Now as we all know, driving big semi-trucks all around is a big time macho career.  I mean, it’s a huge vehicle and most any driver you speak to at least has the ability to speak in a manner that would probably make the phrase “nigger abortionist cracker kike slaughter cow” seem like a reference to flower arranging.  Trucking is a business in which you can encounter some of the most tight strapped, straight laced and religious folk or the most unhinged crazy bastards out there.  It’s truly a neat and awe inspiring business so far as social constructs are concerned.  Of course I’m happy to be a twucker…yes that was a ‘w’ in there.  I’m  a big ol’ manly twuckah!

So last year, I decided to get my license to drive big rigs not only because of the decent pay scale but because driving the giant machines really fascinated me.  To this day, neither the novelty of simply driving my car or piloting a giant truck has worn off.  I love driving and likely will for a good long while to come.  So with that in mind, I went and made a big purchase a short while ago.  I bought a semi-truck and a gravel trailer.  It cost a lot of moolah but I think it was worth it…we’ll find out after a month or two I guess.  All in all, I’m looking forward to making money as an owner operator rather than a company driver.  Though I have to deal with maintenance issues and eventually issues regarding incorporation, I don’t have to worry about the stuff that a company driver usually has to worry about.  Less in the way of work place politics and more choice as the owner of a truck as per who I can work for.  If I get really pissed off for some reason, I could theoretically just up and leave at the drop of a hat and get another job right away.  not that I see that happening any time soon but I have the choice.

So there’s the story.  I’ve spent about three weeks getting money together to get the truck, actually getting the truck and customizing it with some small adjustments like drilling some holes to wire a 3,000 watt power inverter into the sleeper cab.  So without further ado, see below some picture of the twuck along with a picture that actually shows some of my face.  Yeah, I know you’ve been dieing to see it.

So that’s the control panel.  The truck is a year 2000 Western Star and one of the things I have always liked about the Western Stars is the control panel.  There’s a button for everything on there.  There’s even a button on there for something that I don’t have on the truck so maybe I’ll buy some fog lights just so I can use the switch.  The transmission is an 18 speed with two air switches for splitting the gear ranges.  While many trucks are configured as 13 or 15 speeds, an 18 speed means I can start off much easier with heavier loads.

When we got to Lloydminster to pick the truck up, it was getting dark and there the big beast was rumbling in the twilight.  With it’s 475 Horsepower engine (I can ramp that up to 500 if I need to) gurgling away, it was ready to pounce on the highway without a shred of mercy!  This is the only picture I have of the gravel trailer hooked up to it so there it is behind the truck.  Nothing much to say about the gravel trailer except that I broke one of the electrical sockets when I got home because it was like midnight, it had been a long day and I was all pissed off at it for being stubborn.

Word to the wise.  Don’t try removing a heavy duty electrical plug with a hammer…no matter how smart the idea may seem at the time.

You know, the coolest part of picking up the truck was actually an embarrassing moment.  Minutes after taking possession of the beast, I pulled up to the fuel pumps at the Husky in Lloyd to fill up because I assumed I was getting some dry tanks.  If you’re wondering, the fuel gauge is broken on the truck.  Anyway, I opened up the caps and was greeted by a bunch of diesel blobbing around the tank.  After flashing a sheepish kind of look to the cashiers inside, I got ready to move on and get to Saskatoon.  Really though, I got a used truck with two full tanks of fuel.  How awesome is that?

This picture was taken just outside of the truck wash and I figured I should snap this shot before I ran through a mud puddle.  Of course I sped through a giant puddle just two blocks away.

I’ve named the truck “Fat Freddy’s CAT” partly because it has a CAT engine in it.  The rest of the name you’ll have to figure out for yourself.  Punch the whole thing into google and you’ll figure it out if you also consider I helped to found the provincial marijuana party here.  Suffice it to say, my real name isn’t Freddy.

So there’s the picture you’ve all been waiting for.  I can’t say it’s all the flattering.  I mean the heat gun got in the way of my stunning features but that’s all part of maintaining the thin and mostly meaningless veil of anonymity that I like to maintain here.  Remember, you can pretty easily find out who I am if you want to but if you’re not smart enough, you’ll have to do with this type of thing.  Either that or you could attend a blogger’s meet and meet me.  Just ask huffb1…it’s an interesting experience in its own right.