Adventures of a Flatbedder at Roehl

Cooper09 - can't really give you a great answer as far as miles. I live near Min/St.Paul on the National fleet. Been getting over 2k consistently and nearly 2500 most weeks. With tarping, stop pay, etc.. its an ok living for me and my family. A van driver would probably get a few more miles, but not have as much fun. IMO

 

Sorry to anyone who was following, been busy lately and just not updating this as usual.

So where was I, ????? Here is the short version!

Driving, stop, strap, tarp, drive, park, hope for a shower, brush teeth, sleep, wakeup, drive, park, untarp, unstrap, paperwork signed, take a breath! That pretty much makes up for the last two weeks.

It's been really BUSY and then, sit and wait. Balls to the wall, sit and wait. So I will just pick up for this week.

Came out of the house on Tuesday, Owens Corning from Minn to Cleveland OH. Good run and made it there early. They wanted me to deliver on THURSDAY. Told FM, hey, I'll be there Wednesday. Customer Service had to OK with consignee to change. Delivered!

Next is to run down to Canton, OH. Pick up some steel girders (the ones on the road and bridges.) Take them to Knapp, WI. A small town near Monomonie, WI. Delivered. (I will say I hate and will ever hate US 30. Another story and another thread! )

Now, I get my favorite place, Menard's DC in Eau Claire, WI. Actually had a good experience this time. In and out in 2 1/2 hours. That's with tarping 1/2 load. The good thing is that I only had to pick up at 2 locations so it went pretty quickly. Grossed out at 80k on the nose and she drove like it too! Delivered at the Appleton West, just north of Neenah terminal, and was in and out.

For the weekend I am picking up in Saukville tomorrow and delivering in Michigan on Monday. Looks like they needed to slow me down. I have 24 hours to use in 4 days. With this load I won't use it up. Think I will rush it and hope for layover.. Where is a good truck stop near Detroit that is SAFE?

Drive Safe!!

 

OK, for the second time... Computer went crazy after I typed a book and I lost it all...

Picked up in Saukville Saturday morning. 2 Rookies were there loading, one of them had just got his truck and this was his SECOND load. I unfortunately had to load outside while they loaded inside. After I was completed I asked the forklift driver how did they do, he said they were rookies.

Anyway, headed East, stopped in Gary for fuel and shower and headed to Benton Harbor for the night, Saturday. Sunday moved up to Dexter, MI and the Pilot. Walked over to the TA for my Easter dinner.

Ham was EXCELLENT! Corn was corn. Red Potatoes were dry and hard. Stuffing was a little dry, but good. Apple ??? was really good. Pumpkin pie was right our of the freezer and needed to thaw a little longer. All in all, wish I was home with the family.

Delivered in Madison Heights on Monday morning. Anyone who has been there, Emerald Processing, knows that there unloading driveway is very short, 5 trucks max. I got there as number 6. Parked in the turn lane for the 1st gate. Another truck got in behind me. A 3rd truck followed, but moved and turned around in the exit lane, didn't like his rear hanging in the street.

So a fourth truck comes up, get in behind #2, then pulls out and gets in line with his rear hanging in the street and in front of me. So I walk up to the guy and ask, did you not see the 3 trucks in front of you? I only have one coil to unload. Now what does that have to do with anything... Total trucker ###hole.

Once the line gets moving, the 3 of us he jumped ahead were all talking. If the guy would have just asked, there wouldn't have been an issue. But he didn't ask, just jumped ahead. That's not right. PERIOD!

cont...

 

Get my next load picking up in Oak Park, MI and heading to East Peoria, IL, YES to CAT. Get loaded and moving... sat for almost 2 hours, but I was an hour early. Got to fuel in Gary. Haven't showered since Saturday and since Roehl keeps making me fuel at the terminals, gonna run in and shower. I get there and pull around the inspection, I don't have time my clock is ticking (started at 3:40 CDT. As I am loading my gear a Mid-state guys comes up. Can I update your truck real quick? Takes like 10 mins. UUGGGHHHH Ok, get it over with. Plugs in the computer as I sit.
Long story short, in and out in 30 minutes with a shower, truck updated, and rolling down the road.

So now my issue is finding a place to park. Time is ticking and I am thinking, Pilot in Channahon. Wasted 10 minutes sitting to get out and 10 minutes going wrong way because you can't turn back to I-55. The place is tiny and a ZOOOOOOO!

So, luckily I hit the next truck stop in Wilmington, with 5 minutes left to spare. Ate at the restaurant for dinner, don't eat the Chicken Parmigiana. HORRIBLE!

Today, another O'Dark thirty start to make it to Peoria. Make it, unload, and get my load to WI, from CAT. So, I finally get routed to fuel up at a PILOT!!! Maybe I will get to take a shower.... NOPE. Ran out of time in North Fond du lac. Actually, had to go out of route to just find a place to park. Had me routed on WI26, and there is no where to park on that. Barely got to this truck stop, BP the STRETCH exit 100 on US 41, with 1 min left on my 70! Finally ran me out of hours!

I do get 13 back tomorrow, so I'll be back at it running!!