Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Monday: Made my delivery to United Pipe and Steel. This place was great! Before I had my straps rolled up, they attacked the load with 5 fork lifts. I was mt in no time. They were finished before I was. Can not beat that. Parked on their road for about an hour or so as it was still early. Got my next load assignment to pick up at Majestic Steel in Bedford Heights Oh. This load is going to Lebanon Mo to the Durham Company. I got 6 shotgun coils each weighing less than 8,000 a piece. I can not remember where I parked for the night....lol.
Tuesday: Made my delivery and then got a load to pick up 4 skidded coils at HLeidtman Steel in Granite City Il. As usual, had to wait a bit before I got loaded. This load is going to Racine Wisconsin to Wisconsin Metal Products.
Wednesday: Made my delivery in Racine. They have the worst roads of any town I have ever been in. All of the concrete every where was buckled. From there I had to go to Atlas Tube in Chicago. Traffic was a mess getting over there, but I was able to make my appointment. After an hour I got in and it was a nice 40 foot load of tube not too high. I had just enough time to make it over to the gary yard and spend the night. This load is going to Ashland Va.
Thursday: I had two choices to run this load. One going across the top of Ohio over the turnpike and then down into Virginia or go south through West Virginia and then up 81 in Virginia. I chose to take the northern route because it was flatter and 20 miles shorter. Big mistake. Not long after I left at 0300 in the morning, it started to snow. It was white out conditions and gale force winds almost all the way to Breezewood Pa where I stopped for the night. I still got in over 500 miles for the day but it was very tedious and at times treacherous.
Friday: In order to miss the fun and traffic around Washington dc, I left at 0300. I was able to get around dc with out any issues and got to the receiver at 0700. They sent out two fork lifts and had me unloaded in no time flat. I had a pre plan to pick up at GP in Gladys Va so I was able to leave right away. It was a nice sunny day and I had a wonderfull 170 mile dead head through the countryside of Va. Got in and loaded very quickly and was on my way. I made it to the big rest area on I 77 north in WV and shout down. There is a wonderful overlook at this rest area. I could see deer a mile away in the fields, the river with white water below me and the cliffs with ice running down the face of it. Simply beautiful.
Left out this morning around 0300 and got home at 0900. This load is going to Lancaster Ohio 60 miles from here. We are supposed to get possibly a foot of snow Sunday and Monday Morning, so this will no doubt be an adventure for sure. Everyone be safe!

 

Well the snow storm went 100 miles to the south so I did not have to deal with it....I was very thankful.
Monday-Had no issues making my way down to Carter Lumber in Lancaster. They had the lot plowed by the time that I got there. Got unloaded and was able to get my lumber tarps rolled up and in the box. As long as they are not to stiff, you can get them tight enough to go in the box. I only sat for about 15 minutes when I got my next load assignment. It was a pick up at Coil Plus in Springfield Ohio going to Carol Springs and Bloomingdale Il. They are only I street away from each other but different towns.
I got 6 coils. One at the first stop and 5 at the second. I ran into Jeff Updike from the forum while there. We had been looking to meet for a long time....
The first stop appointment time was 11:46 am to 23:59 and the second drop was 24 hrs. When I got the bol, it said both were 24 hrs receiving. I did not want to start my day late, so I tried to call them but got no person. So I made my way up to the Gary yard and spent the night. My plan was to go in early to the first one and see if I could get unloaded. If not, I would go to the second one and then come back to the first.
Tuesday:The bol was correct and I was able to get unloaded at the first one and then went over to the second. The back into the place was a bit tricky with the cars and the snow, but after a couple of tries I made it. The receiver told me that everyone has trouble with it so I did not feel too badly.
My nest load assignment was to pick Up at the us steel tin mill with a load of two skidded coils going down to Ball Metal in Springdale Arkansas. The timing was such that I could just drive on over there.
Got there and they sent me around to door 10. Had never been to that one before. Got right in and loaded. By the time I came out, there was a long line of trucks, so I felt fortunate.
I made it to the first rest area on I44 after you leave St Louis before I had to shut down.
Wednesday:
When I arrived at Ball Metal, another Maverick came over and started talking to me. I thought he was another driver, but he was Sam out out fort smith who is now in Safety. He spends a couple days a week inspecting the loads as they come in.
He helped me pull my tarps off. When he saw my securement, he got all excited and proclaimed that it was done perfectly the way that Maverick wanted it. The following day this showed up on my qualcom
"Thanks for securing coils the Maverick Way yesterday on the inbound load to Ball Metal. We appreciate your attention to Detail and Safety. Have a fine day and a safe ride. Same in FS"
This was the best compliment that they could give me....much better than a nice tarp job in my opinion!
My next load was to pick up in Fort Smith going to Bar Processing in Newton Falls Ohio. Got to the yard and checked in across the street on the radio. Was told to set up with nine boards on the deck and a bulk head. I was lacking one 4' beveled timber to accomplish it, so I had to borrow one from a dropped trailer. I have never had to use so many boards before.
Went across the street and scaled in. I got sent to the building across the street to pick up 12 bundles of turned bar. Three sections of 4 bundles.
Got loaded, went back to the mav yard and then got tarped. Had just enough time to make it up to the flying J in Joplin mo
Thursday: A nice day of all driving. Made it to the welcome center in Ohio and shut down...Did about 610 miles.
Friday Morning(today) A got a preplan as soon as I left ft smith to reload in Newton Falls so I knew I could head out early and get relaoded right away...so I got up at 0200 and was on the road by 0245. Made it to Newton Falls by 0715. There were no trucks in front of me so I was able to get unloaded and then reloaded right away. This load is going to Richmond Ky. I made it home by 1245 and will leave out Sunday Morning after Church. Hope you all have a nice weekend!

 

That is an understatement my friend!...lol