Good Night From II

I really think 2018 has been one windy year.

 

Most Swift loads coming in are drop and hook, and we nearly always have a few good empties sitting around. And, if you like, they could put you on surge for awhile. There are never enough drivers locally to haul all the dedicated freight, so OTR drivers are pulled in to help out, and usually allowed to stay if they choose to. They won't force you, though, if you don't like Walmart loads.

 

Magee, MS at the Love's. Didn't plan to stop here but after a late start from Mobile and over an hour of driving in HEAVY rain I called it a day. Right about now I glad to have a bit of extra time on the load.

Spent 30 minutes sweeping and pulling nails from the floor of my empty only to have the knuckleheads at Kimberly Clark reject it because the left door was difficult to close. Then all I get from Phoenix is a recording that the DMs were in a meeting. The planner was no better, their response was to call on-road. Since I knew where to find another empty I headed back to Theodore, AL and swapped it for another trailer. Good thing I didn't wait because Phoenix didn't get back to me until AFTER I made it back to Theodore.

 

I've ran surge out of both Los Lunas & Grand View, WA. Won't do NM again because of the road tax and probably won't do Grand View again because I no longer have family in the area.

 

I've done both Target and Walmart.

Target screwed me out of 3 days pay, at $250 per day. So I won't do them again.

Walmart like to run you ragged, burning the whole 14 everyday with barely 10 off, and little to show for it.
Won't do them again either.

 

Mountain home idaho at the pilot.
Left at 6am this morning from DuPont wa and was headed to the t/a in North bend so I could use the restroom.
It looked like the weather was ok at Snoqualmie pass so I decided to get over the pass and went to the loves In Ellensburg wa.
Did my business there and as I was walking out the door found a 20 dollar bill. Nice.
Then went to the t/a in Boise is to fuel. Was gonna take a shower there but looked full so I came here.
Didn't have any credits for a shower but the clerk gave me one anyways.
Got about 300 miles to get to west valley terminal tomorrow

 

I went through that pass today as well. It was nice.
The bad stuff was yesterday, so we both lucked out.

Yesterday morning both directions were shut down because of a bad accident.

 

Some of the Walmarts near costal area in WA are quiet nice. Just be careful Qualcomm route you to non-truck approves route.

 

Only Target loads I've pulled were out of the PHX DC to El Paso. Won't let you in the yard to pickup more than 30 minutes before your appt time then you have to hustle to El Paso for an early morning drop. Won't do THAT again.

Agreed about Walmart. My biggest gripe is the stop pay. Why should I bust my tail for $20 a stop when I can sit on my butt and collect $35 a stop for Costco (my favorite). Best part about Walmart grocery DCs (where we have the contract) is cheap fuel. I plan to fill up @ Los Lunas when I drop on Saturday.

 

Wichita Falls TX @ the J. Had to pay for parking but at least I have a shower. Wind was BRUTAL today once I entered Texas. A easy 25-35 from the NW when in the open. Forcast is much better in the morning. An easy 515 miles to Albuquerque then I drop (in Los Lunas) on Saturday. My DM has mentioned paying me empty pay to DH home is he can't find a load. We'll see.