Driving OTR with US Xpress

Hey Sammycat!


I was wondering where you've been.


Sorry to say that wasn't me following ya. I would have called to tell you I was local.

After I got sorted out with Snowball, I was routed home to Ellenwood, via Birmingham, AL. But as is the case, it seems lately, my newly acquired ride has it's share of problems. Major issues with the regen system has caused me some delays getting back on the road.

I reported back to my truck on Tuesday and was dispatched by 1000. Picked up a Clorox load that was destined for Rock Hill, SC. but about an hour into my trip the check engine lights came on again. So breakdown routed me to a Freightliner dealer in Jefferson, GA.

Finally the problem was repaired. Well........it seems repaired, anyway. No check engine lights and the truck is running great. So maybe that's my glitch for this buggy.



I've been dispatched to bring a Kimberly Clark load from Beech Island, SC to..............get this........New Milford, CT which is my hometown. I haven't been back there in 3 years. Even the kids are going to be in the area.

Word's out that I'm going to be there tomorrow, and some of our friends are trying to find a place for me to park. I'll see how that shakes out. Truck parking is very limited in CT.



So tonight my feet are up at our Shippenburg, PA terminal. Going to hit the sack shortly. I want to get a jump on the traffic. At least I don't have a need for any USX route solution on this run........




Vinsanity, were you at the Flying J in Rock Hill, SC today around noon? Thought I saw you heading back out to your truck.






Sorry Sammycat.....kinda used my response to you as an update as well.






Oh, saw a guy tail-gating a car on I 81 today. When the car he was following quickly changed lanes, this guy ends up running over an entire truck tire. Lifted the back wheels of his car right off the ground.




.............It was a super single to boot.






That's what you get for drafting, buddy.






Thanks for reading.

-Wedge

 

Hello There.


Well. I figured I should post an update before I forget everything.


I ran a Kimberly Clark load up to my home town of New Milford, CT on Saturday morning, and as luck would have it, no empties available.


So I don't have to tell you what happened to my pre-plans.......


.....around the bowl and down the hole.



I was destined to stick it out in CT with no trailer and no P/A. So I headed up to my old house to park and hang with my old neighbors. It was a piece of cake now that I didn't have a trailer. It's a dead-end street and I know everybody, so parking wasn't a problem.

When my buddy Eric saw my truck coming down the road, he jumped off of his lawn mower and ran towards me (I'm pretty sure he didn't bother shutting it off......).


Once the word circulated that I was there, I didn't need to move an inch. People showed up on foot, bicycles, or in cars. It was a small welcoming party in the middle of the street.............ah, nothing like being home.


I was dined and entertained for 2 days waiting on a dispatch. Even had an offer to play a round of golf on Sunday morning, but I passed (what the heck I was I thinking).


Had a chance to visit with everyone before I left early Monday morning to pick up a load in Kearny, NJ.


Trips and Stats

Coming off home time on Tuesday morning and having a problem with Snowball that put me in the shop at Freightliner the next day, last weeks miles were a dismal 849.


I'll chalk that one up to tractor growing pains.


Tonight, I have my feet up in North Cove, NC with a load that heads to Waukegan, IL. Paid miles: 692. To get down here, I had a 606 mile run from Gibbstown, NJ. Although these trips are good, my delay over the weekend will cost me again. The IL run can't deliver until Thursday so this weeks settlement will be low again. But Snowball is running fine so it's time to make up for lost ground.



As you can see, it doesn't take much to kill your miles for the week. Breakdowns, delays at shippers or receivers, a bad trailer or no trailer, anything that disrupts the planners itinerary can wipe out your miles. This is trucking.



I look past it...........


..........it's the average that matters, not the week.



Off to the windy city.





Thanks for reading.
-Wedge

 

Where's your area?