Good night from...

Those Swift gods have smiled on you again. Amazing!

 

OK, just unloaded in Kentwood Mi, scored a nice little 300 mile load for tomorrow, hopefully another one like that for Wednesday, if not will be at 4245 miles for the week anyway.This load picks up in Stanwood MI. Wish they had more info on the load offerings, accepted then the special instructions come through NO KENWORTHS, No Snow Chains, Low Fuel.46,600 pound water loads come from this place. Called the POD, they said I can try it, worst case, they repower. I'd probably have to eat the empty miles getting up there though.

Grand Rapids tonite. There's talk of the Canadian Army invading Michigan tonite.

 

How much does your truck weigh Scottie?

Wichita Falls, TX

 

I just weighed it the other day, about 19k and change.

 

That seems pretty light but maybe van trucks are less than that? Maybe its because mine is 22.5K with full tanks.

 

I recd a msg the other day that PPLANs are supposed to be starting that there will be more info on them, but I can understand about the Offerings. Not much in them, and then find out when dispatched. I am surprised that no Kenworths. I know that I can pull 46,600. Not long ago, pulled a 45,500 out of Wal-Mart, full of fuel, and was only 78,500. I think that alot also has to do with the trailer.

 

Maybe it's a height/weight thing. Michigan has some low bridges and low-weight roads, especially when you get off 131. And it's not an invasion by Canadians -- they're just all visiting Canadian Lakes up there!

 

I think in Sheppard, TX, off US 59. Today was at a shipper, and they have now made it to the top of my list for favorite shippers. It is a floor load going to Wal-Mart. While I was walking to my trailer with the broom and pan, the loader asked if it was me in Door 40. Yes. He then told me, you do not need to sweep. We will be using a floor washer and vac (the kind that you see in large buildings, spray the water, then vac and squeege behind), and clean your floor. I think that this is probably the cleanest it has been since new. Then proceeded to tell me that if hungry, drop the trailer and where all the places are to eat. If needed to cool down, then up at the front drivers lounge, some real clean showers for drivers, that after used, they come in and clean again. Some of the most friendly people that I have ever seen. Was even asked if I was still hungry after my lunch, and one was offering to share with me hers. They are definately at the top of my list. They are in Sugar Land, just off Airport Blvd.

 

I got my first load offering like that, looks like you're dispatched but must still accept through macro 9. They immediately pulled it off me for some reason.

For my own reference, on the way there I scaled empty at the nearby truckstop, knew I could take a max of 46,380 load. When I got the paperwork, it read 44k and change I already knew I was OK. Only a dollar to reweigh to make sure and delivered no problems. I was dreading delivery because the preplan read that Swift pays a max of $200 for lumpers (oh how I hate dealing with that stuff sometimes) which had my anxiety going nuts just thinking all the bad scenarios were going to happen.
Upon trying to leave with the empty trailer, (drop/hook NICE) I noticed primary and secondary air gauges dropped from 120 to 80 pounds awfully quickly. Performed a more in depth air brake test, then set the tractor and released the trailer brakes and stepped out to find the hissing leak. It was my red air line just below the glad hand had developed a small hole. Luckily had a spare and swapped it out and got rolling.
Now kicking it at Harrah's Joliet.

Well I talked to the DM, he said the problem wasn't the truck make or model, just that every time they've had overweight issues it's been due to O/O's coming up there with too much fuel. Company drivers don't have too much trouble because they are on the fuel optimizer automatically, O/O's tend to over fuel especially those who don't have a lot of business savvy.

 

Paris, TN, enrte home.