Meet owner-operator Tim Philmon

Some regular readers will be familiar with the Florida-based 49-year-old, his truck and trailer leased to Landstar Ranger. He’s pictured here this Saturday at the TravelCenters of America location in downtown Nashville, where I took some time mid-afternoon for a conversation that ranged over a number of different subjects:

• Philmon’s somewhat odd load, a series of empty ammo crates picked up at a manufacturer in Cleveland and bound for the Anniston, Ala., weapons depot (“They’re going to put stuff in them”)
• Camping: While this reporter is still sleeping on the ground when he goes off to sundry state parks on downtime camping with wife and child, Philmon told of his own plans to hitch up the camper and head to a South Georgia spot with his wife for the Christmas holiday (note to self: investigate pop-up campers)
• Philmon’s 2005 Peterbilt 379 and potentials for the engine and/or trade (gflider kit from Fitzgerald’s?) in future — it’s got around 900,000 miles on it, lubricated only with Delvac, Philmon says, and is still running strong.
• The fried chicken (“Best you can find”) at the truck stop on exit 122 off I-75 in Unadilla, Ga.
• CSA and the potential importance of a working-together mindset among owner-operators leased to the same carrier (“We’re all grouped together — what one of us does now hurts the others. If a driver’s damaged goods… his record will stay with the carrier when he leaves.”)

Among others, of course — I thought you’d enjoy these photos of his truck and trailer (48-ft. Transcraft), taken before we parted ways, myself on to cook dinner (ribs) with my daughter (she’s a smoked-pork fan — daddy’s girl), Philmon off to enjoy one or another of the many music venues a $5 cab ride away from the truck stop. Nice setup, don’t you think? (Gallery below.)