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

Will get my 4th drop off in the morning in Seattle. Been to this place a number of times over the years. Will be done by 10am. My last drop will be Monday in South San Francisco. I’ll drive down to Corning and reset. The last leg of this trip, 815 miles was split so I can get paid the first 3030 miles and 4 extra stop offs on this pay period.

 

Just landed in Corning Ca to start my reset. This has been one of the better LTL loads I’ve ever done. Let me rehash what got me here. I got back to Richmond a week ago this past Thursday. I had this load assigned to me on Wednesday on my way into Richmond. When I got in Thursday afternoon, I needed a reset. But because of the holiday last Monday, it was a 48 hour reset.

I had 5 drops on this load, Somerset Ky, St. Louis Mo, Seattle Wa, Portland Or and final in South San Francisco. I was suppose to start dropping on Tuesday in Somerset Ky, Wednesday in St Louis Mo then Friday morning in Seattle and Friday afternoon in Portland with the South San Francisco Ca coming off on Monday morning.

I left the Richmond yard early Sunday morning and got to the truckstop in London Ky Sunday early evening. The first drop was 2 small coolers in crates going to a Kroger. I decided to drive the 35 miles there and take a chance. They were open, and had the 2 coolers off in 10 minutes. Because of getting those 2 coolers off a day early, I now was able to get the St. Louis drop off at 0600 Tuesday morning. Then it was a nice easy drive the next 3 days to Seattle. Got to the new Loves in Moses Lake Wa early Thursday evening and camped out. Got up yesterday morning at 0500 and drove the 175 miles into Seattle. This is the great part, the only time I hit my brakes was when I was getting off my exit to get to downtown. I’ve been to this customer a dozen times over the years and this was a first. Got that drop off then hauled tail down to my Portland drop, which is the same exit as Jubitz, but going the other way. Been to this place a few times as well and was done at 1:30 yesterday afternoon. I drove right to Jubitz, got a shower, then spent the rest of yesterday and part of this morning there before I left.

It was right at 450 miles down here to Corning. I’m 174 miles to my last drop. Been to this customer before. It’s a street delivery, but only 6 boxes coming off. The problem is I have to go over the Bay Bridge and down 101, that’s the horror show, then I have to turn around and go back over the Bay Bridge to reload in downtown Oakland for Pine Bluff Ar.

Now, a little props to Abilene. They don’t split loads, this load, because of the miles, (3850) carried over into the following pay period, which meant no paycheck next week. I asked them to split it at Portland. They did, 3405 miles plus the extra drop offs. The only reason I asked them to do it, and they said yes, was because I would then be doubled up on my deductions, plus because I’ll be headed home next Thursday then dropping in Jacksonville, I would wind up with over 7000 miles for one paycheck. I don’t need all those taxes taken out, plus my 20% for my 401K. So, Abilene stepped up and made life very easy for me. The 450 miles and last drop will start this new pay period with a little extra. In fact, I’ll wind up with 3410 miles for this pay period.

With all the chaos and changes going on in Richmond, it’s always a pleasure to be away from operations and not deal with the insanity. The only conversation I had with my DM, was letting him know what truckstop to fax my last drops BOL to because someone lost them. But I did call him yesterday and told him to have a pleasant weekend. Not bad, spoke to him twice in a week. Keep this up and I just might have a change of heart.

 

95-17-81

 

We built a yard off exit 102 next to the Peterbilt dealer. Been up and running over a year now. Been there once in the time it’s been open. From my inside scoop, it’s dysfunction at its best.