Finished my training and...

Just got back from a back to back run to Cali, boy am I fried. Last trip out I did the driving out to San Diego area, had 2 deliveries and no backhaul.. We left at 10pm and I drove out. I was still friend from the previous trip out, but did manage to get a few hours of sleep. I did all deliveries solo, as mentor was crashed out. It's not a big deal, as Ishould be able to do these now with no hesitation, and I did.
I did a pretty hard back in, off the street into a doc that was inside of a building, was tough, but did it with only one lil pull up, that was not needed, but was tough to see the doc as the transition from sunlight to dark was offsetting my sight.. nevertheless I rocked it.. Mentor asked me to wake him prior to getting there to assist me, but I wanted to bask in the joy of nailing it solo, and I did, made my whole day !!

Was thinking of a last post of mine about mentors wanting us to do a few more hours in their trucks to make sure we ARE on or over 240hrs. Well it makes more sence to me now, as I got to thinking that the ELogs track us per minute, and we trainees' track paper logs per .25, so it makes full sence to me now.. That and whats one more run out on the road, not like it's going to kill us, me.. So im ok with that.

Off beat here.. My sister was heading on the I10 west and at mile marker 90(something) a schnieder rig went over 200 or so feet infront of her. She said it happened so fast all the 4-wheelers behind him were right up on the accident in seconds, no one hit him, luckely.. She also mentioned a Swift driver was right there, pulled over to offer assistance as well.. The guy was fine, obviously shaken, but not stirred.. My sister, an RN, pulled over to see if she was needed, but wasnt..

My last run I was thinking how sad it is.. I mean I was crusing along and had a tow truck pulling a Knight tactor/trailor pass me.. Now how sad is that, im chugging along 62mph and a #### tow truck passes me hauling a rig... lol... Then on the way back I see a Swift tractor on a train with no less than 100(or so) cars pass me along side the road.. I mean ####, I get passed by everything out there.. Grrr. Kinda why I dont mind these Cali runs, as atleast I can run a few miles with other trucks, old ladies out for a Sunday drive..

Be safe out there !

-=Peace

 

Oh yea, my skills are very much so improving..

 

Oh I agree w/ ya there.. happens more times than Id like to remember, thats for sure..

 

I think thats the one, they all bleed together after awhile.. It's the one where Penske truck is always in dock as well..

I just got back from that area lastnight and we hit that target, too..
Driving out there the other day was hairy, again, that #### wind !! I'm starting to get sick of Cali runs, would love to get a few Denver or Utah runs in and call it..
Down to 40hrs left, I'm ready to go !! Waiting on mentor to call me here in an 1/2 hr or so to let me know tonights run, fungers x'd its NOT cali.. lol
No big deal, as im not driving out tonight either way we go..
I drove us out the other night and I had a hard time staying focused. I did 1st two stops and woke mentor up to take over.. I had 3.5hrs left of my 11 and just called it. Later that day, well more like 3 hours later, I got sick as a dog.. My first case of trucker gut. lol Was not fun

Guess tonight I get to learn about comchecks, as we are going to go get the tractor washed a lil better than the spray wash at the terminal. I'm sure going to miss my lil bug friends I've become so intuned with, laying there all colorfull, glowing pretty colors in the early morning sun as I roll into town.. sniff

Keep it safe out there. !

-=Peace

 

Just got back from another Colorado run early this morning. First time I delivered to Montrose, Co and what a beautiful run that was. running back thru the rockies was killer awesome, driving it was kinda hairy at times, as these lil 2-lane roads are tight when it's 12am and yer getting tired. Yup mentor made me run the late shift, uhhg..

We had a fuel route that took us off our gps route, and it was around 2am when I realized I missed the turn, for fuel route, and ended up running thru Tuba City, AZ down the 89. Wasnt tooo bad as we had enough fuel to get back to Phx terminal, but my mentor didnt seem to happy, then again... probably because I woke him up and told him I think I took a wrong turn about 20 or so miles back.. Ohh well, #### happens I guess..

Tonights run is back out to Irvine, Ca. Which I'm getting tired of, as I always end up running the late shift, and it seriously fries me, as I get no sleep at all.. If I dont run first I end up getting 3-4 hours tops on them runs, and no backing, well just the one at the DC turning in the trailor.. Oh such is the life of a trainee, huh. I guess I cant complain too much, I mean I am working, and learning as we go..
Hours are ticking away, obviously, and i'll soon be on my own, need to recount them again to double check and get excited again !

Last run I was cruising down the 40 and get a call from an academy friend of mine asking me where I was, etc.. I told him I was about 30 mins out of winslow, az and was going to hit the flying J for a lil break. Well guess where he was, yup.. Was pretty #### cool, as we both ran into Albuequerque, NM, about 3.5hrs and BS'd on the radio, etc.. hell by the time I knew it I was at the 25 heading north. Sure makes a BIG difference when you have someone to talk to on them runs,. CB is a must in my truck, thats for sure.

Till next time.. Keep it safe out there..

-=Peace