Millis OTR journal

Lol SHHHHH! That was supposed to be a secret I swung by Wallyworld before finishing up my day and got a scanner/printer/copier for my laptop. I have a few documents I need to scan and email.

 

Wassup y'all, greetings from Victoria Texas. Looks like I'm gonna be sitting a lot this morning, so I might as well use this time for an update. Last time I posted, I was on my way to Valdosta. The place I delivered to is a good one for the most part. I'm usually in and out pretty quick. Not this time. I was given a spot to drop my trailer and a spot to pick up an empty. Dropping the trailer went well, but the trailer I was supposed to pick up was gone. It was a 17***, so I'm guessing that another Millis driver decided to take that one instead of the trailer they were assigned. No big surprise there. I found another empty, but it was full of trash. Eight trips to the dumpster later, I had an empty. I have no idea why warehouse workers think it's ok to leave that crap on a trailer. That trailer carried YOUR product, therefore that is YOUR friggin mess. I finally got that handled and was deadheaded to Atlanta. I had to pick up a load of bottles at Owens Brockway and take it to the Shiner brewery in Texas. Nice run, for sure. I was supposed to pick up the load that day, but there was zero chance I was gonna make it. It was a straight shot up 75 and the traffic was beyond nightmarish. I stopped for the night in Pinehurst, and left before dawn. That hurricane traffic was nuts. Every rest area and every truck stop was packed with cars. And they were taking up a lot of truck spots. I tried to stop at a rest area and use the bathroom but I couldn't park. I could barely even maneuver to the exit! When I parked for the night, the truck stop filled up quickly. In the morning, the manager had to come out and make cars move so that trucks could leave. Ridiculous. I tried to keep a charitable attitude towards the evacuees, but it pretty much ended right there. They were in the truck area, parked all around us and in front of us, completely blocking any movement. It's 230 miles from Valdosta to Atlanta and I must have driven by at least 20 accidents. I hate going to Atlanta, but I was never so happy to reach a destination in my life. I got to my pickup the next morning and dropped my trailer. I went to the shipping office to get my loaded trailer number and BOL, and my load was gone!!! It was picked up by (of all people) my trainer. After a few messages to dispatch, I got another load going to the same place. So, I didn't lose my trip, but how does that happen?? The trip down to Shiner was a huge contrast to the mess on 75. The roads were wide open and traffic was extremely sparse. It was also some of the nicest weather I've seen in a while. My delivery time for the original load was 7am yesterday. The new load was 5pm. Great, that's a lot of wasted time. I asked Opie if I could get an earlier appointment time, and was told to call the brewery. I was in luck. There was a driver with an 11am appointment and he was going to be late so they gave me his spot. I docked my trailer and dropped it at the brewery and pulled an empty from another dock, then submitted for another load. I was put on a waiting list. That was actually a good thing. The landing gear crank handle on the trailer is screwed up and needs replaced. I was told by maintenance to find the closest truck stop with a repair shop. So I went to a Loves about 30 miles away. They didn't have the part and it would've been a three and a half hour wait to get it plus time for the repair. Opie gave me a load from here in Victoria going to North Carolina, and I'll have to stop off "on the way" In Cartersville to get it fixed. This is a broker load and therefore it comes with problems. I got here at 7:15 and wasn't allowed in the gate because the broker didn't have all of the necessary information. Sat for well over an hour before they even let me in the facility. I'm finally docked and my light turned red, but I was told that I'd be here for a while. Not exactly sure what that'll mean but I guess I'll find out. I'm signing off for now, I'll check back in at the end of the day. Be safe out there guys, talk at ya later.

 

Lol My old boss has 2 guys on his crew that are Steelers fans. He made a $500 bet with both of them. If the Browns win 5 games this year, they have to pay him. If not, he just pissed away a grand. Shoot, that's easy money. That $500 will be a nice little Christmas bonus for both them. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....