  Indianapolis, working the docks and driving.  I really started getting experience with the diesel motor at this time.  I believe the first tractor I started driving was the cherry picker GMC with a 238 Detroit. 

After working for about every carrier in Indianapolis, I landed a job with Mason-Dixon who had just purchased Silver Fleet.  They had B-67 Mack trucks.  They would freeze you to death in the winter, and burn you up in the summer.  They had no air-conditioning and no power steering.  Because of my young age, the terminal manager offered me money to resign, but of course, i didn’t.  I then spent the next twenty years with this company.  I drove Mack, International, GMC, and Ford trucks.  I pulled 38-foot trailers graduating to 45-foot trailers.  In April of 1984, Mason-Dixon went out of business. 

Through truck driving championships, I knew Joe Himmel who was part owner for Perkins Furniture Transport.  I stopped and talked to Joe, and he put me to work.  First, on a company truck, and then I purchased a 78 Mack cab over, single axel, an 82 Cruise liner, then I went with international. The last one being a 2000.  The company changed hands, staying in the family.  Jim Card purchased the company, and in turn sold the company to his son, Andy.  Then becoming Perkins Specialized transport. 

Which brings us up to today, Slice of Trucker life I am involved with.  Driving 2009 Cascadia, thanks to Jeff Stoops, Stoops Freightliner, and Andy Card, CEO and Owner of Perkins Specialized Trucking.

Well folks I left Dothan Al. It was 78 degrees out on Saturday By the time I arrived in Findlay Oh. It was 33degrees what happened to the weather. Oh well it was nice inside the CASCADIA with the air on or heat on. Still here in New Jersey it is still chilly I will be heading south today Hope I find warmer weather in Georgia. Till next time.

Well I took a few days off had a pm service on the CASCADIA .The check list Freightliner uses found no defects that was a good thing. It was nice being home on such a nice week end I did get some work done around the house that  needed done for some time. Also had time to clean the CASCADIA up. Well its up to Michigan to pick up my load untill next time have a good week