One Last Stop In Atlanta
“When you coming home daddy”, asked my 8 year old son. “I should be home by tomorrow” I replied.
It was a Friday morning, and Saturday was my son birthday. I had been on the road for almost 5 weeks and I was looking forward to spending time with him.
I had one last stop to make in Atlanta before heading home to Chicago, and things were looking my way. I should be home by Saturday afternoon and I just couldn’t contain my excitement.
The company I was picking-up my last load from was located right off the exit ramp, and they got me loaded in record time. Now I was on my way home.
Breakdowns happen at the worst time
Doing 65 on I-285 in Atlanta, I heard a funny sound coming from underneath my semi, Its just highway trash I said to myself as I continued on I-285. Then a few miles later, I heard a big loud bang.
I pulled over to the side and went down to inspect the noise. My front drive shaft has broken off the truck and the whole thing was laying beside the road. That’s when my Atlanta nightmare begin.
“This is it, I won’t be going anywhere, I’m in deep shit”
I frantically started searching online for a mobile truck mechanic in the Atlanta area that can come out and fix this issue. I must have called over 10 different places, and they all told me the same thing “Sorry, but you have to tow it here”.
I said to myself “This is it, I won’t be going anywhere, I’m in deep shit. I could see my son’s face as he looked out the window waiting for his dad to pull up. The thought of breaking my promise on his birthday was just too much for me.
Help is On The Way
I’ve been to Atlanta a few times in the last couple years, and at one stop, I had help local trucker whose door was jammed. We started talking after that and we became friends of some kind. He had giving me his number to return the favor incase I ever needed help in his area.
Being disparate, I gave him a call. I told him what had happened. He gave me a number for a Mobile Diesel Mechanic that he had used, and wished me luck.
With fingers crossed I called that number, I told the person on the other end I was desperate and willing to pay whatever he asked if he can get me fixed.
Within 3 hours from calling the last place, I was back on the road rolling towards home. I learned the mechanic’s name was Bryan, and the mobile service was provided by Capitol Diesel of Fairburn. They could have charged me an outrageous fee, but they only charged me the fair rate for parts and repair.
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