CRETE - A Year in Review

Ah, yes....you remember that disaster! Like I said, I was mentally prepared to have to reject a first pre-plan, and they didn't let me down. But my current AM seems to really be on the ball. She made a very extensive notation on my screen regarding this trip and the fact it is bought and paid for already.

I would have deadheaded back to GA if need be. Wasn't going to miss this trip for anything, including this job.

 

Man is it muggy down here in Louisiana! Glad I got a run to Beloit, WI where I hope it's cooler

 

I will say about half of Poly multi stop loads are Mom and Pop which the driver calls and sets up the appointment so shouldn't really be much wasted time. Most the outbound loads are usually to the big chains which are usually planned with just enough time on them. Also most of the outbound loads are planned with a backhaul so most times you know where you are going even before you are empty, although some shippers and receivers may take there sweet time but that's anywhere. As I experienced with Crete when everything is working together and loads are planned right e-logs wasn't a problem, but you get those bad planned loads like deliver in the morning and your next load picks up that afternoon killing you day, that's when I felt frustrated with e-logs and Crete. I left out last Friday and rolling back to Grand Prairie yesterday for a total of 4400 miles and 5 stops logging it the same way I did at Crete.

 

I bet eliminating or at least reducing exasperation dramatically increases income too (e.g. lower blood pressure, more restful sleep, less stress binge eating, etc).

 

Have a safe trip and enjoy that downtime Pack.

 

Well I made it to TX. I really don't know what the whole fuss about the TSA is all about. I got there 2 hours ahead of time like they advise. I got in, through the security line and sat waiting for an hour and a half. The flight was ok, a bit bumpy but not bad. My last trips on Greyhound were much worse. The only hitch, I had my sun glasses in my shirt pocket when I went to take a leak on the plane...when I bent down to push the flush button which is under the sink, my sun glasses went "plop...swirrrrrrly swirrrrly whoosh" into the blue abyss, and I ain't going in after them. Tomorrow is the first day of orientation over here at Poly...I still can't believe I am doing this!!!!!

 

Absolutely! My BP went down 3 or 4 points right after I got the o.k. from Poly, then down a few more when I called Deland to say I was quitting...not to mention the smile that pops up at random.

 

My luck has suddenly taken a Ralph-like turn!

Stopped last night at Pilot in Dalton, GA (exit 326 off 75). 100 miles from my delivery, then 51 back to Marietta. Do my pre-trip.

No trailer brakes. None. Zilch.

Got air going to the ABS valve, none coming out. Everything was fine yesterday, so I guess it went south when I set 'em last night for the last time. Service truck has now gone to find a new valve. SO....I'm hoping now to just t-call this load at Marietta whenever I get finished. I'm 61 miles from there.
I take it back...it's not Ralph-like. This isn't Crete's doing. Just the antics of a trailer that somehow KNOWS I"m going on vacation!

 

Here I sit in Janesville, WI. I had a 1900 appt. got here at 1700 which is FARRRRR better than some of these guys (including two Cretens). If you are late by even a minute here you are sent to the end of the line! I talked to a Schneider next to me. He had been here since 1030 and he was late so I got loaded before him. One of the Cretes had a 1400 and he got here at 1405....end of the line!

I had a disagreement with the Acer tablet I use as a GPS. So I had to buy a new one. I snagged a Google Nexus 7". I use Copilot Live as an Android app and everything was backed up to the cloud. So once I had my account info imputed all of my settings and favorites were restored instantly. I never knew how much I depend upon the GPS. I made a couple of trips with out it and i did pretty good. Well, except Birmingham

 

Joe, you must be at Seneca Foods.

So, I had me a Wendy's craving...but it was after 10pm:



Bobtail + no overhangs FTW!