Return to ACT (American Central Transport)

OTR at ACT is different than other companies I've been at. . What I mean is this. .

Our core customers are located strictly in the Midwest, and even though we're not on "dedicated" routes. . We see the same shippers and receivers every few weeks. .. This removes a lot of stress simply because you know where your going.

Sure, I have been to New York (state not city) And I've been to Wyoming. . But that is out of the norm.

Have him talk to Michelle, if they will take him. .I would encourage you to take the opportunity. .good luck

 

I loaded in Beaumont TX Saturday the 7th And headed north to Topeka. .

Good Lord! North out of Dallas was a nightmare. .a line of trucks as far as the eye could see in front and in the mirrors. . All of us going 4 mph on 6 inches of solid ice. .

Me and the flatbed I was following stopped on the shoulder of highway 75 just south of Sherman TX.. spent the night along with at least 500 other trucks. . About 9am Sunday morning we said heck with it and decided to try the hill. ..2 miles up the road road graders and salt trucks had north bound clear. ..ugh!

So as we rolled north I lost count of all the jack knifes.. trucks that had gotten off the pavement and there tires sunk in the mud. . Drivers that had made the mistake of setting their trailer brakes, having them freeze and couldn't move. .

We made it to the ok tx state line and Texas DPS was turning south bound trucks around. . STATE OF TEXAS IS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. . Every truck stop was out of fuel, trucks were double and triple parked. . The north bound scale house was closed because a truck took the exit to fast and slid sideways into another truck parked there.

There was no fuel, no parking, no food until we got to the flying j in checotah ok.. and it looked like if you went in, You would play hell getting back out. . Finally fueled and got some coffee in Muskogee..

I delivered in Topeka this morning after spending the night at the ACT yard. . To much black ice and to many wrecks on I435 to chance making it this far and wrecking.

There are so many trucks stacked up in southern Oklahoma waiting to get into Texas, I'd love to sit on the side of the road and film that convoy!

Anyway, 14 years of driving. . I'm sure that I've driven on worse roads but I sure can't remember when.

Be safe

 

I remember seeing an ACT truck there, I usually try to say hi if I see the driver around. .

There were probably 10 ACT trucks heading south on 75.. only 1 had there radio on for me to tell them not to get to far last I40 as there was no parking.

You were smart to stop where you did. Hope you made it to your delivery safe.

I loaded in KCKS and am sitting in Woodstock IL for delivery in the morning.

It's a blustery -5 degrees, I wouldn't normally idle the truck, but I'm not chancing a no start in the morning. .I had to turn in my fuel/tank heater half way here. . The truck started acting sluggish. .I believe the fuel was beginning to gel. . Once I kicked the heater on and after about 15 minutes everything was normal again.

Stay safe

 

Well I delivered to Menards and received a preplan that loaded 42 miles away and delivered in Lee's summit tomorrow at 1600.

I asked if I could deliver early. .No..I asked if I could T call the load at the yard tonight. .No. So I did something I don't normally do. .I turned the load down. . To short of miles, to much time. (I would have delivered and had to wait till the next day for a dispatch)

So, I received a dispatch picking up in Wabash IN delivering in KC tomorrow at 1500.. I'm sure that I'll be spending the night at the ACT yard tomorrow night. .ugh! Only positive thing is, it's a 800 mile load with dead head vs a 525 mile load.

While getting my paper work another ACT driver came in. . He delivers 0630.. We're going to run together for awhile. . Night driving blows.

Stay safe.

 

Well I delivered the load. . Started the truck you and the check engine light came on. . My oil gauge was showing no pressure. .

I called maintenance to schedule the truck for service and replacement of the sending unit. .AARRGH! I can't get in the shop until 1300 the following day (Thursday)..

So I drove to the shop. . Gave them the key, grabbed my over night bag and headed to the holiday inn for dinner and a few cold refreshments. .

I got a good nights sleep. . Ate breakfast And headed over to the shop. . They got my truck in early so it was out of the shop by 1400.. (thanks Aretta) I hooked to a trailer and drive thru the truck wash. .

I qual commed that I was available for dispatch at 1500.. And here I sit. .Candida finally responded stating that she was the only one in the office (at 1630? Really? ) And to let her get caught up then she would try to find me a load picking up tomorrow. ."there's nothing picking up today."

I asked her to find me a good one or a couple mediocre ones as I only have 1, 000 miles for the week. . She said she would. .I'll keep my fingers crossed.

My settlement tomorrow is 3, 100 miles. .
I grossed $4, 700
My fixed expenses are $750
My net for week $1, 513.00

I need to work on my fuel mileage. . It's the only thing I can truly control and I'm doing a poor job of it. .7.0mpg

My business leader is off work this week. .I understand why, I hope his wife is healthy again soon. . Seems my miles per week sure does drop when he is away. . It's as though we get the left overs after everyone else takes care of there own.