CRETE - A Year in Review

I got that a lot when I had that reefer behind me...That's ok...I ended up parking next to a Crete van with a -20 load...(no other place to park) I figured if I was going to be treated like a inconsiderate reefer driver, I may as well act like one

 

It ended up working out...kept a watch and listen on the 511 system...The only problems I had were getting out of the Petro in Spokane, and off of the pure ice side road...Once on I-90 all I had to deal with was ice fog, and the CB antennas beating the crap out of the side of the truck once they got a inch of ice built up. By the time I got to Ellensburg, all chain req's were lifted, and it was just wet and beautiful.

The wind across SD almost did me a number on the fuel mileage which caused me to hold my breath. They had me partial fuel in Billings...but I had used more fuel than expected before, so the partial fuel gave me just enough to get to Ellensburg. I had actually been on 'E' for the last 20 or so miles. When I 1st picked up this truck 3 years ago(when it's out of fuel at the terminal) I put 167 gallons then...So when I hit Ellensburg, I ended up putting in 163 gallons....as close as I've ever been into deep doo-doo. I hate doing that when it's 15 degrees too.

I decided to get into Tacoma on Sunday so if I could get them to up the appointment, that started my 34 as early as possible...but at 2pm, the Flying J - turned Loves was packed already, so I had to hit the local budget motel that has truck parking(kinda). I'll try to squeeze into the Loves on Monday. I did see several Crete's in the Loves...I hope they are passing through...my delivery is at 1800 on Wed(unless they up it) that late in the day, there won't be much left out here for me to pick up...and I may be right back here at the budget motel...which happens to be 1 block from the receiver.

 

I had watched the weather channel...they said that this storm isn't going to be as bad as he last one...that storm dropped 7' (yes, feet is correct) in the Sierra's. I was prepared for this to start this year. They are expecting a La'Nina year up here...the one where the N/W gets dumped on more than normal...when that happens, I usually start seeing the N/W a lot more. They said when that last system came through, some of the lite-rail trains in the L/A area had to be shut down due to ice on the tracks....Holy Crap!!

 

Speaking of inconsiderate refer drivers...
So I shut down late this afternoon at truckstop on I-20 in SC. It has a very large lot and no striping of any kind on it, so anyone can presumably park anywhere in any spot or position. The lot is completely empty when I arrive, so I choose a spot over on the side, out of the way of traffic, but close enough that I should be able to get out in the morning if it fills up overnight.

I'm enjoying my peace and quiet, when what to my wondering ears appear, but a refer who has an entire empty lot to park in, but chooses to back in close to me with active refrigeration in progress. Now I ask you... there are ACRES of emptiness to choose from, why does he have to park that roaring thing next to me?

His brother will probably park on the other side and idle all night with an air drier that sneezes every 60 seconds.

I need to go find my medication...

 

I see you know Murphy too? He's a good "friend" of mine.

 

I had been out 6 weeks and requested Thanksgiving week off, beginning the Monday before. Freight traffic apparently crashed the week before that, as I had several nearly 24 hr stints between loads later in the week, got stuck for 30 hours with no freight after delivering to WESTVACO in Cottonton AL (if you don't know where that is, you don't want to know).

I was finally deadheaded 60 miles into Jacksonville to live load a total of 6 pallets to deliver 6 miles from the shipper (we couldn't possibly made anything on that load), and then was dispatched home 3 days early at the company's convenience because they had 25 trucks without loads in the area. So I got 8 days off for the price of 5.

Got an decent start out of the chute today by taking a page out of ET's playbook. I sent a qualcom to dispatch the day before I came back telling them I would be on the load board at 0400 Monday. That move rewarded me with a load within 30 minutes after I logged on this morning. 800 miles to PA, delivers Wednesday morning. Maybe not fabulous, but pretty good for coming out of a major holiday break, I think.