Superior Carriers 2013-2014

All of the above. Most of the time its air. Flammable is usually a customer pump. I use my truck pump 5-10 times per year mostly on resin. Only gravity dropped once in 5 years. Some plants are drop and hook. Most of the nasty hazmat loads or high temp loads the customer handles everything.

 

That isn't true. I have only had to drive all night a few times in 5 years. Those were evening live loads with a delivery appointment the next morning.

Today I headed out around 8:30 AM after a 15 hour break. I drove 83 miles to the customer for a 10:30 AM appointment. It was a pump unload that took 2 hours. I then drove 250 miles and dropped the empty trailer at a tankwash and bobtailed to the terminal.

Tomorrow I will get my pump cleaned, grab an empty clean trailer, drive 180 miles and live load at 21:00 for a Sunday evening delivery 750 miles away. I like to drive during the day so I will probably stop shortly after loading for at least an 8 hour break. This time of year weather makes a difference in how I might run as well.

 

The one without any showers? Glad to meet you David.

 

I turn it on and spray some pam in there every few weeks. It will still rust and needs to be cleaned before every pump unload. The shop in Karns City poured in about a half gallon of what they called "white oil" to keep it from freezing last week. It was 12F outside when I used it and didn't have any problems.

 

1/21-1/27

It's been a long, cold but productive week. My unload up in Monongahela Tuesday morning was much less pleasant with negative wind chill temps than the wek before. Fortunately nothing froze on me. My biggest hassle was getting the chicago fittings unhooked on my air line. It was raining so hard last week, I connected them together before coiling my hose on the catwalk. I didn't want water getting inside and freezing. It took what seemed like forever to get them apart because the hose would slip and I couldn't generate enough torque. Finally with a pair of vise grips and channel locks I was able to get them apart right when the plant guy came out to tell me the lab sample was approved.

That unload took right at 2 hours and I was tankwashed up to Karns City. Got up there without issue and was rewarded with a pump unload Thursday morning in Jacksonville Il. I spent a couple of hours in the shop getting my pump checked out. It was frozen solid from the last time it was washed.

The tank wash and shop guys in Karns City were great.

They steamed it and loaded it up with about 1/2 gallon of "white oil" to keep it from freezing. I was actually able to turn the PTO shaft with my hands in 12F conditions before heading to the plant to unload Thursday morning.

They had me pull an empty to the plant where my load was in Harrison City Pa about 60 miles away. There is no good way to get to this plant. I found myself on curvy 2 lane roads that run parallel to the Penn Turnpike with 14% grades one of which ends at a set of railroad tracks. Fortunately my load of Styrene resin was ready when I got to the plant even though my pick up appointment was for the next day. I was able to get out to the Pilot on 70 in Bethel Park with my load and set up a purely driving day for Wednesday. That was a nice change after spending a day playing outside in arctic conditions.

My pump unload went off without a hitch and I was tankwashed up to Lansing Il, then over to Markham. They were renovating the driver showers/bathrooms. I got there after the office and shop were closed so there was no bathroom available for drivers to use until 2300 when the shop guys came to work. Typical Markham disregard for drivers. I fail to understand why these renovations could not have been done one bathroom at a time leaving one operational, other than the impression that whoever is in charge simply does not care.

At least I got a load out Friday evening and only had to spend about 22 hours at the terminal banking 8 hours of layover pay. I loaded Friday night in Mapleton Il with a load that delivers Sunday evening in Winder Ga after another 22 hour break and 8 hours of layover pay. If I was going home I would have tried to deliver it last night. Afterwards I will drop the empty at the tankwash a mile away and grab a preloaded trailer headed up to Danville Pa delivering Tuesday morning. I am camping out at the Loves in I-75 just north of Atlanta. The showers are a lot better than the Express TW and I get free coffee and sodas here.

I hope I can find this plant. The directions on the travel order leave a lot to be desired. This is what I have to work with.

94 E to 75. N to Mc Nichols Rd Exit. E to Ryan Rd. L to Nancy St. Turn R 11 Blks to Lamont Ave. L to plant

I cannot find any of the roads listed in MS streets and trips, google maps, or mapquest. I called Atlanta dispatch Friday afternoon and was told they will call the customer. I am not holding my breath though. I googled the company's name and found a big plant in another town 10 miles away. Hopefully that is it. I am also running on rollover hours. This load will be a day late if I have any hiccups. Should be a decent paycheck this week though and the weather in Pa will be above freezing next week.