Rug_Trucker Goes OTR What I Am Learning

I really meant to say the ones I have visited have showers. The rest rooms at Glacier Mt. were kind of stinky, I didn't see the showers there. I assumed they weren't nice.

 

Did I mention I saw a Swift day cab pulling a tanker in Chicago? Some kind of concrete or flooring sealer.


In OKC tonight. Meeting Dad and step mom in Pauls Valley OK for breakfast. Then heading South. Only have 9 1/4hrs I can drive tomorrow. 630 miles to final. I am going to stop in Irving TX and visit with a truck'n friend I haven't seen since '91(?) He kind of had to leave Florida in a hurry.

He was owner op for a while and actually leased to MS Carriers for a while.


I have to deliver in Laredo before 16:00 on Monday.


Who knows where I go from there.

 

Got to the receiver in Laredo was told this was a live unload. If you drop a trailer here you have to get it inspected at the terminal before taking it to the consignee. That can be a long and boring process. Best to park outside the shop door the night before. It can take hours of sitting in line.

Receiver wanted me to drop and hook. I told him I didn't have it inspected and would have to leave and no guarantee on when I would return. I waited for an hour and he had me back in to the dock.

I have been sitting at the Flying J and watching movies and snoozing. It was 107* for a while. It poured down rain and cooled things off.

I am pondering the thought of taking a 34hr reset. I did message my DM that I would prefer to roll.

It would be nice to get an automotive load back to MI. I came here from Homer MI.

Best week so far 3200 miles + - Been getting some long runs.

Fueled at Flying J this morning. Now that they take Comdata I applied for their driver rewards card.

I have 2 showers on my fuel receipt. One will definately get used tonight.

Talked to my former mentor. He got 75 gallons siphoned out of his tank while he was eating lunch in upstate NY. Even parked next to the fuel island up front. Small town, nobody saw anything

 

Your mentor shouldn't have moved the trailer where you picked it up originally. He knew the tire was bad and should have messaged breakdown.

Things aren't like they used to be. And the people in breakdown sometimes want you to take risks. It's a role of the dice. Ask yourself, "how far did we pull that trailer knowing the tire was junk?" If you would have been checked when he was in the sleeper it's your problem. He made a decision on your behalf too!


Your experience, skills and safety record make you saleable to an employer.

I got stopped by the DOT. As he was walking to the cab he was looking at the tires.

 

19:30 one day later. Still sitting. I got 2 load offers. HOS! Had to turn it down. Another had 680 miles empty on it? Strange as it was sitting in the yard here in Laredo. 780 or so on it to get to Lowell AR. PU time was from 12:00 to 17:00 today. Why did I get the offer at 16:00? I turned it down as I sent my Macro 10 to finish up a 34hr reset. I messeged my DM in the morning what hours I had available for the next 3 days. Never got a response. I got up at 4 because I had set my PTA for 5.

I had set my PTA for 5 tomorrow also. I decided I was so close to a 34 I might as well finish it out. That was a 15:00 today. The M10 didn't get acknowledged. They sent me the load offer. I messaged my DM. They suggested I set my PTA for when I have my 34 in. (12:45 tonight) Told them I had been up all day and had tried to sleep. Wouldn't be a good idea to pick up anything at that time and try to drive.

I did set my alarm for 2 to resend my M10. I think you have to send it after midnight Phoenix time to get it to stick. I'll go back to sleep and wait for the PP text on the phone.

Lots of trucks sitting down here. I heard Celadon has about 150 waiting on loads. I haven't been to the Swift terminal. Rather be out here with the general public.

I thought about how to handle lot lizzards if they knock on my door. (none so far in 6 months!)

Just do a gay guy impression and tell her, "there ain't nothing you can to turn me on sister!" It might keep my tires from getting slashed.

 

We all know the ultimate responsibility is with the driver. Screw the inspector! He isn't driving the truck or taking the safety hit on his license.