New horizons with Holland Enterprises (Fargo,ND)

Good old Homestake Pass. I've been real fortunate in December not dealing with chain passes. Been mostly running back and forth between eastern PA and SoCal, in OKC tonight [out of hours], on way from SoCal to Allentown area today. And Saturday, will likely head to Austin, TX from the same dock.

I carried 22 pallets of white chocolate from Allentown area to Carson. Customer only ordered 3 pallets. So, I'm taking the remainder right back to Allentown area. Will be extremely hard pressed for my hours to get me there before they stop receiving/shipping Saturday afternoon. In OKC, I've got 22:30 coming recap hours thru Saturday to get me to Allentown area

 

I got lucky going through there last week. Had to relay with a driver in post falls ID, the load had enough time I could leave next morning and come through Montana after the storm already coming through, but got delayed the next day due to a CRST truck damaging mirror so I didn’t have heat or adjustment on that side, resulting in having to spend a few hours in the Volvo shop in Missoula while they fixed the mirror and figured out what was going on with the door switches. By the time I got to homestake and Caldwell hills they were clear but between that and Bozeman it was still icy. Luckily Bozeman pass was clear and once I got clear it was dry the rest of the way. Doesn’t take much for that state to get FUBAR even after a few inches of snow.

 

Guys I’m working for now don’t me touching, or even thinking about chaining up.

Stay safe over there!!

 

I noticed that we're in those cheesy recruiting truck stop books now in between Celadon and Crete . lol

Im not sure if that's good or bad

 

Be thankful your company isn't home to one or more job-hopping YouTube superstars.

 

That is true.

It just seems that when you get in that book it all goes down hill afterwards . It Even happened with Tyson chicken, Walmart, and J&R Schugel while I worked for each entity and they started bringing in more and more drivers and lowering hiring standards

 

Holland has been in at least a few of those ad mags for at least several years that I know of. They have a hard time keeping drivers who can work with their high expectations more than several months, especially through a winter.

 

Unloaded in Memphis early on the 1st. First time unloading in this general region. They pre-assigned a broker load out to southern Utah but they're closed Monday so need to sit a day. But I need the break, and otherwise this upcoming load is timed well, regardless. Only thing to be determined is after Friday empty, will I get a load of cheese to Riverside or potatoes to Gaylord.

Just closed out the 2nd straight 2-week pay period of 7,400+ miles. Bonus for last quarter of 2017 will be paid on a little more than 40,000 miles thanks to some quirky scenarios here and there that kept me moving exceptionally well.

Had to do an oil change on the road in Rawlins. Hadn't been anywhere near the barn in a few months. Hope my vehicle has faired the recent brutal cold okay. I'm trusting the solar trickle charger is doing it's job. Never did winterize the fuel system again because I assumed I'd be back through at some point in November but that never happened.

 

Solar trickle charger?

 

Yes. Winter before last I had a battery bust open. Did some research and found the best thing you can do to care for batteries subject to extreme cold and neglect is to keep them charged. All the parasitic discharges in a modern parked vehicle tends to discharge them to dangerous levels after a month or more.

Preliminary testing seems promising but whenever I get back next time will be the ultimate test. Haven't ran it since back in September or October some time.

This is inside propped up on the south facing dash windshield. Hopefully even if it's snowed over it will get some solar light to do some charging.