FCC--Fremont Contract Carriers

I do believe that is true. It’s a good place to be. Ups n Downs like any place but way more Ups than Downs.

 

Ugh. Was doing so good too.

But then…

last night I didn’t have enough hours to get to the far side of Dayton. So with 90 minutes left I start looking for parking. My regular Mom n Pops TS was way too early to stop so I started at the only Rest Area SE of Dayton. Nope every spot filled and the line along their back bumper full too.

Then went to the Pilot down the road and it was full too as was the little parking lot of 12 spots across the street. Off to the next two TS down the road and maybe the Walmart by them but then on my way there I saw another Walmart with some trucks so I quick pull in there to look.

Big sign at Walmart saying “Trucks aren’t Welcome” but the other end of the lot was parked full of trucks in front of the strip mall area. I was the 23 truck to park there last night. TWENTY THIRD!!! … ya, parking is an issue as Truckers Path was already reporting the ones I was heading to was full so I added another truck to the mix.

Then tonight, I start looking for parking and with an hour on my clocks there was what seemed to be a bit if room on the end of a row of trucks at the first Loves I stopped at so I parked next to them, thinking I was out of the way. But nope, two hours later “thump thump thump”… gotta move. Too close to the fuel exit. Made a few of us all move.

ugh… first time ever being kicked off a lot for my creative parking.

gosh, I wonder what changed… LOL

stay safe, I’m parked and going back to bed here. Sweet Dreams.

 

One of the main things I’ve noticed is most places seem to run 9-5. That’s to say no more 3 shift shipping/receiving. Most everyone runs daytime and tries to stop within the same window. I drove nights for a while and it’s pretty deserted out there.

 

I still drive nights, but I can pretty easily shift my schedule to accommodate an appointment.

 

That's why I like the car I just bought. Almost 30 years and 211k miles later and it still looks great, doesn't smoke or burn any oil, and most everything still works. The power window and seat switches are still solid metal on this model. Back when they still made cars in Detroit. Not Mexico or some other country (Canada not included). To say they don't make 'em like they used to is an understatement, for pretty much anything.

Spent half an hour yesterday scrubbing my white walls with an SOS pad. I think they turned out great.

 

Ya, I do wish I could run nights and I’m sure the early birds here don’t hit this issue as often as us night owls do, but parking for those of us running until 2200-2400 is a real thing.

My wife is total opposite of me. She has short days and is ready for bed at 2000 and up at 0400. Me, I have long days and my natural “day” doesn’t end until 2200-2400.

There is a word for it. I can’t remember the name but the standard 24 hour clock doesn’t directly translate to one’s biological clocks. But that’s how we naturally fall into “early birds” (short days) vs “night owls” (long days).

Maybe I should head home and let my wife drive the truck… LOL

IF we could ever survive living in an 8x8 box, we’d make a good team for driving. She’s naturally up at 0400 and can start the truck and run days while I would drive second shift and shut down whenever I found parking and never have issues with these clocks and parking.

I might have to consider driving later say drive until 0300 and then shut down after all you early birds get up and out of my parking spots… LOL

 

Personally, I think part of the solution to the parking issue is the following.

Actually make the On Ramps parking spots.

On Ramps are “safer” than Off Ramps as people are making a Right/Left turn onto them and are driving 20-30 mph coming up to speed. Where as Off Ramps people are not making turns and decelerating from 70 mph.

Capital Costs would be cheaper than creating parking lots as the State already has the infrastructure in place and simply needs to add a few more feet of concrete to each ramp.

Then we would have more smaller parking and spread out every 10 miles or so to better accommodate when we are going to hit our 11 hour clocks.

Never happen and until it does us Night Owls, but not quite Vampires, will have to choose fighting for parking at the End of Day or not driving our best and safest hours and start relying on caffeine or other stimulants to start at 0200-0300 and be groggy behind the wheel.

Anyway, I’ll step down from my pulpit and wander back into my cave.

y’all stay safe no matter when you drive. Peace.

 

Our monthly safety video last month was about fatigue. There is 2 types of circadian rhythms. Diurnal and nocturnal. Humans are naturally diurnal. (Sleep when it's dark, active when it's light). I wish I could have saved the video they used to explain all the hormone triggers and body's natural reaction to them when it comes to when it's getting dark and about to have a sunrise.

 

One last thing, before I descend back into the dark damp cave from whence I came…

I AM looking at ways to modify my driving because of this parking issue. From getting up Uber Early and driving as so many do to driving even later to grab the spots y’all open up for us when you tear out at O’Dark Thirty to just driving fewer hours per day and totally forfeit taking a 34 every 5-6 days (and make less money in the process) but have a couple extra hours of free time each night vs a day off on the weekends on the road.

Any suggestions from the group (like @runningman0661 suggestion that he prefers starting at 0300) is more than welcome. Either here or DM me.

anyway, time to start this day
again, as always, stay safe