Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Yea I hear ya on the sleeping thing. When I'm on the road it's hard for me to sleep very long. And I'm like you, I don't mind night driving only if I'm rested. And I hate sitting, but with produce hauling, it seems to be the norm sometimes.

 

For me, I can't sleep in a moving truck. Especially on the top bunk. Since you're higher, you feel the sway and bumps so much more. It's nearly impossible. Like @chralb, I only slept 3-4 hours, tops.

If the truck isn't moving, I have no problem sleeping. If it's moving, I have a problem. I'll be starting stage 3 this coming week, so I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel as for trying to sleep in a moving truck. Though I don't know how stage three works as for the team driving aspect of things.

This past week, Abilene ran me and my trainer pretty good. We pretty much only stopped for our 30's and fuel. I finished up with the trainer yesterday and checked into the LQ down the road from the yard. I slept for 13 hours, so I definitely knew I was tired, LOL! I haven't done that in YEARS. Teenage years probably, and I'm now 42.

 

Yeah, the sleep thing has been my whole life. Even when running my company and building homes for 12 to 14 hours a day. It's actually a drawback with the mandatory 10. Sitting? I've just never been able to do.

So, guess I'll be dropping this box in the yard tonight about 8 and then who knows what's next. But 5 will get you 10 it aint headed west.

 

Sounds like its going great for ya Chris. ... hope it continues thru the rest of your training and more importantly, beyond that.

42 eh? You're just a pup yet.

 

But sometimes the loads just don't line up that way. {shrug}

 

Curious, are you counting the 10 in the idle time? If so, running 11 on and 10 off would equate to 48% idle time... So 40-50% would be extremely efficient.

Please clarify.

 

I hate sitting for 34 hours at a truckstop... So I take the recap until the hours come back around or a lull in the loads create more time.

But I have also been running more regional lately so 20 hours at home helps the clocks a lot... Even if total miles do suffer a bit.

 

Changing trainers for Stage 3?

They must be freeing up on the LQ during training... I was asked to "camp out" in the truck when the trainers went home... LOL

But I assumed I would be spending several nights in a truck going forward so might as well get used to it...

You will enjoy having your own solo truck!!!!

 

Stopped at Nick's on I-40 in Arkansas for lunch... Mmmmm.... So goooood.

Forgot it was Lunchtime on a Sunday... Several folks coming in all dressed up from Church...

One lady in a very nice but very tight dress... I wanna know which church she attends... I might need to stop in for services some Sunday morning...

As I was leaving another Abilene Truck pulled in but I could not catch his eye... He can in backwards so maybe he was just lost and turning around.... KW176x I think. Forgot the last number.

Off to WM to D/H then on to Richmond.

Stay Safe,
MD

 

I asked the same question regarding stage three and trainers. I was told they have trainers especially for the N.E. region. Jerry was a fellow that was named for my trainer. We'll see though.

Regarding hotel, I asked that question also. My second phase trainer went on home time, so that I why I was put up at the LQ. (Per Kimberely) It was pre-planned, LOL. (only pre-plan I will ever see?)

My few first solo runs will be something I'll probably never forget. I'm sure we were all in the same boat regarding the nervousness, anxiety, feeling of what have I forgot to do, things like that. But then again, YES!! I can't wait to have my own SOLO truck.