Calex Express....My New Home!

Good for you! I got to the yard after you had left so I missed meeting you. I told Mort about meeting you here on the blog and he was very excited about you and what you bring to the table. I too saw those obstacles you spoke about. If it's any consolation the new plantings and mulch look great.....lol. I also saw the lawn mower bag when I was getting on 81, it looked like it had been run over a few times. The new Volvo's are nice, but they are a little smaller than what I'm driving so I'll keep this truck until it's retired. I've put on 98K since I got it when I started and it runs great. I was told that it's days are numbered so I'll enjoy it while I can. Keep in touch, and if you have any questions just ask.

 

Ok folks, here's an update of my travels since leaving the house Sunday afternoon. After being sick with a Virus for 4 days and the truck dying where it is parked when I'm home, I had 10 full days at the house. I packed my food and essentials, made up my house and left with a drop in McDonough Ga. for Monday morning. It was a 10 hour drive from home to the delivery and just getting over this virus and loosing 15 pounds my backside was dragging by the time I got to the Consignee. I parked at the receiver and got a good night sleep. I was awake at 7am and was empty by 8am. I already had a pre-plan and had to deadhead a whopping 15 miles to drop and hook in Griffin Ga. The load I picked up had 2 drops on it, Mountain Top Pa. for Wednesday at 6am and Thursday at 6am in Hooksett NH. After dropping at Mountain Top, I went to the yard for fuel and to see my dispatcher. He asked me if I was up to going to the west coast the end of the week and I told him yes. I left and drove the 375 miles up to NH and went to bed early. The next morning I was empty and having coffee when the phone rang and it was dispatch telling me to head over to Ayre Ma. En-route the load information came over the computer. It was a load going to Maspeth Queens for Friday at 7am. No problem. I was loaded by 11am and drove down to the TA in Brandford Ct. for a shower. I decided to sleep there and take my 10 hour break. I woke up at 3am and headed to the city. I arrived at the consignee 5am and quickly was given a door to back in. They unloaded the truck next to me first then me. I was done at 6:30 and going across the GW bridge headed to Pittston. At 7am Louie called and told me that he was over booked with Florida freight and that he was sending me back home. No problem, I called the wife and told her to expect me Saturday night. After stopping in Columbia NJ for a cup of coffee, my phone rang and it was Louie telling me the plans have changed. He could cover all the Florida freight but couldn't cover all the West Coast freight and would I mind going to Las Vegas. I don't say no, especially when I can sense my dispatcher in a bind. I told him not at all and was given a load that was a drop and hook at one of our customers in Mountain Top. After going to the yard for fuel, I headed to my drop and hook with only 2 hours left on my clock. I am now sitting in the TA in Buckhorn Pa. taking my 10 hr break and will head out in the morning and try to catch Garylobo who is 8 hours ahead of me. I was told already that after my reset in Vegas next week I'll be loading the same produce load that I had the last trip out west. That pay week wound up being 5450 paid miles and looked very good in my checking account! Well all, it's time for bed as I have completely fell on my face with looking for some sleep. Oh, about the phone call to my wife about being home Saturday night, after all these years of driving, I still haven't learned to only call the wife about coming home after you have the load on the trailer, will I ever learn? I'll update the blog when I get to Las Vegas. Be safe all, God Bless.

 

Thanks Hitman. I'm about to update the blog with my trip out here to Vegas. I have developed a great work relationship with everyone at Calex. It's not rocket science, do your job safely and deal with what ever is thrown at you during the day on an individual basis. They're a great company to work for and I enjoy my work.

 

I don't think they hire out of MI, but to be sure it's worth a phone call to Mort. He'll be glad to answer your question.

 

I used Clorox bleach cleaner then simple green. I also used my wife's muscles!

 

Al, I don't have a Microwave in the truck so what I do is use the truck stop microwave. Up until now it has worked out perfectly. The shop has a list of what is needed for an inverter. From what I understand, you buy the inverter and supplies, they install it. As soon as I get out of this truck, I will get an inverter and microwave, in the new truck. Believe me, the way I do it saves me a ton of money. I left PA Friday afternoon with $20 in my pocket and still have $12 left. I did stop at Walmart last Friday and stocked up on some essentials which came to $34.That's it. When we leave for the west coast they put $300 on our card and I haven't touched it yet. I will tomorrow to get the truck washed and trailer washed out I'll need to stop again on the way back east just to get enough of stuff to get me home. The numbers are slightly higher, around 2900 p/w. I didn't average in the 10 days home during Easter when I couldn't go because of the Virus I had. Even if I did include them my average since I started there is right at 2800 p/w.