A Simple drivers review of the new W.E.B. Griffin book Black Ops

The new W.E.B. Griffin book BLACK OPS lives up to all of my expectations.

I rented Black Ops thru the Audio Adventures Book club, which has racks in most of the major truck stops/travel centers in the US. I usually rent at the TA, Loves, or Petro truck stops. The rental cost is $13.50 for that you get 19.5 hours of enjoyment, on 16 cds.

This book is the forth in the Presidential Agent Series. It is fiction that reads like real life. The characters are so real you feel as if they are old friends or enemies, maybe that is just me as I have read and listened to the previous three Presidential Agent books. It is very easy to tell the author does enormous amounts of research on his stories. He also puts a peace of himself in all his work.

How to review this book without saying to much?

It consists of the Presidents need for someone to work for him, without the drawbacks of all the other intel organizations getting involved.

There are other authors I think are just as good however;
they approach from a different stand point . They are W.W. Johnstone,
Vince Flynn,Brad Thor, Clive Cussler and last but certainly not least Don Pendleton .

Dick Hill reads the book and does a fantastic job.

The only thing that could make W.E.B. Griffin's books any better is to listen to them done in the GRAPHIC AUDIO format. Having audio actors preform each part and hearing the sound effects, truly does make it A MOVIE IN YOUR MIND.
I guess that is going to be on my wish list, out of the five listed above only two have their books preformed by Graphic Audio, WW Johnstone and Don Pendleton.
I would invite you to try out a Graphic Audio book and see what I am talking about. No I am not being paid by Graphic Audio or anyone else to say this. I just know the enjoyment I get from reading and listening to audio books. Check out GRAPICAUDIO.NET and download a sample of thier book. I have over 140 audio books, and the graphic audio format with audio actors beats them all. You can check out my site http://wwwtravelingaudio.com and link to all the above authors sites.

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Thanks for reading this remember IF YOU HAVE IT A TRUCK BROUGHT IT

HOW DRIVERS OPERATE

Today is Thursday, to bring this up to date I delivered my load to Shelbyville, Tn. Wednesday at 2:30 pm and was given another load. My next load picked up at 7:00 pm and delivered at 8:am Thursday.
Now to understand my situation, you need to know how the trucking industry works.

!. Drivers are given a set of rules they must follow( these are federal) very basically they are:
a. drivers can only work 14 hours without taking a 10 hour break
b. drivers can only drive 11 hours without taking a 10 hour break
c. drivers must maintain a written log showing their daily status both on and off duty
d. logs must show every change of duty status in excess of 15 minutes

2. Almost all drivers are paid by the mile; I make 42 cents per mile

Now my Wednesday work day started at 10:00 am -- plus 14 hours it will end at 12 midnight
(some factors can change this but as I said it is very basic)
I drove to my destination and unloaded at 2:30 pm then drove 15 minutes to get trailer washed
out and reload. I was not reloaded until 8:00 pm I still had 4 hours to drive before my 14 ran out.
Driving time to my destination was 7 hours----3 hours short
At midnight I sent a message (on quail com) to my night time dispatcher and informed him I was stopping to take a 10 hour break. (which means the load will not be delivered on time)

YES I SHOULD HAVE TOLD MY DISPATCHER WHEN I WAS PUT ON THIS LOAD THAT I COULD NOT MAKE IT ON TIME

However; I did not. Trucking company's have what they call planners--their job is to plan the use ofall assets (drivers and trucks) to get the most out of them. Can you see a lack of planning here?
Drivers are mostly responsible to regulate themselves as far as hours worked being logged properly.
When the freight gets slow and driver pay (remember paid by the mile) gets very low well!!!!!!!!
I was tired the roads were a little icy I obeyed the law, I got in trouble with my company.
You see truck drivers are put in a catch "22" situation---the need for income versus the DOT rules.
And planners and dispatchers know this as well. However; when a driver is caught in violation of DOT rules the driver is responsible to pay the penalty both in money$$$ and loss of time from work.
The company can also be fined so they do not get off scott free either.
Most planners and dispatchers don't realize we cannot put sleep in the bank and draw it out when we need it. If you look back at other entries you can see a drivers hours are not 9 to 5 but whatever is required to get the job done while staying with in DOT rules

BAD BEHAVIOR

Saturday afternoon I stoped at exit 26 on Interstate 70 in Ohio at the Wal-mart there. They allow trucks to park on the far side of thier lot. I parked next to a Celedon company truck, went in did my shopping and when I returned to my truck the Celedon truck driver was pulling out. He had thrown his trash out onto the parking lot, not just regular trash but a box of dirty pampers. This is part of what causes stores to refuse to let trucks onto thier property. I called his company and reported him. There is not reason for behavior like that.
Well I delivered my load in Bethleham, Pa. and reloaded at New Castle, De. This load delivers on the 4th in Shelbyville, Tn. I am parked at the Loves truck stop at Toms Brook, Va. tonight watching it snow again.