Saturday, April 12, 2008
4/12/08
Well, I can already tell you what I'll be doing tonight, so I'll go ahead and enter this one a little early. I ain't doing shit. Notre Dame is playing for the national title tonight though. I recommend everybody watch it.
Friday, April 11, 2008
4/11/08
I got a nice tour of my state today, wrapping up a pretty long stint away from home. I left the rest area on US-23 at 4:30am (47 degrees, rain) and got to Traverse City at 9:30am (33 degrees, wind). This time, since there was no snow on the road, I headed across from Bay City (48 degrees, rain) to Cadillac (40 degrees, rain) and up from there. That route is far better than staying on I-75 and cutting straight across. If I had been given the extra two hours that I requested, I could have had lunch with my grandmother in Cadillac, but I digress. At least my truck didn't slide down the ramp without me in it this time around.
Once I was empty, I got my next load pretty quickly. I had to head over toward Lake Michigan on US-31 and down to Muskegon (64 degrees, sun). There I made a quick drop/hook and then headed for home. The traffic was surprisingly quick and light. Things got a little congested around Lansing (50 degrees, gales, rain, hail) but then it all opened back up. I even got through Novi (72 degrees, clouds) right at 4:30pm, when it's usually a parking lot. I rolled into Taylor this afternoon and dropped my load off at the terminal (75 degrees, wind). I don't know what the hell was going on at the yard, but the trailers were all crooked and not between the lines and just a general mess. Whatever dude. Not my problem. I am home. (Weather capsules brought to you by Michigan in April.)
Anyone in southeast Michigan, if you have nothing going on tonight, my buddy Mark has a show in Allen Park. A new club is opening up, so I'm pretty sure it's free admission. Stop by and I'll buy you a beer.
I almost forgot... they still didn't give me my $17.50...
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE GODFATHER'S UPS PAY? EPISODE 3
1) Population of 3.4 million people
2) Maintained self-government under 19th century French rule
3) It's city mayor is also Prime Minister of a federal state
Once I was empty, I got my next load pretty quickly. I had to head over toward Lake Michigan on US-31 and down to Muskegon (64 degrees, sun). There I made a quick drop/hook and then headed for home. The traffic was surprisingly quick and light. Things got a little congested around Lansing (50 degrees, gales, rain, hail) but then it all opened back up. I even got through Novi (72 degrees, clouds) right at 4:30pm, when it's usually a parking lot. I rolled into Taylor this afternoon and dropped my load off at the terminal (75 degrees, wind). I don't know what the hell was going on at the yard, but the trailers were all crooked and not between the lines and just a general mess. Whatever dude. Not my problem. I am home. (Weather capsules brought to you by Michigan in April.)
Anyone in southeast Michigan, if you have nothing going on tonight, my buddy Mark has a show in Allen Park. A new club is opening up, so I'm pretty sure it's free admission. Stop by and I'll buy you a beer.
I almost forgot... they still didn't give me my $17.50...
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE GODFATHER'S UPS PAY? EPISODE 3
1) Population of 3.4 million people
2) Maintained self-government under 19th century French rule
3) It's city mayor is also Prime Minister of a federal state
Thursday, April 10, 2008
4/10/08
If you share my appreciation for irony and you have a decent sense of deductive reasoning, I probably don't even have to tell you what is in my trailer right now. Yep, 45,000 pounds of it.
Up at the crack of dawn, it was a pretty nice ride across the turnpikes to start my day. I passed off the loaded trailer and then discovered that the other fella left me a dirty empty. I asked him if it was clean and he said that he had taken it from another driver, so he didn't know. Nope. Not clean. I had received my next load info (Columbus to Traverse City) before I left South Bend, so I had a pretty good idea that I would need a squeaky clean trailer.
Once the relay was made and I swept out the empty, I was dispatched to Columbus. My pickup time was set for 10pm and the plan summary had me delivering at 8am. This led to some concerns. The deadhead was 169 miles and the loaded trip is 432 miles. I had time to make both trips, plus take a ten hour break. All good there. The problem was that I couldn't take a ten hour break this afternoon and still make the pickup before 10pm. So, to pick up at 10pm, I would be outside today's 14 hour window and wouldn't have time to complete a ten hour break in time to finish the trip and deliver tomorrow morning. As such, I headed straight to Columbus in hopes that my loaded trailer would be ready. That way I could get part of the trip done within today's hours and then the break would fit.
At the brewery, I had to do the old 'first visit with a new truck' routine, just like in Fort Collins. This time the construction was all done though, so I was in and out in a decent amount of time. My last visit to that place was a pain in the ass. Today, the trailer was already loaded, there was no line at the scales, I got the tandems perfectly balanced on my first try, etc.
I sent in my loaded call and got dispatched to be in Traverse City by 10am, not 8am. That will help. The bills say that the customer receives between 8am and 4pm, so I sent a message trying to get a noon arrival. A couple extra hours would be nice. I received a reply saying that 10am was the latest we can deliver. So I guess the bills are falsely imprinted or something. I don't know. The long and short of it is that I was able to get into Michigan before today's hours ran out. I'll knock out a ten hour break and then finish off in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. The 10am appointment should work okay.
The last time I had this run, it was snowy and icy and miserable. Tonight/tomorrow morning may be rainy, but it couldn't possibly be as bad as that one.
Up at the crack of dawn, it was a pretty nice ride across the turnpikes to start my day. I passed off the loaded trailer and then discovered that the other fella left me a dirty empty. I asked him if it was clean and he said that he had taken it from another driver, so he didn't know. Nope. Not clean. I had received my next load info (Columbus to Traverse City) before I left South Bend, so I had a pretty good idea that I would need a squeaky clean trailer.
Once the relay was made and I swept out the empty, I was dispatched to Columbus. My pickup time was set for 10pm and the plan summary had me delivering at 8am. This led to some concerns. The deadhead was 169 miles and the loaded trip is 432 miles. I had time to make both trips, plus take a ten hour break. All good there. The problem was that I couldn't take a ten hour break this afternoon and still make the pickup before 10pm. So, to pick up at 10pm, I would be outside today's 14 hour window and wouldn't have time to complete a ten hour break in time to finish the trip and deliver tomorrow morning. As such, I headed straight to Columbus in hopes that my loaded trailer would be ready. That way I could get part of the trip done within today's hours and then the break would fit.
At the brewery, I had to do the old 'first visit with a new truck' routine, just like in Fort Collins. This time the construction was all done though, so I was in and out in a decent amount of time. My last visit to that place was a pain in the ass. Today, the trailer was already loaded, there was no line at the scales, I got the tandems perfectly balanced on my first try, etc.
I sent in my loaded call and got dispatched to be in Traverse City by 10am, not 8am. That will help. The bills say that the customer receives between 8am and 4pm, so I sent a message trying to get a noon arrival. A couple extra hours would be nice. I received a reply saying that 10am was the latest we can deliver. So I guess the bills are falsely imprinted or something. I don't know. The long and short of it is that I was able to get into Michigan before today's hours ran out. I'll knock out a ten hour break and then finish off in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. The 10am appointment should work okay.
The last time I had this run, it was snowy and icy and miserable. Tonight/tomorrow morning may be rainy, but it couldn't possibly be as bad as that one.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
4/9/08
Man, I could taste it. The millions of tiny bubbles bursting on my taste buds. The cool, creamy goodness washing down all my troubles. I could literally taste it. Alas, that first pint of Guinness will have to wait a day or two. It turns out that there is freight in the midwest this week after all.
I ran down to Monee, made my drop/hook, ran to Lafayette, made my drop/hook, and got my planned dispatch to Taylor. The folks at Wabash even told me to take a trailer that was in the CTL computer system this time around. No guessing games. By the time I got to the edge of Lafayette and started to head up to IN-25, I got a message saying I shouldn't head for Taylor. Then my fleet manager called and asked if I could cover a load. I don't ask a lot of questions, so I don't really know, but I got the impression that something unforeseen had just come up. Maybe someone broke down or something. I think "can you cover a load?" was one of those questions where there is really only one acceptable answer, but I would have said yes either way. I requested home time yesterday with the intention of getting there by the weekend, so I am happy to grab a couple hundred more dollars before then.
I was dispatched up to South Bend to stage for a ConWay load leaving tomorrow morning. I'll take it across Indiana and Ohio, then pass it off to someone headed for Massachusetts. From there, who knows? I was all set to go home today, but I only requested time off yesterday, so they don't necessarily have to send me home tomorrow. I suppose I'll find out soon enough. Paul at Dohickey's Pub will just have to keep that Guinness keg cold for me in the meantime.
My last four dispatches look pretty funny... 67 miles, 61, 109, 112. Knockin' em dead this week!
I ran down to Monee, made my drop/hook, ran to Lafayette, made my drop/hook, and got my planned dispatch to Taylor. The folks at Wabash even told me to take a trailer that was in the CTL computer system this time around. No guessing games. By the time I got to the edge of Lafayette and started to head up to IN-25, I got a message saying I shouldn't head for Taylor. Then my fleet manager called and asked if I could cover a load. I don't ask a lot of questions, so I don't really know, but I got the impression that something unforeseen had just come up. Maybe someone broke down or something. I think "can you cover a load?" was one of those questions where there is really only one acceptable answer, but I would have said yes either way. I requested home time yesterday with the intention of getting there by the weekend, so I am happy to grab a couple hundred more dollars before then.
I was dispatched up to South Bend to stage for a ConWay load leaving tomorrow morning. I'll take it across Indiana and Ohio, then pass it off to someone headed for Massachusetts. From there, who knows? I was all set to go home today, but I only requested time off yesterday, so they don't necessarily have to send me home tomorrow. I suppose I'll find out soon enough. Paul at Dohickey's Pub will just have to keep that Guinness keg cold for me in the meantime.
My last four dispatches look pretty funny... 67 miles, 61, 109, 112. Knockin' em dead this week!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
4/8/08
Well, I guess sometimes a day just gets wasted. I ran up to my consignee this morning and, after missing a turn and exploring for a while, found the location. They worked pretty quickly and I got on the board at #2. There was another CTL truck there ahead of me, so I imagine he was #1. I sent in my home time request when I got there, so that showed up on my board position as well.
Just about the time my movie was getting good, I got my next assignment. Funny how that seems to work. I was to deadhead down to Aurora and pick up a ConWay load tomorrow morning, then relay it in Pocahontas tomorrow afternoon. I got a little ways down toward Aurora when I got a message saying that the load was being unassigned and I needed to stand by for a new load. So I pulled into another rest area and stood by... and stood by... and, well, you know.
After another movie I still hadn't heard anything about my new load, so I sent a message asking for clarification of my status. The reply that I received left me even more confused. So... I had to call. I sincerely hate calling, but what can you do? The girl on the phone talked with one of the planners and they put me on a load picking up in Monee tomorrow morning and going to... Lafayette. Yep, tires. So I guessed either tires or ConWay and I wound up with both today (sort of).
They have me set up for a planned deadhead home from Lafayette, so I'll be home tomorrow evening. I guess freight must not be too hot and heavy in the midwest this week. No worries for me though. I'm in the mood to get home as quickly as possible. This schedule will work just fine.
By the time everything was sorted out, I had gotten pretty comfortable hanging out and watching movies. Further to that, the weather is ugly outside so I guess I'll just hang tight and drive to Monee in the morning. I think I hear Taco Bell calling me.
Just about the time my movie was getting good, I got my next assignment. Funny how that seems to work. I was to deadhead down to Aurora and pick up a ConWay load tomorrow morning, then relay it in Pocahontas tomorrow afternoon. I got a little ways down toward Aurora when I got a message saying that the load was being unassigned and I needed to stand by for a new load. So I pulled into another rest area and stood by... and stood by... and, well, you know.
After another movie I still hadn't heard anything about my new load, so I sent a message asking for clarification of my status. The reply that I received left me even more confused. So... I had to call. I sincerely hate calling, but what can you do? The girl on the phone talked with one of the planners and they put me on a load picking up in Monee tomorrow morning and going to... Lafayette. Yep, tires. So I guessed either tires or ConWay and I wound up with both today (sort of).
They have me set up for a planned deadhead home from Lafayette, so I'll be home tomorrow evening. I guess freight must not be too hot and heavy in the midwest this week. No worries for me though. I'm in the mood to get home as quickly as possible. This schedule will work just fine.
By the time everything was sorted out, I had gotten pretty comfortable hanging out and watching movies. Further to that, the weather is ugly outside so I guess I'll just hang tight and drive to Monee in the morning. I think I hear Taco Bell calling me.
Monday, April 7, 2008
4/7/08
Pretty ho-hum day today. I didn't set an alarm, since I had no desire to hit St. Louis during the morning rush. I figured I would sleep a little later and then head through. Then the damn road service chuckleheads woke me up anyway. Looks like the truck is due for an oil change. Then I tried to fall back asleep for a while. Some asshat came barreling into the truck stop with his jake brakes blasting. Shit. Wide awake at that point.
It was a little after 9am in Missouri by that time, meaning that the rush should be over, so I headed out. There was an accident or something on I-44, leaving me parked for a good twenty minutes. So much for the old trip planning approach. Once I got through there, it was a mellow ride the rest of the way. Nobody else goes 55mph in Illinois. I just set my cruise and kick back in the slow lane. Even the construction on I-55 was no obstacle. Things were rolling along at or above the speed limit during the afternoon rush. I guess it does actually help to be going into town when everyone else is coming out.
Once I hit I-294, something occurred to me. I had no idea where I intended to spend the night. The customer doesn't accept early deliveries and I don't know of any truck stops in Chicago. So I ducked into the first rest stop that I saw. That one was overflowing with trucks, so no chance of stopping there. A little ways up the road, I tried the second one. There was one open spot. Beauty.
From here it should be around thirty miles tomorrow morning. Then I'll put in my request for home time and see what happens from there. I know we have a shipper just inside Wisconsin that sends freight to Canada. If I got that assignment, I could take a run straight to Taylor and go home tomorrow night. I guess that's the ideal scenario, since I am definitely ready for some time off the road. Usually it sucks to get home too quickly, but my interest in driving has flown the coop at this point. I've banked some pretty good cash in the last couple months, so quicker is better. More likely though, I'll get tires from Dekalb or ConWay from Indiana. Now, since I've started guessing, the next load will probably be something that I've never seen before. That seems to be the routine.
It was a little after 9am in Missouri by that time, meaning that the rush should be over, so I headed out. There was an accident or something on I-44, leaving me parked for a good twenty minutes. So much for the old trip planning approach. Once I got through there, it was a mellow ride the rest of the way. Nobody else goes 55mph in Illinois. I just set my cruise and kick back in the slow lane. Even the construction on I-55 was no obstacle. Things were rolling along at or above the speed limit during the afternoon rush. I guess it does actually help to be going into town when everyone else is coming out.
Once I hit I-294, something occurred to me. I had no idea where I intended to spend the night. The customer doesn't accept early deliveries and I don't know of any truck stops in Chicago. So I ducked into the first rest stop that I saw. That one was overflowing with trucks, so no chance of stopping there. A little ways up the road, I tried the second one. There was one open spot. Beauty.
From here it should be around thirty miles tomorrow morning. Then I'll put in my request for home time and see what happens from there. I know we have a shipper just inside Wisconsin that sends freight to Canada. If I got that assignment, I could take a run straight to Taylor and go home tomorrow night. I guess that's the ideal scenario, since I am definitely ready for some time off the road. Usually it sucks to get home too quickly, but my interest in driving has flown the coop at this point. I've banked some pretty good cash in the last couple months, so quicker is better. More likely though, I'll get tires from Dekalb or ConWay from Indiana. Now, since I've started guessing, the next load will probably be something that I've never seen before. That seems to be the routine.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
4/6/08
I am the greatest! Well, not really, but I did stay on the road all day. Given my propensity for getting distracted and taking breaks, I suppose I have to be proud of myself once in a while. I got up to Rolla tonight, so it looks like around eight hours from here tomorrow.
The Tigers are coming to bat in the bottom of the ninth right now. I think they have 'em right where they want 'em. 13-2 should mean the White Sox are overconfident, right?
The Tigers are coming to bat in the bottom of the ninth right now. I think they have 'em right where they want 'em. 13-2 should mean the White Sox are overconfident, right?
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