Calex Express....My New Home!

Did you guys get your truck switched? Are you headed west?

 

Great to see you know what life is really all about. Steve Adams the driver in this video lost his youngest son in a house fire while out on a trip.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJdCoGmMbo0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

After seeing this video I had to pause and take a breath. It makes one wonder what really is important in life. I had to call my wife just to tell her I was thinking of her. Thanks for sharing this.

 

That's how I felt tonight john when saying bye to them the little one didn't want to go home wanted to stay with day but I don't think calex would've liked it to well or the reciver she's getting to that age where she wants me more then mommy its getting hard out here but calex had made it easier being home so much this is truly a great place to work

 

I went thru that 21 years ago. It never get's easier. Until they finally move out. Then the phone calls are all about needing money!

 

My reset is done, time to kick off my 3 drops. This will take all day. - spoke to Louie yesterday and was told I would be loading tomorrow for a Sunday delivery in Pottsville.

 

John where r u picking up at cause normally its a wensday pu with 0600 delivery Monday I hope u get loaded early cause if its melissa u won't be done tell 1800 to 1900

 

I'm loading in Oxnard at Driscolls this afternoon with a straight load of Berries going to Wegmans for Monday.

 

Well I have some extra time while I wait for my berries to cool here in Oxnard so I thought I would write an update on my load out here.

I bobtailed to Mountain Top last Thursday to the same customer I delivered to the day before. It was a 3 dropper in Redlands, Temecula and Rancho Dominguez (Compton). Louie said that the first drop was very hot and that they needed the product ASAP. I did my planning and figured I could get the first drop off a day early on Monday. I decided to forgo my reset and pick up hours as I go on my way back next week. It sounded good but as you will see it didn't work that way.

I got to Mt. Top to the shipper, signed my paperwork then went to find my trailer. Now remember, it had snowed about 10 inches the day and night before and when I went to hook up to the trailer all the snow on top had melted and froze all over the pig tail socket. So there I was, trying to melt, chip, kick and punch the Ice off so I could connect my pigtail. After 30 minutes of this nonsense the yard jockey stopped by with a torch and we were done rather quickly. I was rolling south towards I-80 about 1pm trying to figure out if this winter would ever end. By the time I got to western PA there was no snow to be found. I only had 14,000 pounds in the wagon so driving across PA was a breeze. I had alot of motivation and used up my full 11 hours of driving and made it to Brazil In. for my 10 hour break.

Friday Morning I got a late start because I had a conference call with my wife and our Attorney so that was done while I was stopped rather than while I was driving. After that was done I stopped for fuel in Effingham then made it to OKC for my 10 hour break. I remembered one of our new drivers here on the blog was coming east from California so I called him and we decided to meet at the Flying J just outside Joplin. I stopped just outside Sullivan Mo for a nap then headed to the hook. I must have still had cobb webs in my head because I missed the exit for the truckstop. I called him to tell him, apologized and kept going to OKC. I got to the T/A about 1am, parked and went in to shower.

I woke up and was rolling right after my 10 hour break and had Gallup NM on my radar. I stopped a second time for fuel in Amarillo and decided not to stop at the Big Texan this time for my steak. The reason being is that a driver was found shot and killed in the back parking lot and they haven't found the killer yet. Until they do I will elect to by pass the place. I made it to Gallup that night, ate and went to bed. I woke up Sunday Morning with 625 miles to Ontario and figured I would be there around 8pm my time. I stopped for fuel in Kingman, showered and headed to Ontario. I got there about 7:30, parked and had only 25 miles to my first drop.

I do things a certain way when I have a multi drop load and plan on delivering early, I don't call the drop but just show up. I got there at 7am. This place was huge and I only had 180 cases for them. I checked in with the warehouse foreman and explained to him that I know I'm a day early but if he could work me in sometime during the day I would appreciate it, if not then I would be back the next morning. He looked at my bills and said to me that they needed this product for their customer and to put it in door #9. After bumping the dock I was done in 20 minutes. Their customer was the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the product I delivered was the plastic cups for the beer sales for opening day tomorrow, both in Dodger blue and Dodger red. I figure I was a hero to all the beer drinkers at the stadium. Glad I could help out a poor beer drinker!

I now was ahead of schedule, so I thought. I parked out of the way when I was done and called my second drop for directions that I had for the next day. When I gave them my PO# I was told that I was not scheduled for tomorrow but for Wednesday. I explained to them there must be some kind of mistake because I had my final drop after them in Compton tomorrow at 1pm. They double checked and said nope, Wednesday. I then asked if they could take off their 204 cases and was told no way, Wednesday only. I called Eddie who handles our appointments and explained to him what was going on. He checked the computer and found out that he had made a mistake and scheduled it for Wednesday and my last drop for Tuesday. I was a little pissed but quickly got over it. I figured this was the first time in almost 2 years a delivery appointment was screwed up. Any way, I wasn't loading until Wednesday night and now I can get a reset in.

I went back to the T/A and started my reset. I met Todd there, he bought lunch, thanks buddy! I was done with my reset at 6am and headed the 50 miles down to Temecula. The first drop was taken off by the receiver with no issues what so ever, this place, and I won't name them because my fingers might type what I really want to call them, charged Calex $175 to use their equipment to unload the 6 pallets of product. I was hoping that while they were unloading their product with their equipment that one of these pallets would fall over on one of their heads. And if it did I wouldn't be the least helpful. I was done in and hour then headed to my last drop.

On my way over my load info came over the computer. Just like I was told, a straight load of Berries picking up in Oxnard going to Pottsville Pa. I drove the 80 miles from Temecula to Compton in a record 3 hours. What Southern California needs is some more traffic to add to this already overcrowded mess. I got to my final drop, checked in at the gate, was given my door assignment and told to stay in the truck and they would bring my signed bills to me when they were done. 45 minutes later here comes the receiver with my signed bills. I wish all places were like this and the first place but of course we need to have a puke of a place like the second one thrown in just to keep us honest. I was on my way up through LA and got to Oxnard and checked in by 3pm. My load is scheduled to load between 7 and 9 pm, but if it's ready early they will load me. Sure, when has a load of Strawberries been done early? I checked my record keeping and this is the same exact place I loaded at last year, almost to the day. What a coincidence.

Dispatch called earlier and I asked them to move my appointment up from 3pm Monday to Sunday and they said they would, Wegmans always takes Berries in as soon as you can get them there. That's it for now. God Bless, be safe!

 

You are a Mad scientist on the road. I envy you for being able to figure your day right down to the minute