Calex Express....My New Home!

I was busy cashing in my winnings from the casino. I won about 1500 miles worth of black jack winnings. It would have taken me 24 hours of driving to earn that, it only took me 30 minutes to make it in the casino.

 

Well my trip out to Reno was very uneventful. I left Pittston around 6pm last Wednesday night and made it to Barkeyville and called it a night. I got up the next morning, decided to get my truck washed then left and made it to Walcott Thursday night. I woke up Friday and gave it hell all day and finished in Burns Wyoming. Saturday I woke up and made it to Wells NV. Sunday I finished the trip into Reno by noon. My 2 drops were less than 5 miles from the Petro. I got up about 4am local time, showered then went and made my 2 drops. I was back at the Petro at 7:30 and went back to bed. Louie told me on Friday to head to Bakersfield after I got empty and I would be loading Wednesday going back to PA. I decided to finish my reset in Reno and leave out at 3am local time this morning. Before going to bed last night I decided to play a little blackjack. In the span of 45 minutes I won $545, went back to the truck, had dinner then went to sleep.

I got up at 5am, showered then checked the weather. Donner was having high winds and snow so I decided to go down 395 thru Carson City and Tahoe. As I was getting close to Lake Tahoe the warning signs said high winds with gusts up to 60mph. A little farther down another sign said all empty trucks stop and wait for an escort. After pulling over and being the only truck there at 6am the state patrol showed up and told me that they would escort me the 9 miles thru the lower part of the lake where the high winds were. After fighting the wind and having blue lights in front and back of me we made to the other side, they broke off and I went on my way.

I stopped and made a cup of coffee on top of one of the passes, kicked my tires then carried on. I knew if I made it to Bishop things would be a whole lot calmer. They were, except just south of town the scales were open and I go in like a nice truck driver. Mr CHP is set up inspecting trucks and as I pull in he steps out to tell me he will be giving me a level one inspection. 20 minutes later the truck and trailer are given stickers and the driver(me) is thanked by the CHP officer for my professionalism(?). I have to say, this is the first full inspection I have had since driving for Calex, I know my truck, I fully checked over my trailer before leaving Pittston, and every time I stop I do a walk around to visually look things over. He did want to see my log book, I told him I was on E-Logs and he wanted to see my 11, 14, and 70 hour pages. I showed him then told him I just came off a reset in Reno. All was good, I made a new friend then left.

As I was leaving I called into safety to let them know about the Level 1 inspection and that everything was 100% ok. As I was hanging up my reload info came over the computer. I have 3 pick ups tomorrow, the first is in Woodlake Ca, then Exeter Ca, then the last one is in Ventura Ca. I am in Bakersfield and just got off the phone with all my pick ups verifying my p/u number's and getting directions. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, 300 miles of driving and 3 pick up's, then hopefully enough time left to get to Barstow. I deliver 5am Monday in Milton PA.

Here are a few totally useless pictures, but to keep it lively I thought I would throw them out there.
The first one shows the wasteland known as Wyoming.
The second one lets me know that what goes up, must come down (Parleys Summit coming into SLC)
The third one is my entertainment center, the things that keep me sane.
The last one is my restaurant with my wife's touch throughout.

 

We have 2 big customers in the Greenville area. One in Piedmont and one in Anderson. After unloading in Florida and finishing my home time I wind up loading in Florida going to NC or SC then go to one of those customers for a drop and hook back to PA. In your situation your hometime will be taken then going to one of those customers for a drop and hook. Living in that area is ideal.

 

Half are frozen at the house, then are put in the fridge in the truck. Every thing stays good for the 16 days I'm gone to the west coast. When I run back and forth to the house I only take 5 meals with me.