Stevens Transport aviary

Keep on trucking Brother!

 

Back roads are always the last to be cleaned up after a storm. Interstates come first, then major US routes, then minor US routes, then State highways....

Something to keep in mind when going around a storm. I had to go around the east coast storm, should have run down 81 through Virgina, Closed, snow, Tennessee a mess, so I ran 70/76 across PA, cold but clear, then had 2 choices, I71 south to I65 to I40 at nashville, or I57 down to Memphis. This morning, with the sun shining, I took the shorter of the two routes, and ran down to Nashville. Interstates were in great shape, but the side roads that I could see where still a mess.

I was born and raised in Wyoming where they are ALL back roads. Better to wait a day, and run at 55 to 60 mph, than run 20 to 40 mph on ice. Just my thoughts, and the way I run.

 

So what have we learned. Here's a chance to train your trainer. Take the hours he drove and calculate the cents per mile divided by the logbook hours he spent. Then calculate the gallons of fuel actually used to travel that speed and Subtract it from that. I'll bet he took a loss. If the road is unsafe and difficult and you can shutdown until you feel safe to run and you'll lose money very quickly for doing so, why run. Take the day off sit back and relax. You'll lose less money.

 

No big rush to get you back to Dallas Gotta keep that freight moving first. Enjoy O2!!!!!

 

Those who have been thru Know, you will too! Long Days, Stupid things said, doors slammed, people walking out......

 

Smokr--are you still enjoying Stevens? I start March 7.

 

Things have been pretty busy this week. I believe my last post put me in Gas City, Indiana waiting to deliver a load to the wally world warehouse. (If you ever deliver a load there be prepared to be painfully bored. They will not let you wait in the truck while unloading. You have to wait in the lounge area near the receiving desk.)

Once we were done unloading the qualcomm macro 10 was sent indicating the unloading was done. Not 20 minutes later the next load assignment came through. It was for a load out of the Kraft plant in Champaign, IL going to Calexico, CA. The load started on Monday and was scheduled for a delivery on Friday. (This load was too much time for two people.) If you ever pick up a trailer or drop off a trailer at the Kraft plant, be careful. It is a tight fight there.

Monday night was spent in Springfield, IL. There were issues with the trailer that had to be fixed. Tuesday night was spent in Gamon, OK. On Wednesday we were given a call to swap trailers with another driver who had a load of produce going to Phoenix delivering at 0400 on Thursday. We swapped at the TA in Santa Rosa, NM.

The snow started to come down and would not stop. As usual I-40 was closed down due to snow. This resulted in not being able to make the 0400 delivery. We were rescheduled for 2300 on Thursday. Wednesday night was spent in Lupton, AZ.

We arrived in Phoenix several hours early and the receiver was firm on the 2300 appointment. Fortunately there was a driver who was out of hours who had a load of poultry going to Stockton, CA. We swapped trailers and headed toward Stockton.

The receiver in Stockton was nice enough to unload us early. A few hours later it was another load assignment. This time it was for two stops. One in Salinas and one in Gonzales with a delivery on Monday in Denver. Normally, this route would reqire travelling I-70 but the trainer requested we travel the I-40 corridor and go into Denver on I-25.

Friday night was spent near Bakersfield. Saturday night was spent in Albequerque.

Tonight I am at the TA just outside of Denver waiting to deliver in the morning.

It has been nice to get some time to get a good shower and do laundry.

I believe my mileage total for the week was just under 2000. I also completed three mountains. (Campe Verde, Grapine Grade, and a mountain that is near the Colorado/New Mexico border that I am too tired to remember. All I know is that while I was driving the qualcomm went off saying I was near a qualifying mountain.)

Overall, Stevens has kept me very busy learning the business and driving.

According to the training process things will be picking up even more.

The nicest thing this week was the drive from Stockton to Salinas. CA 152 heading west from I-5 is very picturesque.