My new experience with Gordon Trucking, post-buyout

USE is basically nationwide, meaning you can be sent pretty much anywhere Gordon goes. That's opposed to, say, Midwest or any other Regional or Dedicated; the scope of it is most likely going to change as Heartland takes over, but I'm only guessing.

Gordon provides "fuel solutions" with an assignment, which includes where to fuel and how much. It is only a suggestion, however, because the driver is responsible for the weight and proper loading of the truck. It's usually pretty close to "right" but there have been times when I've put on less diesel and in different places because I'm carrying a heavy load -- like this load!

 

Made the drop in Owensboro, Kentucky and while I'm waiting for my preplan - I am 2 DAYS early! - I'll let you know there is a benefit to the company routing. Without divulging too much, let's just say I couldn't make the numbers add up yesterday on my heavy load. I resigned myself to the possible outcome and opened up the routing message. Lo and behold, there were lots of "IL" and "US" and "KY" roads and only one very short stretch of an "I" road.

You probably can guess my response!

 

That's really the minimum. Anything less and you're not much use to the planners. You get one day home for each week out. You can stay out as long as you want, really, but you're limited to 4 or 5 days at home. I stay out 5-7 weeks and am home for 4 days.

 

There are those who will disagree and I've only been with them a short time, so my own perception might not be accurate, but I suppose getting that is possible. Most of my Midwest runs have been close to 400 miles or so; get 4-5 of them in a week and you might do it. I'm just not sure I would count on it as a regular thing, though that might change as the weather improves and people start buying our freight again. There are plenty of 250-350 mile plans, too.

i hope so.

 

Made my pickup in VERY rural Kentucky. In fact, I'm tethered to my cell phone because there's not much of an Internet signal here. I'm outside the gate at the shipper taking my break. I have a 5 hour drive to the receiver In Ohio tomorrow, which shouldn't be a problem.

I sure wish the APU worked consistently; it worked earlier today and has crappd out again. Sitting here at the end of a dark road in the "turn out" the shipper calls their "parking area" with lights on would be much better if the power source was something other than th battery...alas, it is not.

 

California bound! From Ohio, 2800 miles.