STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21294: Fall Back

Today, the 30th, I’ll be driving to Oklahoma City, OK. My current load begins delivering there @ 0900 local time tomorrow (0800 ‘my time’). It has 4 drops; 2 in OKC and 2 more in Tulsa, with the ‘final’ being at 1500 local. My ‘hours’ situation will soon be coming into play. I need to stop somewhere soon and take 34 hours off in order to re-start my 70 hour clock. I hope to be able to make it back to Las Vegas before this is necessary. Last week in Denver, I was in a similar situation, and didn’t make it.
Last night before I went to bed, I remembered to “Fall Back”. Did you? I had only 3 clocks to adjust besides my computer which makes the adjustment automatically.
Now to bring you up to date on my most recent activities via my ‘daily journal’.
On the 23rd, I left Denver at 1400 and drove to Grand Junction, CO. I arrived at 1900. At 2100, I made the “live’ delivery, then went to bed at the Customer. While I was being unloaded, I went to a nearby IHOP for dinner.
On the 24th, I awoke at 0700 with a total of only 6.5 hours available for the day. I wasn’t expecting much, but was hoping to pick up a load in the local area and take it to either Denver or Salt Lake City to either T-Call or deliver. Las Vegas was still about 1.5 hours too far. The Planner offered me a load which picked up in Steamboat Springs CO and delivered in Hyrum, UT (195 miles empty and 400 miles loaded). After consulting with my DM about other options, I accepted this load. There was nothing else available. It had an ‘open end’ delivery time until noon on the 25th, so I would be able to make the delivery legally. I departed Grand Junction at 0945 and arrived in Steamboat Springs at 1300. It was a ‘live’ load. After being loaded and bringing my Log Book up to date, I had only 3 hours remaining. After consulting my maps, I discovered that I could make it as far as Vernal, UT before I ran out of hours. There is a ‘tiny’ Truckstop there. Two problems developed before I left Steamboat Springs. The first problem was that there are no Public Scales anywhere between Steamboat Springs and Salt Lake City that will do ‘axle weights’. My load weighed 42,000 lbs. Not bad, but heavy enough to warrent weighing before I cross a State Scale. The second problem was that, on my ‘walk around’ safety inspection, I discovered that my left headlight was not working. That means only daylight driving until I can get it repaired. At 1500, I left Steamboat Springs after using the “WAG” method to adjust my ‘axle weights’. I arrived in Vernal, UT at 1800. There is NOTHING to do in Vernal. I ate a “pre-packaged junk food” dinner (BLEAH!!). I went to bed about 2100.
On the 25th, I left Vernal at 0600. I drove to Ogden, UT where I stopped to finally weigh my load. My WAG was good and all was well with the weight. I then drove to Hyrum, UT. This was a drop/hook customer, so all went well and in good time. I then drove to our Terminal in West Valley, UT. I decided to put my truck in the Freightliner shop to fix the headlight, do a PM service, and fix a couple of other minor problems. I got a room at the Econolodge. They advertized free wireless internet, but after I had checked in, I woefully discovered that it was not available in each room, but only in a non-smoking computer room. DRAT I didn’t even bother with it.
On the 26th, my truck was ready about noon, conveniently coinciding with check-out time. After picking up my truck and having lunch, I checked in with the Planner. He offered me a ’round trip’ load to Reno and Carson City, NV and back. I accepted it. Due to the lateness of the hour, the only way that I could legally make the delivery was to Log another 8 hours sleep, then drive all night, make the deliveries, then sleep. I hate all-nighters, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I left West Valley at 2000. I drove to Wells, NV and took a short break there. I left at 2345.
On the 27th, I continued driving to the first stop in Reno. I arrived at the prescribed time of 0500. I did the drop/hook delivery then drove to Carson City. I did the drop/hook pick-up then drove to Sparks, NV and went to bed. After the manditory 10 hour break there, I left Sparks at 2000. I drove to Carlin, NV, and took a break.
On the 28th, I left Carlin at 0115 and drove to West Valley, UT. I did the drop delivery. Enroute from Sparks, the Planner offered me a load which picked up in Salt Lake City and delivers in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. I accepted it and then drove to pick it up. I then went to bed. At 1730, my 10 hour break complete, I fueled, then left Salt Lake City. I drove to my ’secret’ Rest Area on US-191 near “Hole in the Rock”, and went to bed. I’d had enough of “all-nighters”.
On the 29th, I left the Rest Area at 0845. I drove to Jamestown, NM. I had lunch here, then drove to Albuquerque where I stopped for the day/night. I was worn to a frazzle from the all-nighters.