Well. It's been a long time since I made an entry into this blog. This will be a short one because it's late and I have to finish getting my stuff together.

When I came home for the holidays I turned my tractor in for B service. The shop was off too though. They did a great job getting the service done but there was some other item that was a warranty issue and they had to take it to Kenworth for that.

So, it took an extra day. I was supposed to get back out today. Tomorrow I will be back in my deprivation chamber and probably headed for the frozen tundra.

A Job or a Business

I started out after Thanksgiving on 12/1 and by the 6th I had 2718 miles. Then it stopped. In the last 4 days I’ve only had 464 miles. It is the seasonal slowdown combined with the winter storm that is really putting the hurt on me.

Here is a brief comparison to my ‘job’ and the business that Jim over at LeasePurchaseJournal has. First, I am paid OK for a company driver with just 15 months experience. I like the way Millis pays because, while the per-mile pay is competitive with others, they give some pretty good incentive pay in the form of bonuses. From 2000 miles to 2400 miles they pay an additional $.03 for all miles. From 2500 to 2999 miles it’s $.04 and over 3000 miles it’s $.05 for all miles. They also pay out a quarterly safety bonus of $.02 and a yearly of $.03. All of the bonus pay depends on me being on time and doing everything else that I am required to do properly and promptly. So for me to optimize my pay I have to get as many miles as possible every week and perform well in all areas but mostly, drive as much and as fast as I can. Don’t worry, I can’t go very fast, only 65 mph tops.
So I try to get 3000 miles per week if I can. Jim can drive quite a bit less being concerned with efficiency first. I fuel at terminals but will fuel at any TA, Pilot for or Road Ranger that I choose, Jim has to consider the price and plan fuels stops based on that. I have a nice truck but it still smells like smoke from the driver or drivers that put the first 400,000 plus miles on it. Jim got to set his truck up the way he wanted and it just smells like him. I can’t turn any load down and my home time and vacation are less than I would want. While neither of us can afford to sit much, Jim seems to be able to take more time than I can. I have to review my payroll recaps but Jim has to do detailed accounting, tracking and projecting costs and expenses. If I decide to give it up tomorrow I can but I expect Jim would find that hard to do.
This is just an off the cuff comparison but it is a few things that have noticed from reading his blog from my seat.
I guess the main two differences are; Jim nets quite a bit more than I do while being committed to quite a bit more financial risk. That is the difference between having a job or a business.

I'm a Pig

It seems during the vacation week and the Thanksgiving feast I reversed some of the weight loss I was so proud of. I haven’t mentioned it but I had lost 35 pounds from around mid August to mid November. I put about 6 back on and it’s been hard to get back on track. I have some techniques that I use to lose out here and it’s not that hard but with the season change it’s not as easy. First, I committed to not buying any food at truck stops. I only eat what I bring out with me and when I need groceries I go to a grocery store. I do reward myself about every two weeks with a steak, potato and salad at a real steak house. Second, I try to only eat 1000 calories per day. That’s not much but at my age and sitting on my but all day it’s enough. The key is to eat several times a day, up to 1000 calories and don’t skip most of the day and then pig on the whole thing. Also I drink a lot of water even though that does cause extra stops. Third, I try to walk about 20 to 30 minutes a day. This is where I have the biggest problem because frankly, with this job, you may not have an extra 20 minutes a lot of days. Forth, and this is big for me, I don’t keep any food in reach while I am driving. There is something about this job that, if I could, I would eat continuously while I drive. I could easily eat a case of Starburst’s every day. My goal is to lose another 30 and soon to turn the walking into running. Well, more like shuffling.

Back on My Head

Vacation is over. I can't think about it much. It makes it hard to think about living in this deprivation chamber for the next few weeks. Well thats what I used to call my office at my old job.

I noticed a lot of snowbirds on I75 south today, all loaded up in their rv's with extra trailers or cars in tow.

I'm having a time posting this. I turned off my usb modem and got a Motorola DROID smart phone to save money. It's harder to write with bu Ishould be able to put up pictures and video easier now. Verizon is going to allow tethering early next year.

Speach Recognition, Cell Phones and Corn

I've noticed that there are still hundreds of acres of corn still standing. I don't know anything about it but seems kinda late for harvest. I's been well below freezing a lot of nights up here in the north. Is that normal? Maybe its not for food but for methanol refining and it doesn't matter. That's just a guess.

My company doesn't allow using a cell phone while driving. It's their truck so it's their call. I don't see the problem. Using a cell phone with a head set seems harmless to me. I agree that texting, reading texts or holding the phone is a problem. I think that companies are concerned about their insurance riders with all of the lawsuits these days. The States passing laws about this are looking at stats that are influenced too much by teens and other drivers that are not trained to think about safety. I do think that there are a lot of us who don't use the phone responsibly. As usual the powers that be choose to deny everyone rather than holding individuals responsible for their actions.

I spent an hour yesterday trying out the Speech Recognition software that came with Vista on my laptop. I was surprised how well it worked. I was able to get most of the commands down in about an hour. It will write your dictation, allow you to make changes and corrections and open and close apps. I was able to open my email app, address, label, dictate a message and send it without touching a thing. I think I can really take advantage of this tool. My next test will be to use a digital recorder to speak the commands into and see how well it will work, playing the commands into the mic port to fill a document with text. I have a lot of ideas and thoughts throughout the day, especially in the morning. By the time I get stopped at night my senior status kicks in and I can't remember any of it. A recorder will save my thoughts for sure but if I could use it with the speech recognition tool to write the text, well, that would be sweet.

Headless Deer

I'm trying something different. It seems that all I do is write where I am and where I'm going every day. I'm going to do that as the day goes on with twitter. You can find that on the right side bar. Once in a while I will sum it up with a main blog post. I want to use the main section to write about things I see or think about during the day and to post pictures when I get good ones.

I don't know if any of you other drivers are seeing this but I have noticed it and a friend of mine has too. There are a lot of headless deer in the road. Everyone has heard jokes about people eating road kill and there is certainly plenty of it but apparently a lot of people stop and take the heads off of bucks when they are hit and lying on the side of the road. I know that buck horn is uses in a lot of crafts but is it that valuable? It just seems strange to me.

It seems that global warming is back on again. When I fueled in Austinburg OH today it was 83 degrees. That's right up by lake Erie and it's October  November14.

When I got 10 new tires a month ago, my fuel mileage went down to around 6 mpg or less for a while. Now that they are worn in I am getting 7.2 mpg, according to the Qualcomm. My over idle is at 1.53 %. That should make Millis happy. I think I'll monitor the miles driven and gallons purchased over the next few days and get the true mpg 's.

That's it for tonight. I want to play with my tech toys a while and eat the other half of that Subway I got at lunch.

West on I90, Again

I arrived in Weedsport to drop my load and before I could uncouple I was receiving my next load.

I am 8 miles south now in Auburn NY picking up a load of glass to take back across I90 west to Richfield WI., 756 miles. This load will drop in the Millis yard there. I have plenty of time since it doesn't have to be there until Tuesday. I'll be early and so I can watch some NFL on Sunday.

I got a load that deadheaded me 157 miles to Cary IL to pick up a load going to Clinton CT. It only took them about 20 minutes to load me and it is only around 9,000 lbs. It's never fun to have to drive through Chicago twice but even that wasn't too bad. I also got a message later to drop this in Weedsport at the terminal. It is'nt due until Monday so I hope there will be a pre-plan coming tomorrow to carry through the weekend.

So, after about a 550 miles I am in the last travel plaza in Indiana on I80/90 resting for the night.

Day Shift Again

If you have read this blog you know I'm not fond of driving at night all the time. When you have an appointment that is at 0800 but you have to start driving at 0100 then for that day you will be tired and running out of hours early. So you get in a cycle where you have to keep getting up that early. Yesterday I was able to deadhead to my next load and get close enough to the delivery to catch up on sleep and wake up at a 0600 and get here by my 0900 appointment. It sure feels good to be caught up.

Now I am in Elkhart IN getting unloaded. I hope there is another load when I'm done to keep me running.

This Bud's for You

Well I messed up yesterdays post. While the miles were right I forgot what day it was so about 1,100 of those miles will count on the next period.

I got sent from Greenwich NY to Baldwinsville NY to get a beer load that I am delivering right now in Brecksville OH. There were already two other Millis drivers here and another one just drove up. This place is known to be kind of slow to get you unloaded so it might be a while.

The other drivers are long time Millis and both have new '09 Kenworth T2000's. I am in an '06 t2000. They were saying that in the future we will only see T660's. I hope not. Mine will be turned in next year but I may not get a new one anyway. Shippers are wanting to put on more all the time so companies are having to find a way to get lighter.

Good Finish for the Week

I'm MT in Greenwich NY. What a beautiful place. Click the link for a tour. Being and old village it is a tight spot for driving the big truck though. Millis pays weekly and from Tuesday to Monday is the pay period so delivering this morning gives me 3,213 miles for this week. Not bad since I just came out last Wednesday.

I am sitting in a K-Mart lot now waiting for dispatch. A Smith Transportation driver came over to chat. He said he has thirty years experience and most of it with one company that forced him to retire. He's not happy where he is and wanted to know about Millis. I gave him a recruiting pamphlet and he seemed to like what I had to say about Millis and said he would give them a call. A recruiting bonus would be nice right now.

A Long Day

Following my tracks back to upstate NY I am again in a rest area just east of Bath NY. This time I don't have the time that I did going west. I will have to leave by 0300 tomorrow to make the 0800 appointment. I've gone as far as I can today. With only 30 minutes left that I could drive, I don't know of another place to stop up ahead.

As on old country gentleman I once knew would say, "Some time it be's that way".

Ping, Pong

I made it to Neenah and got unloaded and then sent a ready message. The new load picks up right at the same plant in Neenah and delivers in Greenwich NY, That's almost right back to to where I came from.

The paper rolls I delivered here in Neenah are used to make variorn tissue paper products. I have to hustle. I need to deliver on Tuesday at 1000 and that's 1,100 miles.

Another 540 miles and I'm hold up in the service plaza just west of South Bend IN. I could have gotten through Chicago but the sun angle was really bad and I didn't see a need to.

I found out that a friend is delivering in Green Bay tomorrow and is already preplanned to pick up a load Neenah WI going to Cherokee AL. May be they have two of those and we can do a two truck convoy.

It's 25 degrees here. I can't wait to get to Wisconsin.

Thank you sir, may I have another

I got unloaded. Thank you sir, may I have another.

The next trip began with a 150 mile dead head to South Glens Falls NY. A beautiful drive up I67 just east of the Catskill mountains along the Hudson river to north of Albany NY and just into the Adirondack mountains. It is a live load of 27000 pounds of paper going about 1100 miles to Neenah WI.

I went back down I67 to Albany, I90 west, to I88 west to Binghamton NY then I86 west. This route is slightly longer than the I90 throughway but avoids those tolls (makes Millis happy) and I have plenty of time. I86 will put me back on I90 just east of Erie PA and will have bypassed most all of the New York throughway tolls. (Excuse me while I get a tissue. I have something on my nose.  : > )

I am in a rest area just east of Bath NY now.

 I got up this morning to a beautiful day. I sent my ready message and within minutes had a load. I picked up a load of beer right there in the yard and after scaling to be sure I'm legal I trucked on up to Montgomery NY. It was a 569 mile run up I81 to Scranton PA and across I84 to exit 5 in New York. This customer lets you stay over night so I backed in right here and should be empty some time mid morning after my 10 hour break.

It stayed beautiful all the way except for about 70 miles through the mountains of PA where the temps were down around 34 degrees and it was snowing and blowing hard.

Rolling Again

Some times things happen that really bring your priorities into focus. Don't take life and family for granted. Life is fragile.

When I left Cincinnati I got a load to East St Louis IL and after delievering that I loaded in St Louis MO and headed to Lagrange GA. Then home on Thursday for a while.

I came back out yesterday, loaded around noon in East Point GA, and delivered last night in Eden NC.

Now I'm all caught up and ready to roll some miles. I think this blog will be updated more regularly now. I want to include more pictures and maps. Also details about my company, this truck and the tools I use to do this job.

It was great to have a day at home with the family.

Now I'm back at it. Monday morning I got a load of glass from East Point GA to drop in Trenton OH. Good, 530 or so miles. It was a nice day and I got there before dark.

This morning is a day for me to do one of those 'somebody's gotta do it' trips that all companies and drivers have from time to time. From Trenton I get to a big 38 mile trip to deliver in Cincinnati to this place.

I backed in here at 1030 and now I wait a while to unload.

Bonus Home Time

IT was worth the wait. I picked up a load Saturday morning in the same place that I delivered to, headed to Palmetto GA, just a few miles from my house. I hustled and delivered this morning and now I'm at home for the day. I will send a ready message Monday  morning. Now, what time is the Falcons game and where's that steak?

HUAW (Hurry up and wait)

At 0730 this morning I had 312 miles behind me. When I arrived at the customer he was standing outside pointing at the door he wanted me in. I guess they really did need it at 0730. I dropped the loaded wagon in the dock and hooked an mt that was on the lot and sent my ready message. The reply was 'no load yet, your second on the list'.

I am at the Flying J now waiting. This 'J' has about an 8 acre lot so I got out and walked for about 35 minutes. It's about 65 degrees with a light breeze. It's funny to see the reaction of most drivers when you get out and just walk. They think your lost or looking for something. Many drivers are so out of shape they can hardly get from the truck to the store to get their receipt. If there wasn't Mountain Dew, hot dogs and doughnuts in there they probably wouldn't bother. These are the same guys that get into arguments on the cb and challenge each other to meet at the fuel island to settle it like men. I've never seen them actually meet though. I'm sure if they did, the one that studied sumo as their martial art would win.

I thought I had taken some great pictures of the sun coming up but the flash was on so all I got was a reflection of all my stuff on the dash board.

Stinks to be Me

I got a load. Pick up in Adams WI and deliver to Carlisle PA. It was a 150 mile deadhead and I got to Adams and loaded just at night fall. The trip is  876 loaded miles and the dispatch says I had to deliver between 0730 and 1200 on Friday. That is reasonable.

When I left Adams the fog was bad so I was moving really slowly. I got to the weigh station just past Madison and decided to shut down there. My 14 hrs was about up.

This morning I had the pleasure of driving in the rain and of course my favorite, Chicago. When I got to the turnpike in Indiana things were looking up. The rain had stopped and I had plenty of time to drive, rest and drive again Friday, arriving mid morning and my load is only just over 7000 lbs so the hills will be easy.

Then, around 1300 I get the bomb. The dispatch message was wrong. The load needs to be there by 0730. So that means I have exactly enough time to get there including a 10 hour break. I am in Youngstown OH now at the Pilot. I have to get up and fuel and be rolling by 0230. Stinks to be me.

Well, it's not snowing.

Wisconsin

I keep getting behind here because I'm trying to learn some new stuff.

I stopped and got a truck wash and the went straight to my customer. They let me in the gate so I had a safe place to park for the night. I connected the tuner to my laptop and found the station carrying the Falcons game and watched a good game, though it wasn't in HD.

Right as the game was ending the guard called me and told me they would unload me. Great, since it was 2330 and my appointment was for 0900 the next morning.

After being unloaded I slept and then went to the near by Pilot truck stop. I sent my ready message and then went in a got a shower. When I got back to the truck I had a load.

It was glass picking up at the Corning place in Warner Robins GA and delivering in Cincinnati OH to Sam Adams, but I was to drop in the Millis Trenton yard. The last time I picked up there it was a live load and I waited 7 hours but this time it was a drop and hook.

I got to Trenton yesterday and after dropping I was told that I was number 7 on the list. That gave me time to go shopping for groc. Mid afternoon I got assigned a load of beer going to the Beer Capital distributor near Milwaukee WI. Now I'm back to driving all night again but in this case at least it got me through Indy and Chicago in the lightest possible traffic.

I arrived at the customer at around 0200 this morning and slept until they started receiving at 0730. I'm in the door now and I can feel them back there driving the fork in and out so it won't be long.

A little over 500 miles and I'm resting at the Loves truck stop in Wytheville VA. I'll be in Georgia in time to watch the Falcons tomorrow.

Got sent 225 miles dead head up to Baldwinsville NY for a load going 1016 miles to Macon GA. It's due Monday. I picked it up and got backdown I81 as far as Binghamton NY. Just finished getting a shower and eating a flatbread sandwich.

Early Snow

It's 32 degrees and snowing in Paxino PA, but the roads are clear.

I'll be MT here soon and I hope to get a good long run to get through the weekend. Ft. Worth would be good.

Time to Go

Rested after four days I'm red ta go.

Got a load, picked up in Albany GA, going to Paxinos PA. Drove to South Carolina where I'm going to spend the night. I have 700 miles to go and it delivers on Friday at 0800. I hope I keep up this time and don't get into that 'all night, 700 mile' rhythm again.

Verizon in Stingy

I haven't updated because I found out that I went over my 5 Gig limit on Verizon. It happened because my new laptop had to download all of the Microsoft updates, ESET virus software, TV tuner software, iTunes and other stuff I use. Verizons access manager reports what is supposed to be the amount of bandwidth that you have used when you connect. They are deceptive though because the report you get is two or three days old. I think this is deliberate because they know that people will assume it is current and then go over the limit and they can charge you a ridiculous amount for the overage. I called them to complain and they told me that the report can't be done in real time. They also told me that they can't set it up to just cut off at the limit. I installed and managed the access switches and VPN servers at a very large airline so I know that is a lie too. If they believe that then they should fire the engineer that told them that and hire me.

Any way, after I got to Trenton OH I got loaded and went to Green Bay again. I got stuck there for the Sunday but that let me get some hours back and watch some NFL. I also walked a lot and got some good pictures of the bay. I also met some guys who had some remote control cars that were rock climbers. They had a course set up on the jetties and were competing with each other.

Then it got crazy busy again. I got sent to Neenah WI and got a load, dropped it in Richfield WI, went to Hartford WI and got a load going to Saratoga Springs NY. I delivered that Wednesday morning.

I had requested home time starting tomorrow. I didn't think I would make it but the sent me deadhead to Baldwinsville NY for a load going to Macon GA delivering 0700 tomorrow. I spent last night in Scranton PA and drove 700 mi today ending up just shy of Georgia on I85 in SC.

What a killer day. This load puts my gross at 79,460 lbs with my tanks half full. I had to fuel twice to get this far and I might have to again before I get down to Macon.

Frost on the Pumpkin

I woke up in Ohio Friday morning to see frost for the first time this fall. It was about 0300.

When I got to Woodstock IL my hours were used up. They unloaded me quickly so I moved to a truck stop and got some much needed rest.

This morning I sent a ready message and told dispatch how many hours I got back today and he found a way to use them all up to. I'm picking up in Plano IL and delivering in Tipp City OH. Then I will dead head to out Trenton OH shop and turn this wagon in for service.

Miles and Trials

OK, I have time to catch up here.

Last Wednesday, after waiting to get unloaded in Newnan GA, I went to Eastpoint to get my next load. It wasn't ready. In fact, it wasn't ready until 1000 on Thursday, the time that it was supposed to be delivered in Ridgeway VA. When I got to Ridgeway it was well past the time that the customer would take it so I took it to the Millis yard in Eden and dropped it for the city driver to take on Friday morning.

All of that caused me to pick up my Green Bay load late. By the time I had it and was ready to go it was night and the weather was getting bad. I didn't have the hours left to get very far and didn't want to get half way across the Smokies and have to look for a place to park, so since I wouldn't get there on Friday anyway I decided to sleep a while in Eden.

I got started around 0400 on Friday and got as far as Indiana, just north on Louisville on I65 and after a 10 hour break I finished the trip to the customer on Saturday.

After dropping in Green Bay it wasn't 5 minutes and I had my next load. What a stinker. It was Saturday, early evening, and I only had a few hours left to drive. This load picked up in Neenah WI, 42 miles, and delivered at two stops, the first being in Williston New Hampshire, 1220 miles, at 1000 on Monday morning. I got the load and headed down 41 and stopped in Richfield WI to fuel and sleep.

I got started on Sunday at 0400 and decided to go as long as I could legally, 11 hours. That got me across I90 as far as the first travel plaza past Buffalo. Monday I got started at 0200 and made it to Williston NH around 1100. They were quick to unload me so I got to the second stop in Hanover NH in time to get unloaded there. They stop receiving at 1400. Luckily, there was a truck stop near there so I shut down there for the night.

This morning I sent the 'ready' message and around 0900 got a broker load that will get me out of New England. I picks up in Jay Main, where I am now, and delivers in Woodstock IL. It's 188 empty paid miles and 1205 loaded paid miles and delivers on 10/1 at 1600. That seems like a decent amount of time but it's 1730 now and they say it may take 4 hour or more to finish loading.

This is why drivers hate New England. They love their stuff here, which is brought in on trucks like mine, but they don't want to let you park anywhere. Just bring the stuff and get the heck out of here. So here I am again, getting loaded late, got 50 miles of 2 lane going through little old towns, with roads made for horse and buggy, and then a fat chance of finding a place to park when my hours are up.

I can't complain about the miles. It will be over 4000 in 8 days, when I get to Woodstock IL. It looks like this:

View Larger Map

I'm on I90 just east of Buffalo NY headed to Vermont tomorrow morning. I haven't had time to do a proper posting because I'm running hard. I will try to do a proper post tomorrow and explain.

Things have changed. They need to take the Eau Clair load off of me to get another driver home so my orders have changed. When I'm mt I go to Eastpoint GA and get a load going to Ridgeway VA and then from there get a load from Eden NC to Green Bay WI.

That's fine. Lots of miles either way and I'm glad to help a driver get home.

Here I Go Again

Well, time at home is just too short, it seems. No, it really is too short. It sure makes the time spent with my family more valuable to me.

I left my tractor in Cartersville for a 'B' service and to have a few things fixed. I was happy to see that they gave me new rubber all the way around! That's ten tires. When I got my stuff loaded I sent the ready message and right away go two loads. First I have to finish a local delivery that another driver dropped in Cartersville. That's 77 paid miles. Oddly, this delivery is just 3 or 4 miles from my house. When I get mt I have a load to pick up in Dalton GA delivering in Eau Clair WI on Friday. I have to stop back by the yard on the way to get this one though. The shipper won't accept this particular type of trailer so I have to drop it and find a different wagon.

The first snag this time out; This load won't be taken until 1800 and the bill says something about 'driver assisted' unload. We will see about that. A place that has 100 dock doors should be able to off load a trailer without my help. But, if not, I will see if Millis will pay me to do it. I could use the exercise.

This is something that I just don't get about this business. A lot of warehouses don't want employees so they have these 'contractors' on site that are called 'lumpers'. What I don't get is how the people that want a transfer company to bring them freight have the gall to expect the driver to either unload their freight or to pay their lumpers to do it. I have seen lumpers paid $120 to pull 7 skids off of a trailer, which took all of 5 minutes. I know what your thinking and it makes even less since. Trucking companies will gladly pay those lumpers $120 but or will only pay their driver $50 or so do it.

Round, Round

Get around,
I get around.

The last time I deployed myself was about three weeks ago. I stayed out longer than usual. I maxed out the the number of stops that Google Maps allows so it is missing the The first two destinations. I left on August 26 and returned on September 18. First I went from East Point GA to Williamsburg VA then Chesapeak VA to Loveland OH. After that, all of the places on the map.


View Larger Map

In the six months since returning to Millis Transfer I have driven about 55,000 miles.

It is great to be home for sure but it's also great to have a job these days.

Back in Georgia

I'm back in Georgia for the first time since I left home three weeks ago. Wednesday I got a load picking up in Waco TX and delivering in Albany GA. I got a trailer from the spotting crew at Miller and went south to Waco. I had to wait for a 1600 appointment so I went to the nearby Pilot truck stop and fueled and got a shower. After loading I took off and got to a Flying J on I20 in Shreveport LA where I spent the night. I finished up the trip today and dropped the load in our Albany yard.

It was not a bad trip except for the wiper blade that fell apart last night, some where in Texas. Aside from getting a little wet and dirty it was no big deal.

It looks like I will see home some time tomorrow.

A Tech Day

After dropping in Ft Worth I went on a search for an mt. There were none at the customer so I found a place to park and waited for a load. After 1600 I decided to give up waiting because my dispatcher had gone home for the day. Tuesday morning I realized that there were a lot of other Millis drivers around so I made a plan.

The laptop I've been using is several years old and after several rebuilds it was starting to fail. I did some research online and decided on the price and features I wanted, then I bob tailed to a BestBuy and got a shiny new Toshiba Satellite A505-S6960.

The new tech project kept me busy all day, moving my virus software, establishing connectivity, doing tons of Microsoft updates, getting the TV card working, loading iTunes and syncing and on and on. This kept me so busy I didn't even complain about sitting a whole day with no mt and all these other drivers still here to.

I hope I will move today but if not, I have toys.

Testing the Limits

I hooked up to the load in Richfield and broke the seal to secure the load. It was a mix of product and the heaviest and most likely stuff to shift was in the rear end. I used three straps to make sure it would stay in place. I scaled it at the truck stop across the street. It was nearly the max I could pull and would have been over weight if I had topped off the tanks. It was also so heavy in the rear, I had the tandems as far to the rear as I could legally put them. Of course that made it harder to make turns.

I left Richfield and drove as far as Russell IL. That's not far but it moved me far enough so that I could make Big Cabin OK, 673 miles on Sunday. This morning I finished up the run to Ft Worth in the rain. I dropped it a little while ago and as I am typing this I got the message that there is nothing out tonight so I will go find an mt and go find a place to stay the night.

I got late notice to go to Baldwinsville NY, 208 mile dead head, and pick up a load of golden nectar that had to be in Brecksville OH, 343 miles, at 0900 the next morning. That makes about four days that I have had to drive all night and I don't like that.

After making it to Brecksville and getting unloaded I get another broker load. This one picks up just 17 miles away in Cleveland OH and delivers 390 miles away in Plano IL. I'm beat but I go pick it up and drive across I90 until I get to the Ohio Turnpike and shut down at the first travel plaza I come to. I sleep until I can't sleep any more and get up late, take a shower and am ready to go.

It may sound crazy but it was then that I realized it was Saturday and all I ad was this short run and no pre plan for the rest of the week end. I mosey over to Plano and drop the load and then find an mt. I send the 'ready for dispatch' message expecting to be told that I was on some list which means that there iss no freight in the area.

Instead, I immediately get a load assignment. Good miles too. It is a deadhead run to Richfield WI, 147 miles, and runs me loaded all the way to Ft Worth TX, 1052 miles. It delivers 9/14 at any time. Sweet.

Let's Go, Already

Like I said, it was an easy couple of days running over to Richfield WI on the holiday weekend. I guess it disrupts the flow of freight or something. I hoped that I would get a load out of that terminal on Monday before all of the drivers that live in that area, that went home for the holiday, come back out. It turns out that there were already about 20 drivers sitting there and more came in after me.

It was mid day Tuesday when they decided to give me a broker load to get me out of there. We don't usually take broker loads and when we do it is in situations like this. I don't like them much either and you will see why.

The load was to pick up 44,000 lbs (over 20 tons) of salt, on 18 pallets, In Kenosha WI going to Montgomery NY. First I had to find an empty trailer. Since I was so far down on the list there were no empty (mt) ones there. After coming up with several plans to drive somewhere to find one I was told that a driver in tractor #xxxx was sitting under one and to get that one. Well, he wasn't happy because he knew he would probably be in the same situation I was in when his number came up. Oh well.

It is one of our oldest wagons. I get hooked to it and discover a light that doesn't work. I also see that he didn't sweep it so I sweep it and pull around to the shop to get the light fixed. The next thing I know I'm in the shop bay and after fixing the light they find all kinds of other things to do to it. That's fine though because I want it to be safe and surly don't want any tickets.

I finally get rolling and get to the customer only 30 minutes late. I guess I could have been a lot later because the shipper tells me that the load has been pushed back 10 days because they don't have some of the product that was ordered. I let the broker know and get the response that every driver loves; "Just hang tight and I'll get back with you in a few minutes." Two hours later some kind of deal was cut and I had a different load number but going to the same place. After loading I look at the bill of lading (bol) and it says that it is two drops going to Menards stores in Indiana. I don't sign and tell them the bol is wrong so they scurry around and produce new papers. They say the load is right just the bol is wrong. So now I'm ready to roll but now its rush hour in Chicago so I did roll but at times in was hard to tell for sure. My truck will roll along at idle about 2 mph in 2nd gear and Chicago in rush hour is anything from 0 to 35 mph for about 40 miles. I shift about 500 times over the next 2 hours.

I got to the customer this morning at 0500 for a 0630 appointment. By 0730 I was empty. As you might expect the load wasn't exactly what they wanted but fortunately they took it anyway. They didn't seem surprised. The shipper made a mess in the wagon when they loaded it so I had to go get it washed out.

I have been sitting in this TA truck stop since around 0845 and still no load.

I would have normally gone home by now but I have put off requesting ht because I have some business coming up and I'm not sure exactly what day it will be on. If I get stuck sitting much longer I guess I will go ahead and go home anyway.

As an old man I used to know always said; "some time it be's that way.."

Easy Day

I arrived early in Saratog Springs. I passed one Millis driver on his way out and saw two others in the customers lot with their curtains pulled. When I got to the check-in location they told me that they would pull an empty out of door 6 and I could drop in that door and take that empty. I love it. About an hour after finishing that work I received a load that picked up 172 miles away in Auburn NY and delivers in the Millis terminal yard in Ricfield WI about 800 miles from there.

I only had 1 hour left when I picked up this load but I was able to park in our Weedsport terminal and wait for today which provided some fresh hours for the log book. I showered and watched Georgia blow their season in their first game, losing to an out of conference team. Well, that's one less thing.

I took it easy today, waking up late and poking along until I got to the first Plaza in Indiana on the I80/90 turnpike where I am now. I spent some time re-routing my extension cord that is pluged in to my inverter. It is now tucked away where in isn't under foot. I have the microwave plugged into it and also a power strip so I can keep my lap top, battery charger (for small batteries) and whatever else plugged in. Instead of having to unplug these things I can just turn off the power strip.

I am going to take time to list all of the gagets I have to amuse myself with sometime but not now. Now, I am going to continue to enjoy an easy day by watching a movie.

Playing Catch-up Again

Wow, thanks to Jim from 'LeasePurchaseJournal' that I follow and link to, I suddenly have readers. Thanks all for the kind comments. I started this as a way to communicate with friends and family and as a personal exercise. It turns out that friends and family don't have any interest in life on the road and what this is all about. They just want to know I'm safe and when I will be home. Some folks, though, are interested and thanks to Jim I now have more reason to continue.

It is hard to play catch up so I will just name where I have been since my last post.

When I got empty in Randolph MA I was assigned a load picking up scrap cans in Lakeville MA delivering in Oswego NY. This is a messy load that requires weighing at a CAT scale in Syracuse NY then after unloading scaling again and then getting the wagon washed out.

After that I got a load picking up in Auburn NY to be dropped in Richfield WI. Then I got a load that was the third drop of a three drop load that someone picked up in Mountain Top PA. They must live near Richfield and this load was their ticket home. The part I had was a short run from Richfield to Shawano WI. I didn't mind because I drop in Cartersville after driving all of the good miles when I go home. The customer in Shawano required me to pay a lumper to unload the freight. I hate it when that happens, $106 to pull 7 pallets off the trailer.

Immediately after getting empty I got another good load. Picking up in Green Bay WI it goes 1,030 miles to Saratoga Springs NY. After loading I saw that I would be getting into Chicago traffic so I stopped in Kenosha to get a steak and tater at the Texas Road House and grab some groceries at Woodmans.

Right now I am in a travel plaza on I90, the NY Throughway, just shy of Albany NY. I will easily make the last 30 miles or so to my appointment at 0700 in the morning.

It has been great running back and forth across the northern border of the middle and eastern part of the country. The nights are very cool and that is great for sleeping and helps out on earning the fuel or idle bonus. Also, since fall is in the air, the wildlife is on the move. I will try to get some pictures.

Thanks again to all who take time to read this.



I can see myself reflected in this guys trailer.

I'll Post Anyway

OK, I will post from time to time for my own satisfaction.

I am in Randolpf MA now. I arrived at 1100 tonight for a 0800 appointment in the morning. I don't like driving at night but in this case, I already know where the customer is and it beats getting up at 0200 or 0300 and taking on the Boston rush hour traffic.

Along the way here I saw this disturbing accident on I80 in the PN mountains.

That's a large trailer on the back of the truck. It had just passed me about 20 minutes before. I pray that no one was hurt.

Blog is Shut Down for Now.

No one is reading it.

This Stinks

I finally got out of the Boston area.

I got a load picking up in Ayre MA going to Woodstock IL. It has taken me all of the available hours for two days to get as far as Indiana on the TurnPike. I will have 11.75 more hours tomorrow but I will have to leave here by 0200 to get to my appointment at 0730. If Chicago is as usual I will just make it but if Chicago is worse than normal I might be late.

Obviously I won't make it home tomorrow. I have to count on getting a load going through Georgia soon after getting empty in Woodstock and then I will still be fighting with my log book for hours. I hope I won't have to go to Wisconsin to get a load but that is what is most likely. Getting home on Friday is in question now.

This happens in this business. I can't complain much because it doesn't happen too often at Millis and a lot of drivers have stories of being days or weeks late getting home every time.

My Log Book is Shot

View Larger Map
8/4 through 8/17 - something over 6000 miles

I'm in Randolph MA right now, out of hours and dead tired. It can be hard to find freight out of this area but in my case it matters not.

The 'hours of service' rules allow 70 hours in 7 days to work. You can be on duty for up to 14 hours per day and then you have to take a 10 hour break before starting your next 14. Within that 14 hours you may only drive for 11 hours. No one wants to work 14 hours per day and in my case, I am paid per mile so I don't want to work any hours that are not driving and making good time. That is the challenge. The other catch is that the 14 hours are consecutive so once you start working, the 14 hour clock begins, so if you drive for 1 hour and get held up by a customer for 8 hours then you only have 5 hours left to drive.

Two weeks ago I had too much time between appointment and lost a lot of time. This week I have been driving right up to 10 to 11 hours per day plus the 'on duty' not driving' time so I used up my 70 hours in less than 7 days.

So now I sit and wait for another day to go by and give me back some hours.

I can't wait till Thursday when I go home for a while.

I've been in internet no-mans land. After unloading in Salisbury NC I got a load from Eden NC going back to Trenten OH. Then I got a load from Middletown OH, just a few miles from Trenton, back to Charlotte NC and then again from Eden NC to Rochester NY. I have been up gainst the clock and every time I stopped I was in the Appalation Mountains with no signal so I could'nt post any updates.

Lots of miles on the books, I am now in Erie PN after picking up a load in Niagra Falls NY. I have to get this load back to Eden NC and pick up another load and have it in Randolph MA on Monday before 1100. It's hard running but better than sitting around like I did last weekend.

I should be home on Thursday night for a few days.

I may stop posting on this blog because I don't think anyone is reading it. If you are, then please post a comment or let me know some how.

I got into Plano fairly early and dropped. The customer didn't have an empty. While I sat and ate some tuna I received a load to pick up in Streater IL and deliver to our drop yard in Trenton OH. I ran hard to get to Trenton hopeing to get a load for Sunday and to get out of that area which is often crowded with Millis trucks but no freight.

No such luck. I dropped in Trenton around 1930 and there were about 20 trucks waiting for a load. I sat all day Sunday and it was around 1200 Monday when I got a load. This one was from Trenton to Salisbury NC. I'm I NC now about 30 miles from my 0900 appointment for tomorrow.

A little over 600 miles today. I will finish the last 200 or so in the morning. No pre plan either. I have to see what the weekend dispatch can get me.

Now, back to 'Prison Break'.

I went to my 0600 appointment in Ft Worth and got unloaded by 0700. I then had to go park on the road side and wait for my next load. It came around 0930. The load is a run of about 950 miles or so counting loaded and empty miles. I drove to Greenville TX, stopping for fuel on the way, and arrived before noon for a 1900 appointment. They put me in a dock and I was loaded early, around 1600.

That messed up my day in terms of hours to drive. I don't like to drive in the evening hours. It is to hard to find a place to park when it's time to. I drove as far as Texarkana Arkansas and will sleep here and get up early and drive; around 0430 or so. I like morning driving. I have the road to myself for the most part and I get to watch the sun come up.

I still won't make it all the way to my destination of Plano IL but the load is due any time Saturday anyway. I wish I could have started earlier though, so I could deliver on Friday before my dispatcher is gone for the week end. Maybe he will be able to pre-plan something good and long for the week end forme anyway.

I am hooked again on watching 'Prison Break'. I am in the middle of season 3 now.

It's 118 degrees Out There!

Parked at the Flying J in Dallas. It's 118 degrees. I deliver about 30 miles from here at 0600 in the morning. The customer says you can't arrive more than 10 minutes early but you can't be late either. It's the first time I've been there so, I will go early. If they won't give me permission then they will just have to forgive me.

Home Time is Over

I'm days behind.

My last post was in Oswego I think. I got empty there and went back to Weedsport to wait for a load. I finally got one. It was for the next day, picking up in Fulton NY and delivering to the yard in Richfield WI. I needed to hustle because I was due home on Thursday night.

I drove all the way to one of the last travel plazas in Ohio and spent the night there. On Thursday I pushed on through Indiana and across the Chicago Skyway and then through Chicago into Wisconsin. After I dropped in Richfield I had another load right away to get me home. It picked up in West Allis WI going to Tampa FL but I was dropping it in Cartersville GA. So, back through Chicago I went again and settled for the night after I got some way into Indiana on I65 south. Thursday I drove it through and spent Friday through Monday at home.

This morning I sent my 'ready for dispatch' message ad around 1100 I got a load picking up in East Point GA going to Ft Worth TX. It delivers at 0600 on Thursday so I don't have to rush. I'm shut down now in Mississippi about 60 miles east of Jackson.

It is interesting that, while many states are closing rest areas to cut costs, Mississippi is expanding theirs. They also have 24/7 armed security. I really do appreciate that.

Another Week Ends, Another One Starts

It was late but the shop did a great job with my truck. I have a new alternator and 4 new batteries.

Monday, I got a load of powered milk right there in Black River Falls. It was milk for baby calves and delivered to three different farms in Michigan. I get a little extra pay for each stop after the first so I don't mind as long as it can be done quickly.

Farmers are not the type to dodge work so it didn't take long. Finding them did. These places were way out in the country. These places didn't have docks to back into. Two of the had pallet jacks to move the pallets to the end of the trailer so they could be lifted off. One didn't and we had to use chains to hook around the pallets and drag them out.

I was worried that I would be stuck for the weekend because I was so far out in the country. It turns out there is a sugar refinery right there in farm land and I got a load of powered sugar going to Kentucky. I just had to take it as far as Trenton OH. A regional driver will finish the run today.

I was able to bobtail to Kroger and get some groceries and catch up on some rest Saturday night.

Sunday morning I was given a load of that golden nectar going to Oswego NY. I met a friend at a truck stop along the way to NY and we swapped some movies and things. Then I finished the day driving to our terminal in Weedsport NY. to spend the night.

This morning I drove the 34 miles up to Oswego and found the customer. I was given a delivery time of 0700 - to 0800. I always try to be early so I arrived at 0645 and was told that they don't start unloading until after 0800.

View Larger Map

In the Shop

I made it to the shop in Black River Falls WI. This is the World Wide Headquarters of Millis Transfer. It will be taken care of here. I hope as well as this car.



I see a couple of brand new Kenworth T2000's that some lucky drivers will get. I notice some of the really big carriers terminals while I'm driving. Some of them have hundreds of trucks just parked. That has to hurt the business. I don't know the inside working of Millis but we are all staying very busy and while some older trucks must be replaced I think the fleet might be growing a little too.

I lost track of the actual paid miles last week but it was well over the 3000 mile goal I have for each week. I was at 15 different customers or drop yards.


View Larger Map

My Truck is Breaking

I'm having trouble getting updates posted because my trucks is breaking. It has bad batteries or a bad alternator.

I got to Cherokee by noon on Sunday and dropped my load. Then I was told that there are no empties. This customer has about 20 of our trailers that are still loaded. Free storage. I haggled with them to empty one for me and finally I got the second shift to work with me. It was after 2300 when I finally hooked to one and went to the truck stop.

My truck batteries have been running down just minutes after turning it off. The meter never shows it charging up to 13.5 volts like it should. Monday morning it was dead and wouldn't start.
With help from some other Millis drivers that happened to be around, I got it jumped off.

I had a load assignment that I didn't want to give up. I told my dispatcher and maintenance and they said to get the load and don't turn off my truck. I picked up in Memphis TN on Monday and am in Sioux Falls SD now. The truck has been running the whole time. It's like Apollo 13. I can't run anything electric like the coolers or air or CB or inside lights.. Luckily most of my food is gone. My water is warm. I can't run the air for long but now that I'm up north that is OK.

I deliver in the morning in Marshall MN and have a preplan to pick up in Belgrade MN, delivering in Eau Clair WI. That will take me by Black River Falls so I can stop by the shop and get fixed.

Git it Got it Gone

I got to Black River WI and dropped off my passenger then went the 50 mi. to Eau Clair WI and dropped that load. I was already preplanned for the weekend so I was ready to go.

When I got up this morning in Eau Clair I dead headed east across upper WI to Neenah. Loaded there, I am now on my way to Cherokee AL. I drove some 600 mi. or so and am resting in a truck stop at I57 and I70, in Effingham IL. Tomorrow will be easier because I have only a little more than 400 miles to go.

After walking for about 40 minutes I got a shower and after updating this, I'm going to watch a movie.

I need the rest.

Typing as I Go Down The Highway

I really am.

I got beeped around 1330 waking me up last night. I couldn’t stand the mystery so I got up to see what it was. I had a load assignment picking up there at the Trenton yard and delivering in Knoxville TN. Again, not many miles. I got some more sleep ( not much) and got up around 0430 to get ready to go. By 0515 I was moving.

After dropping the load I sent a ready message and got offered a load. It was carpet, picking up in Dalton GA and delivering in Eau Clair WI. The catch was that I had to give a driver in Cartersville a ride to Black River Falls WI. I agreed because it’s good miles but was a little concerned about the rider.

Dispatch didn’t know why he was needing a ride to the World Headquarters of Millis Transfer. Was he new or was he in trouble or something. What if he wanted to smoke or cuss or complain all the way there.

It turns out he is a Millis Southeast Region driver and he is going there to pick up one of the new trucks that they are going to use.

I drove to Cartesville, after picking up the load on the way, and picked him up and then drove to Manchester TN. That used up my driving hours so right now he is driving, and I am in the back typing.

And…… now,

you know,

the rest,

of the story.

Back in Trenton Again

Tuesday I got a broker load assigned to me. It picked up in Springfield OH and delivered in Joliet IL. I was really crunched for time because I had to fuel and find an empty before going to get it. Why didn't I already have fuel and an empty you ask? You have to expect to get a load from the brewery here so that would be loaded already, no empty trailer needed. As for fueling in advance; if getting a load from the brewery it may be very heavy and until you know how heavy you can't fill your tanks because your truck may be over the 80,000 lb gross that is allowed.

This morning, in Joliet I was given a load to pick up in Chicago going to Middeltown OH. That’s just 10 miles from the Trenton terminal so after dropping there I'm back here at the terminal and on the list for tomorrow morning. So, 368 miles yesterday and 337 miles today. At least I'm moving but I need 500 or more miles a day as often as possible.

I mentioned the trucks weight. I drive a Kenworth T2000 with a nice size sleeper cab and pull 53 foot van trailers. It's heavy even empty. The gross weight of 80,000 lbs means the maximum weight of the whole rig; tractor, trailer, freight, fuel and me and my stuff.

But that's not all there is to consider. How the weight is distributed is important. Basically, there can be 12,000 lbs on the front tires of the tractor (the steers), 34,000 lbs on the 8 rear tires of the tractor (the drives) and 34000 lbs on the trailer tires (tandems). Freight comes in all shapes and sizes so planning must be done so that the freight is placed in the trailer distributing the weight between the front and the back. I don't decide how much weight is put on or how it is distributed but I do have the responsibility to make sure it does not exceed the limits above.

I have two ways to deal with that. I can control how much weight is carried by the steers and the tandems. I begin by judging how the freight appears to be distributed. The tandems on our trailers can be moved forward and backward beneath the trailer. By moving them forward I put more weight on the tandems ant that takes weight off of the drives. By moving them back I allow the steers to carry more and the tandems to carry less.

It is my responsibility to make it legal so I have to go to the nearest scales and weigh. It costs $9 to weigh the first time and $1 for each re-weigh. It saves money and time to be able to get it right the first time.

I also have to consider how much fuel I can carry. That adds to the gross and also to the weight on the steers and the drives. Since it is my responsibility, and the tickets and fines would be mine, I can refuse a load that is over gross or can not be made legal by sliding my tandems. The planners are good though because I have never had to take a load back to the shipper and I have had some that were very close to the max gross.

I picked up my newly services and washed truck Monday morning. I got a load of glass going from East Point GA to Trenton OH. It was good timing as I missed the thunderstorms crossing the south from east to west and I missed all of the rush gours in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Cincinnati.

There are a lot of other drivers here so, this morning I have a message on the Qualcomm; "no load available yet". I'm on the list so I hope I get something going a long way from here. It seems that I always have to wait a lot in Trenton.

I want to say something about cars merging onto the highway. It seems to me that most car drivers don't begin to look until they are half way down the ramp. when they see a big long truck they just stare at the front of the tractor. I guess they are expecting the truck to speed up or slow down or move over.

First, a big truck can not slow down very easily. Also, they can not speed up easily either. In fact most trucks are governed. Mine can not go faster than 65 or 64 MPH. If I the limit allows I will be going as fast as I can. This is usually slower than the limit and surly slower than the flow of traffic. That is why I stay in the right lane. I do not want to slow down because I loose momentum or inertia. (momentum Physics. A measure of the motion of a body equal to the product of its mass and velocity.( (inertia n. Physics. The tendency of a body to resist acceleration;) Also, I often can not move over because of traffic.

It is the responsibility of the car attempting to merge to pick a space and put the car in it at a speed equal to the flow of traffic. First, the driver should start looking at the available spaces as soon as they get onto the ramp. Do not look at and fixate on the front of the truck. Your car will go where you are looking. That is why so many people end up at the end of the ramp right beside the trucks tractor. If you choose a space in front of the truck, look at that space and accelerate to it. Merge at a speed equal to or better than the trucks. (Remember the truck probably can not speed up any way.) Do not merge in front of a truck going slower than the truck and do not slow down in front of the truck. Also, make sure to move into the space as far in front of the truck as you can.

If you look at the trucks driver in your mirror and they are smiling then you did it right.

Catching Up

I’ve gotten behind here so I will catch up now.

After making it to Cherokee AL I was able to drop and hook to an empty. I had to wait until Monday to get my next load.

I got one and it was a live load in Florence AL going to Eau Clair WI. After I reminded my dispatcher that I had a home time request for Wednesday night he told me to drop it in Richfield WI. I got to Richfield Tuesday morning and a while later I had a load going to Smyrna GA on Thursday morning, but I got to drop it in Cartersville GA on Wednesday.

I gave my truck to the shop for service and will get back out on Monday morning.

I plan to add something new. In the future I will include information about the equipment I operate, laws and rules I have to follow and traffic and safety considerations involved in sharing the road with cars.

I don’t know if many people even read this stuff so if you do; please leave a note to let me know.

July 4, Happy Birthday America

I made my way through the miles and miles of construction in Chicago and arrivred at the customer in Oconto Falls by 1130 for my 1200 appointment. I was told that I could drop the load but found out that there was no empty to take out. After telling them that I had to leave with an empty I was told that they had problems at the dock and it would be best for me to just drop the load. I sent a message to dispatch explaining and the said they would have someone call them and tell them to unload me. The dock man finally told me to back in so I set up and started backing when a woman came out to my truck and told me “there was no way that I would be unloaded” and that I was in the way and needed to move on.

It’s times like these when this job gets to me. A customer wants a product delivered from over 900 miles away at a specific appointment. For some reason it becomes inconvenient at that time they think they can just send you away and you can come back another time. This was the day before a holiday and if I couldn’t get unloaded soon I won’t make it to my next load in time and that means that I’m facing a long weekend with no load.

I moved to the far end on the customer’s lot where it would be to far for her to want to walk and waited for my instructions. Finally I was told to wait until after 1600 and then go back to the dock and I would be unloaded. Apparently they were able to talk to someone oriented toward getting things done rather that being a bit control freak. I assume the control freak goes home at 1600 after which productive activity could resume.

The back to the dock was interesting. It is a long, narrow, down hill back that turns to the blind side at the bottom.



It's down there some where..

Still going back...



This is what it looked like fron the seat after getting down there.

The freight was interesting as well. It was virgin eucalyptus pulp from Brazil.

Finally empty, I was able to dead head over to Green Bay and drop and hook a load going to Cherokee AL. It doesn’t deliver until Monday though. I stopped in Richfield for the night and Friday morning the shop was willing to install my inverter. Now I can cook in my Micro wave and make coffee.

I drove just 50 miles to Kenosha WI and parked at the Woodman’s Food Market, a giant grocery store and did some shopping then I walked over to the Texas Road House and enjoyed a rib eye, potato and green salad.

This morning I drove to Paducah KY, in driving rain all of the way. Will stay here tonight and fuel in the morning before driving the remaining 220 more or less remaining miles to Cherokee. I'm going to see if they will take this tomorrow so I can try to get a load for Monday. I'm short of the 3000 miles that I want to get for the pay period.

View Larger Map

I left Albany at around 0200 on Monday morning, after sitting for 34 hours. I avoided Atlanta rush hour and got to Eden NC. After sending my 'dropped trailer' message I get my new trip information. It's the same load going to Baltimore MD. Eden NC is a good bit out of route but since I dropped and got a new dispatch, it pays all the oor miles and the trip to Eden still counts for last weeks pay check.

On Tuesday, I again got an early, 0400, start and headed out to Baltimore. The shortest route would have been I95 but I have learned not to get into Washington DC traffic so I went I81 north to 70 east. I had an open appointment time and the customer had an open dock so I got right in there and was unloaded shortly after noon. I didn't have a satellite signal because the building was in the way so I had to move to a vacant lot to sent all my messages to finish the trip. By the time I finished sweeping my trailer I had a new dispatch.

I had to go to a drop yard just ten miles away and drop and hook to a load going to Oconto Falls WI. I really felt lucky to get a quick dispatch and drop and hook because you don't want to be hanging around Baltimore or even the state of Maryland when rush hour starts. It is the worst traffic I've ever seen and a very truck unfriendly state. I headed out I70 and stopped at a Pilot truck stop in Hagerstown MD for fuel and got there early enough to get one of the last three spots to park for the night. I got a shower and the temps were cool for sleeping for a change.

This morning I headed out I70 and picked up I68W, the National Highway, then I79N to I70W again then I77N to the I80/90 Ohio turnpike. The more direct route would have been I76, the Penn turnpike but Millis doesn't want us on that toll road. Going that way would have been toll roads all the way from the east to Wisconsin. I drove 655 miles today and I am in Indiana now at a plaza on the turnpike. I have 306 more miles to Oconto Falls, which is around 100 miles west of Green Bay I think. The worst part of tomorrow will be Chicago and unless I get up really early again I will hit heavy traffic and construction there. I'm tired of getting up at 0200 or 0300 so I will just deal with Chicago.

Bad Start Ends Up OK Week

After stumbling out of the gate last Sunda, it turns out to be an OK week. After sitting in most of the day today I suddenly get a load going to Baltimore MD but I am supposed to drop it in Eden NC, so it will count on this weeks pay check and put me over the 3000 mile mark and that gets me in the bonus. The bad part is that I have to head out around 0200 in the morning.

So the week went; East Point GA, to Trenton OH, to Cincinnati OH, back to Trenton OH, back to Cincinnati OH, back to Trenton OH, to Dallas TX, to Austin TX, to Ft Worth TX, to Albany GA and finally to Eden NC. totaling 3460 Miles.


View Larger Map

Dallas Texas

Wow, its 125 degrees in this little Austin Texas truck stop as I type this. I won’t get any 'no idle' points tonight.

I left Trenton OH on Wednesday and drove through to a rest area in Forrest City Arkansas, 622 miles. My route took me through Cincinnati OH, Louisville KY, Nashville TN and Memphis TN.

This morning I left early and got fuel in North Little Rock AR and pushed on to Dallas TX. My customer was almost in down town Dallas. It didn’t take long to unload ther,e so I got out in good time and made it the 200+ miles down to Austin TX to finish up with this load.

I’m always amazed by the bridges in Dallas. They really build them big.

Tomorrow I will get instructions telling me where to take this split axle trailer and hopefully be given a good load with enough miles to keep me running for the week end.

Great Home Time, Bad Restart

It was great to be home for a while. Being away really makes you enjoy your home and family a lot more. It’s also tiring to try and cram so much into just a few days.

My restart has been a dud though. I was supposed to restart on Sunday. I got loaded up early and sent the ready message. In a while I got the reply that there was a long list and it would be Monday before I got out. On Monday I got out OK picking up in East Point GA and delivering to our terminal drop yard in Trenton OH. That was one good day but then it bogged down. I was given a load from Trenton to Cincinnati OH delivering at 0830. It was just 38 miles. This customer is downtown Cincinnati and had an interesting dock.

The second picture is from the seat after getting in the dock. It shows the area I had to pull into to set-up before backing. The first picture shows the tractor and trailer in the door being unloaded.

I got these pictures just before the security guard ran out and yelled at me. They don’t want pictures taken. I guess they think I might give them to a competitor to show what a competitive advantage that dock gives them or more likely it might be embarrassing.

I was finished there and drove back to the Trenton terminal to wait for another load. Nothing. There were about ten other drivers sitting around here to. Around 1500, before my dispatcher goes home, I sent a message to see what gives. He says I am next on the list.

Finally I get an offer but it’s for tomorrow. First, at 0430 I have to deliver another load to that Cincinnati customer and then I get an interesting load. It picks up in Trenton but it is a two drop load going to Texas. It also is on a new trailer that we are getting that will carry heavier loads. Instead of being 53 feet long it is 45 feet long but it has a split axle and super single tires. It won’t be too heavy though because my tractor is so big and adds too much to the gross weight. It will be left in Texas for the regional fleet that drives lighter day cab trucks.

Hurry up and Wait

I went to Neenah to get my load on Sunday. It said from 0700 to 2400 but when I got there at 0900 I was told that I had to wait 5 hours load. I had plenty of time to get to Cherokee but this is always frustrating. As long as I get clear of Chicago on Sunday it is OK.

I actually got to Cherokee AL on Monday night and was able to drop and hook. I got a load at the International Paper plant in Cortland AL going to Buford GA. The problem is that this has a firm appointment for Tuesday at 0500 but I'm supposed to start home time tonight.

I am in Cartersville GA now hoping to get instructions to drop here and take an empty to East Point so I can go home.

I'm Rested Up

Last night I finally got to the Richfield WI yard and got to sleep in a cool climate without worrying about getting a load delivered.

The trip up from Albany involved Atlanta rush hour, Chicago Rush hour and miles and miles of construction. For two days in a row I drove the maximum hours allowed and wth the minimum rest required.

The most annoying thing that happened was in Albany when I was in a fuel island at the Pilot truck stop. I takes a while to fuel a big truck and it gets quite crowded when the trucks are lining up. After filling the tractors tanks, drivers will pull their rig up so that their trailer will clear the pumps and the next driver can pull up and start fueling while they go inside to pay, grab coffee or quickly use the bathroom. Usually, by the time you can fuel, the driver in front is back out to their truck and moving on so that you can pull up. I felt lucky to pull into a pump where a FedEx driver had just finished fueling and was pulling up. When I finished at the pump he had not yet come out. I guessed the line must be really long at the counter. After about five minutes I decided to go in and grab my receipt. When I got back to my truck the FedEx truck was still in the way. After waiting about ten more minutes I got impatient and went inside and got the manager to call for the driver on the intercom to move his truck. I felt sure that would do it. I sat I my truck about ten more minutes and then I got mad. I went back in and after telling the manager that it had been almost a half hour that I was blocked in there and he needed to find the driver or call a tow truck. Truck drivers are a self policing bunch and now a few driver were aware of what was going on and they got involved. After several guys went about the store lookin one guy yelled out "I FOUND HIM". It turns out that The FedEx driver had decide to take a break and play video games! He was basically escorted out to his truck by several drivers and was lucky to get out of there with just a good cussing out by the mob.

I did receive a load for the weekend but it picks up in Neenah WI any time tomorrow and delivers in Cherokee AL on Tuesday for 99 empty and765 loaded miles.

I slept in this morning and took a long shower before going for a real breakfast. Since then I've been doing some work on my computer and organizing my deprivation chamber sleeper cab. I’m shopping for a power inverter for my truck so that I can put a small microwave in here and I’m also looking for an HD digital TV receiver card for my lap top so I can watch over the air TV. Anyone reading this that can recommend a TV card please leave a comment about it.

The Miles Keep Coming

I woke up last night and while I was lying there wondering if it was an hour after went to sleep or five minutes before the alarm was going to go off, I thought "I'm gonna hit the Atlanta rush hour". That's a scary thought. I looked at the time and it was 0200. I decided to get up and make a run for it. It was a good decision because I got through just as the traffic was picking up. I made it to the customer in Albany GA and got unloaded right away.

It wasn't long and the two beeps came on the qualcomm meaning a new load. I'ts another long run going from Albany to Milwaukee WI., 990 loaded miles. I hade enough hours to drive to Cartersville. I am catching up on my sleep.

Made it to Gaffney SC today. I ad a shower and gonna sleep a while and get started early in the morning.

I'm Tired

It's been a tiring couple of days. After getting empty at Midway I was given a load of Coors Kegs that was already going to be late.

I hustled to Eden NC. The hassle with these loads is that you have to sit in line at the brewery to get in to drop the empty trailer. Then, once inside the gate you have to back to a platform and have a guy set the bulkhead up inside before you drop it. It always takes close to an hour and you don't get paid for it.

After that I drove over to the yard and found the trailer with my load and went inside an found the bill. It's a good thing that I didn't fuel my truck first because when I scaled this load it was 78680 lbs gross. You are not allowed to exceed 12000 on the steer tires, 34000 on the tractor drive tires and 34000 on the trailer tandems. I was able to adjust the tandems so that I had 11920 on the steers, 33920 on the drives and 32860 on the trailer.

This load was going to a Logistics company in Camp Hill PA. It was a huge complex of building and it was hard to find exactly where I was supposed to go. After driving around and going into several building I finally found the right one.

The receiver was a typical sort. He pretended to be too busy to look up at me and finally he asked for my bills, told me I was late and grunted a few times before telling me go wait in my truck.

Eventually they called me to tell me which door to back into. There were about 12 doors and maybe 6 were open but of course I was given the one with the smallest space to set up in and the shortest pull up room and of course no decent light. Another Millis driver was there and he helped spot me. There was such a short space in front of me that I had to unhook from the trailer and move my tractor so other trucks could get by.

I finally got empty around 1:00 am and when I sent the empty message I got another load right away. This one was a good one but the timing was bad. I needed to deadhead 274 miles to Auburn NY and get a glass load going 1145 miles to Albany GA.

I drove up I81 as far as I could but the fog was bad and I got really tired so I found a place to park and sleep for a while. This is the worst thing to me. At 3 pm every parking spot is already gone. This can be really problem.

I parked it near a truck stop between Wilkes Barre and Scranton and slept untill 6:30am then I got up, fueled, got some strong coffee and finished the run up to Auburn. At the shipper, even though this load was already late, it was not already loaded on a trailer. It was a live load. It took about three hours to get loaded and now I am back down I80 in Pennsylvania again. I am going to get some good rest and hit it hard in the morning. I still have over 900 miles to go.

Map of the week

I got to Midway a couple of hours ago and now I have to sit here until morning to get loaded. I'm using the time to listen to Leo Laporte 'The Tech Guy' on the XM and to put a map of the last seven days routing. As I sit I have 3100 miles. If I get a loaded tomorrow and deliver it tomorrow, it will also be on this week's check. If not it will be on next week's.


View Larger Map

Now I think I will make dinner and watch another movie, "The Shawshank Redemption".

I slept all I could in Watertown and headed out around 0630. It was an easy drive trough Chicago thankfully. I stopped once in Hebron IN for 'you know' and a shower and shave and again in New Paris IN to get the truck washed. I'm inReo Grande OH now, just shy of West Virginia, at a rest stop. I drove 580 mi. today and have 280 to drive tomorrow.

I'm gonna watch 'The Perfect Storm" before I go to bed.

I got a load as soon as empty in Belvidere. A load was sitting in the Millis Sreater IL yard. I drove down to Streater and dropped my empty and hooked to that load going to Fennimore WI. and spent the night there.

Fennimore is in the south west Wisconsin farm country. It's very busy there right now, planting, spraying and making hay. There are some Amish people there to. I got unloaded quickly and received my weekend load.

I dead headed from Fennimore to Watertown WI. Again, I was quickly loaded. It's another light load, 20000 lbs, delivering in Midway NC early Monday morning. I spent the night at WallyWorld in Watertown and did some grocery shopping. There was no point in going through Chicago at late rush hour on Friday. When I deliver this load I will have 3100 paid miles for the pay period. My goal is to get at lease 3000 to earn the bonus.

Easy Day

It has been an easy day finishing the trip to my customer in Belvidere IL. I arrived early and they are unloading me now. When they are done I'll drive a few miles up I43 to South Beloit and spend the night in one of the big truck stops there.

Plaza in Ohio

I spent the night last night parked along a fence next to a prison exercise yard. As I sat in my little deprivation chamber eating tuna, I watched prisoners play basket ball outside in a nice play ground and then go inside, I assume to shower and be served a hot meal.

I got a load to pick up in Hazelton PA delivering in Belvidere IL. It's west of the east coast and I didn't waste any time getting out of Newark. It rained a lot on the way to Hazelton but the customer was easy to find and they loaded me quickly with only about 15,000 lbs of plastic bowls. That's just enough weight to make the rig ride smoothly but not slow me down on hills.

As I traveled west on I80 I passed through the Pocono's in Pennsylvania. It was beautiful riding through the clouds and mountains. I stopped for a, 'you know' and a shower and shave. I got a $5 subway and ate half there and the other half I'm eating now. Just as I was getting to Ohio the sun was setting and it was indescribably beautiful.



Now I am at a Plaza on the Ohio TP. I'm over half way to my customer so I don't have to be in any hurry tomorrow. My appointment is at 2100.