From School to Superior Carriers

2/8-2/11

Had a nice leisurely drive down to Exit 217 off of I-10. There happened to be 2 mom and pop truck stops right at the exit for my load. I had plenty of time so I stopped and got my truck washed at Blue Beacon and cleaned it out inside real good. It had gotten pretty ratty from all the mud and salt from the week before. I had a 16 hour break before delivery and picked up about an hour of layover pay. My directions were specific saying not to be late or early on this load.

It turned out to be a fairly high security plant. They manufacture about 23 million pounds of gunpowder per year. They asked me at the gate if I had any matches, lighters, cameras, cell phones and computers. I had to give them my phone, computer and cell phone at the gate. While I was waiting for a product sample to pass the lab tests I watched a dumpster truck unloading the dumpsters. He had a security/ fire department pickup truck following him around the plant watching every move he made.

The guy unloading my tank was real nice. It took about 2.5 hours once we started and we sat and talked in an air conditioned utility shed where you could see and hear the unloading pumps. He was a great guy who also ran a charter fishing boat out of the area. Got unloaded and they tank washed me for home.

I got back to High Point around 14:00 Tuesday. I have today off and they are preloading a trailer for me delivering to a coal mine in Indiana Friday so I am getting back out this week after a 34 hour reset. Its working out well because I have been wanting to do a little part time swim coaching and will be able to work with some kids this afternoon.

I also just got a memo that Superior is temporarily suspending its driver referral program. They used to pay current drivers $1000 if they recruit another experienced company driver/ OO who stays for at least 6 months. The memo said that given the large number of applicants they are getting at all terminals that they will no longer need to pay drivers for referrals. Its no big deal to me since I have never gotten a bonus anyway.

 

2/12-2/15

Had a great day off Wednesday and headed down to the terminal Thursday for my load. It was right where they said it would be and I was down the road with it by 9:00 AM. Dispatch had told me they would probably send me home after delivery so I didn't push it as far as I could have. I stopped about 150 miles away after driving about 500 miles. They told me the product was thick and would take a while to deliver but I figured 11 hours would be plenty of time to air off 3 compartments in my trailer and still make it back to where I stopped. That turned out to be a small mistake.

Friday the 13th

I am not a superstitious guy but this day did not start out great. There was an overturned truck on I-70 heading into Indianapolis that added about an hour to my drive time. I had left at about 6:00 AM hoping to miss rush hour traffic. Wasn't a big problem since I had a delivery window of 8:00-14:00. I got to the mine around 10:30, watched their safety video and headed off towards the buildings. When the guy told me where I was to unload I asked him if I would get stuck. He assured me I wouldn't. They had enough equipment around to pull me out if i did so I ventured into the mud hole. When I stepped out of the truck my feet sank in over the top of my boots. It was a sticky type of coal dust mud that you had to pull your foot out of every step. I got a workout just hooking up hoses. It took 60 feet of 2 inch hose.

My first 2 compartments unloaded fine though it took about 4 hours. I had one more to go and I had to back into a different spot. This one at least had gravel since it was where the workers parked their personal vehicles.
I got hooked up with another 60 feet of 2 inch hose, pressured up and turned it loose. About 45 minutes later the air pressure guage on my 5th wheel hadn't dropped a bit. I was just about to go look for someone when the guy showed up and said I had pumped about 50 gallons into his tank. I knew this was a thick product but thought it would go faster than this. I asked him to show me the tank. It was 3 stories above me so I had to push product through 60 feet of hose then up 3 stories through 2 inch PVC. It ended up taking 6 hours more to unload this last tank. By then I had run out my 14 so I parked for the night at the mine. No shower for me and boy did I need one.

I spent 8 hours there and headed out abour 4:30AM. Fortunately it was 650 miles from home and with an empty tank I was able to make good enough time through the mountains to get home. I have decided I don't like coal mines.

 

I probably would have done an extra through post trip. My mileage for the day Saturday was 666.5. I rounded up on my log.

 

My thoughts exactly. Then I thought of all the front end loaders running around that place and figured that they would pull me out if I did.

 

I would still rather do a load like this than sit the same amount of time at a grocery warehouse dealing with anal passages. The way I look at it is its another $100 in my check that wouldn't have been there otherwise. I would have just been home a few hours earlier on Saturday.

Heading back out into the system this afternoon with a snot load that delivers to the WWTP in Baltimore Tuesday morning.