Calex Express....My New Home!

I checked in with Safety and was told that they do not hire out of Illinois. They have a need for a driver in Central Florida, Upstate NY, and Northeast PA. Calex hires drivers that live at the begining and ending of our freight lanes. It's not to say that it might change one day, but thats what I was told this morning. Happy New Year to you also.

 

Well after being home since Saturday morning, it's finally time to get back to work. I am leaving out tonight to deliver in Davenport, Fl in the morning. I got my preplan which has me loading in Belle Glade and delivering in PA on Friday. Be safe all. God Bless. I'll check in during the week.

 

Hello all, yes, I'm still alive. It's been a very busy last two weeks. I'll now update my travels. I left the house on Tuesday evening to drive up to Davenport Fl. to deliver at a Publix warehouse. I had an 8am delivery on Wed. and was empty at 9am. I already had my pre-plan to pick up a load of lettuce in Belle Glade to deliver in Florence NJ Friday at noon. I drove the 150 miles to Belle Glade and got checked in at 1pm. If you look at the map, my home is literally 30 miles due east of where I was. I told my wife I would be home to take a 10 hr break and have dinner after loading. Well that was a great idea in theory, in actuality it never happened. I wound up getting loaded at 11pm so I took my break at the shipper. After loading, I had a very tight schedule to make it to Florence NJ. I told my wife that me coming home was not going to happen and that I needed to get going. I made it to my noon delivery on Friday with 5 minutes to spare. I bumped the dock and was empty by 1pm. While getting unloaded my new load information came over the computer and it was a load going to Orlando. The only problem was that it was snowing and I had to drop my empty at one of our customers in Milton PA then bobtail to Mcelhattan PA. The roads were real slick and snow covered. After picking up my trailer I had enough time on the clock to make it to Milton PA for my 10hr break. I left early Saturday morning and met my wife in Fort Pierce Fl Sunday for dinner and a movie and took a 10hr break. What a wife I have, not just because I'm married to this Angel for 11 years, but because she know's exactly what I need without me saying a word. She pulled up to my truck with a complete restocking of food for my refridgerator, and clean clothes for the next round. After taking a 10 hr break I headed up to Orlando for a 4am delivery Monday morning. More to come.........

 

After getting unloaded Monday morning my dispatcher Louie called me on the phone to give me my itinerary for the rest of the week. I was deadheaded up to Cedar Springs GA. for a pick up at a Georgia Pacific plant that evening for a delivery that delivered in Doraville GA Tuesday at 9am, then I was to deadhead to Cleveland TN for a drop and hook for ST. Catherines Ontario. I got to the shipper at 2pm and waited my turn to load. I've been here 3 times and it's either right in and out, or waiting until they grow more trees to turn into paper. This time I waited for trees to grow. I finally was loaded at midnight and had to drive the 265 miles all night long. Not what I really like to do, but hey, it's part of the game right? After getting to my delivery on time and waiting to get empty Louie calls and tells me that the customer's computer system was down and my Ontario load won't be ready until Wednesday so he gave me a PO for one nights layover. I thought that was a very nice gesture so I holed up at the TA in Cartersville GA for the night. I drop and hooked in Cleveland TN around 2pm and was on my way to Ontario. This trip was very uneventful and the weather was dry and clear. I delivered Friday and was empty around 3pm. I had gotten my reload that was to pick up in Jamestown NY Saturday morning at 6AM for a Monday 6AM delivery in Norcross GA. I should say that Friday while talking to my dispatcher, I was given my next weeks itinerary, which includes another drop and hook in Cleveland TN for another Ontario load that delivers Thursday. Is it me or does everyone get their weeks work in advance? I kinda like this. I got empty this morning at 6AM and am now sitting at the TA in Cartersville GA. After almost 6 months I have to take my first 34 hour rest on the road and not at the house. This is OK though, after the holidays and having more time off than I really wanted or needed, I'll take the work as it comes. I'll get a fresh 70 hours, do my laundry, and go to Wal-Mart to restock. I'll pick up my Canada load tomorrow afternoon and deliver Thursday morning. Here it is the 18th of the month and I am working on a 13,000 month. Not bad, but I'm ready to go home and do the husband things that we all crave! God Bless All!

 

Hello all, getting ready to leave later this afternoon. I got a wake-up call this morning from my dispatcher telling me the trailer # I'm to pick up. My 34 hour reset isn't over until 5:45 pm and I'm 70 miles from the shipper. They told my dispatcher what trailer the load is on and that the paperwork will be in the trailer. I figure I'll be headed north from Cleveland TN around 8pm. I'll be able to drive enough tonight to have an easy day tomorrow. Since going to E-Logs, logging and trip planning has become a work in progress. I just found out that even though I'm in the middle of my reset, I'm able to move my truck to go to Wal-Mart and go shopping without it effecting my hours. Stay tuned all, I'll update my adventures when I get home this weekend. God Bless and be safe!

 

Well I'll be, we have free Wifi at our drivers lounge in Pittston. I got my pre-plan Wednesday evening while fueling in Harbor Creek, PA. I got empty around 10AM Thursday in Ontario and came back into Buffalo and was loaded with a load going to Pittston for Friday # 7AM. I was empty at 8AM and am now sitting at the yard waiting for my truck to get a PM and a few minor issues taken care of. I got my outbound load info from Louie and will be picking up a loaded trailer early tomorrow morning with a load going to Orlando. I hope to be home before kickoff at 3pm Sunday. While waiting to load yesterday my dispatcher called me on the phone and asked me if I wanted a load that delivered Monday or one that delivered Tuesday, I took the Tuesday load so I can have an extra day at the house to pet the wife and hug the dogs, or is that hug the wife and pet the dogs?.....oh well, I'll figure it out.

Just a little side note about how the little things make such a difference in the way a company treats it's drivers. The last time I was at the terminal was a week before Christmas, so it's been almost 5 weeks and a whole bunch of snow, ice and cold since I was able to grace the Pittston yard with my presence. I got the truck washed last week because I was getting tired of getting dirty every time I got in and out of my truck. I also bought an extension cord to plug my truck in at Idle-Air when I would be hooked up to it. I went into Safety and explained to Mort and Jim why I bought the Cord and needed to get the truck washed and asked if the Company would be willing to reimburse me for the purchases, or at least split the cost with me. Well what they did without any hesitation was to ok the full purchase and reimburse me the full amount. Granted it was only $50, but the gesture sure makes me have a feel good attitude and opinion about the way Calex operates. Garylobo is in town and loading at the same place I am so I'll get to run home with my new friend. God Bless All, and be safe!