Life Day 21483: Omaha, O ma gosh
This weeks travels took me over mostly familiar roads. I have already done BLOG postings for most of the areas covered, so there are few pictures.
I began my travels on May Day, or Uno De Mayo (the great "Day Without Illegal Immigrants" protest march). The only effects which I experienced were virtually non-existant traffic, and no lines in the truckstops which I frequented. I wish they would organize a "protest march" every time I travel through California.
Anyway, I accepted a Pre-Plan which picked up at our drop yard in Henderson, NV and delivered in Fremont, CA. I was more than ready to go after over 3 days off. After leaving the WWW, picking up the load in Henderson, then driving back to the TA truckstop for fuel, I departed Las Vegas at 1130. I drove to Bakersfield, CA where I took a 1/2 hour break to walk the MMM and make a sandwich (or 2). I didn't make any of my usual stops in Bakersfield this time. I then drove to Gilroy, CA and stopped for the night. Fremont was just out of reach with the 11-hour driving restriction.
The next day was frustrating, but not physically arduous. I drove to the Consignee in Fremont. I arrived at 0930 for a 1000 appointment for a "live unload". I was given a door immediately. The actual unloading was performed by 'on-site lumpers' which I hire, but who bill Swift directly, so there is no "out of pocket" expense to me. This is one of the 'bennies' of working for a large company. The bill was $180.00. While I was being unloaded, I recieved and, after consulting with my DM, accepted a load which picked up in Tracy, CA and delivered in Tacoma WA. The reason for the consultation with my DM is that this Customer is on my "Shit List". I accepted the load with the proviso that in all probability, the delivery appointment would have to be re-scheduled. About a year ago, I had a miserable experience at this particular Customer. Also, the load was "planned to be late". It was 791 paid miles, which equates to about 16 driving hours, plus two, 10 hour rest periods, for a total of 36 hours. The time between the pick up time of 1400 and the delivery time of 0200 on the 4th is 36 hours. However, this is a 'live load' so 1400 is the time you check in, not leave the Customer. This Customer has never to my knowledge and experience, loaded a load on-time. They are consistantly 3 to 4 hours behind schedule, and often, the loads are over-weight and have to be re-worked. This is the reason they are on my "list". In the experience I referenced above, it took 19 hours from my appointment time until I had a "legal" load. Anyway, back to Fremont. It took longer to unload than expected (3.5 hours). This meant that I would be about 45 minutes late to pick-up the Tracy load. GREAT!! As mentioned above, it is bad enough when you arrive on-time for your appointment. Arriving late cannot be a 'good thing'. I was not worried about being "dinged" for being late by Swift because I was in constant QualCom contact with my DM documenting everything once I discovered that I would be late. As professional as I am, even I can't be in two places simultaniously, especially if they are 50 miles apart. I arrived in Tracy the predicted 45 minutes late. The Customer naturally put me at the back of the line for my tardiness. This was not unexpected. I was immediately given a door, but was last in line to be loaded. A record 4.5 hours later, I was loaded, and, wonder of wonders, was 'legal' on my weight. After fueling at our terminal in Lathrop, I drove to Dunnigan, CA where, due to the 14-hour constraints, I stopped for the night.
On Wednesday, I drove to Weed, CA. I took a 1/2 hour MMM break here. After that I drove to Canyonville, OR (Seven Feathers Casino). Here, I discovered that the delivery appointment had been changed to the 7th at 2330. My DM arranged for me to T-Call the load at our Troutdale, OR terminal. I arrived in Troutdale at 2130, did the T-Call and hooked to an empty trailer. I set my PTA for the next morning because I used up all of my 11-hours driving from Dunnigan.
On Thursday, the 4th, I recieved and accepted a Pre-Plan which picked up in Portland, OR and delivers in Omaha, NE next Monday. At 1100 I drove the 25 miles to the Shipper, did the drop/hook pick-up and drove back to Troutdale for fuel. At 1300, I began the trek to Omaha. At the Cascade Locks Port of Entry, I was pulled in for a Level 1 Inspection. This is the "full Monty"; both vehicles, bills of lading, permits, logbook, and licencing, etc. Having just stopped in Troutdale to catch everything up, I passed with no problems and was on my way in 1/2 an hour. I then continued to La Grande, OR where I took a short break. I drove from there to Ontario, OR where I took a 15-minute break to delineate the speed limit change between Oregon (55 mph) and Idaho (65 mph). I have previously commented on the reasons for this. After leaving Ontario, I drove to Twin Falls, ID where I stopped for the night. I arrived at 0015.
Friday took me over some 'roads less traveled'. Instead of staying on I-84 east and going into Utah to connect with I-80 east, I opted to take I-86 east to I-15 south to US-30 east t0 I-80 east. I don't often travel this route because despite how it appears on the Rand McNalley, it is actually 3 miles farther and on back roads to boot. I was feeling 'touristy' today however. On US-30, about 10 miles after going through Lava Hot Springs, I stopped at a View Area to give the MMM a break and take the following pictures.
I then drove on to Cokeville, WY. I had dinner here then drove to Rawlins, WY where I fueled. Finally fuel under $3.00 per gallon. I finished the day by driving to Hillsdale, WY.
I drove the rest of the way to Omaha on the 6th. I secured a good parking spot at the Sapp Bros. truckstop to wait. I did make one stop at Bosselman's truckstop in Grand Island, NE to eat. I had Chop, Chop, Chop (3 breaded, boneless Pork Chops about 4 oz each). With that, I had a bowl of Potato Soup, Homefries, and Green Beans. I opted out of desert. I like to order this because I get to say "I want Chop, Chop, Chop; chop-chop". Little minds, little pleasures.
Tomorrow I deliver this load. It has an open delivery window between 0500 and 1700. I'll be able to re-start my 70-hour clock after 0600, so I'll deliver shortly thereafter. I already have a Pre-Plan which picks up in Creston, IA and delivers in Elkton, VA. It is over 100 miles from Omaha to Creston and the pick-up window is between 0600 and 1300, so I can't waste too much time. The Omaha load is a 'live' unload.
I began my travels on May Day, or Uno De Mayo (the great "Day Without Illegal Immigrants" protest march). The only effects which I experienced were virtually non-existant traffic, and no lines in the truckstops which I frequented. I wish they would organize a "protest march" every time I travel through California.
Anyway, I accepted a Pre-Plan which picked up at our drop yard in Henderson, NV and delivered in Fremont, CA. I was more than ready to go after over 3 days off. After leaving the WWW, picking up the load in Henderson, then driving back to the TA truckstop for fuel, I departed Las Vegas at 1130. I drove to Bakersfield, CA where I took a 1/2 hour break to walk the MMM and make a sandwich (or 2). I didn't make any of my usual stops in Bakersfield this time. I then drove to Gilroy, CA and stopped for the night. Fremont was just out of reach with the 11-hour driving restriction.
The next day was frustrating, but not physically arduous. I drove to the Consignee in Fremont. I arrived at 0930 for a 1000 appointment for a "live unload". I was given a door immediately. The actual unloading was performed by 'on-site lumpers' which I hire, but who bill Swift directly, so there is no "out of pocket" expense to me. This is one of the 'bennies' of working for a large company. The bill was $180.00. While I was being unloaded, I recieved and, after consulting with my DM, accepted a load which picked up in Tracy, CA and delivered in Tacoma WA. The reason for the consultation with my DM is that this Customer is on my "Shit List". I accepted the load with the proviso that in all probability, the delivery appointment would have to be re-scheduled. About a year ago, I had a miserable experience at this particular Customer. Also, the load was "planned to be late". It was 791 paid miles, which equates to about 16 driving hours, plus two, 10 hour rest periods, for a total of 36 hours. The time between the pick up time of 1400 and the delivery time of 0200 on the 4th is 36 hours. However, this is a 'live load' so 1400 is the time you check in, not leave the Customer. This Customer has never to my knowledge and experience, loaded a load on-time. They are consistantly 3 to 4 hours behind schedule, and often, the loads are over-weight and have to be re-worked. This is the reason they are on my "list". In the experience I referenced above, it took 19 hours from my appointment time until I had a "legal" load. Anyway, back to Fremont. It took longer to unload than expected (3.5 hours). This meant that I would be about 45 minutes late to pick-up the Tracy load. GREAT!! As mentioned above, it is bad enough when you arrive on-time for your appointment. Arriving late cannot be a 'good thing'. I was not worried about being "dinged" for being late by Swift because I was in constant QualCom contact with my DM documenting everything once I discovered that I would be late. As professional as I am, even I can't be in two places simultaniously, especially if they are 50 miles apart. I arrived in Tracy the predicted 45 minutes late. The Customer naturally put me at the back of the line for my tardiness. This was not unexpected. I was immediately given a door, but was last in line to be loaded. A record 4.5 hours later, I was loaded, and, wonder of wonders, was 'legal' on my weight. After fueling at our terminal in Lathrop, I drove to Dunnigan, CA where, due to the 14-hour constraints, I stopped for the night.
On Wednesday, I drove to Weed, CA. I took a 1/2 hour MMM break here. After that I drove to Canyonville, OR (Seven Feathers Casino). Here, I discovered that the delivery appointment had been changed to the 7th at 2330. My DM arranged for me to T-Call the load at our Troutdale, OR terminal. I arrived in Troutdale at 2130, did the T-Call and hooked to an empty trailer. I set my PTA for the next morning because I used up all of my 11-hours driving from Dunnigan.
On Thursday, the 4th, I recieved and accepted a Pre-Plan which picked up in Portland, OR and delivers in Omaha, NE next Monday. At 1100 I drove the 25 miles to the Shipper, did the drop/hook pick-up and drove back to Troutdale for fuel. At 1300, I began the trek to Omaha. At the Cascade Locks Port of Entry, I was pulled in for a Level 1 Inspection. This is the "full Monty"; both vehicles, bills of lading, permits, logbook, and licencing, etc. Having just stopped in Troutdale to catch everything up, I passed with no problems and was on my way in 1/2 an hour. I then continued to La Grande, OR where I took a short break. I drove from there to Ontario, OR where I took a 15-minute break to delineate the speed limit change between Oregon (55 mph) and Idaho (65 mph). I have previously commented on the reasons for this. After leaving Ontario, I drove to Twin Falls, ID where I stopped for the night. I arrived at 0015.
Friday took me over some 'roads less traveled'. Instead of staying on I-84 east and going into Utah to connect with I-80 east, I opted to take I-86 east to I-15 south to US-30 east t0 I-80 east. I don't often travel this route because despite how it appears on the Rand McNalley, it is actually 3 miles farther and on back roads to boot. I was feeling 'touristy' today however. On US-30, about 10 miles after going through Lava Hot Springs, I stopped at a View Area to give the MMM a break and take the following pictures.
I then drove on to Cokeville, WY. I had dinner here then drove to Rawlins, WY where I fueled. Finally fuel under $3.00 per gallon. I finished the day by driving to Hillsdale, WY.
I drove the rest of the way to Omaha on the 6th. I secured a good parking spot at the Sapp Bros. truckstop to wait. I did make one stop at Bosselman's truckstop in Grand Island, NE to eat. I had Chop, Chop, Chop (3 breaded, boneless Pork Chops about 4 oz each). With that, I had a bowl of Potato Soup, Homefries, and Green Beans. I opted out of desert. I like to order this because I get to say "I want Chop, Chop, Chop; chop-chop". Little minds, little pleasures.
Tomorrow I deliver this load. It has an open delivery window between 0500 and 1700. I'll be able to re-start my 70-hour clock after 0600, so I'll deliver shortly thereafter. I already have a Pre-Plan which picks up in Creston, IA and delivers in Elkton, VA. It is over 100 miles from Omaha to Creston and the pick-up window is between 0600 and 1300, so I can't waste too much time. The Omaha load is a 'live' unload.
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