I drove out of Proctor and Gamble with a high value load that weighed 43,427

lbs. Any load over 30,000 lbs we are advised to scale. My GPS said the
nearest CAT scale was 4 miles.

In South El Monte, CA I picked up a high value load at Proctor and

Gamble that weighed out at 43,427 lbs. Any load over 30,000 lbs we
are advised to scale to verify that the weight on the steerer, drive and
tandem axles does not exceed DOT limits. My GPS said there was a
CAT scale 4 miles away and without a weigh station on the route and I
drove there and went onto the scale.
"First weigh or re-weigh," a voice said over the scale intercom.
"First weigh."
"Come inside for your ticket."
I went inside the truck stop and saw the ticket.

I was overweight on the drive axle by 1000 lbs. This was not good. I
knew I could move the trailer tandems 3 holes forward, moving weight
from the drive axle to the tandem axle, but each hole would probably
only shift 300 lbs. Still, I had to try it. I went back to the truck and
pulled the tandem release bar and locked it when I saw the pins had
pulled back. I got into the tractor and released the parking brake and
flipped the trailer hold switch. Now the trailer wheels were locked and I
could push the trailer back along the rails by slowly backing up the
tractor. I backed up until I heard the tandems hit and they could go
forward no further. I got out and locked the tandem release bar and
then got back into the tractor, released all the brakes, and drove back
around the truck stop and reentered the scale.
"First weigh or re-weigh."
"Re-weigh"
I went back inside for the ticket.

I was still 100 lbs over on the drive axle. There was only one thing now

to do. I would have to move the fifth wheel. I had one notch forward to
move it and thought I could perhaps move 100 lbs of pressure from the
drive axle to the steer axle. If not I would need to return to Proctor and
Gamble and ask that the trailer be reloaded.
I wound the trailer landing gear down and then struggled to raise the
raise the heavy trailer. I needed releive some of the pressure on the
fifth wheel so I could slide it forward. I got back into the cab and
released the parking brake. I flipped on the trailer hold switch and the
inter axle. Then I flipped and held the fifth wheel slide "mom" into the
unlock position and, in reverse, slowly let off the clutch. The truck
lurched back. I got out to see if the pins of the fifth wheel were now in
the furthest notches forward and they were.
I drove back around the truck stop and drove up onto the scale.
"First weigh or re-weigh."
"Re-weigh."
"Come inside."

I saw the ticket. I was now 80lbs under the max weight of 12,000lbs on
the steer axle, and just 80lbs under the max weight of 34,000lbs on
the drive axle. I was legal.
"You finally did it," smiled the Mexican girl.
"Yes."
I was relieved I would not need to return to Proctor and Gamble and
have the trailer reloaded. I had used up 1.5 hours of on-duty time
getting my weight right. Now, as long as the load didn't shift before I
hit the weigh stations, I would be alright.

I was on the 605 in heavy traffic in Los Angeles when I realized my Qualcom
navigation was frozen. It read 143 miles to my pickup in Bakersfield and
nothing more.

I was in Los Angeles in heavy traffic on the 605 when I realized my truck navigation had

frozen. For how long it was frozen I didn't know. I had no idea how to get north to
Bakersfield. I reached for the atlas behind the seat and turned to California and glanced at
the map of LA as I moved slowly down the freeway. I thought that by taking the 210
West I could get to the 5, which I knew went to Bakersfield, but I wasn't certain. I called
my father and he confirmed it. The 210 West was what I need. When the 605 broke into
the 210 East and West and I made the turn for Pasadena.
On I-5 an hour later the truck computer shut down entirely. A warning flashed on the
screen that I must now begin paper logs to record my driving and off duty hours and that
I must immediately call technical support in Green Bay. I pulled off at the Flying J at
Frazier Park, CA and called tech support and explained the problem. The woman had me
unplug and replug the power to the black box underneath my bed. The computer
remained frozen. I was told to remain on paper logs until I could come to an operating
center and have the computer fixed.
The paper atlas had no city map for Bakersfield. I needed navigation. I went into the
truck stop and bought the Rand McNally Truckers GPS, that marvelous instrument that
all truck drivers swear by and that I had been planning to purchase. I had been told it was
superior to the truck computer navigation and that it also had alerts for coming weigh
stations, for construction, for sharp turns and where the road descended steeply in grade.
I plugged the Rand McNally into the 12 volt socket and entered the destination in
Bakersfield. The device spoke to me with a woman's voice, slightly more human
sounding than Judith--the woman who speaks from inside my truck computer. The
woman inside the Rand McNally announced my first turn with distance and arrival time
to my destination in Bakersfield. The screen was small but very specific and there was an
ETA given along with many other options. It was an excellent device. I knew where I was
and where I was going again. I dug out a paper log book and wrote August 2015 on it and
used the ruler to draw in my hours of sleeper berth and on/off duty and driving time.
With all the delays I did not make Bakersfield until after dark. The woman in receiving
said I must sweep out the trailer or face a disciplinary response. I borrowed a broom and
with my flashlight swept the trailer clean. Then I dropped the empty in the dark yard and
found the full trailer with the number on my bill of lading and coupled to it. I was nearly
out of driving time for the day and parked on the street in front of a warehouse near the
shipping yard.

Then Judith, the woman who lives in my truck computer, began to announce
in a gloomy, reproachful voice through the speaker behind my seat: "Peter J--D---- has violated the DOT hours of service regulation." She uses my full
name as my mother did when I was a boy and she was angry with me.

Judith's tone is without the pleasant professionalism she has when advising
me where to turn and when I have reached my destination. It is clear I have
displeased her, perhaps made her angry. Judith makes the announcement of
my hours of service violation every few hours. I mute the computer to stop
hearing her message.