Good Night From II

The TA at exit 68 on I-30 just east of Dallas now has a Starbucks! I'm in heaven.

Taking a 10 midday. My trainee is taking a rolling 34 after maxing out the 70 and will be ready to roll after delivery tomorrow morning.

 

At Lancaster getting an unnecessary 34 while I wait to get on the SIMS for winter driving.

For several reasons I won't go into I CANT WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE!!

The Shop did my B-Serv in 2.5 hours yesterday. My hat's off to them!!

 

Still sitting here at the T/A. Was told at 1300 that still planning trucks and then at 1900 sent a pplan for tonight 180 miles away and ready to go now. Had to turn it down. Up all day and run all night and was already falling asleep in my chair. Did not feel safe doing that. I was even asked around 9 this morning if going home or want a load. Said that want a load. Not a very good start here. Right now less than 1600 miles for the week. I am hoping for a nice little 350-400 mile r/t when I get up in the morning. If not, then home I head, all of 50 miles.

 

all this holiday traffic sucks, went to Vegas yesterday and the drive there was nice and smooth and even made record time, the drive back took the extra hour I had and I made it back with 4min left. Today went to Atwater and Fresno, the Atwater normally takes me about 5.5 hours or so and today it took 7. Tomorrow doing my old Monday combo of Paso Robles and Salinas, I have not been to Salinas in months since they changed it to a late evening cut time but during the holidays they dropped it back to cut at 15:30 so now I can pick that store up again.

For anyone in the area who wants to work surge you might be able to get a spot, the new site manager hired several of them and even gave them a guaranteed $200 a day pay which pissed off the normal drivers, some only work half a day and still make that. I know I have to drive a full 11 normally to make over $200 so its a bit irritating.

 

How long does the surge last?

My wife is spending time in San Jose this month, thinking about relocating there. My trainee will upgrade next week. I don't want to take on another trainee until after Christmas, since it would suck to try to schedule around Christmas. I'm thinking of working on through until Xmas and park in Lathrop. If the surge lasts until then that might be perfect for me to stay close until home time.

 

Leaving a customer in Mississippi, just over the border from Memphis and headed to Laredo. Trainee's at the wheel and did the complete drop and hook without assistance.

Boy! The weather sure took a turn for the colder. I went to sleep just east of Memphis early AM with temperature about 60ºF and woke up at 8:00 am and it's 39ºF! Weather map shows snow and ice storms not far north of us, hopefully we can skate on through Little Rock without getting into freezing rain or anything like that.

Right now Laredo's 75ºF is looking real good. We'll make a live unload tomorrow at noon, then grab a trailer at the terminal headed to Georgia.

 

Maybe Steve should jump on this he knows his way around so cal so well and the weather is good even with the rain coming in this week. Although I never guess where he wants to go or do correctly. Yeah I know he said something about WA but deep down its all about making moolah.

 

Still at Lancaster to get my WINSIMS done in the morning.

Somehow my PTA magically changed from tomorrow at lunch to this afternoon..instantly received another heavy grocery load going to Houston for live unload..same stuff they were tossing out two days ago. Had my PTA put back to where it was supposed to be and had it removed.

Went fishing on mac30 to see what I could find for tomorrow and got back 3 pplns..all heavy groceries going to Houston. Let em all die. I fully expect that's all I'm going to find to get out of here or the planners will force one on me. Not so bad I guess..I'm to the point I'll be willing to take anything just to get out of here.

EDIT: grabbed a 5k lb D/H at both ends from Waxahatchie to Conroe TX off a mac30...short miles, but light, quick and gets me out here after SIMS in the morning. Should have better options on outbound freight from that area. Better than same miles but heavy loads with too much time spent sitting on grocery docks.

Was conversing with another platinum co driver tonight and found that he knew nothing of having access to mac30. Showed him how to use it..he was beside himself with happiness..my good deed for the day.

 

Finally home sweet home. Took a mt trailer up to Madison, OH to load some cardboard back to target. The apologized for yesterday with me sitting all day knowing that today was home time. Then made a mistake of saying to me, even tho getting home at 10 tonight you are still home.

 

Home at 2200 is the same as home the next day, as far as I'm concerned.

I just got home, too.
Dropped my load at MOM in Northfield then parked the truck at the Inver Grove terminal. My sister picked me up.
Tomorrow is Turkey Day for me. I've got a nice fresh 19 pounder that's waiting to be stuffed in the morning.