CDL in hand... Now What ? Decision time, that's what...

Until today I had no appreciation of the market for modular sports floors. One delivery and one pickup at two such factories really opened my eyes to the reality. Giant inventories, huge lumber processing machines and conveyances. The unloading process this afternoon went smoothly. Back into building, take bungees off tarps, pull tarps and fold them, loosen straps and remove/roll them, stow everthing away while forklifts are unloading. And then get the next load assignment and we're off to the next shipper.

 

Your a new driver wanting to be a Flatbed Driver. All I have to say is be very careful out there, No tailgating, Absolutly NO TAILGATING, whatch for curves with your speed, and dont worry about someone behind you thats in a big hurry, In 2 minutes, they will be gone, but if a rollover, it will be with you forever. Be careful out there, and Good luck.

 

Got the new truck. 4800 miles and that new vehicle smell.

Now at a TA in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Planning to drive the remaining 475 miles to the consignee in Nebraska tomorrow to be ready for Monday morning delivery.

 

Wow! Perpetual, thank you for all your posts. I'm about to become a student and have been reading all you've written. BTW, I lived in NW Lower MI for about 12 years and really appreciated what you said about the UP area - it is unlike most of the US and certainly a treat to experience.

Anyway, please keep posting! Your posts make me excited at the prospect of doing what you are doing, and also a little anxious/nervous at the same time; as in: can I cut it? Congrats on getting that "new truck", and stay safe.

Regards, RRGal

 

So you get to break in a ''newbie'' !!!!!

 

Congrats!

Another new truck for a flatbedder and not surprised in the slightest.

 

So here we are a the Pilot off I-80 near Grand Island, Nebraska, currently about 45 mins from the consignee. We tried Friday afternoon to reach the consignee for this load of sports flooring but no one was answering. Today we contacted our fleet manager to see if any more info could be obtained besides an address. We have no directions and nothing more than an obscure name that corresponds to no business in the area. Putting the address in google maps yields a location which is residential in the satellite view.

Well... guess it's time to don the sleuth cap and use the power of the internet. My first thought was, since this is such a small load, it must be a half court or maybe even a 1/4 court of basketball flooring. So maybe it goes to an elementary school. I then did a search on public schools in the town of delivery named in our load assignment. Sure enough, on the public school systems' website is an article and photographs describing the construction progress on a new elementary school. It even had the names of the new roads that have been paved allowing access to the property. The google maps are not current, as they show the delivery street dead-ending. The website says the street connects to another major thoroughfare. So now I have my own directions and feel much more confident going into this location.

Scheduled delivery is 08:00 tomorrow morning.

Stay safe and have fun,

Perpetual.

 

Best of luck to you! Don't worry about cutting it. It is normal to be anxious about a new endeavor. If you want to make it work you will. If you find you don't like it you can always do something else. So enjoy the ride!

Best wishes.

 

Yup it was the elemantary school. Unloaded during the rain then it stopped. Of course. Had the rain gear not that big of a deal. Now sitting at WalMart waiting on next load assignment.

 

nice detective work