Indian River

That’s awesome for you. I call with an eta every time. I call a day out but lately I haven’t had anything that long so I call as soon as dispatch opens wherever I’m going and let them know when I should be empty. I’ve never had anyone offer a few loads for me to pick from. I had one tell me the other day when I was in Indiana that I would probably getting a milk load back to Florida, decent load, but I was given something going to Syracuse instead; just a skip and a hop. No biggie man, as much as I enjoy tankers im going back to step deck. Where I’m going I will be given access to their load board and I can pick between pay and location. That just works better for me.

 

Yeah man, that’s exactly what I’m sayin. I call a day ahead but then call when I’m sure what time I will be empty. I was given a DH to tank wash in Lafayette, IN, when I got there I called and was told probably a milk load to Florida to hook to whatever clean tank it was, after I hooked to the tank I was told to hook to and got back in the truck, I had a pre plan for Syracuse. I know there was a reason but I’m done. I think it’s fantastic that this works for you, I’m just saying that it doesn’t work for me, that’s all.

 

Well, every company has its issues. Been here five years and managed to stick it out only due to a little bit of; working it out, laid back policies, my own habits, and of course my reluctance to relocate again.

It's gotten kind of slow on the local side here again and it might be time to hit some of those Denver metro runs I did all summer. I've run Colorado before during the winter in a dry van and their chain minimum doesn't scare me. That and I usually take the 287 up.

As far as sitting and waiting, all I ever usually wait for up there is a clean tanker to take back down for the next go around. Been intermittent fasting for the past month and I keep the bicycle on board to kill any boredom on those regionals where I'll be "van-lifing" it for a few days. But if you got to bounce, then you got to bounce if it just ain't working out. I mean we're probably the few industries with everything going on right now where quitting and finding something else is still an option.

 

No I was heading up to Idaho to get a load going down to Visalia. Would’ve delivered this morning so that would’ve been an extra 1500 miles this pay period. I’ve had some crappy loads as well. I just take them and shut up. I’ve found if I whine to them about it, they keep giving me those loads. But when everything is said and done I’m still averaging about 2500-3000 miles a week so far. Been weeks it’s less and some it’s more. Sorry oleskool things haven’t worked out. Good luck and stay safe.

 

Does anyone know how their local guys are ran. They keep asking me to do the water runs down in Southern California. I’m considering it, but because they only pay a percentage of the loads and not hourly, I’m kind of hesitant to do it. Plus even though I’m from there doing local in LA just doesn’t appeal to me.

 

I know out here, the SWC cheeseplant and the Continental an hour away in Littlefield are pretty good, nightly scratch if the plants aren't backed up. SWC kind of got their thing together and I could get 3-4 knocked out a night and a Littlefield at the end in 11-12 hours. 1.5 hours for unload and wash and head back for another each trip, with the Littlefield being the time killer at the end. It makes for a pretty good night percentage wise with 3-4 live unloads. But that's just what I know from the milk side of things.

I'd try to ask around for any other drivers that've done those SoCal water loads and see what the complete turnaround time is on the unload and such. I'm assuming it's a live load/unload out that way. I mean, I stick to NM/TX/CO, so my knowledge is limited to this sector.