Central Oregon Truck Co...the fun begins

I'm averaging .465 cpm on the quad fleet, so if you take away my .05 cpm extra for running quads, that's still more per mile than what you would be bumped up to. You also have a much better chance of hitting the fuel bonus too. I also tarp a bit more and go into Canada a lot so that helps me. Miles have been consistent here, around the holidays my miles dropped, but I kinda expected that. In October I ran almost 12,500 running regional.

Getting ready to head out. I'll deliver tomorrow in Calgary and then pick up Tuesday morning in Columbia Falls. If all goes well, I'll deliver that Wednesday in Tacoma. Have a great week everyone, GO PACK GO! Ice Bowl 2 in Green Bay tonight.

 

What a week so far. Delivered in Calgary on Monday and ran with another driver down to Columbia Falls, MT. There was a high wind warning so snow was blowing all over the road creating some pretty good snow drifts. Interesting little drove around Glacier National Park where I clipped a deer about 30 minutes before I got to the pilot. A couple of small cracks in the bumper, just cosmetic thankfully. Loaded Tuesday morning and drove to the receiver in Tacoma and spent the night. On the way there I took a rock to the windshield so I'm getting that replaced right now in Spokane.

Yesterday was a PITA. Got up dark and early to untarp and unstrap so I was ready to go when they were ready. That went well and drove to the Love's where I exchanged high fives with someone who had just won 20 grand on a scratch off ticket he had scanned at the fuel desk. He said it had been sitting in his car for over a month. Needless to say, he called out of work.

Went and picked up drywall at GP where there was a big ole line. Ended up staying there for about 6 hours before I got out of there. I then had my tag axle fender tightened back up as it had been shook loose. Because I didn't leave Tacoma all day, I had been up for going on 12 hours before I started my clock. By the time I had got to North Bend, chain law went up over Snoqualmie. At that point I called it quits. I was exhausted and I don't have to deliver in Calgary until Friday morning. I'm doing this favor because I've been home whenever I requested. I'll head up to Edmonton to pick up some 65' steel I beams going to Longview, WA for Monday morning. I should still be home for Saturday.

 

It is chain and go if it affects delivery or pickup. In this case it didn't so I opted not to. If it would have, then I would have slung them on. I try not to use them if I don't need to, but I have needed to twice this year.

And crazw, I parked at the TA in North Bend, WA. They usually get upset if you park on the side of the road like that.

 

Got home today around noon, glad this week is finally over. Was told to go to Kenworth in Spokane to get my windshield replace, they had me scheduled in for 1000 on Thursday morning. I got there promptly at 0930, checked in, and then pulled my truck in front of a bay. They then proceeded to take 5 HOURS to replace my windshield and do a software upgrade. Needless to say, I was not pleased. I was now unable to make it Calgary that day and was only able to make it to Jaffray, BC that night. Delivered in Calgary at noon on Friday and drove straight up to Edmonton where they loaded me in less than an hour. I decided to just spend the night up there and get up early on Saturday. Threw on my oversize banners, flags, and lights and headed out at 0300 local. About and hour down the road, there was a wreck involving a rig and a car. The car had rolled over and the rig jackknifed trying to avoid the car. Snow had blown across the road overnight so the roads had become slick. That was another 2.5-3 hours of time lost sitting. Made it to the rest area before Post Falls, ID and shut it down.

It was a good week miles wise no doubt about it. If I don't get another load in before payroll, I'll have 2750 miles plus 2 tarps and a Canada crossing.

 

Delivered Monday morning in Longview, quick and painless. I then went up to Tacoma to pick up some more drywall except this time I was loaded by four hysters and was out of there in a little over an hour. A big difference from the week before. I delivered that load up in Calgary to the same place as last week. Got up there at 0700 where it was 50 degrees, I couldn't believe it.

Tomorrow I'll be picking up in Kettle Falls, WA going to Madras, OR for Friday morning. From there I'll be heading to the yard to switch into a semi with a roll top and I'll start running Western 11. I have a shoulder that I had popped out playing football and now it has finally caught up with me. I had originally given my two weeks notice but the driver coaches talked to the president of the company and he brought this up. I didn't expect anything like this because I've only been here for 5 months, but it goes to show if you take care of them, they'll take care of you. I won't be able to go to Canada anymore because they don't appreciate spread's up there, but my first load after I get my reset in this weekend will be going east towards my home in Maine. This was big factor in me staying, the fact that now I can get out there if I choose.

I'm hoping with all the tarping that I don't have to do now, that my shoulder will cooperate and I won't have to leave. Really don't want to leave a place that genuinely cares about it's drivers.