Good Night From II

yeah, he was there. looked like he was just cutting big peices up. there was a car sitting in front of me, but never got it while i was there. still had glass and rubbers on

 

Finishing out a 10 at the rest area at MM 86 on I-70 in Utah. This was one of the rest areas I had on my bucket list, and I can strongly recommend it for a great night's sleep. Elevation is about 7500' so the temperature is cool, nice mountain air with the engine off and vents open. This is about 10 degrees cooler than the truck stop back at MM 40 and I know it's about 12-15 degrees cooler than the rest areas between here and Green River.

Only half the parking spots are taken and only a couple of quiet reefer units going and they parked well away from other truckers. Testing out my new 2" memory foam mattress pad and wondering why I didn't invest it one before. Great sleep!

I got off the team dedicated truck on Sunday, my wife picked me up and I planned on getting back into a truck on Tuesday and trying to make the orientation class for mentors in Phoenix on Thursday. That plan didn't happen because Jurupa Valley aka Mira Loma didn't have any trucks available for me!?

I finally got a truck on Wednesday after my DM pulled some strings, drove in late afternoon at got into a '12 KW T700 with 335,000 miles on it. This was an O/O L/P truck, and I can see why the owner didn't want it. My gut feel says at least two cylinders are in pretty bad shape. Pulling a 35K load from LA to here has been an exercise in gutless performance and I really have to watch my speed on the downhills, since they haven't reset the speed controls for a company driver and the jake is missing bad especially when it kicks in on the 2 cylinders.

The company wants to sell this truck, so I'll need to turn it in and get a new truck in Memphis or Greer. Right now under load to Longmont, then pick up a load in Denver and stop in Memphis and final in North Carolina.

Perhaps it's because I've got a year of running hard under my belt, but this first week back running solo they sure did give me a couple of nice long hauls right out of the gate. I never did run coast to coast when I first went solo, now I've got a two load coast to coast run. Pretty decent. Looks like they will be getting me to my orientation in Memphis or somewhere back east this coming Thursday. Looking forward to it.

 

JV/ML doesn't get new trucks, they only get trucks that have been turned in. Therefore it is hit or miss whether you get a truck when you need one. This is one very good reason to try and snag a new truck in Phoenix or Memphis, as they seem to be the terminals that receive and assign the brand spanking new trucks.

 

Well ... I'll never do that again. Stopped yesterday for fuel and to scan my trip at the Loves on x9 I80 in Gary ... jeezus what a cluster! The exit from there cuts across the entrance and along the access to the fuel islands.

Currently unloading in Chattanooga ... then pu and head to Houston for a Monday unload ... working my way to CA for a couple of weeks hometme over the 4th.

 

Yeah if I have to stop near Gary I always go to the pilot at x6. Not perfect but between the two it is certainly a more pleasant experience.

 

Man I just completed the Mentor Course here in Phoenix so it looks like Ive missed another opportunity to meet a fellow Swiftie from the board. Had a load leaving Phoenix today and going back to El Paso but it was taken while I was still in class. Received another one picking up from the Home Depot DC in the morning. Ill be camping here for the night.

 

On my way to Denver for a short home time.
Short. I'll get there Sunday morning and head back out Tuesday at noon.
Just enough time to do something fun with my little ones, and pick up Leann for her ride along.

 

Lepton, Greer is slap full of brand new trucks. Just parked there for home time this evening and get through there every few days on my dedicated run. There has to be at least 25-30 Cascadia's and KW's on the lot. I did not notice any Internationals though.

 

Thanks for the info! My Denver load was delayed a day, so it's looking like I'll be arriving in Greer for my mentor training, and I'll swap for a new truck when I get there.

 

aurora or at the flying j. got that load of recycle paper delivered to propac in longveiw wa. finally found the rite buildinglol. really,really huge place. got unloaded pretty quick. got a preplan going to irwindale ca. but not taking a load with me. they are deadheading me all the way down mt. 1024 miles according to the dispatch. longest deadhead so far. got a message saying thewy are really overbooked and need me down there. lol. stopped here after fighting all that crazy traffic. 65 miles in 3 hrs. will spend the nite and start in the morning with no traffic hopefully. what a waste of 2 hours