Back Home After First Seven Days Out As A Solo Driver

Just a little update that I arrived home near Austin yesterday for a reset after seven days out on my first solo run. Nobody got hurt and I didn't hit anything (oh, maybe a curb or two!), so I am calling this a good run! My backing skills are still weak, but I have found there are lots of helpful folks out there who are happy to give assistance if asked (and I am not bashful about asking!).

I ran about 2200 paid miles (yep, I did take the "scenic route" a couple of times, lol). My travels took me from Austin to Houston, Fort Worth, Garland, TX, Monroe, LA; Crossett, AR; E. St. Louis, IL; St. Louis, MO; Memphis, TN; Carrollton, Lewisville, Grand Prairie and back to Austin. Arriving near home with a couple of hours left on my 70 clock, I pulled into a closed supermarket parking lot and practiced 90 degree alley backs time and time again. I think it's finally coming to me about not over-steering and the timing for "getting back under" the trailer.

The week was a bit "wild and woolie" at times, but a terrific learning experience and confidence builder. All the best to all of you fellow "Railies"!

 

I am supposed to get home every week, but not necessarily on a weekend. It just happened that way this time. As I understand it with Roehl Regional Fleets, seven consecutive days on duty constitutes a work week after which a reset is scheduled and then another cycle starts. So, the day/s off continue to move forward at each reset.

 

Hiya TXPX!

My truck #7256 is a Red (duh!) 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. I dropped a Relay Load at the Terminal in GP last Thursday about 7:45 PM, hooked onto an empty trailer and stayed the night before heading out for Austin Friday AM. I'll try to alert you the next time I'm there, but I am not yet "technified" to do online stuff when I'm away from my home 'puter. Talking about crazy driving, I do believe the worst two stretches I had to drive was 635 across North Dallas where it's total construction underway and then the drive West of DFW Airport on 121 getting onto 360 South, again, all under construction with lanes too narrow and squiggly with sides closed in by concrete barriers. It was downright alarming. All I could do was slow down and at one point actually turned on emergency flashers to ward off aggressive four wheelers. While driving those stretches, I was thinking, "Man, what a shame it would be to have driven six straight days elsewhere, then have an accident at the end to ruin it all!" But, I was able to stay clear of any actual trouble and made it those last 50 miles or so without incident. Thanks for the words of encouragement!