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I'm sitting on Monteagle enjoying the 45 degree weather. . It's been a nice day. .I did my d/h in East Point Ga and began entering my pre plan info into the gps.

It said the street didn't exist but it lets me enter the street name and it will tell me where it does exist. So I tried that and it said the street was in Graniteville SC.. looked at my note pad. . And duh, I'm going to Graniteville not Greenville. . That would have been a big dummy mistake.

I get to the shipper and do another d/h then get my paperwork. . It's only 21, 000 lbs vs the 31, 000 on the pre plan. .yes!

Gps says to cut through the woods up to 26 then catch 40 west. .I had talked to another ACT driver a couple months ago and he had stated it's a little longer to go back to Atlanta and head north but it's more flat. . And you don't have to deal with the gorge. So that's the way I went. (I kinda like going thru the gorge but he's right, I gained another tenth on my mpg)

I stopped and got my truck washed in Ringgold Ga.. nice people and they do a very good job, especially for the price.

Be safe.

 

I delivered in Roanoke IN tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow morning. . The qual comm beeped and I thought they are telling me. . Empty call received you will be dispatched in the morning. . So I found a truck stop and thought I'd get something to eat. WRONG

It was a pre plan picking up in Defiance OH about 70 miles away. .I had 2 hours left on my 11 And the load is scheduled to pick-up before midnight. I had been to this shipper a week ago. . It's kind of a pain to get to. . Sits behind a residential neighborhood with narrow streets. .well they are REALLY narrow with 3 feet of snow lining them. . Especially when making right turns.

Anyway, I got loaded and am heading to Tyler TX..1, 000 miles and 11, 000 lbs in the box. .I deliver Wednesday morning and then hopefully a couple quick runs to set me up for the weekend. . I'm taking 3 days off. .

Be safe. . The on and off ramps are snow and ice packed around Ft Wayne.

 

Knock on wood. . I've had nothing but light loads for 2 weeks (except smucker and it was only 30k)..

Unfortunately our load choices and most pre plans don't show the weight of the load. . That's why I like the fact we see the same shippers repeatedly. . You know (usually) if it's a heavy load or not.

My fuel mileage is still 7.8, I won't idle unless it's -15.. it's going to be 1 here tonight. . I'm a little nervous because I only have a 1/4 tank of fuel and I refuse to put additive in unless it's going past-25..I stopped putting additive in the tank And my fuel mileage sky rocketed from 6.4 to 8.0. (I'm sure the shift points helped along with making a conscious effort to not let the boost gauge move)

Stay warm driver

 

Maybe -25 is excessive. . But I've always been told were good til -18.. That being said if my outside temp gauge is 20 or below. . My fuel heater is on.

I guess Atlanta is gonna get hit with ice again. . Glad I'm not going to be in that mess.

 

I'm south of Sikeston MO sitting at the Loves.. I'll finish my trip tomorrow. . Just a shade over 500 miles.

It's a balmy 22 degrees but I'm not complaining. . It will be hot soon enough and I'll be wishing it was cooler.

The fuel surcharge is 45 cents this week. . With our fuel discount combined with my mpg..I paid 16 cents per gallon of diesel. . Filled my tanks for $16.00

I trans flowed my last trip and with nothing better to do. . Figured up Fridays settlement. It breaks down like this.

Loaded miles. 1, 933
Empty miles. 330
Total. 2, 263 miles


$2, 860 loaded
$ 312.08 empty
$50 extra stop
$175 detention

$3, 397.08 total revenue

Fuel cost $1, 117
Fixed expense $700
Maintenance acct $181.20

$1, 998.20 total expenses

Net $1, 398.88

As usual. . Keeping about 50 cents a mile.

 

I file my taxes at the end of the year and just pay the penalty. .I tried filing quarterly and once everything was said and done I was due a refund. .I waited and waited. . Finally called the irs.. the guy said my refund was delayed because they didn't know why I had sent the other money. . Once I explained it, he sent me a check.

I'm not saying my way is right, so everybody, please don't start the negativity. . My way works for me.

I'm buying my medical insurance thru ooida..I think ACT's is over priced. Hope this helps.

I'm sitting at the Pilot in Tyler TX listening to the sleet tap tap tap on my truck. .I bought some BBQ across the street. .eh, mines better. . And much less expensive. . ($17.00 for half a slab of ribs. .I used to sell the entire slab for that)

I left the loves in Matthews MO this morning and was quickly passed by another ACT truck. .I hollered at him and was surprised when he answered. . He was heading to Houston so I fell in behind him. . We stopped and ate breakfast then headed south again.

It was a very enjoyable day. .I expected to get chewed out by other drivers for talking to much on channel 19.. we talked about everything from trucks to house boats, hunting, fishing, women and beer. . To my surprise other drivers joined in on the conversation. . Asking questions or throwing in their two cents. . No arguing, bickering or name calling. . It must have been like the good old days I always hear about.

I deliver in the morning and have a pre plan loading in Marshall TX and delivering KC as soon as I can get there. .550 miles and 6, 100 lbs.

I'm looking forward to the weekend. . Be safe, I have a feeling a lot of places are going to be a ice skating rink in the morning.