Good Night From II

And, wait, what?
The two previous drivers that took this load quit Swift just after trying to t-call it?
Why, and how, would that be?

Lepton1, how did you know about the local scale?

 

At the Deming Truck Terminal in Deming NM. This used to be one of my fav places to stay but has now closed. Has tons of parking and had a nice little cafe. Drove down the street to a local hamburger joint for dinner and came back here. Pitch black, quiet and only one other truck here. Gonna sleep good tonight without reefers and APUs around.

My DM sent me a mssg this morning while I was in Buckeye AZ fueling asking me to swing through the Phoenix terminal and pick up my IFTA stickers and to call her and let her know if they had them. I should've smelled something was up (she could've called herself) but said sure, no problem. Just as well because as I got to the 75th Ave exit morning traffic was stopped on I-10.

So I go in, get inspected, park and walk all the way over to Permits and get my new stickers and call her. Within seconds I'm informed I'm to give a random sample and to report to the Clinic. No big deal EXCEPT I just pee'd 15 mins ago at Loves after fueling. I wish she would have been upfront with me about going for a test and I could've waited since I was so close to the terminal. After checking in it took me almost two hours of waiting to be able to have enough to provide a sample. I hate sitting around.

 

They can't tell you up front as it would break the rules.
You might have a quick fix.
Random's have to be a 'surprise'.

I was in Denver last week to get my IFTA and they are not available yet. There is a grace period, and I suspect we will all be given notice when we can get them.

 

Tried to get mine at Lancaster before I left Tuesday. Petro in Glade Springs, VA with a live unload in Sandston Friday morning.

 

Phoenix has the new IFTA's but I guess they haven't had a chance to send them out across the country yet. I've got mine now so I dont have to worry about getting to a terminal when the 30-day grace period expires. Last week Columbus was handing out "grace period" letters to carry with you in case an uninformed DOT person questioned you.

 

It was my understanding that we have until March to get the IFTA stickers.


I'm getting ready to nod off in the sleeper. My student is behind the wheel on I-90 W in NY on our way back to ohio to pick up another load. Encountered more stupid drivers today than I care to recall. Had some whiteout conditions between Rochester and buffalo along with a wreck that had the westbound side shut down.

 

Just outside Columbus, OH at the TA.

I had a pretty nice day. My live unload wasn't quick, but it was on time.
Then I went for a live load 15 miles away that only took about 20 minutes. It's a whopping 8k of window blinds going to a K-Mart DC.

When I deliver in Manteno, IL I'll have around 2 hours left on my 70. Only 4 hours coming in the next day, but 11 for the following two.
So I'm sleeping in a bit tomorrow as I only have ~300 miles to drive.

 

At an Indie TS in Junction TX on I-10. Doing a strict 10 then rolling for Houston to drop this load.

Snagged a D/H on mac30 from Beaumont TX to Kansas City KS to do next. Will have just enough time to pick it up and head over to the Petro for lunch.

 

Wow. That is sad to hear. That used to be one of my favorite places. Sad that local, non-corporate truck stops like that one can't stay open.

 

The building is boarded up and all the power is off throughout the two large parking areas so no lights at all. The owner of Big Time Burger down the street said they closed a couple months ago but she had heard they were going to remodel and reopen.

I saw no evidence of any activity in progress.