Asking The AH Brainpool

[Liar]

There was a thread here a few weeks back was meant to be for asking research questions. Either it fell off the chart completely, or I'm just too dumb to find it. Anywayt, I have a question, so I'll ask it here instead.

It kind of looks like petty details, but it might be cruical to the plot, and it's always better if it's based on plausible stuff:

Truckers.
People who drive trucks.
In the US.
I need some insight into their world and business. How does it work?

What is an owner/operator? My impression is that they are freelancing drivers with their own veichle, the omes that have trucks with sleeping compartments and cool artwork airbrushed on their paintwork. Where and how do they get jobs?

Where does truckers meet to talk shop? Or don't they? Is it plausible that my guy lets lost trying to find a certain motel, or dothey all have GPS and travel computers these days?

How does a transport go about? What paperworks are there?

Can the police search your cargo? Can the customs? (In Europe, noone can without a court order, if it's a sealed transport. This might have changed with the latest terror hysteria though.)


Anyone here knows these kind of stuff, or where I might read more about it? I found some net resources for truckers, but they kind of assume that you know the 101 already.

#L

 

[SensualCealy]

First off Im not likely the one to be answering these questions but no one else has stepped up to the plate so to speak.

First off, an owner / operator owns their own truck ( or they have the bank loan to pay it off themselves). They usually work for a company doing long haul ( long trips that take over night). The company sub contracts the work to the o/o. This actually costs the company less I believe, they dont have to pay the insurance on the truck and the up keep. But if they ever end a contract the trucker still has his truck to get other jobs between contracts.

As for where they hang out, well if you look along any major highway you will see truck stops, the ones they prefer have showers, sit down restraunts with pay phones at the tables. These stops also usually have massive parking lots, that are well lit and sometimes have security that drives through making sure nothing is going on that shouldnt be. It makes it more comfortable knowing that a bunch of truckers can be in one area without worrying about break-ins etc.

Most of the larger companies have GPS now aday, and I would think ALL o/o have them. Its their lively hood and time is money, if they dont get to a drop point on time, thats less money in their pocket for another run. My brother even has a computer in his truck, it stays with him where ever he goes, at home to be satelighted (sp) hauls, or when he is sitting down for dinner to write his kids a note by email.

As for the paper work, that one Im not sure on, I know there is alot, between keeping logs for time spent driving, we have a law here that says they cant be on the road for more then 10 hours without a certain number of hours sleep. Alot of guys keep double logs, one thats legal one that isnt. Like I said , time is money.

There is also the paperwork for customs, who you are taking the load to, what the load is, how much it weighs, etc, Im not sure what else for that. Some states in the US only allow certain weights, so if you weigh too heavy you arent to travel through them. Some dont allow piggy backs I think they are called, two smaller traillers attached. You have to know the laws and regulations and dont be scared to ask other truckers what they know.

I know customs can search, and most likely the police if they see the need. The old addage, if you havent done anything wrong , what do you have to hide? comes into play here.

One of my brothers was a long hauller, he picked up dry load. I guess this means boxed type loads that actually have to be moved out of the truck. My other brother is a liquid hauller. He works for a company that speciallizes in haulling compounds. Stuff to add to cement for example. That stuff has to be pumped out of his trailer.

Next time I see either of them Ill ask more questions to help you out. Hope some of this garble helps a bit anyway.
C

 

[cloudy]

You also have to have a CDL license to drive one of those trucks and not just a regular license. There's also all kind of endorsements that you can test for that increase your earning power. (My husband has his, and every endorsement they offer)

There's doubles (two trailers), triples, and then different levels of Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) that they can qualify you to haul, and heaven help you if you get stopped and are carrying something your license says you aren't qualified for.

There's also the weigh stations that everybody that travels the interstates here in the US are familiar with. It's just to the side of the road with a massive scale, and if it's open, a trucker has to pull over and get his load weighed. There are police sitting there just watching for truckers to avoid the weigh stations.

Some drivers here in the states like to "draft" behind big trucks. They use less gas, and the steering is very light, but truckers hate it. It increases drag on their truck.

You also do something called "double-clutching" when you drive one (or used to - when he taught me). You don't just push in the clutch, change gears, and let out the clutch - you push it in once to pull it out of gear, and then push it a second time to put it in the next gear.

And those loud noises they make when slowing down? Called a "Jake Brake"....I think its a kind of air brake that keeps from wearing their other brakes so quickly.

Any other questions and I'll be glad to ask my husband when he gets home from work....if he's talking to me today.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Looks like SC and Cloudy nailed most of the question.

For the GPS, as far as I know most, or at least many, of the long-haul guys have GPS tracking devices on their trucks. These allow the company to track the truck and give accurate ETA's and coordinate shipments. I don't know if the truckers actually have a readout of the location in their cabs. It would make sence for them to. But some states have laws against viewscreens (LCD, TV, etc.) from being viewable to the driver. These obviously don't apply to the navigation systems in cars. But many states have stricter laws regarding heavy/commercial truck. For example, in my state, the driver of a car can use a cell phone while driving but the driver of a commercial truck cannot.

The doubles are called Tandems in my neck of the woods, (New England), and the tripples that Cloudy mentioned are illegal up here, too much traffic. I think they are used mainly out west where ther is less traffic.

The paperwork varies greatly depending on the cargo. Most of the shipments I recieve will only have a bill of lading, which is a general description of the cargo, weights, quantity, shipper and reciever. But this varies greatly by the cargo. The HazMat cargos can have a bundle of paperwork the sice of "War and Peace".

SC is also right about the log book, all truckers are required to keep one. Many have two, one ffor the inspections, one real one, but God help them if they get caught. Falsifying a log book carries a very stiff fine in many states.

The Jake-Brake is a way of using the trucks engine to slow the truck rather than the brakes, similar to downshifting in a car, but more so. If memory serves, it shuts off the fuel injection to engine for a few moments so the engine is not firing and only being turned by the trucks momentum. It also open the valves at a different timing so the air that is being compressed is dumped at max compression. This uses more energy and slows the truck faster. That's why it so noisy. (And the noise is also why it's illgal in many urban areas)

Hope some of this helpes.

 

[CharleyH]

Went on a tour as a passanger for a couple of days about 14 years ago. Canada-US customs was a pain in the ass then, lots of paper and long lines of trucks, and I'm certain its much worse after 9/11. All the weigh stations were closed that day, but I seem to recall they were muted yellow, painted brick buildings?

The eastern states have tolls. New York state for example has tolls all the way to NY city for each highway you travel, but none on the way back to Canada. I believe there is a special lane or two for trucks, a special lane for those with EZ cards, and then for those with cash. Back then I don't recall the EZ-card, which you place on your window and it deducts tolls, and I am not certain whether or not truckers have them. Maybe Cloudy can answer that one.

Lots of code words, was it loungelizards for prostitutes at the truck stops? Something-lizards anyhow. Truck stops are an intriguing place. We stopped at an interstate highway one called 76, LOL. Not the brightest bunch hangs there. Working class mainly. They seemed to watch the news and make the most absurd of comments that I still recall with a smile on my face. We slept in the cab, spacious. The guy I was travelling with didn't like the long drives, and always preferred company. Picked up hitchhikers on occaission, but mainly would just ask friends if they felt like a road trip. The CB was left on, but other than cop watches, nothing too intriguing happened over the air waves.

I do recall him parking over night in an industrial area close to the load drop/pick-up place, and we were up at 6am to do it. He sure knew how to party though, and we met some bizarre characters in a local Cinncinnatti bar. God, I had a head ache that morning, but it was worth it.

Anyhow, thats the limit of my knowledge.

 

[Weird Harold]

In addition to the excellent information above:

What is an owner/operator? My impression is that they are freelancing drivers with their own veichle, the omes that have trucks with sleeping compartments and cool artwork airbrushed on their paintwork. Where and how do they get jobs?

An owner Operator is a person who "owns" (usually in conjunction with a bank) their own truck and drive it themselves -- as opposed to someone (or a corporation) who owns a truck and pays others to drive it for them.

Owner operators sometimes sub-contract for transport companies and work scheduled routes just as if they were employed to drive a compny truck. Most Owner/Operators work with "cargo brokers" to contract for cargo on a trip by trip basis.

An Owner Operator usually only owns the Tractor and hauls different trailers owned by the people who own the cargo. Some own both a Tractor and a Trailer and have towait for the trailer to be loaded and unloaded on each trip.

Trailers can be Dry boxes, "Reefers" (refridgerated boxes,) Livestock, Furniture, Flatbed, "Lowboy" (a flat trailer with a bed lower that the tops of the wheels; used for hauling heavy equipment,) or various types of Tanks for hauling Milk, Gasoline, Grain, Sawdust, and other fluid (not necessarily liquid) cargos, or "Containers" (aka "Multi-mode Cargo Containers" designed to travel by ship, train or Truck.)

Tractors come in "Day Cabs" and "Long-Haul." Day cabs have just the driver's cab without any sleeping facilities. Long-haul tractors can have anything from a single bare bunk to a "condo sleeper which has all of the amenties found in a top end Recreational Vehicle (including toilet and kitchen.)

Tractors also come in "conventional" and "cab-over" configurations. Conventional tractors have a long nose with the engine ahead of the driver. Cab-overs are flat nosed and have the engine beside or behind the driver.

Freightliner, Peterbilt, Ford and GMC are some of the major manufaturers of Tractors for "18 wheelers" -- their websites would be a good place to look for detils on the truck your fictional owner/operator drives.

The fancy paint-jobs, chrome accessories, CB radios, custom air-horns, and other custom features on an owner operator's truck are generally provided by specialized shops that are found at or near major Truck Stops.

Look up "Pilot," "Flying J" and "Huskie" truck stops -- those are the major chain truck stops here in the west (although Huskie may have been bought out and renamed since I last did a lot of traveling.)

A Truck Stop -- especially the chain variety -- has fuel, food, an accessory shop, mini-store (like a seven-eleven,) Showers, and sleeping facilities (either an integral bunkroom or a co-located Motel) to give Truckers a break from sleeping in their trucks.

Truck Stops also are often infested with "Lot Lizards" -- hookers and trucker groupies who work the parking lots.

Where does truckers meet to talk shop? Or don't they? Is it plausible that my guy lets lost trying to find a certain motel, or do they all have GPS and travel computers these days?

Trucker meet to talk shop at Truck Stops. Company drivers also have break rooms/ready rooms at the company depot or "yard."

Most trucks also have Citizens Band radios (although they're slowly falling out of favor with the increasing cell phone coverage in remote areas.) CB Radios are like an old fashioned Party-line telephone where everyone can listen in -- and join in -- a conversation. With CBs, "talking shop" can go on for several thousand miles as truckers headed in the same direction will often stay within radio range of each other for hours or days at a time.

Truckers who get lost easily generally don't stay in the job for very long. But yes, it's possible for truckers to get lost -- especially owner/operators who don't have a regular route and are in a new area for the first time.

GPS and travel computers are almost universal in "Company trucks" but independents, owner/operators, and small companies lag behind the current technology for economic reasons. Most truckers would have GPS and access to Mapquest.com -- at least at the last truck stop if not through a laptop and satellite internet access.

How does a transport go about? What paperworks are there?

There are "Truck Routes" laid out all over the US. Rand McNally publishes a Truck Route version of it's US Highway atlas that shows all of the routes, where there are height and load restrictions, where the permanent weigh stations are, and other specialized information truckers need.

Whereever possible, Truckers tend to use the Interstate Highway system and other major multi-lane highways.

At a minimum, every truck on the road carries the driver's logbook and it's vehicle registration. When it's loaded, it also has a manifest (or bill of lading) detailing the cargo, it's origin, and destination. Depending on the nature of the cargo, there would be special permits, HazMat info, Weigh Station receipts, Inspection receipts, and other paperwork peculiar to that specific cargo.

Can the police search your cargo? Can the customs? (In Europe, noone can without a court order, if it's a sealed transport. This might have changed with the latest terror hysteria though.)

In the US, Police require a warrant or "probable cause" to search a vehicle whether it's sealed or not.

Customs can choose to inspect even a sealed load on a random basis but only at national border crossings and generally won't search a sealed load if the paperwork is in order without a warrant or probable cause.

"Probable cause" in the case of a truck usually involves some error in the paperwork -- something like the weight of the truck not matching the manifest, or an unexplained detour/delay in the driver's log, for example.

Most searches/inspections of trucks are at state borders by State DOT (Department of Transportation) officers at permanent weigh stations. They're usually safety inspections -- brakes, tires, suspension, etc -- but can get into cargo inspections for a variety of reasons. The chance of a cargo inspection/search is slim, though. A typical Interstate weigh station deals with several thousand trucks each day andinspectors simply don't have time to inspect more than a very small fraction of the trucks they see -- something on the order of two or three an hour for routine level inspections, or no more than twenty trucks a day per inspector.

Many weigh stations have added a "Weigh in Motion" system that uses a wireless link to transmit the "paperwork" and sensors in the road to weigh the trucks without having them actually pull into the weigh station. Only trucks without the system and trucks that have some error in the data transmission or weight have to actually stop to be weighed and/or inspected.

Because "time is money" only the poorest independent truckers do without the "Weigh in motion" link, because stopping at weigh stations is one of the biggest delay factors for truckers.

That's probably more information than you need, really. I don't think you need to get into the minutae of paperwork beyond having your trucker fill out his log when he stops -- he's got fifteen minutes by law to bring it up to date when he stops.

Although many truckers wait until the end of their driving day to actually fillit out all of them make notes of the acual time when they stop and start driving -- whether that's the information that gets put into the log is another matter.

Your driver probably owns/drives a mid-range Long Haul conventional Peterbilt or Freightliner with a small sleeper with a twin sized bed, refrigerator, microwave, TV, and a drop down table for his paperwork and laptop computer. He's probably hauling a 40-foot Dry Box trailer -- empty -- "dead-heading" on his way to pick up a new cargo after he stops for the night at a Motel for a hot shower and a real bed for the night.

 

[Weird Harold]

He sure knew how to party though, and we met some bizarre characters in a local Cinncinnatti bar. God, I had a head ache that morning, but it was worth it.

That reminds me -- Truckers have to be VERY careful about when and how much they drink and what over the counter medications they take. A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holder has a lower blood alcohol limit than normal drivers and numerous OTC subtances are banned completely for them -- pseudofed decongestant is one. In most states, the limitations apply whether they're driving an 18 wheeler or their private car.

Consequently, when trucker do have the time to recover, they're often heavy binge drinkers.

 

[Liar]

I thank, I bow, I kneel, I grovel.

Thank you everyone, that was probably more information about this particualar subject than I'll ever need in my entire life.

There are already some aspects here that I'll have to go back and work my way around plot-wise, but it'll be worth it. Now I probably won't make any more side steps into too improbable situations.

Again, thx.

#L

 

[yui]

Hi,

Everyone has covered already covered the finer points of trucking in depth. This is too little, too late, I know…but I have truck driving trivia, and forgive me, but I am compelled to share. This is just FYI type stuff…trucking lexicon, if you will.

"Bob-tailing" is just the tractor without a trailer.

"Dead-heading" is when you are hauling an empty trailer.

"Rooster-cruising" is when your truck is all tricked out with lights and looks nifty at night.

Freightliners (type of truck) are sometimes called "Freight-Shakers".

Internationals (type of truck) are sometimes called "A-13-Letter-Shit-Spreader".

Peterbilts (type of truck) are sometimes called "Peter-Cars".

Car-Hauler trucks are called "Parking Lots".

Weigh Stations are sometimes called "Chicken Coops" or "Coops".

Cars are "4-Wheelers".

"Road Dope" is a generic term for the various forms of illegal, speed-type drugs truckers use to stay awake.

"Good Buddy" is now intimation that same sex drivers are not "buddies" in a non-homophobic way but are actually gay lovers.

Reefer Units usually have "tattle-tales" in them – little boxes that record the temperature fluctuations. Drivers sometimes (lots of times) destroy these and blame it on a shifting load. That way, if the produce is less than fresh when it arrives and it is turned down, there is no way to prove it is the carriers fault…

The "Dry Box" trailers are also called "Dry Vans".

In my area, most of the time, the driver is responsible for calling for delivery directions and/or for his pickup – no nifty computer with GPS directions. Many times, "picking-up" can be three or four stops in 2 or more states.

California has "bridge laws" and as a result trailers that exceed a certain length are illegal and there is a maximum distance allowed between axles.

There is also a maximum amount of weight that a truck can carry per axle and drivers can "shift" the position of the axle to attempt to distribute the weight. Rather neat to watch drivers do this; however, in California, you can not shift the axle too far or you violate the "bridge laws"… On a related note, California is sometimes viewed by truckers as a place outside of the US and basic Constitutional Rights.

Tolls are often "per axle" in the Northern US and can cost $25, or more, to go through in a big truck (18-wheeler). I know of new drivers who have gotten stuck between toll booths when they run of money and ended up writing a check to get through.

Oh, and some drivers falsify their log books to the extent of creating two logs to actually turn in with their paperwork – one for themselves and one for a non-existent team driver. It should also be noted that the truck owners who contract these drivers are completely aware of, and often require, these falsifications.

Okay, stopping the madness! Catch you on the flip-side, driver. Always wanted to say that...

Best of luck with your writing,

Yui ^_^

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I worked in a recieving office once.

The main paper work consists of a bill of lading. On it will be listed a manifest of the goods to be delievered to a specific place (keep in mind many longhaul drivers pass off the "feeder" trailers at depots where they are reloaded for drop shipping), as well as a place for the recieving place to sign that they took possession of the goods.

Understand that the shipping paperwork is minimal, it's keeping up with their logs and all of the DOT regulation paperwork that bogs them down. The actual paperwork for the delivery is usually recorded on a single sheet of 3 way paper, about 8 by 6 with the carbon paper built into the form.

Basically when the driver picks up the trailer (usually preloaded) he will place a metal seal on the trailer, this seal number is usually noted on the bill of lading wich he will also pick up. Should he be stopped and inspected he usually has a set of eztra seals in the cab. He can then reseal it and have an inspector sign off that it was opened by his orders. When the driver gets to his destination the reciever will unload the trailer, check off that he got all he was supposed to, then sign the bill, giving the driver the original and keeping his copy. The driver reports back to his carrier's nearest office, turns in the paper work and gets anohter pickup.

-Colly

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Prostitutes that frequent drivers are called "Lot Lizards".

There are two kinds of CDL's they are class A, which is usually the big 18 wheelers and Class B, which is more of a smaller truck, or box truck.

Stupid people cut trucks off, they are called stupid people.

Still trying to picture Charley in a truck.

 

[SensualCealy]

Now Liar arent you glad I answered your questions- you got 9 more responses after my bit of babble!

Got them talking didnt I! lol
Cealy

 

[Just-Legal]

I have a question!

Does anyone know much about swordplay, or know any decent links? I need techniques and types for short swords, middleweight and larger swords such as half+half/bastard swords...

Don't ask... just... don't ask

 

[tolyk]

I have a question!

Does anyone know much about swordplay, or know any decent links? I need techniques and types for short swords, middleweight and larger swords such as half+half/bastard swords...

Don't ask... just... don't ask

They are called hand & a half bastard swords. Because the pommel is extended to be able to use it either one or two handed.

I took a course on side-arm, which is done with rapiers. If you need some info on that, I can type some up.

Types of short swords: short sword. anything smaller than a short sword is not considered a sword, but a dagger. However, there are many different types of daggers as well.

For larger swords, the general technique is hack & slash. Broad and bastard swords are made for slashing, specifically broad swords. The reason behind them being broad, is to put more weight on the blade, thus more momentum when swung. The sword fights you see in movies where they use large swords and parry back and forth are not all that realistic. In older times, you used your shield to block, blades are more easily snapped than a shield, and you definately don't want your weapon breaking during a fight. I'm not saying people never parried, but the amount they show in TV/Movies is extreme.. For one thing, those swords get heavy after a bit of swinging, easy to lose the strength in your arm, definately if you keep taking his hits with the same arm (parrying I mean)

Types of swords that come to mind:
Bastard sword
Broad sword
Long sword (the blade is slim and can be used for thrusting, but still mainly a slashing/hacking weapon)
Katana (two handed slashing sword, occassional thrusts)

Those are what comes off the top of my head.. will write more later if you need it..

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Depends totally on your sword for technique. As well as formal schools for some of the different weapons, there are also specific techniques for specific blades.

For example: The claymore is an extremely long weapon, but these blades are all designed not to be blade heavy, that's why you see the sometimes massive and decorative counterbalances on the pommel. Of all the two handed swords it's the most balanced, isn't blade heavy, and thus allows a few techniques that would be prohibitive with a regular great sword.

Keep in mind, with a weapon like the claymore the blade is almost redundant. It does as much bludgeoning damage as cutting.

Each blade has it's own little secrtes & techniques. Each therefore has to be addressed individually in a story where the technique is important.

-Colly

 

[Just-Legal]

Okay, I'll give you some context.

There is an annual tourney held in a medievil setting (I could explain more but I'd be here all day). One of my characters is entering the swordplay competition. Now, USUALLY, they're allowed to use their own weapon. Not this time. They have to pick a short sword, draw blood, a heavier type sword, draw blood, and then an even heavier type sword, and draw blood.

So general information is useful for all of these. My character is used to short swords and daggers in general, and fighting clean isn't in her vocabulary...

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Okay, I'll give you some context.

There is an annual tourney held in a medievil setting (I could explain more but I'd be here all day). One of my characters is entering the swordplay competition. Now, USUALLY, they're allowed to use their own weapon. Not this time. They have to pick a short sword, draw blood, a heavier type sword, draw blood, and then an even heavier type sword, and draw blood.

So general information is useful for all of these. My character is used to short swords and daggers in general, and fighting clean isn't in her vocabulary...

KK,

First off, there is no competion like that in a regular tourney. Regular tourney consists of only the joust and the melee.

For your purposes, I would propose, rather than short medium and havy you wnet with different weapon types.

A short sword, in the gladius mold, with perhaps a light buckler.
A rapier or epee, coupled with a dirk.
Then a great sword or even great axe.

Short swords in general will favor a good deal of manuver. If you go for a gladius type the favored attack wil be thrust.

Raiper & epee have whole schools of thought, Italian, English, Scottish, spanish. It becomes Flourentine if coupled with a blade of different length, espenza (sp?) if 2 blades of equal length are used.

Great sword is simply get the thing in motion & keep it there. Inertia is your freind.

-Colly

 

[Weird Harold]

Okay, I'll give you some context.

There is an annual tourney held in a medievil setting (I could explain more but I'd be here all day).

http://www.sca.org/ == the authority on all things medieval and medieval sword play. (at tleast in practical terms.)

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Another question.

Whenever I see this thread, why do I always forget to pronounce the last letter?

 

[Lisa Denton]

I have a question!

Does anyone know much about swordplay, or know any decent links? I need techniques and types for short swords, middleweight and larger swords such as half+half/bastard swords...

Don't ask... just... don't ask

The best technique is just use the biggest sword around and slice the angel wings off cleanly. Was that what you needed.


Back to liars original stuff, someone may have covered it but I didn't see it. If you need to use something like this in your idea, those trucks with the sleeper cabs are often hot loads, a guy told me all about it. Whether an owner/op or a co. owned vehical with the sleeper cab they can have a sleeper team. One guy drives while the other guy sleeps. They only stop for gas, food and restroom breaks, delivering the "hot" load much faster than a single driver. They usually get paid more, discomfort and all, and according to the guy I talked to its hard for two guys to get along for 3 or 4 days straight without tryin to kill each other.

 

[tolyk]

http://www.sca.org/ == the authority on all things medieval and medieval sword play. (at tleast in practical terms.)

I was going to suggest the sca next.. My brother is our local "president".. and is currently at the organization's largest event in America.. Pensic.. two weeks of camping and drinking..

 

[Weird Harold]

those trucks with the sleeper cabs are often hot loads, a guy told me all about it. Whether an owner/op or a co. owned vehical with the sleeper cab they can have a sleeper team. One guy drives while the other guy sleeps. ... according to the guy I talked to its hard for two guys to get along for 3 or 4 days straight without tryin to kill each other.

Driving teams aren't actually very common; Sleprs however are the rule for Long-haul trucks.

If you drive through a truck stop parking lot and see a truck without a sleeper, it's probably going to have a local address stenciled on the door -- if you cn find a "day cab" in a truck-stop parking lot.

The most common driving teams are actually married owner/operators who both have CDL licenses, or traner/trainee pairs. Either type of driving teams spend a lot more than 3-4 days as a pair -- a typical long-haul routing is a 7-10 day loop, with some trips running as long as three weeks between stops at "home."

It dosn't sound like a sleeper team is applicable to Liar's story concept anyway, but it is something that others who are thinking about a Trucker Story might be able to use.

PS: Major, nationwide, trucking companies seldom use driving teams for "hot loads" -- they use a driver relays instead with each driver turning the truck over to a new driver at a company depot. Such companies employ drivers who tak one truck from their home town to the next depot, exchange the truck for one headed back the way they came and take it home.

 

[oggbashan]

Swords - sharp or not?

The British Cavalry up to 1914 were armed with swords.

They were usually too blunt to slash with because the standard sheath was metal. That blunted the blade and if the point wasn't used the injury caused by the sword was crushing, not cutting.

During the Indian Mutiny an Indian cavalry unit fighting for the British attacked some mutineers. Their enemies suffered loss of arms, legs and even heads. Afterwards the British commander asked 'How?' because the Indian unit had used discarded British equipment including swords. The answer - the Indians used an oiled wooden sheath and never drew their swords except for use.

An oddity: At the start of WWII one of the first orders to the Royal Navy after 'Commence hostilities against Germany' was 'Officers to sharpen swords'. Naval swords were never sharpened until war was declared. I don't like any Naval Officer actually used his sword in WWII.

Og

 

[Just-Legal]

Okay, first off, thanks guys for all the help.

Secondly, this isn't my Tourney. I don't get to pick the events, I just have to co-write participation in one. I blame my friend Misty entirely for the three bloodings rule *g*

Okay, I'm off to research...

 

[Just-Legal]

The best technique is just use the biggest sword around and slice the angel wings off cleanly. Was that what you needed.

*raises eyebrow*

You been watching Dogma?