Calex Express....My New Home!

Hey there Lorne, I have been at Moran every week for the last 3 months picking up a load to go to Florida, in fact, I saw you last Thursday when I dropped my empty and you opened my trailer doors for me. I'm quite sure I'll be there again this week. I'll be sure to stop and say hi!

 

Greg, I happen to be in the terminal getting a new windshield installed and am using the free wifi. I asked safety and was told that they do not hire out of VA. They hire at either end of the freight lanes.

 

Hey there, I ran into a driver a few weeks back that runs flatbed for us and he is on a dedicated run from Hartwell Ga to Little Rock Ar to Knoxville Tn. He does two per week and seemed to really like it. We run flats with the canvas sides. Calex seems to hire drivers with a dedicated run set up for us to get us home on a consistent basis. We just got a new health plan here with more coverage that actually costs me a little less per week, it also includes vision and free prescription drugs. Dental is also offered at a very affordable cost. Coverage starts the first of the month following your first 30 days. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

Hey all, I have a busy weekend coming up so I'll post a few thoughts about these last few days since leaving last Sunday. I was sent a message last Friday to expect a call from a new driver that was hired on and passed all checks, tests and whatever else is done prior to hiring on. On Friday I got a call from Cory and we made plans to meet after I unloaded on Monday. After unloading I got my reload info from dispatch and met Cory and off we went on another trucking adventure. My reload was for a pick up in Panama City FL going to Little Falls NY. After getting settled in the truck we started talking and I asked Cory how he found out about Calex. He told me he read about it on a blog and told me he got all the information about the company from this guy that wrote this blog. You should have seen the expression on his face that the guy that wrote all the info was the same guy that would be his chaufer/tour director the next 2.5 days. We left Orlando and arrived at the shipper around 10pm, got loaded and left around 1:30 am with enough time on the clock to drive to the nearest truckstop. I had to be in NY Thursday at 1pm so the plan was to drop Cory off at the Motel near the terminal on Wednseday night. I dropped him off, took my 10 hour break then left for Little Falls the next morning. I got to my 1pm delivery at 11am and was empty by noon. After a call into dispatch Louie told me to come back to the yard empty and to see him first thing in the morning. After hanging up with him I called into safety and told them about my cracked windshield. Mort asked me if it needed to be replaced on the road or if it was safe to bring it to the yard and get it done here. I told him that I would much rather have our shop replace it then some on road glass shop so he told me to bring it in and that they would have one here for me today. As I write this I just peaked into the shop and I am halfway to having a new windshield on my truck. I also have my new load info. I have to bobtail to Lewisburg Pa to pick up a loaded trailer going to Miami for Wednesday. This works out good for me as my passport is about to expire and I can go to the passport agency in Miami and pay a little extra to get it done the same day. I already have been told that I will be pulling a reefer trailer and that they have a load of produce all set for Wednesday to reload going to one of our customers back in PA. I missed going to Ontario this week but my miles for the week came out to just about the same as if I did go, 3095 paid miles for the week. Not bad for 5 days work. One last thing, Cory was a great passenger and a great guy to have for a few days, like Garylobo, I'm quite positive he will be a great addition to our little world here at Calex. I'll be in touch sometime this weekend when I get home. Be safe all and God Bless!

 

I learned early on in my career that what ever help or advice that was given to me has helped me up until today. My responsibility to my career is to freely give advice and help to any other driver that asks. I truly enjoy passing along whatever help I can. I also have learned that your driving record follows you just like your credit record. It's refreshing to hear someone say they have found a home somewhere after 2 years. Good for you, remember though, everyday issues are just that and can be worked out if you step back and look at the big picture. I want to thank you for your comments and truly feel blessed that my time out here can be a help to someone.

 

OK, here's an update now that I'm home. I left the Pittston yard Friday afternoon after my new windshield was installed and service was completed on my truck. I spent most of the day on the computer and helping the new driver Cory that I took up to Pittston from Florida get settled in his truck and help him out with directions and tidbits of information to get him going. I had my load information at 8am so I knew where I was going. I was to bobtail to Lewisburg Pa and pick up a reefer trailer that was pre-loaded from one of our customers going to Miami. This particular customer only loads our reefers because the loads are real light and go to either California or Florida so we can load produce back. I already have my reload info out of FL for a load of lettuce going back to one of our customers in Pa. I did this run the week after Christmas so I know what to expect. The only problem with this deal is that I live 32 miles due west of where I load but will wind up spending the day waiting for lettuce to grow in the field. Oh well, it's not like I never get to go home, I got home Sunday morning and don't unload until Wednesday. This gives me time to go and take care of my Passport renewal and take my wife to a Miami Heat game. One more thing, I picked up my trailer in Lewisburg and as luck would have it I saw Cory going through town so we got to run down to Florida together. The only problem was he didn't have a CB with him so all our communicating was over the phone. It was pretty comical to give a bear report over the phone. Anyway, we split up at the I-4/I-95 split and went home to our respective homes. I'll be in touch before I leave this week. God Bless and be safe!