From School to Superior Carriers

I am happy and consider myself fortunate to have been able to start here right out of Big Truck Driving school. They are not perfect and I have had some hellish days but they are much better than most in my opinion.

 

I went to a Sage school also run at a community college in Yadkinville NC.

 

5/15-5/18

It looks like I am dedicated to Sherwin Williams this week.

I picked up my loaded 5 holer on the yard Saturday afternoon and ran it on up to Holland Mi arriving around 4:00 PM Sunday with a 2:30 AM delivery Mon AM. At 2:00AM I weighed heavy and was under the rack and back in bed by 3:00 AM. My plan was to get up whenever I woke normally and run the rest of my hours towards home. I wasn't planning on them taking 8.5 hours to unload me. I wound up sitting under the rack an extra 20 minutes so I could log an 8 hour sleeper berth break and be able to reset my 14 hour clock.

I ran it on back to the yard arriving around 13:00 today (Tuesday 5/18). I just got a call from dispatch and this home time will be short lived. I have another Holland load that is supposed to be ready sometime tonight. The plant is going to call me at home when its ready and I can head out anytime after midnight. Pain in the butt but that should put me home Friday night needing a reset with around 3100 miles and 12-16 demurage hours in the bank. Good week.

Time to go to bed

 

5/19-5/20

Got my wake up call from Sherwin Williams at around 11:30PM Tuesday night and drug my butt out of bed. Got over to the plant and was on my way by 2:15 AM. Ran it up to the first travel plaza on the WV Turnpike and shut down for 8 hours at 5:30 AM. I didn't see any point in pushing harder on 4-5 hours of sleep with a 5 hole tank that will take at least 8 hours to unload.

Headed out the next afternoon at around 1:30PM. I took my 2 hour break in Jeffersonville Oh from 6-8 PM. I like to split this run to get a shower in. Pulled into the plant by 2:45 AM this morning and hit the sleeper. I have been here 9 hours so far and they still have one compartment to go needing to use product before their tanks will hold it.

Doesn't bother me. They can take all day if they want. I have been making $13.30 an hour since 4:45 AM. 7 hours and counting rested and ready to roll home. I love it when these loads work out so that I get paid hourly to take my 10 hour break.

 

5/20-5/21

Just got home about an hour ago. I was under the rack in Holland 12 hours so my break was all set and I just hit the road for home. I have Tonight and Saturday off and am heading back out Sunday morning with another Holland load. This one is a system load however so I will get to visit the Markham terminal again. Oh well. I have enjoyed a pretty good run of several weeks of out and back dedicated stuff. Time to pay some dues.

 

I have pretty much managed to get a shower in every day even if I have to split break 8 and 2. I find that if you pull in someplace between 10 AM and 4 PM you usually don't have to wait at all.

5/23-5/27

Good Week!! I made it to Holland Monday no problem and had my standard 8 hour unload money grab. Had my next load before I left Holland. 3:00 PM load at Stepan in Millsdale Il Tuesday delivering in York Pa Wednesday at 1900. I stayed in Holland for my 10 and did a quick drop and hook before loading in Markham. That's the way to handle Markham as long as they don't have you getting there during rush hour. Just be ready to switch trailers as there is usually something wrong with the first one they give you.

I fully expected to be sent to Pauling NJ Thursday for a load headed back to NC for the weekend.

30 minutes after I headed out Wed morning I got a message to call Log Ops. They asked me if I minded running over the holiday weekend. I have a vacation planned in a few weeks so its a good thing to rack up some miles now. I am in Baltimore resetting my hours at the Hotel and will head out with a load on Friday heading to Salt lake City delivering June 2. Been a while since I have seen that part of the country.

Also at the Baltimore Terminal they have just opened an Ammish Market and restaurant directly across the street. Its only open Thurs, Fri and Saturday's from 9:00AM-7-8PM. Its really good. I plan to stock up the truck with home made bread, cheese and deli meat before heading out tomorrow.