Glad I moved over to Poly Trucking

What a week...I turned in 3350 miles by Friday noon, then rolled another 1155 miles on my next load that delivers Monday. In the last 3 days I ran a total of 2009 miles...I guess this old man still has what it takes...but I'm kinda beat, but now I have enough time to do a full 36 hour break (thanks to the 2 - 1 to 5 requirement)

 

HOME SWEET HOME!

Haven't been home since Easter. Mainly due to the wacky backhauls I got. i.e. Harrison,AR from the NW (instead of back to TX, which is the norm). From Harrison,AR back to GP in a round about way, then to IN with a backhaul to MN. From MN back out to the NW with three stops. Next backhaul was to Ashland,WI (which ended up being Windsor,WI. Ashland is up by Lake Superior and Windsor is down by Madison. Good thing I called for directions. The broker and two of the three pick ups gave the wrong address.) From Windsor I picked up in Mundelein,IL going back to Cottage Grove. Pick up a three stopper that finaled in Manistee,MI. Backhaul from there was a three stop pick up (Niles,MI and two in Skokie,IL) going to Farmers Branch,TX. Which I delivered late Friday afternoon.

Anyways, not complaining as I was kept busy. Over the last 15 days since leaving Cottage Grove (after a fresh 34hr restart) going to the NW I ran 7,189 miles with 15 paid stops, with a 34hr restart in Walcott,IA where I spent $150 on souvenirs.

Concerning tools: I too carry a small amount, i.e. pliers, knife, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench(s), and vice grips. If i can't fix it with those tools.....it's time for a real mechanic. I will trouble shoot as much as possible, because if it's something I can fix...I will. Why? TIME! It saves me time, which allows me more time to drive and make money, and as a by product it will save the company money. WIN, WIN!

Well, time to get ready for church.

Did I mention......I love my job!

Go ahead SS, you can say it too now.

 

I've hit my first bump in the road on this trip. Sitting at Opelousas Walmart. Been almost 5 hrs for 7 pallets. Just checked on it and she said they were going to start on it soon! Wow! If this happens tomorrow, will cause a problem with the rest of the trip.

 

I guess the one dislike I have about Poly (besides the three stooges in the shop) is the fact they don't utilize EzPass...even though it would save them money in the long run. I had several incidents that cost me precious time on my long days that could have been avoided if I were in the EzPass lane. 1 was in Roscoe, IL...I usually choose the line with the trucks simply because 1 truck length = 4 or 5 cars....but this time the front truck was an oversize...and he didn't have the correct permit, and he wasn't allowed to proceed (even to the shoulder past the gate to remedy his problem). And at 6pm, they only had 3 booths open. It took more than 15 minutes to get out of that lane and over to the next lane to pay. Then yesterday on the W VA turnpike, I had this moron in a USA truck do all he could to race me thru the last toll booth. He had EzPass and I didn't but I was leaving my booth before he even entered the 5 mph (narrow) EzPass lane, so I know he darn well hauled arse thru there just to try to get his slow, no pulling POS back ahead of me...well, he ended up not doing it because my mule out pulled him...me from a dead start, him from a speeding start. He ended up pulling in the same truck stop I did at the bottom of Fancy Gap...15 minutes after me.

And I know EzPass wouldn't have helped the problem on the KS turnpike but I got behind a PTL that either didn't have enough cash or his pikepass wasn't working...or...who knows. 10 minutes watching the booth lady talking and waving her arms explaining what he was going to have to do...which was just pull out of the freekin way and go into the little office building right next door...

I don't know if the discount for trucks with EzPass is the same as cars around Chicago...but the car EzPass rate is almost half of the cash rate, and how many times do we find ourselves in that area? I know it is done this way to discourage excessive unnecessary use...but if it saves 40 or 50% per use...and saves time and fuel...wouldn't it still be close enough to invest in...especially when the out and around routes to avoid tolls adds miles (good for us, costly for them), adds time and adds fuel usage...

Sorry, haven't had much to complain about lately...I had to find something...just to keep in practice

 

I specifically questioned the interview man about having no EZ Pass.
They would have it if they were able to be billed on a monthly basis.
But since EZ pass requires that a company keep a a very substantial minimum amount in the account way ahead of time they refuse to get it.
I dread going east and having to be an accountant with receipts by the dozen and stopping to get large amounts of cash .
It really makes life difficult out here.

 

That's an easy cure...don't go east. I am as close to the northeast as I've been with Poly in the 9ish months I've been here...and I'm at the NC/VA border going south. I came down thru IL to IN to KY over to WV and down here. Remember, on outbound loads, you have a choice...even if that choice is to wait until the next day's freight is being offered. Although the Chicagoland area can be expensive too.

On large toll runs, like the northeast, you don't have to rely on the 3 $75 advances...you can request a larger amount via the q/comm.

 

Yeah #### tolls. I haven't been to the NE in about 9-10 months and when I do I just take the non toll way. Takes me longer but I use US12 and US14 through Chicago when I am in that hell hole.

Does anyone know of a place to park near the Sam's DC in Bloomington? If not guess I will just pull up at that last truck stop on I35 before hitting the city.

 

If anyone gets a Thunderbolt, GA delivery...watch your P's and Q's...they are really nice people, much like the majority of M&P's I have delivered to...but this location isn't a great place to put a 70' truck. You either go thru downtown Savannah, or thru some of the lowest hanging huge tree limbs on US 80 on a tree canopy road...and streets, though classified as truck routes, aren't wide enough for a truck and a passenger vehicle to travel in the same direction of this so called 4 lane road.

 

Finally got the call from backhaul. A new (to me) broker. NFI. Poly waited until 16:55(Poly time) to send me the info, but the broker isn't a 24 hour broker, they're like Poly, after hours they have a emergency line. I pick up in Warner Robbins delivering to Tulsa. Since I didn't get thru to the broker in time, I have no idea when I pick up or deliver. The only thing I can think of in Warner Robins that has anything to do with NFI was the glass plant...but I can't believe that we'd be hauling glass the way our trailers are set up. If I recall, no plywood lined trailers were permitted...at least when I was a Creten.

 

Backwoods NY and Massachusetts (3 drops)
Garbage State (3 drops)
Indiana (2 stops)
X Effingham, IL (1 stop)

Easy game