When I got empty in Pontoon Beach IL I got dispatched to pick up a load just down the street, going to Statesville NC. The appointment time was 1700 so I sat around until then. It didn't take long after that so I headed out and stopped near Scott AFB for the night. Today, having only 9 hours available, I only got as far as the Tamarack travel center on I70 in West Virginia.
Up on the hill here there is a place called the Best of West Virginia. I have been here before but haven't had a chance to walk over there and check it out. I'm glad I did today. The place is full of some pretty remarkable art. All kinds, from paintings, ceramics, marble and iron sculptures, wood crafts both fine and rustic. There are rooms where the artists demonstrate but they weren't there today. Also the cafeteria had chefs who were apparently artists and I had some great food. If ever passing through here it's worth stopping to see.
My log book is puny right now. I have about 200 miles to deliver this tomorrow but only 7 hours so I can't do much else. I will have to conserve some anyway to get home on Friday for a weeks vacation.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Finishing up a Good Week
After 662 miles, starting at 0500, and winding up in Roxbury PA, on Friday I got up and started at 0330 on Saturday to finish the run to Richmond VA. After emptying out I went over to Suffolk VA and picked up the load going to Pontoon Beach Il. Being dead tired I stopped in New Kent VA on I64 to sleep.
This morning I was rested and set out going west on I65. I encountered rain and fog along the way and decided to stop for the day in Grayson KY. I have plenty of time to run the last 400 miiles in the morning since the load delivers any time between 0700 and 1900.
When I deliver tomorrow I will have around 3300 miles for the pay period. That's just right for me.
View Larger Map
This morning I was rested and set out going west on I65. I encountered rain and fog along the way and decided to stop for the day in Grayson KY. I have plenty of time to run the last 400 miiles in the morning since the load delivers any time between 0700 and 1900.
When I deliver tomorrow I will have around 3300 miles for the pay period. That's just right for me.
View Larger Map
Friday, March 26, 2010
Winter is Back for a While
Google made a new tool for customizing templates so I grabbed this one. There are a lot of customizations that you can do but as usual I'm beat and don't have time right now. Anyway, I'm working on a Wordpress project or two.
As my Twitter feed over on the side bar says, today I started at 0500 and drove from Milton WI to Roxbury PA, 652 mi. It was across I90, I80 and I76 through Pittsburgh to here. We usually don't drive the PA turnpike but this load would be late if I didn't and tomorrow being Saturday I have to get there on time or I'm stuck with it until Monday. After unloading in Richmond VA tomorrow I pick up in Suffolk going to Pontoon Beach IL.
It seems that winter is back for a few days. It was in the 30's all day yesterday and got down to 27 last night. Today, it was in the 30's as well, all the way across IN, OH and PA. There was snow on the ground and roofs in Cleveland. I'm glad that was all.
I'm listening to a book by Seth Godin called 'Linchpin'. No time to discuss it now but it really is a smack in the mouth. It got my attention. I know this won't make sense but it's my 'lizard brain' darn it.
As my Twitter feed over on the side bar says, today I started at 0500 and drove from Milton WI to Roxbury PA, 652 mi. It was across I90, I80 and I76 through Pittsburgh to here. We usually don't drive the PA turnpike but this load would be late if I didn't and tomorrow being Saturday I have to get there on time or I'm stuck with it until Monday. After unloading in Richmond VA tomorrow I pick up in Suffolk going to Pontoon Beach IL.
It seems that winter is back for a few days. It was in the 30's all day yesterday and got down to 27 last night. Today, it was in the 30's as well, all the way across IN, OH and PA. There was snow on the ground and roofs in Cleveland. I'm glad that was all.
I'm listening to a book by Seth Godin called 'Linchpin'. No time to discuss it now but it really is a smack in the mouth. It got my attention. I know this won't make sense but it's my 'lizard brain' darn it.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Unskilled Labor? What's All These Switches and Stuff?
It's a slow start. After yesterdays mess up by the shop I was finally ready to roll at 1500. Being Monday, all of the freight that was available was already gone by then so I got to spend the night in the truck right there in GA, 70 miles from home. This morning I hear the sweet tone of two beeps meaning a load assignment. Now I'm moving. Well not exactly, moving. Sort of moved. It was 56 miles to Stone Mountain GA.
At least it's not raining and cold today. That's good because now that I'm at the customer I have to wait for one guy to empty 3 trailers before he gets to mine. He was working on that but it's gotten quiet right now. He probably went to lunch so I can wait on that time to pass as well.
If your a driver you know about CSA 2010. If not I can tell you that it is an initiative by the Federal Motor Carriers Association to tighten up assessment, compliance and enforcement of regulations of the trucking industry. It's the Government and there here to help. I'm not going to try to explain all that this involves. You can read more about it if interested at OOIDA and elsewhere. Actually, I welcome a lot of their efforts. My point is that things are changing that should improve safety and professionalism in the industry.
I am interested to see if the effort will do anything to change the perception of the driving profession. Most people don't know that being a professional driver is considered unskilled labor. Drivers are therefor not protected by the labor laws that protect most workers. I worked for 23 years for an airline and some of my best friends are airline pilots. Consider these comparisons.
Pilot - must do a thorough inspection of their equipment before flying
Driver - must do a thorough inspection of their equipment before driving
Pilot - must comply with hours of service regulations and keep a log
Driver - must comply with hours of service regulations and keep a log
Pilot - must have flight plan and know the route, fuel and time requirements, and environmental conditions
Driver - must have a dispatch and plan and know the route, fuel and time requirements, and environmental conditions
Pilot - is responsible for the safety of numbers of passengers from a few to many
Driver - is responsible for the safety of numbers others on the road passing hundreds of cars, buses and pedestrians
This could go on but my point is, being a pilot is considered a very professional occupation though being an OTR driver is considered unskilled labor. These professions are not at all the same but are they that different?
At least it's not raining and cold today. That's good because now that I'm at the customer I have to wait for one guy to empty 3 trailers before he gets to mine. He was working on that but it's gotten quiet right now. He probably went to lunch so I can wait on that time to pass as well.
If your a driver you know about CSA 2010. If not I can tell you that it is an initiative by the Federal Motor Carriers Association to tighten up assessment, compliance and enforcement of regulations of the trucking industry. It's the Government and there here to help. I'm not going to try to explain all that this involves. You can read more about it if interested at OOIDA and elsewhere. Actually, I welcome a lot of their efforts. My point is that things are changing that should improve safety and professionalism in the industry.
I am interested to see if the effort will do anything to change the perception of the driving profession. Most people don't know that being a professional driver is considered unskilled labor. Drivers are therefor not protected by the labor laws that protect most workers. I worked for 23 years for an airline and some of my best friends are airline pilots. Consider these comparisons.
Pilot - must do a thorough inspection of their equipment before flying
Driver - must do a thorough inspection of their equipment before driving
Pilot - must comply with hours of service regulations and keep a log
Driver - must comply with hours of service regulations and keep a log
Pilot - must have flight plan and know the route, fuel and time requirements, and environmental conditions
Driver - must have a dispatch and plan and know the route, fuel and time requirements, and environmental conditions
Pilot - is responsible for the safety of numbers of passengers from a few to many
Driver - is responsible for the safety of numbers others on the road passing hundreds of cars, buses and pedestrians
This could go on but my point is, being a pilot is considered a very professional occupation though being an OTR driver is considered unskilled labor. These professions are not at all the same but are they that different?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Week End? What?
Today I am back in Cartersville GA to get back on the road. I have been off for 7 days, no pay of course, to help my wife because her mother passed away. Last Monday, when I got home, I turned my tractor in for B service and to have some other things fixed. When I picked up my keys and went to my truck it's parked right where I left it, untouched. The shop manager says he remembers the write up but now they can't find it so no one worked on it. Great. He promised it would be next in the shop but B service takes about 3 hours and the other things will add to that. Not to mention 2 hours after that promise it still isn't in the shop yet.
I was prepared for a couple of hours of delay because I had to go to the clinic for my DOT physical renewal. I passed, even weighting in about 22 pounds lighter than the last time.
So now I sit at McDonald's nursing a lemon-aid using the WiFi.
With the weather change Millis is ramping up the Training Institute and there were about 6 students in the class in Cartersville this morning. A couple of weeks ago, while in a safety class in Richfield WI, I also attended a 'train the trainer' class. I am on the list to take on new students for 6 weeks or so and finish their training. I am not sure if I will follow through with this or not. In a way it would be gratifyin,g coaching someone along until they got their own truck assignment and the extra money would be great. Still, sharing my deprivation chamber with someone for that long is hard to face. It may be a moot point though.
I may be asking to move to southeast regional duty in a few weeks. When my wife's mother passed away I wasn't with her. Not only that but I was in PA headed to Oswego NY. Millis was great to get me a load right away from Baldwinsville NY GA but still, I wasn't there when she needed me, for a couple of days. Regional duty will keep me closer and I will be home most weekends. It's been a long time since 'week end' had any meaning to me. Oh yea, thats when I used to go fishing.. Hummm.
I was prepared for a couple of hours of delay because I had to go to the clinic for my DOT physical renewal. I passed, even weighting in about 22 pounds lighter than the last time.
So now I sit at McDonald's nursing a lemon-aid using the WiFi.
With the weather change Millis is ramping up the Training Institute and there were about 6 students in the class in Cartersville this morning. A couple of weeks ago, while in a safety class in Richfield WI, I also attended a 'train the trainer' class. I am on the list to take on new students for 6 weeks or so and finish their training. I am not sure if I will follow through with this or not. In a way it would be gratifyin,g coaching someone along until they got their own truck assignment and the extra money would be great. Still, sharing my deprivation chamber with someone for that long is hard to face. It may be a moot point though.
I may be asking to move to southeast regional duty in a few weeks. When my wife's mother passed away I wasn't with her. Not only that but I was in PA headed to Oswego NY. Millis was great to get me a load right away from Baldwinsville NY GA but still, I wasn't there when she needed me, for a couple of days. Regional duty will keep me closer and I will be home most weekends. It's been a long time since 'week end' had any meaning to me. Oh yea, thats when I used to go fishing.. Hummm.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Toys are Coming Out
I got up at 0500 in Carlisle PA this morning and drove through rain and wind all the way to Oswego NY. I was loaded with scrap aluminum. When I got to the receiver another Millis truck was coming out. Checking in with the guard I was told that the previous two Millis trucks were rejected because the shipper failed to put some sticker in the bails. I guess he thought that would bother me or something and he was surprised I wanted to go to the dock anyway. Why would he think I would assume my load would be rejected? I don't accept or reject loads. I'm a company driver. :) After being checked at the dock, sure enough, 'rejected'. On my way out the guard stopped me and said go back in,they decided to take mine after all. I don't know where the other Millis drivers went.
I'm preplanned with a load going from Baldwinsville NY to Macon GA. It is a load to get me home to be with my wife. Her mother passed away last night. The hardest part of this job is not being with loved ones when they most need you.
I noticed last weekend that the toys are coming out. Motorcycles, boats on trailers, campers and camper trailers etc.. It's quite a site when spring and summer come and inexperienced drivers with poorly maintained toys hit the road. On weekends the shoulders will be littered with broken down junk. Occasionally a motor home or camper trailer will get smashed. Those things can really spread some junk on the highway.
I always say this but I think I'll get back on track with the blog. I've had poor access and I've been driving in blizzards and all. I have another internet project or two and I hope to integrate everything soon.
I'm preplanned with a load going from Baldwinsville NY to Macon GA. It is a load to get me home to be with my wife. Her mother passed away last night. The hardest part of this job is not being with loved ones when they most need you.
I noticed last weekend that the toys are coming out. Motorcycles, boats on trailers, campers and camper trailers etc.. It's quite a site when spring and summer come and inexperienced drivers with poorly maintained toys hit the road. On weekends the shoulders will be littered with broken down junk. Occasionally a motor home or camper trailer will get smashed. Those things can really spread some junk on the highway.
I always say this but I think I'll get back on track with the blog. I've had poor access and I've been driving in blizzards and all. I have another internet project or two and I hope to integrate everything soon.
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