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

The issue with this trip was not having a clue what kind of traffic or construction I would meet along the way. Because of that and still being new and scared of being late I set off much earlier than I needed to.

I was in a good spot at a rest area but nerves got the better of me as i sat there watching the clock thinking "if i get stuck in traffic im going to wish i hadn't sat here so long".

 

When OTR does it matter where you sit?
Better early and sitting local then not...

 

Slept the sleep of the dead Wednesday night. Got up at 5 am and ran 125 miles to Sandston. Bobtailed to the yard at 11 am only to be told the only loads they had (available to me) were for 8 & 11 pm out of Jarratt to Groveport for 8 am delivery and not ready. Um, sure. Let me just hit my off switch and go back to bed. Not even! Ive never been able to sleep during the day. Comes from growing up on the farm and having a very strict dad who thought that you had to get up before the chickens and be working when the sun rose. If you slept during the day, you were a lazy POS. Can't tell you the number of times I got my tail tore up for trying to take a nap. I've got to get my home time switched back around to be off on the weekends! Always sucks getting to the yard a couple days before home time (set for Monday & Tuesday), especially when the weekend is involved. Not much delivers on the weekend. Maybe I'll just tell them I'm going to take the weekend off like all the NE drivers.

 

I loved growing up on the farm. I remember riding my 3-wheeler all over the farm. My experience was different of course. I did have to get up early a lot to work. I also remember staying up late in the summer and sleeping until noon. My Dad was kind of pushing me away from being a farmer. I miss my Dad. I wish he was still here. I'm sure he would love his grandchildren.

Join the Navy and you will be able to sleep anywhere and anytime. There were times when I slept like a baby on nonskid. I loved working nights in the Navy. In the Gulf at night it was in the cool 90s.

 

On a side note in the Navy I had a set schedule. In trucking my schedule constantly changes. If you already slept the whole night it can be hard to go back to sleep.

 

*Notice: Events not typical.*

Day 28, straight. My backing is suffering big time. I finally got long overdue laundry done last night in Virginia Beach, on a layover for an 8am load in Chesapeake delivering to the yard. Been getting these 15hr drive time in a 10 hr delivery window, complimented with 2hr loads and unloads. Worst record I've ever had for late deliveries.

As I've been out of the seat for 8 years, the basics are there. For this, I am greatfull. My biggest issue is trip planning, as I never had to do it this much before. And not knowing the truck friendly Walmarts is a hassle. This living off of truck stop food is too #### expensive. Pretzels for breakfast this morning. Yum.

I need a day off. I have home time scheduled for the first weekend in June. My God-daughter is graduating high school. My first home time request got lost in the bowels of the QC. Lesson learned: Always, ALWAYS follow up with your dispatcher if you don't get an approval msg from Kimberly.

Live loading and unloading excepted, Abilene keeps us rolling. I'm used to begging for miles, now I'm begging for a day off.

In my vast and lengthy experience of 10 months(1 month here), Abilene is a good company to work for.

God's will be done!!

 

I use Truckers Path Pro which lists Walmarts in addition to Truck Stops and Rest Area and other Trucking locations... If I am looking for a place to park and Walmart is close or one of only a few options, I bring it up on the App and it includes the phone number... If I think it might be an issue I just call and politely ask for permission. I have stayed at Walmarts, with permission, and the lot has all kinds of "no trucks" signs.

Then, since we have fridges and I am parked at a Walmart, I go stock up on food and snacks so I don't have to eat at the Truck Stops for every meal... Oh, and Walmart sells Microwaves too.

Seriously, down load the Truckers Path Pro app... I use it for a few things past parking.

 

@midwest MacDaddy, I'm putting the finishing touches on a kitchen and dining room today
Walls are painted AMX Green
Didn't think I would like it but it's SHARP

 

Oh My ... lol

 

I don't have a smartphone. All I have is this tablet. I'll figure out something.