My Central Thread

With my trainer in Ft Worth again. Dropping a Dannon load from SLC and tomorrow we have to take our loaner truck to International. Its a Pro Star Limited. The wipers, cruise, bunk heater, jake, pretty much nothing works on this truck right now. So we have to go into the dealer at 8am. Our load to Cali picks up at 1800 Then we drop that in the Fontana Yard. Then pick up another load to IL. I'm excited about the miles but Im just a little nervous about the snow again.

 

Sitting in the customer lounge at International on the 35 in Ft Worth. I am hoping that it doesn't take too long and that I will be able to sleep a bit in the lounge here. We pick up our load to Fontana at 1800. My trainer told me that I will be driving most of the night so get some sleep. However I really do not drive well at night. Like I can drive but once it starts getting dark out I slow down. Its just a habit that I have it irritates him but that's not my fault. I try to go 65 when weather permits but I cant always do it.

 

Well they finished the truck about 1530 I have been waiting for my trainer to come back and get me so we can pick up our next load. I talked to hime at about 1630 and he said it would be a couple of hrs since he was with his family and hanging out with them. They close International at 12pm so as long as he gets here before then its fine. I got about 3hrs extra of sleep but I cant sleep anymore. I laid in the bunk for about an hr trying to go to sleep. I think I laid there for about an hr and 1/2 but just could not go to sleep. We drop a Saralee load in Fontana tomorrow then pick up a load going to IL for a Monday delivery. We have another load that just came in out of IL to UT that is due the 26th. There is plenty of time on that load so Im not really worried about it. I know that he is the trainer and that he knows what he is doing. However he had 3days of home time last weekend and he pretty much got another day. I miss my family too and would like to spend a day or so with them but this sucks sitting here waiting for him when we could be driving already. I have about 11727 miles since we started. Day 28 would be the 27th and I should have all the miles I need by then. I have 7 backs total and I'm trying not to stress about that because I know that he will get me the rest before we are done but I want to be done already. He is a great guy and extremely knowledgeable but his methods for doing things sometimes suck big time. Id rather have time to sit after a load than sit and not get a load that is available. I am just venting a bit I have been here at International since 730 this morning. I want to get out of here already.

 

So how did the loads work out Scott??
I see you have checked in but not posted.
I saw a black short sleeper prostar at a rest area on the NY turnpike yesterday, was wondering if it was you.
Keep us updated, and keep you chin up. You will get use to the job, and it gets better.

 

You could not have done that load, nobody could have without going over hours.
I tried to tell you that.
Unless you could have gotten loaded early and gotten some miles on it before taking a break.
You can never plan on a 600 mile day when you only have one work cycle. Especially when going thru the mountains this time of year.
I am sure you did it as well as anyone could have. So do not worry about that.

On the marriage end.
That is what got me off of OTR and into work that gets me home more often. My fleet manager at central could not believe it when I put in my notice there.
It is a good job, but it takes allot from you and does not really give back as much as it takes.
I believe you made the right choice for you and your wife for right now.
Maybe in the future you can get back into it again.
Hold your head high driver, you tried.

 

I was literally in your town yesterday lol.
I picked up a load at a plant in Ithaca. But I was in a rush to get home before my hours were out.

Go to your county and town and put in applications.
You may get lucky and get a spot as an alternate for plow duty this winter. Plus it could eventually lead to a good spot full time.
Also Concrete plants always hire in the spring. Go by and talk to people at one or two this fall and feel them out.
Get to know a few guys and maybe apply. They don't normally require allot of experience.

 

I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you Scott. But your family is more Important than a Job. My ex as been on me about getting home and we aren't even together any more. If I ever come thru your town Id love to take you and your wife out to dinner. You deserve to have a happy marriage and I want to hear what happens and what you decide to do.