Calex Express....My New Home!

No I haven't, Calex bought out a flatbed company last summer and it is run out of Tn. Those drivers are all on set runs hauling for the same customer.

 

Hey Larry, good to hear from you. Keep shouting, I'm in Reno taking a 34 hour reset, then will load in Ca. Thursday and head back to Pa. I should be in Florida next Thursday. Be safe, especially down in Brownsville.

 

Keep trying, I know it's usually very busy in safety. I don't think he's on vacation. I need to speak to him in the morning. I'll let you know if he's in.

 

Ok, after 12 hours of much needed beauty rest here's an update to the trip to Reno. I checked in with Louie in dispatch first thing Friday morning. He told me to check back right before lunch as he was going through the loads and didn't know which one he was giving me, it was another typical Friday in dispatch, organized mayhem. I went downstairs and wrote my truck up for 2 minor issues, a leaking dipstick that was pissing oil all over the engine, and I needed a grease job. The shop brought me right in and I was done in an hour. As I was parking my truck Louie called on my cell phone and told me to come up to dispatch. I went upstairs and was given my load info. It was a pick up in Kirkwood Ny just over the Pa line on 81 with 2 stops in Reno. He told me that both drops were first come first serve so I asked did that mean if I got there a day early would they take it off, he said yes and I told him I would be there on Tuesday. I found my empty trailer in the yard and noticed that it was just inspected and the reefer was serviced just 2 days ago.

After hooking to the trailer I noticed that 2 right rear tires were pretty bad so off to the shop I go to get them replaced. I no sooner told the mechanic about the tires when he exploded at the mechanic who signed off on the trailer for not noticing and replacing the 2 tires. They changed out the tires right in the middle of the lot and I was on my way. I got to Kirkwood at 11:30 and was done by 12:30. This place doesn't allow drivers on the dock so the loader brings you the paperwork, seals the trailer and sends you on your way. Imagine if each and every shipper/receiver was like this.

After sealing the trailer, the loader told me I had to go to their other plant back in Pittston to finish loading. I figured Calex would appreciate the fact of a fully loaded trailer going across the country and not one half loaded so I called dispatch and told Louie what was going on. He told me to head over to Pittston and he would send the info for the second p/u in about 15 minutes. As I was pulling into the shipper, the rest of the info came across the computer. I parked the truck in line behind the other 15 trucks and went to check in. When I got to the shipping office they told me to put it in door #6, I said fine but what about those other 15 trucks parked outside ahead of me. They said their loads aren't ready and that my 10 pallets are on the dock waiting for me. I went outside and backed into my door. I no sooner get out of my truck that I have a driver, whom I won't name what company he drives for, jumping all over MY backend for going ahead of him.

Excuse me Mr. Truckdriver, I may only drive this truck and the general public has no clue as to what I go through on a daily basis to deliver this freight, but I will be ###### that you will speak to me in that tone, one VERY GOOD ability I have is to listen, and the shipper told me to back into this door. Now if you have a problem with this, go see him, soon, very soon before I come unglued right here at the loading dock with you and your dumb ###. That was the end of that conversation with Mr. Truckdriver.

I was loaded and on my way by 3pm. As soon as I hit I-80 it started to rain, by the time I got to the T/A at Lamar I had gone through 2 10 mile back ups in the rain and was finished for the day. I showered and ate then got back to the truck and did some trip planning. I had enough hours to get to SLC and would pick up 9.5 hours after midnight Monday night in order to deliver a day early in Reno. I was up and rolling before dawn on Saturday and made it to the 112 in Morris Il. for fuel. I planned on getting up early and taking a shower then hitting the road. I have to say that I enjoy getting up and hitting the road very early, it's the most peaceful, quiet time of the day. No cars, most trucks are still in bed, and no CB wars.

I got up and went inside for a shower, the only problem was they had no hot water and I wasn't about to take a cold shower at 4:30 in the morning, not with Walcott Iowa 2 hours away. So I left and headed to a shower in Walcott. I made it to North Platte Nebraska and ended my day Sunday. I woke up early Monday and left North Platte in the pouring rain and fog. I was wondering what I had in store going across Wyoming the rest of the day, after finding the P.O.E. I cleared the port and went online to find out about the weather and road conditions. Not looking good.

I made it as far as Elk Mountain and that's when the fun started, snow, snow, and more snow. I made it as far as Ft. Bridger Wyoming and got fuel. As I was leaving it stopped snowing and cleared up at the Utah state line. I got to the TA at the 99 mm and called it a day. During the night the biggest thunderstorm I ever saw exploded right over the truckstop. I was up and rolling at 3am my time which was midnight Reno time. I left the TA in heavy rain. Now, for those of you not familiar with the last 100 miles across the salt flats, it's the most loneliest, quietest and desolate stretch of interstate in the country, and thats during the day in sunshine, not 3am in the rain. I crossed into Nevada and that's when I thought I took a wrong turn and was back in Wyoming. As soon as you cross the line you start climbing hills, or mountains, whichever you prefer.

That's when the snow started again, and boy was it snowing, blowing and looking like January 10th and not May 10th. By the time I got to Wells, I couldn't see the road anymore and decided to take a nap until daylight so at least I could see the end result should I run off the road. I knew my wife would be calling like she does every morning right a 7am and like clock work she did. Check out this conversation,

"Hi honey how are you? Fine, and you? I've been better. Listen, I need to call the A/C company and get the A/C in the house serviced. Ok, I understand it's hot home in South Florida, but would you like to hear about my day today?"

My lovely wife doesn't understand that just because it's hot home, the rest of the country isn't hot. After the phone call I went inside, washed up and got a cup of coffee to go. I ran out of the snow about 100 miles down the road and made it to my first drop at 10:30 local time. Drop one complete in 30 minutes, drop 2 was directly across the street and that was done in 30 minutes also. As I got to the first drop, I noticed my GPS on the Peoplenet said I was in Sparks, my fuel stop is in Sparks, so as soon as I bumped the dock I started my reset.

I was back at the truckstop at noon and that's where I'm at right now. 23 hours into my reset with nothing to do. Dispatch called this morning to verify when I'd be able to go and I told them 11pm tonight, they told me that they will be sending over my reload info later today. It's a load of produce picking up in Salinas going back to PA. The reset happened at the right time. All this rain and snow came out of California so Donner Pass was a mess. They lifted the chain law and cleaned up the road.

They are calling for nice weather the next few days, so when I leave tonight I won't have to play in any snow......for now. Now for those of you wondering why I would put so much pressure on myself to deliver early. I am somewhat old school when it comes to certain things, and one of those things is I want an empty trailer asap. If I deliver early I start my reset early, then I reload early, then I get back east early, then I get home early. That right there is what matters the most to me, getting home to enjoy what I work for and what I have. I've been at this a long time and I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful wife, family and home, plus my 2 Labs that mean the world to me.

I make enough money here to be able to enjoy these things. I am not one that will live in this 6x6 metal room on wheels for weeks on end. Been there, done it. Now I do my job and go home to the things that make me happy. I am now able to make plans for when I get home next week. That is what you get when you put your priorities in place. I'm not saying that those of you that are out there for weeks, even months on end are doing it wrong, I'm saying that as you go on with this career, your thought process changes. Stay safe, God Bless!

 

When I was at the terminal last Friday Mort in safety said they are looking for a driver in Florida. We run Volvo's, with mostly automatics, some newer ones have super 10's. They are now getting ready to order a bunch of new trucks and are leaning towards Freightliner Cascadia's.