Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Delivered the load on monday morning no problem and got a load pretty quickly thereafter to pick up at weyerhaeuser in Plymouth Nc. I had been there once before, but was not sure until I arrived.
When you use their tarp machine you are real close to the next truck bay on your right and you both use the same machine. I almost snagged the TMC qualcom when I raised the hooks. I did not realize it had gone that far over.
The TMC guy was cool about it and I apologized and he said it was not a big deal at all.
This load was going to AB Martin Roofing in Ephrata pa. When I got there I tried to get in, but it is all locked up. I had to call them and they came over to let me in. The guy even helped me fold my lumber tarp when he got there. I just knew I was going to get a load to choke a chicken and sure enough I did.
I had not been there in a while. I was loading in the back to the left.
As I was sitting there the big black guy comes out and walks over to me and I say How are you doing? He says, "How can we help you?" I tell him, I am waiting to back into that door when the other truck pulls out. He says, "OK, How can we help you?" Mind mind is working and I am thinking of all sorts of things to say....but the best I came up with is "I guess I do not understand the question". He then says, can I have your paperwork?.
(Of course I am thinking, why didn't you just say so...but just got my paperwork and handed it to him)
They had me loaded in about 3 minutes once I backed in and I pulled out and secured and tarped and was on my way.
This load was going to Demmer Corp in Lansing Michigan. I had been there a couple times, before but they now have you come in where you used to exit.
I was about 30 minutes early for my appointment time so I got everything put away and then sat for over an hour. The fork lift guy finally comes over and asks me how long I had been there. I told him and he said the guard never told him I was there. He takes my paperwork and it is another hour before he comes back to get me to unloaded.
From there I got a load to pick up at SDI in butler. I was not going to get out of there before my time ran out. In fact when I got there they were stacked up on the road leading to door 106 and I only had 45 minutes left while I was sitting in line. I do not mind staying there at all as they have port o lets in case you need them.
It was really windy so I helped another Mav driver do his tarp out in the lot. I was able to get mine done inside as the guy in front of me had me blocked in and I was glad of that because the wind was really blowing and I did not want to have to tarp outside.
On a positive note, my cb worked fine and I was able to talk to them from the truck.
This load was going to Ryerson Procurement in Ambridge so I knew I would get sent over to IPSCO in Ambridge afterwards.
Since it was raining, no one could untarp outside so It was taking a very long time as they were taking only one truck in at a time.
They finally took two of us in so I could untarp and un-secure while the guy in front of me was doing his.
I had received a preplan to pick up at IPSCO as I knew I would. The only problem is that even though it was only 1.5 miles away, there was no way I was going to get there in time. When I finally got unloaded and got the load assignment, I was almost two hours after my appointment time.
When I get there I am told that there is another Mav truck back there and you can only go back one at a time, so I waited for about 45 minutes for him to come out. As we pass each other he tells me that they told him that he was the last truck for the day. I told him it was probably because I was late and they did not think I was coming.
I go back there and back in and there is no one to be seen. The lights were out in the office and the computer was turned off.
I waited for 30 minutes and then called the guard. He tries telling me that they are back there and will see me. I am persistent and finally get him to agree to call someone. After another 30 minutes I call him back and he told me he did speak with someone and they would be up. After another 30 minutes someone finally walks up and tells me that they were trying to find someone to unload me that there would not be anyone in this department until the next shift later that night.
After about an hour they finally get there and figure out how to load me and get me loaded. By that time I only had 20 minutes left on my 14 so I sent in a message stating that I was going to be out of time and that they would not let me park there.
I got a return message to let them know when I got stopped.
I left and and finally got shut down up on 80 past the the first rest area that was still closed.
Gave them a call and there was no problem.
This load was going to Plymouth Tube in Winamac. I had a preplan to pick up at US steel in portage while I was at Ambridge...so there was no way that I was ever going to make it.
In route they changed the time to one that I could make.
Got unloaded and headed to Portage. Got in there and out with any hold ups and made it to the pilot in Plymouth Indaiana and shut down.
Got on the road early and stopped in ohio at the scale house on us 30 to make coffee.
While it was brewing, I turned and knocked the whole pot over and what a mess. So I did not have any coffee but had a blast cleaning up the grounds and coffee.
When my wife came to pick me up I had her bring a bucket with hot water in a jug and some soap. So the floor got a good cleaning.
This load is going to Greenville Pa and then I have a preplan to pick up in Mt jewett PA at 1500.
So If i plan it correctly, I will deliver before 10 and then drive over and not loose much time for my 1500 appointment.
But the last time I had a preplan on Friday for Monday, I did the same thing, but then they changed it on me and I ended up sitting all day waiting for a load. So I have not decided exactly what time to head out tomorrow. We shall see!
Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

 

I would like to thank the person who listed me as their referral and just recently delivered their first load!
Just had an unexpected roof repair and the bonus was very timely!
God Bless!

 

Monday
Headed out early for Greenville Pa to Reynolds Services. Had no issues getting there and when I got unloaded I still had my preplan on me . It was to go to Temple Inland MDF plant in Mt Jewett Pa. It was a 114 mile deadhead. My appointment was not until 1500 but there was really no where to stop along the way, so I headed on in there. It took me through the Allegheny national forrest which was very pretty.
Had some nice hills to go up and down as well.
Did not get in load early. In fact there was another Mav who had a 1400 appointment and was late. So they loaded him at my time. The guard was really nice. She kept making coffee for all of the drivers if they wanted it. She also told me I could use her microwave if I wanted to. As time was dragging on, I thought for a bit that I would not have enough time to get down out of the hills and to the expressway. I was a good 80 miles from anyplace that I could safely park.
Even though they had 6 bays, they were only bringing trucks in and filling up two at a time.
I finally got loaded and tarped and had enough time to get down out of the hills and onto the expressway. I made it to the rest area about 90 miles away and spent the night there.
My appointment at Sauder was for 11:00. They will sometimes load you early, but it is really a roll of the dice. I did not want to start my day too early and end up sitting.
I got there around 10:30 and they told me to go right on in and get unloaded.
As soon as I was untarped, I was getting unloaded. It could have not gone any smoother.
I got my next load right way to go down to coil plus in springfield. The appointment was for 1300 and there was no way I could make it in time. In fact, I did not get there until 1500...two hours late. Again, not my fault!
Got loaded pretty quick and headed out. I wanted to make it to Jackson Ohio at the A&A truck stop. But first I needed to stop at Jeffersonville Ohio to get fuel.
Waited to get to the pump which seemed like forever, only to find that the pump would not take my info. So I had to walk in and give it to them manually. This only happens to me when I have a limited amount of time.
Made it to Jackson with about 45 minutes left.
Set my alarm clock incorrect for 0300 when in fact I should have set it for 0400. So I thought I would have a nice breakfast. The bacon shot in the air when you put the fork to it and the coffee tasted like it had been brewing all night....lol
At least with my granola bars, they always taste the way I expect them to.
This load is going to Fcc North Carolina in Laurinburg.
Got there and got unloaded in good order and had to wait for about 15 minutes for my next load.
The next load is to pick up at Darlington SC at 1900. It was around 1330s when I got the load and it is only 47 miles away. There were no truck stops in the area so I headed on down there an waited until around 1945 before they called us up. Then you have to wait in the next line until they call you down into the plant. Sort of like a doctors office, moving you from one place to another.
This load is going to Oneal Steel in Shelbyville In.
I new I was going to spend the night there as I was out of hours before I ever got loaded. Threre were two other Mavs that spent the night there as well.
I was going to have a complete day to drive and then deliver on Friday morning.
My appointment was for 0930.
I stopped at the flying J in Walton Ky. Had a real strong storm come through there but I was all comfy watching Jag in the truck.
I got to Oneal at 0830 and by the time I got everything put away, they were getting me unloaded....so it worked out perfectly.
Did not have to wait long for my next load which was going to take me home. Pick up at Nucor Steel in Crafordsville In going to Follansbee WV for an 0800 delivery on Monday.
Got right in and loaded and was headed for the house.
There was a crash on I70 on the east side, so I took I 74 down to IN 44 over to In 3 back up to I70. I had 5 hours to drive 3 but I did not want to get stuck.
Made it home yesterday evening around 1930.
I will go spend the night at the truck again tomorrow night as I will be leaving out at 0430. There really is no place close to the consingnee to make it worth heading out on Sunday evening.
Hope you all have a great weekend.