On the Road with Dick McCorkle

Taking a few days off after three weeks out ,I have a honey-do list a mile long.I  am going to take the family on a little trip.Untill next time have agood week and be safe.

                     Dick

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Originally uploaded by dick.mccorkle

I met Henry in Dothan, Alabama. Talking to him, I discovered that he had 43 accident free years driving. That caught my attention. Further into the conversation, I learned that Henry is the president of Five S Creations, a production, promotion, and talent agency in Alabama that also produces a series of safety stickers for semi-trailers..

Henry had written an autobiographical story published in the May/June of ’08 issue of RoadKing Magazine. It begins with his first trucking experience in 1948 with his grandfather, then goes on to casually mention his introduction to Jimmy Hoffa, and throws in his being the first person of color to drive a car hauler out of Michigan. Henry has also published a book on driving safety.

He and his wife were left homeless after Hurricane Katrina, and have relocated to Dothan.

Faith is something that has played an important role throughout Henry’s life.

p.s.- Henry also hopes to someday own and drive a Cascadia, as he was very impressed with mine.

Good Luck Henry!
-Dick

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Originally uploaded by dick.mccorkle

Sherry has been with Perkins for the past two years. She drives a Freightliner Columbia. She’s been in the industry for 15 years, pulling vans and refridgerated vans. She makes runs through all of the 48 adjacent states, and is a fan of the Cascadia, with it’s DD15.

Just as the title says ,I had a hot load that had to deliver today.I told the shipper that I would try.I guess it was just north of Birmingham ,Alabama.  it started to rain and by the time I got to Nashville Tn. it started with thunder and lightening. the shipper was happy that the deadline was kept, the consignee and my company was happy.  Til  next time,  be safe.

Dick

Yesterday while traveling to Dathan Al. I went thur the town of Eufaula,Al. I have been thru this town before but it has always been dark and at nite, going thru here at daytime I discovered a beautiful southern town with old southern homes. These homes have to be pre civil war homes of such beauty and land scape. You can sure tell the owners are proud. When coming into town the trees come together at the top making it like a tunnel with a cool breeze. This town has a beautiful lake,a town to be proud of.

Till next time be safe.

         Dick

I delivered to the University of Fort Valley this morning,It was kids day, ages 12 and under and I answered a lot of questions. They were interested in the inside and asked if I had a toilet inside. They mostly wanted to blow the horn. I had a good time with the kids.The load was fixtures for the book store,blanket wrapped so I stayed busy all morning.So I am on my way to Auburn Al. and Dothan Al.Till next time be safe.

                Dick

A job site deliveries isnt the easiest to deliver usually there isnt a dock.There are traffic islands that get in the way. But there always a crew waiting on you and try to help you get where they want to unload. And today was one of those days. IT was a new hotel ,new blacktop drive so I had to be extra careful as not to hit anything.With help watching I made it ok.Now I am off to Georga to deliver another job site.U ntill next time be safe.

We all know the trucking industry made it  thru the depression years.And I think its going to make now.I believe in the future of the trucking industry,thru better days and better ways .

With a faith born  not of words but of deeds.  And with the equipment like theCASCADIA and DD15 we cant lose. Have a good week be safe.

      Dick

It seems like everyone is talking about the economy, and my freight rates are down .But I keep pluging away at least I do get a check each week. I am just glad I have the CASCADIA andDD15 for economy and power. I do see fuel prices dropped a little. And not a lot repair so this helps the bottom line,my way of thinking its cheeper to drive a new truck like a CASCADIA verses a older truck with alot of repairs. I was talking to a driver yesterday the driver said the turbo was getting ready to go . I asked why dont you have it replaced . I guess there is money problems. I told the driver a new truck would be the way to go ,no down time,Warrenty on parts and labor and tax deduction on new truck. Did I do right what do you think? Have a nice week end be safe till next time.

 P S. My point being with the economy being where it is ,there are alot of good buys.Check with your Freightliner dealer.

        Dick

Trucking business is a business that one has to stay on top of.A couple of bad loads or to many empty miles and you can be in trouble. I have a firm in Indianapolis In. that I use and have  for a number of years they check my loadsand whatloads to stay away from . They figure what each load paid per mile what my cost is per mile. And also figure my federal and state taxes, evan though I figure  a lot myself I like to see if their figures match mine. One encounter with IRS and you will wish you had a firm helping you too.

 Have a good week end and be safe

               Dick