Stevens Transport aviary

Okay, now I'm sitting at the TK in Turlock and they are working on the trailer. Then I get to head over to Salinas because there is supposed to be a load. No actual load assignment or preplan as yet, but that's what dispatch said.

 

Well it has been an interesting week, emptied out Tuesday in Cheyanne was gonna come home for a reset but winds were just too insane to drive 50+mph gusts and sustained at 35. Broke reset Wednesday cuz the next wind event was moving in for the week so came home to Colorado springs and put my truck in the shop for its slow radiator leak. Lo and behold radiator needed replaced under warrranty of course so no biggie but they had to overnight it. Great wonderful. Got the call from KW my truck was done at 7Am this morning so I head over pick it up knowing we got wind moving in down here and try to outrun the storm. Left the KW dealership not a lick of wind and get 5 miles down the road and here it comes 37mph cross breeze hitting me broadside just like BOOM. Said to hell with it in Pueblo and parked. Called DM told him I was shutting it down till this wind clears no problem. Get to lookin at my load assignment and dang the bad luck DLD is the 13th not 12th. So.....I guess I will sneak another day in at the house cuz this stuff aint lettin up till after midnight per the local weather band and toodle on down to Holcomb when its safe. I 25 closed south of Pueblo, due to wind, and out 50 toward lamar I have heard of 3 rolled trucks/trailers in just the last 2 hours. Dont try to drive in this stuff boys and girls, better to get it there upright then to put it on its side. Find a safe haven and try to park with your nose to the wind.

 

It's been quite breezy crossing eastern New Mexico also but was mostly heading into it. Getting ready to leave: Albuquerque and head to Los Lunas now. Here is where the crosswinds should hit. Luckily I am at gross. Winds are supposed to die around here about 6pm... unfortunately Walmart Appt.is at 4.

 

Got a PP while I was on my way to Salinas. Then I get a call, "why are you headed to Salinas?". Because I was told to. "I need you to take this load to Cheyenne from Dinuba instead." Ok, let me find a place to stop. I get parked at a Walmart a couple minutes later and reply to the preplan and Ding! "A new message has arrived." PP cancelled. I get another phone call. "We are going to leave you on that Salinas load, do your pretrip, make sure you have 4 load locks, don't forget your check calls...". So ok, I get back on the road, get to the shipper. Did I mention I have no appt? Lady at the window says "Midnight, we'll call you". I get back to the truck to find a QC saying "your appt is at 23:45". Nice, but I should be able to squeeze in a 10 before I have to leave. Then I can drive through the danger zone unless I can find a place nearby to park and sleep. Hmm, I am right down the street from that big Taylor Farms dirt lot. I wonder if they would notice one more truck sitting there? I may have a plan,

WAKA WAKA

 

hats where I usually park when I need a spot. Theyll never know lol

I shut down early for icy roads in WY last night. Got going after the sun came up. Wasnt to bad. But bad enough lol.

 

Unless they've changed in the last 2 weeks, Taylor Farms had blocked off half of their lot. They had shut down the facility right there on Abbott Street so they didn't need the full lot open. Good Luck.

 

Are you talking eating or gambling? I ate at Sky City once. It was a tiny buffet and cheap. Was ok. I also tried the one farther west on the north side of 40. Cant remember the name. It wasnt very good at all. Im not much of a gambler so I dont know about the casinos.

Oh, at Rt66 go and get a players card. You get a free ballcap (used to anyway) and you get a discount on the buffet. Buffet is (was) about $10 except thurs, fri and sat its about $20. Tons of truck parking but a shower will cost ya $5.

I always stayed there except the one time I couldnt make it and had to stay at the Hard Rock.

Another cool place on I-40 is at the TX/NM line called Russells Travel Center. They have a killer car museum.

 

I'm not much on gambling either... my trainer was, spent more nights parked at casinos than truckstops with him.

 

My first trainer was like me, he liked the buffets so we visited a few casinos for the food. Second trainer would time it to where we would take our breaks at casinos. He would gamble the night away. Never remember him winning much at all though.

 

Nothing like getting to JBS and finding out the load is ready and waiting... dropping the empty and finding the loaded one... it's the one the mechanic is working on because it won't stay running. Oh well I did an 8hr SB split last might anyway so I just took the other two there and better they found it and fixed it than it going out on me on the way to New York.