Burleson Terminal

Joseph...I asked for a Texas trainer yesterday and learned that they have only one Texas based trainer. I may well set that as a long term goal for me

 

Well...my first day with my new trainer is over. I ran 500 miles today and we are bedded down in Strafford Missouri. Tomorrow we will drop a loaf in Streator anf pick up another. Its looking like I'll have close to 1500 miles by Monday. Things are going well...except for the fact that I suck at backing. So far the trainer is great.

 

Yeah...me too. Second day down and another 539 miles. One load delivered, a second picked up. Sitting out the night in Illinois on the way to Pa. I'll have close to 1500 miles when we deliver tomorrow.

 

Well day three has begun. Got about 500 miles today. When we finish I should be just a handfull under 1500 miles. Sitting at Lake Station Indiana right now. Headed to Pa. Just finished planning the stop and the route for the day. Unfortunately I can't plan the final stop yet because I don't know if they will have a load for us when we drop this one and chances are good that since we don't have a preplan that weekend dispatch won't have anything for us so...gonna play that part by ear.
I am pretty happy with my new trainer. His name is Mark. He is an ex Army drill Sgt and we have gotten along well.
Haven't ground many gears, so I'm happy there. Our first load could have gone better. I had a few problems backing into the dock but after 5 pullups I got it.
Pretty much trashed one of my jackets. Somehow I got grease on it. Tried to clean it ane the stuff just spread over everything. Now its in the tool box...oh well.
I dropped the loaded trailer in the Streator yard with no problems backing hooked to another and deadheaded to Dolton, Il. to droo the empty and pick up a load. Made it to a safe stop near Lake Station Indiana with 5 minutes to spare on the clock.
Anyway got bedded down about midnight and woke with one of those BAD nature calls at 4:45 this morning. Tried to slip out of the cab after taking a quick drink of water...barely made it to the facilities and about 20 minutes later I crawled back into my bunk to find it soaked since I didnt replace the cap correctly.
#### the luck.
So...since sleep was out I cleaned it as best I could without waking Mark...took my notepads, load book, rest stop guide and went back into Hardys to plan my stops for the day over several cups of coffee. We don't leave out for another 3 hours when my 10 hours is over. As so. As Mark is up I'll do the pretrip, finish cleaning my bunk and get my windows and mirrors clean again. When we drop this load I'll have close to 1500 miles. Not bad for 3 days out. I cleaned I expect a layover until Monday. Anyway...y'all be safe. I'll catch up again in a few days.

 

Well...its my tenth day out...4:20 EST...I can't sleep. Been sitting at the Albany yard since about 8:30 last night. We rolled in from Toano, Va, dropped a load and now we are waiting for dispatch. In Ten days I've pulled a little over 4600 miles. Not too bad. Honestly I could use a short run that puts me in a truck stop early so I can do laundry.

I've run non stop since I've been out and I find myself losing track of days. I guess thats good since I met another guy here today who claims he has been out for 8 weeks and only has 10k done on his OTR training. I sure hope I dont get layed over.

I enjoy the job. I like driving...backing hasn't been too bad...if I have anything to complain about its teaming. Im not liking having to share space...even if my trainer is cool as heck. After talking to this other guy it looks like I got lucky with a good trainer and if I keep this pace up I'll be in my own truck in about 30 days and you wont hear any complaints from me.

The hardest thing so far is being road weary. There is this point...at about 45 minutes into driving when its a battle to keep my eyes open...once I get through it my head clears and I'm good til about the last 100 miles. Then somewhere in that time it hits me again.

My solution? Almonds.

Yep. Good, old, almonds. I prefer smoked and salted almonds. When that drowsiness begins I start chewing on a few handsfulls of almonds.
1.) The act of chewing something crunchy seems to dissipate the drowsiness almost instantly.
2.) Almonds are high in both carbohydrates which you need for energy and protein which you just need.
3.) Almonds are a brain food...win, win, win. And it works. Try it.

Other than that all is still good. I have good control of the truck so far...driven in snow...but not ice...and I haven't hit anything...anyway Im gonna try for a couple more hours of sleep. Meanwhile you folx keep on trucking.