STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21396: Quotidian Ubiquitousness

Still catching up on the daily journal.
On the 25th, I recieved a Pre-Plan which picked up in Las Vegas, NV and delivered in Dallas, TX (12 miles empty and 1229 miles loaded). I accepted it, and at 1130 began my workday. I was told to take my empty trailer to another Customer in Henderson, then ‘bobtail’ to the Shipper. After doing all this, I finally left Vegas at 1430. I drove to Kingman, AZ where I had an early dinner. I left at 1730 and drove to a Rest Area on the AZ/NM border where I stopped for the night.
The next morning, the 26th, while on the obligatory MMM walk I took these pictures.

The tracks in the picture on the right are those of a roadrunner. I doubt if the 2 distinct footprints in the foreground are those of Wyle E. Coyote. He never got this close to the Roadrunner. I left the rest Area about 0945 and drove to our Terminal in Albuquerque, NM. I fueled here and took a quick MMM break. They can run untethered in the back part of this Terminal. At 1300, I departed and drove to Amarillo, TX. I stopped here for dinner. At 1830, I left and drove to Jolly, TX where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.25 hours using 10.75 to drive 659 miles.
On Friday the 27th, I left Jolly at 0830 and drove to the Consignee in Dallas. I arrived at 1045 and immediately recieved a dock assignment. It took 1/2 to unload, then I drove to our terminal in Lancaster, TX where I put my truck in the shop. Ref: http://straycat.us/2006/01/languishing-in-lancaster-tx-for-truck.htm on this blog.
On Sunday, the 29th, with my truck ready at long last, I made myself available at 1700. I recieved a Pre-Plan that picked up in Desoto, TX and delivered in Temple, TX (12 miles empty and 113 miles loaded). I accepted it. It’s a short run, but at least I can bobtail to the Shipper and don’t have to hassle with trying to find an empty trailer in the yard before I go load. Before going to pick up the load, I went to the Outback Steakhouse located a couple of exits south on I-35. I was famished for ‘real’ food. After dinner and picking up the load, I drove to the Consignee in Temple and went to bed. I arrived at 2015.
On the 30th, I began my day at 0630 by delivering the load from Desoto. I recieved a Pre-Plan which picked up in Schertz (San Antonio), TX and delivered in Cheyenne, WY (135 miles empty and 1017 miles loaded). I accepted it and left Temple at 0900 to pick it up. I arrived at 1100. Then the fun began. Ref: http://straycat.us/2006/01/monte-ill-take-whats-behind-door-8.htm on this BLOG. After this fiasco, I finally left Schertz at 1530. I drove to Tye, TX where I stopped for the night. I logged 10.5 hours using 6.5 of them to drive 392 miles. I had 4 hours of “on-duty, not driving” that I had to log. That’s bad, especially when it’s unnecessary. I don’t mean to be disparaging, but if these clowns could obtain some trained animals they could go into competition with Ringling Brothers.
On the 31st, I left Tye at 1015. I drove to Amarillo, TX. I had lunch and walked the MMM. At 1615, I started out for Lamar, CO. I arrived at 1930. I took a 45 minute break here, then drove to Watkins, CO just east of Denver on I-70 where I stopped for the night. I drove 11 hours and 657 miles.
On Wednesday, February 1st, I left Watkins at 0930. I drove Cheyenne. I stopped for fuel at the Flying J before driving the rest of the way to the Consignee. I arrived at the Consignee at 1230. Along the route, I recieved and accepted a Pre-Plan which picked up at the same Customer in Cheyenne and delivered in Phoenix, AZ (0 miles empty and 886 miles loaded). After dropping my load and hooking to my next trailer, I left Cheyenne at 1345 and drove to Denver, CO. I took a short break here. I departed Denver at 1615 and drove to Raton, NM. After a 15-minute break here for the MMM, I drove to San Felipe Pueblo, NM where I stopped for the night. I drove 652 miles in 11 hours.
On the 2nd, I drove the 25 odd miles to our Terminal in Albuquerque, NM. I fueled then immediately left for Winslow, AZ. I arrived at 1445, took a 15-minute break, then drove to the Consignee in Phoenix, arriving at 1800. There was an Applebee’s in the same mall, so I had dinner there, then retired for the night. I drove 465 milesd in 7.75 hours.
On the 3rd, my workday began at 0400. The Customer finished unloading me at 0545, and I settled in to wait for my next load. After about 3 hours, I made the “command decision” to drive to the Flying J for breakfast. When I returned to my truck, I finally had a Pre-Plan. I picked up in Chandler, AZ and delivered in Fillmore, UT (24 miles empty and 536 miles loaded). I accepted it and departed for Chandler at 1115. This will give me a couple of days in Vegas before I deliver it on Monday. I arrived, did the drop/hook pickup and left Chandler at noon. I drove to Kingman, AZ. I took a 15-minute break here, then drove to Las Vegas where I ended my trek. I drove 386 miles in 6.75 hours.
Today the 9th, i’m at our Terminal in Lathrop, CA waiting to go in the shop, again, for 2 of the same problems that were supposedly fixed in Lancaster, TX weekend before last. The days since the 3rd have been eventful. Ref: http://straycat.us/2006/02/life-day-21394-las-vegas-strip.htm and http://straycat.us/2006/02/life-day-21395-hey-hey-hay.htm .