ATS/school

Lets see where are we? Didn't get that load for the weekend, spent it in Fontana(i'm starting to see a pattern here). It was ok though, got to talk to a couple of O/O's and L/O's. They all are happy and making good money. Got me thinking again! Got a load late Monday afternoon(when else right). Shot down to the Carson area to get some electric motors going to TX. I was feeling really good, timed the traffic perfect adn pulled up to the shipper as he was opening the gate! Whoohoo! Then I find out that they aren't ready for us yet, and the people who do the paper work don't come in until 8:30! I say "us" because there was a Landstar driver waiting also. He's been there for 16 years, still hasn't found anyone better. Well we helped each other tarp and headed out for TX. No way we were going to make it, legally, to TX by Thursday at 8:00am. What are trip planners thinking when one of your days is the load day? Well we made it by about 10am. Noooooo, nothing "creative" about it! I even got my next load right away! Heading down to Dayton(from Round Rock) for a load of steel, its supposed to go to Canada. I'll be dropping it off in St. Cloud though, #### I got to get that cleared up! Not too broken up about it tho, gets me by the house for a nite at least! Now the bad news, I get there and am told that the load left yesterday! What, no-one called you? Sooooo, I wait around for FM to find something else. Good news! They have more of the "missing" load going out, I can grab that and bring it up North. Cool, another load and I didn't even have to move! Get this, 3 SMAAAAAAALLLLLL piles of steel, mostly stair treads. Weighs maybe, maaaayyybbeee, 1500lbs. Oh well not my fuel right? So off I go, looks like i'll beat the DFW aft. traffic no problem! Almost out of Houston area, yep. Got a call from FM and cust. service. Please go back and get another part of the load that they just realized should go to. GRRRR. Ok, no big deal. Go back, and guess what? This part,...... another bundle of 20, yes 20 stair treads. And 3(you read that right) pieces of "grid", longest piece, 12'. Grand total on weight, not even 2000 lbs. Oh well. Now I wont miss DFW traffic. So I pull over at a est stop and let the hound play. So here I am tonight in Albert Lee,MN. I just can't make the last 2-3 hrs. without fuel, and can't fuel today. Hee hee hee. I should be in Cloud before noon tomorow. May have to get the truck serviced on Mon, since they didn't change the oil last time. Now its overdue. Also had my drivertech crash yesterday. The new mapping program now doesn't even exist on my menue! I'll update latter folks! By for now! Stay safe! Oh, by the way. This is the second time in a few short weeks i've come home to crappy weather! Those other states are starting to look reeeeeal good to me!

 

Well I just left the house Thurs., was heading to Lacrosse to get a trailer and then a short hop for some chillers going to CA. Got as far as Rochester to get a call saying the load was cancelled. After sitting in a rest stop for a little over an hour I get the go ahead to go to grab a trailer from a yard we have at a shipper. Got a different load going to CA. So it worked out alright. Oh yeah, I wasn't scheduled for home time the last few days, I was waiting for my truck to be serviced. They were packed, couldn't get to it until Tues, then I went to a yearly safety meeting in the aft., and talked to the leasing dept. on Wed. AND I got paid for the "hassle" because of the truck! Not a bad deal I guess, not as much coin as a run, but don't think i've ever been paid to be home with the family! Right now i'm stuck in a Loves in Ne, #### storm has I80, I25,I76 closed for sure. And I think I70 and I90 as well. Is spring ever coming mommy? I know its only May, but geeesh. Enough already! Well like I said I talked to the lease guy the other day, I had three pages of questions for him. I have talked to at least 2 dozen drivers who are happy with their choice. Everything seems to be on the up and up. Wed. my FM had me talk to her suppervisor, who showed me actual runs etc. of about 6 drivers on the lease. I have to admit I was expecting the usual dog and pony show. You know "oh everyone makes toooonnnnss of money". Wasn't the case. She showed how some of the drivers weren't making it the way they were running. It did re-inforce to me that I won't, repeat won't, be doing the mileage if I ever go this route. Sliding scale? The longer the run the LESS I make per mile? No thanks. I'm still looking at ways toget my own truck and then see whats available. But that will take a bit more time. I just wanted some real answers you know, enough guessing. Well hopefully this crap blows by tonight and I can get on to CA for my Monday delivery.

 

Thanks Lizzard! I was already told i'd have to go back to "school". The lease guy even said i'd probably be bored since I ran my own bus. for 20+ years. Hey at least they were honest! Did your husband have Vicki? I think she's the one I have heard so much good about. My new one was trained by her I am told. She has been doing good this time out, almost no delays between loads. The real test will be when I deliver this load Friday am. Hopefully I wont sit all wknd., although I am getting tight on hours. Montana isn't the worst place to spend a weekend.

 

H.L., no i'm not regional but the snow doesn't bother me. I was born and raised in MN, still live there for now. Now chains, thats another thing. I will only thro chains if it means getting off the mountain or not. Otherwise there is NO freight worth my life. And if ever there is, I don't want to be hauling it! Especially as a co. driver! Well floks, so fat the streak continues. Delivered in the am and no sooner got back to the J in Belgrade when I was told to head for Seattle. Finally got the actual load info in Missoula. I'm heading to the port of Longview to grab some wind tower parts, then BACK to MT. Its 765 miles DH and 762 loaded. When I called the shipper I found out the ship isnt even empty yet, so I cant load until Monday am. I'll grab a reset tomorrow and head in Sunday aft..The guy said he would get me into the port that nite. We'll see how it works out. So, right now i'm sitting in the J in Post Falls. Very pretty country out here. Too bad they have to deal with the winter in the mountains. The older I get the less I want to stay were it snows! God, that makes me sound old!