Terri Lynns First Drive-- The Parts Randy Left Out

Terrilynn here...he is leaving the funniest part of the story out!

Sure, I got in the truck at a place called Little America. HOWEVER, in this particular truck there were lots of lever thingies on the steering column. I was new, nervous and a bit scared. I started adjusting things like I knew what I was doing. HOWEVER, it would seem that this truck has a lever on it like I have never seen.

Well, I finally get the steering wheel adjusted, and try to move. The load was HEAVY. We had never been under a loaded trailer before. I turned to my trainer and mentioned that it was really heavy, was it supposed to feel like this? He said yes. Well, after lots of jerking around and such, killing it a few times, I manage to get it going.

I am excited as all can be, grinning, almost giggling inside. Well, the next thing I know a Swift (another company)truck pulls up next to us, their eyes were all bugging out, they were making some weird hand gestures. We ignored them because we thought they were making fun of me, because it was clear I was a stinking pathetic rookie. But, we decided to turn on the CB anyways.

Next thing I know, there is all this excited talk about the company we work for truck being on FIRE!!!!!!! I looked in my mirrors and didn't see ANYTHING! Then, we rounded a corner and the wind kicked up. Sure enough..BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM MY TRUCK!!!! YIKES to say the least! We pulled over. With a flash my trainer jumped out and grabbed the fire extinguisher, and Randy went with him. I stayed in the truck. What was I to do I was shaking so hard. Here it was, my first run, and I was thinking I just destroyed my new career. Well, without making this story unnecessarily long, all those levers I was messing with, one of them was a hand brake for the trailer. It automatically leaves it on slightly, until you relieve the pressure. The truck was fine, the brakes were fine, Randy was fine, my trainer probably had to change his britches, and after a few good breaths, I drove another 4 or so hours. And all is well.

Terri Lynn's First Drive

It's 10:30 on the morning of Thursday the 11th of October. The skies are clear and we just left Little America truck stop in western Wyoming; Terri Lynn is behind the wheel for the first time with a load.

Our trainer (Jeff) picked us up from the hotel this morning at 4am. After spending an hour driving around Salt Lake looking for breakfast; we ended up at a Denny's.

After breakfast we went to the yard, loaded up the tractor, picked up the trailer and got under way.

Our first load is about 40,000 lbs of diced onions bound for Tennessee.

Jeff was nice enough to drive the first few hour; TL and I got a few hours sleep. It was amazing to find the bunk in the truck more comfortable at 60 mph than the rooms in the companies campus dorm.

Jeff will be stuck with us for the next month - until approximately the 6th of November.

We are in a 2006 Kenworth as a loaner, while his truck is in the shop. Thanks to a governor, the top speed is limited to 65 mph.