Life Day 21426: Wildwood Wait
March 11, 2006 on 5:36 pm | In On The Road | No CommentsOn Wednesday, March 1st, I delivered the load from Irving. It was a ‘live’ unload. After that, I drove to the Terminal in Salt Lake for fuel. I got a Pre-Plan which picked up in Green River, WY and delivered in Southgate, CA (168 miles empty and 832 miles loaded). I left SLC at 1030 and drove to Green River. As I turned into the driveway, encountered a flock of sheep crossing the road.
After a few minutes, I was able to get past them and report to the Shipping office. I was immediately given a dock and backed in. At 1500 I left Green River and drove back to Salt Lake City. I took a dinner break, then drove to St. George, UT where I stopped for the night. I worked 12 hours using 10.25 hours to drive 616 miles.
On the 2nd, I left St. George and drove to Las Vegas. I had lunch here, then drove to Hesparia, CA. After a 2 hour break here to let the LA traffic die down, I drove to the Consignee in Southgate. I slept there for the night.
On the 3rd, I spotted my trailer for the ‘live’ unload at 0700. While I was waiting, I recieved a Pre-Plan which had 2 pick-ups in Commerce, CA and delivered a.s.a.p. in North Las Vegas, NV (8 miles empty and 271 miles loaded). At 0915, I left Southgate and drove to Commerce for the first pick-up. At 1115 I was finished there and drove to the second pick-up. At 1330, I was finished there and drove to our Terminal in Fontana for fuel. At 1515, I was finished there and drove to North Las Vegas. I did the drop/hook delivery. Now i’ll take enough time off to re-start my 70-hour clock.
On the 5th, with a fresh 70 hours, I recieved a Pre-Plan which picked up in North Las Vegas and delivered in University Park, IL (0 miles empty and 1740 miles loaded). I picked up the load and left NLV at 1515. I drove to the MMM’s favorite Rest Area in Utah on I-15 at mile marker 88. They had a good untethered romp and I made a couple of sandwiches. At 1930, I left there and drove to Salt Lake City where I stopped for the night. I drove 411 miles in 6.75 hours.
On the 6th, I left Salt Lake City at 1145. I drove to Rock Springs, WY. I fueled and took a short break. I left at 1515 and drove to Cheyenne, WY. Another short break here, then I drove to North Platte, NE where I stopped for the night. I drove 654 miles in 10.5 hours. At some point today, my delivery destination was changed from University Park, IL to Woodbridge, IL.
On the 7th, I left North Platte at 0945. I drove to Des Moines, IA. I fueled and had dinner here. I left at 1800 and drove to La Salle, IL where I stopped for the night. I drove 660 miles in 11 hours.
I awoke on the 8th to a light rain. I drove to the Consignee in Woodbridge. It was a live unload. While I was being unloaded, I recieved a Pre-Plan which picked up in Olney, IL and delivered a.s.a.p. in Brooksville, FL (218 miles empty and 873 miles loaded). At 1330, I left Woodbridge and drove to Olney. By now, the rain was heavy and steady. Fortunately, there was a slight break in the weather while I was being loaded, so I took the MMM for a quick walk. At 2200, I left Olney and drove to Haubstadt, IL where I stopped for the night. I drove 401 miles in 8 hours. There was a lot of secondary road driving today.
On the 9th, I left Haubstadt at 1130 in a torrential downpour. Unfortunately, I had to park at the back of the lot. The poor MMM were drenched when I took them for their walk.
I drove to Ringgold, GA. Somewhere past Nashville, TN the rain finally let up. I had lunch here, then drove to our terminal in Decatur, GA. I fueled and drove through the truckwash. At 2045, I drove to Cordele, GA where I stopped for the night. I drove 587 miles in 10.25 hours.
On the 10th, I left Cordele at 1015. I drove directly to the Consignee in Brooksville, FL. I did the drop/hook delivery and then drove to Wildwood, FL where I stopped for the day. I think all the ’sloshing around’ in the rain for the last couple of days has made me sick. I am going to take tomorrow off so I can recuperate and re-start my 70 hour clock again on Sunday.
Today, Saturday the 11th, I decided to get a PM Service done on my truck. As I was driving around to the shop, I saw this ‘fender bender’ in the parking lot.
At first, I was going to use these photos to illustrate the vagaries of ‘blind side’ backing without a spotter, because that’s what seems to have occurred. Later, as I was meandering through the parking lot while my truck was in the shop, I found out what actually happened. The ‘van’ driver was pulling out of the parking spot and turned way too soon. That’s even more stupid than trying a ‘blind side’ backing maneuver unassisted. If you look closely at the right side of the ‘van’ you can see the 20+ foot gouge in the side of the trailer. Also, on closer scrutiny, you can see that the damage to the truck is too extensive. It was hit so hard that it was moved 1 ft into the adjacent parking spot.
Life Day 21425: Back By Popular Demand
March 10, 2006 on 8:10 pm | In On The Road, Travelblogue | No CommentsI am way behind on the daily journal so let me try to catch up. Since the last posting, I have been thankfully busier. I’m about out of the hole. February was a horrible month. I had 8 days off due to maintenance. This is a “double whammy” because not only do I not make $$$ if i’m not driving, but I also have to pay for the work done. I’m a bit under the weather due to a cold, so this may take 2 postings. Anyway, here goes.
On February the 22nd, I left Fontana at 1400 after picking up the load and fueling. I drove to Las Vegas, NV. Since I was ‘broke’, I just exercised the MMM, and then drove to Cedar City, UT. Another short break here, then I drove to Springville, UT where I stopped for the night or more acurately, early morning.
On the 23rd, I left Springville at noon and drove to the Consignee in Grantsville. I did the drop/hook delivery, then drove to our Terminal in Salt Lake City for fuel.
Along the way, I stopped to take the above picture of SaltAir. SaltAir was originally a “supper club” during the “big band” era. It closed down, but was re-opened in the late 70’s as a Disco. That, thankfully like disco, also faded away. It has since been vacant. It is located about 10 miles West of Salt Lake City on I-80. It sits right on the edge of the lake. I think it would be a “dandy” tourist Information/Rest Area.
I had a PrePlan which picked up in Ogden, UT and delivered in Delano, CA. Before I accepted it, I consulted with my DM. I was looking for a load with more miles because of all the ‘down-time’ this month. My DM literally “stole” a load to Garland (Dallas), TX for me which picked up in Ogden, UT (64 miles empty and 1263 miles loaded). After fueling, being photographed for the ’seniority board’, walking the MMM, driving to the Shipper, and doing the drop/hook pick-up, I left Ogden at 1730. I drove to my ’secret’ Rest Area just past Moab on US-191 and went to bed. I drove 535 miles in 9.25 hours
On Friday, the 24th, I left the Rest Area at 0845. I drove to Jamestown, NM. I took a short break here to walk the MMM, then drove to Albuquerque. I had an early dinner here, then left at 1630 and drove to Amarillo, TX where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.25 hours using 11 to drive 659 miles.
I left Amarillo at 0945 on the 25th and drove to Decatur, TX. I had lunch here, then drove to the Consignee in Garland, TX. I arrived at 1700 and did the drop/hook delivery. I left at 1600 and drove to our Terminal in Lancaster, TX where I stopped for the night. I decided to take tomorrow off so that I can re-start my 70-hour clock. There won’t be much coming out of here over the weekend anyway.
On Monday, the 27th, the Planner offered me a load which picked up in Irving, TX and delivered in West Valley, UT (24 miles empty and 1211 miles loaded). I left Lancaster at 0930 and drove to the shipper in Irving. It was a ‘live’ load. Since it was a heavy load, I drove back to the Lancaster terminal to fuel, then weigh my load. The weight was good, and I left Lancaster at 1300. I drove to Wichita Falls, TX. I took a short break here, then drove to Amarillo, TX. I had a quick dinner here, then drove to a New Mexico Rest Area on I-40 about 20 miles east of Santa Rosa and stopped for the night. I drove 654 miles in 10.5 hours and worked a total of 12.25 hours.
On the 28th, I left the Rest Area at 0945 and drove to Jamestown. After a short break, I drove to my ’secret’ Rest Area near Moab. After a 45-minute break, I drove to the Consignee in West Valley, UT. I ran into some snow between Price and Provo going over the 7000+ ft Soldier Summit, but it wasn’t too bad. I arrived at 2200. I drove 658 miles in 11 hours.
I’m starting to feel feeble, so i’m going to take copious amounts of drugs and go to bed. I’ll do another posting tomorrow to catch up. Hopefully i’ll be feeling a little better.
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