Abilene Experience

Picked up my second seat new hire today and we headed out to Fort Myers FL. I let him drive about 4 hrs in daylight on 95 and he handled the truck very well. Dispatch tried to give us a rush Hummus load to Des Moine and I had to put my foot down and call Tim my new dispatcher into play at the window to settle the difference with them. No way was I running like that on his first trip! We werent the only training team this was put on and refused by either. It all works out as i like to say and we are all happy pals again.
Taking our break at the rest stop in Orlando with 185 mi to go before our noon delivery. Be well!!

 

We left out yesterday early and got down to Fort Myers & delivered. Had some confusion thru the qcomm on our next load...contradicting dates and times and shippers?!?! Tim explained we have a new dispatcher they are breaking in and he was cornfusing us!!! We werent the only truck. So up to Ochakalokee or something GA to pick up kitty litter. Was worried about weight so I fueled the truck and scaled it empty 35100lbs with 12200 on the steers. Went to proactively slide the 5th wheel back and it wasnt getting air to unlock it. Fixed that and went to shipper. I had been up with Spencer since 6am and we got there at 8pm. I told him to sack out and i would take care of the load. We got loaded at 4am!!!!! They dont call or come get you...you have to know who you follow. We left out after Spencers break was up. Headed out on 84 to get to 95. He going to run his full shift today and hes doing very well. He handles the big and small roads just fine and seems to be getting his groove back. Hes been driving big truc ks local for the last year but pulled8 mos otr before that. So he has fair experience. Headed to Sutherland VA Wally World DC..see you not there! Be good and safe!

 

Im used to running between 11800 and 12400 as a solo with the 5th wheel set two notches back. In this case i needed to get it back a couple notches due to the extra weight of a trainee and his gear. It will stay 3 holes back from the shop's orange paint mark. With 78600 i was running 12100 on them with 2 men and gear full of diesel. All good!
i let Spencer drive 500 miles yesterday thru rural GA and up I-95. Had some moderate rain and night driving. No concerns, he was safe and competent. What sucked was me getting 3 hrs of sleep the night before. He had a full rest period and sleep. Its funny, he laughs and giggles in his sleep! Wish i had those dreams!

 

I dropped Spencer off at the Hess on 460 to his wife as a treat for the night. I went and dropped at Wally World in Sutherland and wentto the yard. Slept like a baby.
We hooked a load this morning going to Indy for two stops tomorrow. I have Spencer at the wheel at least until the snow/roads get challenging in WV. He needs to run the little mtns today so he can get comfortable with the truck/load. I will take over and run it on through later today. Next trip we are going to team. Head out to CA and take a share of those runs.

 

Woke up yesterday in snowstorm so i drove the deliveries in Indy and Ft Wayne. Then drop dry van back in Indy and bobtail to Groveport OH and run down to Atlanta. Load was already late by the time we got the QC message. We ran like heck and got it to Atlanta as fast as a 68mph truck could. 8:55am...it was sched for 4am! Spencer is doing very well and handled his first shift with me in the sleeper with no issues. Told Tim to run us and talked to Sally as well. No rest for the weary!

 

Picked up a load in Decatur, GA going back to Appamatox VA... Disaster Relief/charity hospital items and now waiting/sleeping on site. FYI AMX drivers this place has plenty of overnite parking. Maybe a decent stop if you find yourself between wytheville and Richmond to layover....1/4 mi north of 460 at the VA24 exit. 1st warehouse past the store.

 

Sat at BH in Petersburg for 3 hrs waiting for our load to be finished. Another hour for ppwk and then they added an Atlanta stop. So atlanta then four stops in The LA area. I was reassured we were dropping this load in riverside. It better still be so. The last delivery on this reefer is set for 12/23. I plan on being back in Richmond on the 23rd or 24th at the latest. That was the plan with Tim/Dispatch. I really hope that they hold true on that.
Do I see a plane ticket in my future? I really hope not....