Stevens Transport aviary

Day three of orientation has come to an end. I am tired but content. Should be hitting the road tomorrow.

 

make sure to get all the rest you can, it gets easier once your a solo driver.

 

Turning in Old Truck, Business Class, Alliance Orientation, and now waiting for new Truck to get back from Pete (due on the yard Friday)...

What a week...

 

yea, but now you're in the BIG money!
going for the Pete, eh?
Atta boy~!

 

Flying out to Denver in AM to catch up with my trainer. Great place to start 01.

 

Well, I shut down in Ellensburg WA tonight.
Started last night in Boise, headed to Portland. Got in at 0200 local and was fortunate enough the guard let me stay in the staging area. Normally you can only be there an hour before your appointment, but Ischmoozed with him and he was facinated in what I knew of the area. I told him I use to pick beans and berries on that very spot the DC is located now, when I was a kid. He couldn't imagine it.
So got in the door at 0600 and left at noon thirty. It didn't take them that long, I just didn't feel like getting out of bed and they apparently didn't care.
So Stevens then dispatched me and canceled my dispatch 4 times in two hours!
Finally, when I figured I'd go drop the trailer at Thermo King and spend the weekend there seeing friends, they called frantically..."Go thyself immediately to the hitherlands and make two picks before 5PM! Go to those places they call Selah and Wapato Washington!"
Piece of cake...except they're 160 miles away and that's over a couple passes.
But I made it...not by 5, but I called ahead and ended up knowing the shipping manager. We did business years ago when I first started driving back in the 70's.
(There can't be TWO Sig Rudawitcz in the world...especially in Wapato WA!)
So I got my load...apples and made it to Ellensburg where I scaled out, fueled and now will go shower before setting out for Cedar Falls, IA tomorrow.
This route will take me thru Montana. Got a lot of friends along the way...too bad I don't have time to stop and see them.
Smokr, don't complain! Just think how nice that will be this winter when the lake effect is making driving all over there such a joy!
I'm right on the edge of a storm coming in off the Pacific. It will be my luck to have snow in the Montana passes as I go thru.
Not too early. I've seen snow there in September many times.
Well everyone, enjoy your selves.
Oh, and in case I didn't mention it earlier, I traded my load of onions for some chicken that needed to go to Portland. Scheduled my 10 between WY and PDX in Boise and saw my wife.
Whatta deal!
ciao

 

Got to Denver and we headed to the meat patch so did not get to do any mountains. I drove across Oklahoma today. Started earning my keep. On the way to West Palm Beach. Trainer very cool. In a 2011 Pete. It is late and just got the internet connection going. Hope to report more details tomorrow. Be safe.

 

#### got good news bad news.......
upgraded to a new T700 today, sweet looking truck. has super-singles, smaller 5th wheel, and even has a lcd tv mount inside above the desk. bad news is now i have electronic logs and that new DEF exhaust system. gonna take some time getting used to that.

 

Drove as a professional driver for the first time yesterday. Little nerve wracking as I had not gotten much sleep the last couple days in Dallas and we picked up load in Holcomb that was supped to be ready at 02:45. I called ahead and was told it was ready but when we got there around 2300 or so was told it was not ready. Not only was it not ready but would not be ready by 02:45 either. Seems they ran out of bulls sooooo......went to near by truck stop but since we had to keep calling to check on the load there was not much sleeping getting done. Think we picked it up at 05:00. Anyway, we got way down the road and stopped at a decent hour which allowed me to do laundry, shower and in general pull myself together. I was the first driver this morning so now I am kicking back. I have asked my trainer to stop bouncing the cab around so I can entertain myself properly but he has not complied.

I am gaining confidence and in general just getting better. I am really pleased with Stevens and with my trainer who is real professional who is focused on making me a good/safe driver. Now if he would just stop bouncing the cab around....lol.