Glad I moved over to Poly Trucking

Well, are we all having fun yet(still)???? I tried the 'I will help unload' offer at Target in Oconomowoc, but they must'a forgot. 5 hours later I was out of there enroute to Beaver Dam for my final....but totally screwed on my 14, so I ended up sleeping in the front drive in front of the D/C for my break...then backhaul had me run a load for Coyote...DePere to Plymouth, MN for the next day. But the load didn't pick up until 1600, so in order to make the 0900 delivery, I got there early and spent the night at the shipper. But that screws me after delivering. It was a floor load which they loaded with a clamp lift, but had to unload by hand...although they hand unloaded an entire trailer faster than Target did the 3/4 trailer that was on pallets...and really friendly people to boot, but it still took 4 hours after 6 hours driving. And I still haven't gotten my coolant leak fixed. I was going to get it after Wally in Beaver Dam, but didn't want to screw up a backhaul/appointment load so then I planned on doing it after my MN load. However after the drive time and unload time, that put me too close on my 14 to get in and out of a shop and then shut down in time...so Outbound offered me on a 2 stop M & P...Spokane/Bend OR...so this way I have time on the load to get this sucker fixed. So much for holding off on running west until I get used to super-singles on slick roads.

I have been on an emmotional yo-yo lately. Some times I feel like I'll enjoy a long an prosperous stay here and other days I wonder why I came here. I guess that'll pass. After all, I was at Crete for almost 10 years...being the new kid on the block is going to take time to adapt.

 

SSB, this is the very reason I mentioned not posting how happy you were to come work here until after six months. The older trucks for new drivers and freight learning curve will make you wonder. It did me too, but after about three months I settledin. You will too.

 

What's the deal with Crete and Poly? Are ex crete drivers the only ones who know how to use a forum? 9 times out of 10 it's crete drivers asking me how i like it at poly. Is someone there a dispatcher or something saying this gig sucks but i know of a great gig in tx. "It's amazing, you wont get passed by jb or schnieder anymore."

 

SSB, if the delivery in Bend is on Beta Drive you can park right by the shipper at that one. Nice folks, in and out quick.

Well if anyone is coming in from the east to GP don't use I-30, drop down to I-20. Lots of lane closures for late night construction.

Made it back to GP tonight and guess I will knock out the old video in the morning with the new hours of service stuff. Rolling out after that to visit my mom in Arkansas and grill up some steaks for a late birthday celebration. Delivering unfortunately to Lugoff, SC on Sunday and Hope Mills, NC and a mom and pop near home on Monday. Hopefully some deer hunting in my future while home along with stacking up some fire wood for the winter.

 

unfortunately it's not, it's on Paiute way...and the receiving is only open 9-12. You mean we have more than 1 customer in the bustling metropolis of Bend...(if anyone asks where I'm going...I just tell them I'm on a bender...as in Bend OR, well, except if it's the DOT asking since many don't have a since of humor)

 

I figured out how to keep my coolant leak at bay...and it doesn't involve duct tape or coat hangers. I tried the old trick of loosening the cap a little so it doesn't build pressure, and I haven't lost a drop. Since it's cool outside, I won't have to worry about overheating.

And it looks like I picked a good week to come up here. Warmish and none of that foul 4 letter 's' word...to deal with. I guess sometimes a blind squirrel does indeed find a nut

 

That Piute Way location is the same place I think, I think the road I said was a side road to it. I was surprised that Bend was as big as it was, over 100K population I think.

 

A very strange thing has happened to my coolant leak...with the cap tight or loose, it has just quit leaking. Before, I could watch it drip, I was getting about 400 mpg of coolant...now I've driven over 1200+ miles without loosing a drop. The only thing that has changed is the altitude of the roads. Very odd!!

And I guess my routing skills are still good. Google maps route says it is1402 miles from Up North to the city of Spokane...I chose to head all the way to the Petro west of town for a 34 and some laundry since my 1st drop isn't open on the weekend...and even with the 24 miles round trip from customer to the Petro and back I've only run 1431 miles...well within the 10%

 

Made it to Wilton, NY Thursday night then checked in at Target at 0900 for the 1100 appointment. The receiving clerk said the computer was showing a 7 hour unload time for the full trailer. This info was on the trip cover sheet, but I've never noticed this info for a Target delivery before. So I'm wondering if disseminating this info is a new procedure for Target? Anyways, as mentioned in a previous post this is something I was already prepared for, but the question was, would it be seven hours from the time I checked in or from my appointment time? Either way did not matter as my backhaul didn't pick-up till 1300 400 miles away in North East,PA.. However it was nice to get the call 7 hours from my arrival.

Now here I sit in the dock 3 hours past my appointment at the shipper in PA.. They just began the loading process because they were waiting in product. Broker said to mark in/out times on BOL and they would pay detention, we'll see.

My delivery appointment is for 0600 Tuesday in Sanger,TX. I'll be on the GP yard later that morning for the remainder of the day as I'm on the outbound board for Wednesday.

SSB, that coolant leak could be temperature related. The Freightliner I drove was sensitive to it. I told the shop what was happening but was told not to worry about it. So I just carried a couple extra gallons of fluid and replenished then at the shop as needed.

 

it may be...it was warm until I got to northern IL for the night, then 30 at night an 40 in the day. The drip was coming from a solid line off the back of the oil cooler...very hard to see, and impossible for me to reach w/o a service pit. I've tried running heat, not running heat. Watched the temps climb until the engine fan kicked on and off climbing some of the grades in western MT...still nothing. I had filled it at the shop before leaving and took 2 gallons of coolant. I had to use them just outside St. Louis...1 exit before the last fuel stop before IL...then had to add 1.5 gallons of $18.99/gal truck stop coolant...since then, not a drop.