Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

They don't. I was told that trying to back up across that street before 8:00pm is a nightmare, so 8:00pm is their earliest appointment time. Backing up across that street at 8:30pm was no walk in the park, so I can only imagine how much worse it would be during rush hour.

Don't remember where I slept that night. I think I parked on an on-ramp somewhere. But not sure.

 

I plan to get there with about 5 drive hours left so unless the unloading and loading drags on long enough to eat my 14 I will be able to get far away from Chicago after. I wasn't looking forward to finding parking at 2-3am though.

I haven't mustered the courage to sleep on a ramp yet. Company says no, and I do try to adhere to that. I once got stuck having to take a 30min break on a ramp and I sat in the driver's seat the whole time paranoid about getting a ticket, there is no way I could fall asleep while that stressed.

 

They go pretty fast, given that it's both a live unload and a live load. I bumped the dock at 8:30pm and was done by 10:00pm.

 

@Redtwin: Also, that street has side lanes for parking on both sides. When I went there, I was able to park on the right-hand side out of traffic while I talked to the receivers. I waited for traffic to clear enough to drive over to the left-hand parking lane, once again out of traffic. And then when traffic cleared again, I was able to set up and do my back.

Just don't forget to open your doors before you start. Not enough room to open the doors once you're docked.

 

You should be able to find parking most places around 2-3am I've learned. Alot of guys roll out at midnight when get hours back on 70 or roll out that early to avoid traffic. Usually after midnight there will be at least 1 spot open at most truck stops. It's that finding parking between 10pm-12pm that can be a real pia

 

Not sure where exactly your delivery is up there, but why not just go to the USX terminal in Markham when done?

 

I've been scoping it out on street view. The most direct route means a blindside back so I've been looking for a route that approaches from the north. I saw the street parking, but was figuring that might be full of cars at night as the seems to be an apt building near there.

I remember your post about having to pull out again to open doors so already had that in mind.

 

I have that in mind as a backup incase delivery takes ages and I run low on hours. I *should* have about 5 drive hrs after so would rather use those to get as close to SC as possible for the return load appt the next day.

 

Yup. One of my buddies is on that load right now. Delivered there yesterday and on his way down to SC.

 

No I am one of the lucky ones that has a 03:16 apt. Live unload. I do miss the drop and hooks from previous company.