My Millis Experience -

Trust me we all have those days too! What's your truck number so I can watch for you

 

I sure hope so!

 

Wow - the Holiday's have come and gone (thank god) less traffic and frustrated drivers now they are over. It's been a mixed bag of slow weeks and very busy weeks for me since my last post.

The week through 12/20 I ran 2916 miles and ended up in Albany, GA for the night. Monday's are usually slow day's related to getting a dispatch since many people take the weekends off and too many wanting loads on Monday's. So I sat for most of the day waiting in GA for a load.

Finally later that night I get a load from the Brewery going to McComb, MS. Great - havent been there before and always like going to different places. Ran down to Florida and then followed the Pan Handle over to MS. Small Dist there and was a small T/S right next door to the customer so was easy to just move about 100 feet to the T/S after being unloaded.

From there was dispatched to New Augusta, MS to get a load going to Greenwood, SC. Headed towards New Augusta thinking I had just enough hrs left (since I drove all night) to get loaded and find a place to park there for my 10. Got about 3 miles from where I delivered and as I came over the top of a small hill - saw a Cop sitting in the middle at the bottom with his lights on. I slowed down and next thing I see the COP walk into the road - flag me down and pull me into the median. No Cop - It' was DOT. He say's no worries - you didnt do anything wrong - just going to give you a Level 2 Inspection. I'm thinking great - got about 1 hrs drive time left and this cant be good. He did the full outside inspection of the tractor and trailer and all my regs and licenses. So after about 30 minutes he walks up to me - say's "great job" no warnings or violations and hands me my report and off I go. Made it to my pick up and got loaded and parked there at the customer for my 10.

Ran the night shift and got to the customer in SC with no issues. Not a big fan of night driving - but this close to XMAS so I wanted to run as hard as possible so I can get home. Got unloaded right away and immediately got a load to pick up in Piedmont, SC going to Ashton, IL. It doesnt deliver until Dec. 27th. So when I finished my break - Wednesday night (Thursday Morning actually) I headed to the house for a needed break and to see my family for XMAS.

Had a wonderful time with my son's (they came up from GA)and family for XMAS and also got to see some old friends. One of the best holiday's I've had in years.

Headed out Sunday the 26th for Ashton, IL. Got there way ahead of my delivery and called it a night - just watched some football and relaxed. (well ate left over's too)!

Once unloaded in Ashton, was sent to Chicago, IL for a load going to Cartersville, GA. Great - get to see my son's one more time once I get to GA. Ran hard to get to GA and was actually a full day early - since it's going to the brewery - I just took it over a day early and dropped it. Was thinking I could meet my sons for dinner again - but as soon as I dropped it - got a 2 stoop load picking up in Dalton, GA going to Plano, IL and then on to Shelby, IA. So had to cancel dinner and off to Dalton I went. Once I got loaded - took forever - I only had about 1 1/2 left so made it just outside of Chattanooga, TN and called it a night.

Got up early the next morning and meet another Millis Driver that was going to the same place. We ran together all the way to Plano. Was nice having someone else to talk to and eat with along the way. We both stayed the night in Plano at the customer. I had made a pork loin in the crock pot that morning and his wife made some awesome sides - so we shared dinner and all ate like pigs! (LOL).

Again got up early and headed for Shelby, IA the next morning. Was able to stop at Iowa 80 T/S on my way to Shelby. Got a few small items for my truck and my boys and then headed on towards Shelby. It was amazingly warm in IA. Most of the ride was in the high 50's and sunny.

Got to the customer - dropped my trailer and was given a load right out of the same place. (gotta love those). Only was at the customer about 1 hr and in that time the temp dropped 25 degrees. (####) A storm was moving in so I wanted to get out of there ASAP. My load was going to Effingham, IL so I headed on out of Shelby as fast as I could.

Made it to Effingham early the next afternoon - got to the customer and saw what I call a "Mirage" - A customer that in the same parking lot was a Wal-Mart and a Ryan's Steakhouse. It was seeing a glimpse of heaven. As you know those places are hard to get into if at all most of the time. Thought - ok will unload, hit the wal-mart and then treat myself to dinner at Ryan's........as I got unloaded sirens started whaling due to serious weather was moving in from the east. Storms and tornado warnings were going off all around me. Dang it - there goes my "Mirage". So I passed on Wal-Mart and Ryan's and headed towards Trenton for my pick up. They DH me 259 miles to Trenton to get my next load....whoa!

Got to Trenton - and since my load didnt deliver in Greensboro, NC until Monday morning - got a 34 in. Got to hang out a little with Kirk and a couple of other drivers I know. Left Sunday for Greensboro. No T/S is close to the customer and I didnt want to go to the Eden terminal and then have to go back since my delivery time was 03:30AM to 10:30AM. So I just parked at the entrance to the customer and cranked up the TV and watched the last quarter of my "beloved" Falcons game. Made an awesome dinner and relaxed.

Set my alarm for 4am so I could get up and get unloaded early - I wake up - look out side - Nothing. No lights on, no employees at work - nothing. Another Millis driver had arrived while I was sleeping so at least two of us where there. He wasnt awake yet. AS I sat and wait - A Millis Regional driver showed up. He and I were talking and he told me - he just heard the customer wasnt even open today. DO WHAT! I have been sitting here since 2PM on Sunday and they arent going to open today!!!!!!!!!

Just as I was getting really pissed - a car pulled up and asked what were were doing there. He was an employee of the company and was passing by and saw the three trucks there. He said - they are closed today since they worked on New Year's Eve - but didnt want us to not be able to deliver. So he opened the gates, called in a buddy and they unloaded all three of us. NOW THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I plan to call the customer tomorrow and ensure his boss know's what he did for us and give him thanks again.

Once unloaded - I decided instead of going to Eden Terminal I would hit the TA in Greensboso and wait for a dispatch. As I write this - I have been waiting for about 20 hrs for a load. I expected a delay since many driivers were coming back from vacations today - but man this is a long wait. I got a message at 7PM that I was #2 on the list - but still no load. Once 11PM hit's I will have another reset in - didnt really want that but you gotta take the good with the bad. First time I have ever sat this long.

Was good week though - ended with 3250 miles this week so not too upset. But ready to roll - come on dispatch get me rolling!!!!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year!

P.S - Millis is sending a lot of messages out about looking for drivers due to a lot of freight coming in for 2011! If you're wanting to get started - now is the time to call and get going!!!!!!!