Secure Your Load!-Oct 9, 2009

 

I ran a pretty straightforward job at a residence in Chatham, NJ.      This is a party I've been hired for annually.      As usual, at gig's end, we were rushing around to get out of there.   One of the final steps of load-out is to sling the remaining few boxes into the Pickup Truck (with cap).    The heavy coolers are in the bed of the truck, and we cram/jam/shove a hodgepodge of stuff onto the coolers, including boxes full of dirty laundry, dirty dishes, some washtubs, my chef's box filled with spices and prep equipment.   (Everything in the truck requires immediate attention back at home, whereas everything in the trailer can wait).

After the last of the boxes went in, I made the assumption that my Staffer closed the latches on the windows. We drove away. 1/4 Mile from the residence, the load shifted as I made a turn. I heard a noise, looked in my rearview mirrors and saw things had shifted a little. Thought nothing of it. I continued driving home.

On the highway, somebody drove up next to me and pointed to the rear of my cap...I noticed my back window was in the open position! We pulled over rapidly, and my staffer closed it.

Once I got home, I realized 4 boxes weren't there any more!!! A box of Bread. Box of dirty cutting boards, Aluminum trays and knives. My chef's box (spices, prep equipment, Heavy Duty meat injector, thermometers), and a stack of washtubs!  

Holy %$*^%$!!!!!!

So I drove back in a hurry to that spot. 25 minutes away from home. And at that corner, all my stuff was stacked. Some passerbyer saw what happened and put my stuff on the side of the road. Everything apparently in tact. Looked like nothing even rolled or tumbled. Like it slid on their bottoms.

I was pretty frickin' lucky. That would have been a $400.00 mistake, and a monumental headache to get some of that stuff re-purchased by the next weekend.        Of course, I was on a super tight schedule that night, as I had a lot of prep to do for the next day's job at Giants Stadium.   I needed an hour round trip to Chatham like I needed a hole in my head, especially since I was running really tired. 

My fault for not taking the time to check all doors and windows.      Time to put some "notes to self" on my dashboard.

 

 

 

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