Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Welcome Aboard!

 

This week was fantastic! Did not get as many miles this week but when I deliver on Monday, I will have almost 1,000.
This week was relaxed and full of adventure!
I headed down towards Gallatin Tn on Sunday and stopped at the Flying J on exit two of I 69. There was plenty of parking and just kicked back and relaxed.
Got up and was rolling at 6 and headed on down to Insteel.
When I got there, there were two mt mavericks and two mt tmc with a loaded tmc in front of me. It probably took two hours for them to get me unloaded but it was no big deal. Talked to the other Mavs and they were able to get unloaded Sunday night and were reloading there. However, they were running behind on getting them loaded.
One of the Mavs asked me how I kept my truck so clean. I told him that I wash it from time to time and Maverick even pays for it....got a deer in the head light look...lol.
Got a load to pick up at Temple Inland in Cumberland City Tn heading to Kansas City Kansas. I lucked out at T I. They got real busy right after I got there.
While they were loading me it started to rain. So I asked the loader if I could tarp inside. He kind of hesitated until I said, I do not want to bring this load back up here wet any more than you want to unload it....he said sure, tarp it inside.
While I was finishing up to the point I could pull out, another guy came up and asked me why I was tarping there. I told him I was instructed to do so because of the weather...and that was the end of that conversation.
Headed on down the road and got a preplan to pick up in Atchison KS and take it to McKeesport Pa.
I made it to the Madison Yard with about 30 minutes left and got a shower and spent the night.
Got up and headed over to Kansas City Kansas. Kansas City Mo, it a wild ride through the town with all the twists and turns.
While I was untarping, my preplan got taken away....oh well.
My next load was to pick up in Kansas City a radiator weighing in at 2800.
While I was there I got another load for the same thing. Not two drops, but two separate loads. One going to a rail yard in St Paul Mn and the other going to a rail yard in Minneapolis Mn.
I made it to the new rest area in Iowa on I35 at the 159 mm. Very spacious and clean. On the way up there I got a preplan to pick up a load of shingles in Shakopee going to Columbia Mo.
It took me a while to figure out my route. I decided to go to St Paul first, then to Minneapolis and then to Shakopee.
At the first yard I asked a guy in shipping where to go. He said to back into the bay and they would unload me there. So I back up to the door and go in and ask the guys in there if I could back in. He says Why? I say because that guy told me to. He says, he is a dumb ###...it does not go here....they were working on a locomotive.
They then laughed and told me where to get to.
So I get unloaded and head back out the way I came in.
Only problem is that you can not turn left on the road I came in on so I am headed into down town St Paul. I thought about trying to make a left an go back the other way but was not sure if I could make it so I followed my gps.
It had me turn under this old bridge that as soon as I turned in I saw all sorts of construction signs and detours. I was able to turn left and continue into town.
Then it tells me to turn right and it looked very narrow an more signs.. I then saw a sign directing me to the expressway. So I followed the signs and made it out of there.
Then I am in the next train yard going down a very narrow road crossing 6 or more sets of tracks at a time with no warning devices. I just had to look and go.
I got in an unloaded and got the next load to pick up shingles.
The notes on the qualcom said to call on the cb when you get there.
The appointment was for 0800 and it was now after 12.
I get there and get in line and call the lady on the cb. She says what time is your appointment and I tell her. She then says "What does that sign say over by the scale. I could not make it out completely but there was one in front of me that said to call on the cb. I told here I did not understand what she wanted me to see.
She says, you wait until you are on the scale and have entered in your info before You call me.
I said sorry Mam, first time here.
While I was waiting I heard another driver do the same thing and she was very nice to him...so go figure.
Sat around for about two hours and then got to get started loading. It was a mixed load that took another 1.5 hrs to track down and bring to me.
I had to tarp part of the load and was able to do it with one tarp.
Headed out and made it back to the same rest area and stayed in the exact same spot.
When I headed out in the morning there was a fantastic lightning show and horz rain for the first 45 minutes. It was pretty awesome.
On the way I got a preplan to to do a repower going to NY.
I had to pick it up at the Madison yard.
When I got unloaded I headed over there.
I first washed my truck and then traded in my two lumber tarps that got damaged.
I then went and looked at the load. The tarps were in horrible shape so I pulled off the tarps and retarped it. I also took apart the bulkhead because he had way too many boards on the load and I did not want to have the extra weight.
There was a set of snow chains in the tarp box which I also turned in.
It was about 85 degs and i was plenty dirty and wet by the time I was done.
The trailer is an old east 96 in but in very good shape. I took it trough the wash and got it looking pretty good.
Afterwards I took a shower and went down to the Hawaiian restaurant and got some take out. It was excellent. I watched a couple of my favorite shows and then hit the rack.
Got up at 0300 and made it home here by 1400.
I will head out Sunday morning and spend the night at the receiver.
On the way on I86, I am going to stop at the one rest area that overlooks that lake and relax for a couple of hours before I head on down and park.
I took my time, got great fuel mileage and had a fun filled exciting week!
Who could ask for more out of a job?
Have a great weekend!

 

I feel your pain...lol....Whenever I see that on my work order, my pulse quickens and my breathing gets shallow...lol

 

lol