STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21162: MISSOURI MISHMASH

From this point on, all time references will be written in the Military Time format in the Mountain Time Zone. To convert to the “Civilian Time” format use the following criteria: AM times directly convert to Military Time (ie: 1:00AM would be 0100 or 11:45AM would be 1145). Times between NOON and 1:00PM also directly convert, except that they are PM instead of AM (ie: 12:05PM would be 1205 and 12:45PM would be 1245). To convert times after 1:00PM to Military Time, add 12 to the base number (ie: 1:05PM would be 1305 and 11:45PM would be 2345). Times between 12:00AM and 1:00AM in Military time are designated with a 00 (ie: 12:05 AM would be 0005 and 12:45AM would be 0045).
On the 17th, I left Ozark at 1000 and arrived in Tahlequah, OK at Noon. After the drop/hook delivery, the Planner offered me a load that picked up in Joplin, MO and delivered in Colton, CA (104 miles empty and 1501 miles loaded). Unfortunately, it was scheduled for pickup at 1130. When I picked up the Tahlequah load, I set my PTA for today at 1230, and I arrived right on schedule. I called my DM and asked what the actual paramaters for the Joplin load were and what other options were available. She said that it was a ‘live load’ and that they stopped loading at 1330. The options were to turn down the load and try for something else, or wait until tomorrow AM and pickup the load then. This would mean changing the delivery appointment. There were no other loads available going West, or with as many miles for the weekend. I opted to accept this load, and did so. The Planner ‘dropped the ball’ on this load. They are supposed to check my PTA before they Plan me to ensure that I can make the pickup on time. but since this was the best load they had, I’m not too concerned about it. I left Tahlequah at about 1300 and arrived in Joplin at 1500. I settled in at the Flying J for the night. I worked 4.5 hours, and drove 250 miles in 4 hours.
On the Saturday,18th, I arrived at the Shipper at 0600. They were unconcerned about the load not being picked up yesterday, so evidently they were told about the situation. After being loaded, I left Joplin at 0900 and drove to Oklahoma City for fuel. The TA truckstop had a better fuel price than our Terminal, so I fueled there. I left OKC at 1330 and drove to Amarillo, TX. Along the way, I stopped at a Rest Area just west of Shamrock, TX. In my humble opinion, it should be used as a model for Rest Areas nationwide. It is well maintained and presents an esthetic look at regional history.

Texas Rest Area I-40 MM 157…………………….The Truck Parking entrance

Inside the door………………………………………..Even the BBQ grills reflect Texas
After dinner and BCC walk in Amarillo, I drove to the New Mexico Welcome Center and Rest Area just past the Texas/New Mexico border where I stopped for the night. I worked 10.25 hours today, and drove 532 miles in 8.75 hours. This means that I logged 1.5 hours as “on duty, not driving” (in this case, it was .25 hours for my mandatory daily Safety Inspection and 1.25 hours being loaded at the Shipper). As a general rule, I’m NOT paid for these hours. There are exceptions of course. One is “detention time”. Detention time occurs when a Shipper or Consignee “detains” a driver longer than 2 hours (ie: takes longer than 2 hours to load/unload). To qualify, the driver has to be on-time, and do the “arrived at location” within 15 minutes of his arrival. This, in my case, pays at a rate of $35.00 per hour (in 15 minute increments) for every hour over 2 hours. This is paid for a maximum of 8 hours. After that, the driver is SCREWED. This rarely happens, and if it does, the driver is usually compensated by his DM in other ways (ie: hourly work or extra pay). This rate, in my case, would be paid at a rate of $18.00 per hour and rounded up to the closest half hour. Another way to be compensated for “on duty, not driving” time is to do “local” work within the city limits of a city. Rather than log each individual stop, the driver would log “local driving and deliveries” in the “on duty, not driving” and log the total time expended doing the “local work”. This, in my case, would pay mileage + $18.00 per hour.
On the 19th, I left the New Mexico Welcome Center at 0730. I drove to Albuquerque. I took a fairly long break here to walk the BCC and eat lunch. I left at Noon and drove to Flagstaff, AZ. I took a half hour break here and then drove to Kingman where I stopped for the night. I worked 10.75 hours and drove 650 miles in 10.5 hours.
Today, the 20th, I had a decision to make.This load delivers at 0200 tomorrow morning. My choice is to drive to our Terminal in Fontana, CA and hold up there until it’s time to make the delivery, or hang out here in Kingman until about 1900 then drive to the Customer to deliver. To throw another ‘monkey wrench’ into the mix, I have to get my D.O.T. Physical done tomorrow. It expires on the 24th, and this may be my only chance to get it done. I opted to stay in Kingman. I left Kingman at 1800 and drove to Barstow. I still was about an hour and a half ahead of schedule, so I took an hour and a half break there. The Consignee was very specific about not arriving more than 1/2 hour before your appointment time due to a lack of available parking. I left Barstow at 2345. I worked 4.5 hours and drove 216 miles in 4.25 hours.