Millis OTR journal

Addendum to my last post. If you have to sweep your trailer out after delivering a scrap paper load, that should be considered unloading.

 

I always liked picking up there. But then again the first time I went there I had a guard that wasn't too lazy to do her job and explained to me where to go and what to do. I don't remember union and non-union entrances, though.

Had a similar experience of my own in Middletown, OH last week though. Was sent to the big steel mill there to pick up coke. Scaled in, told the guard I'd never been there before. She had me come to the window so she could give me a map.

Based on the map and the route she drew on it, it looked like I just traveled around the perimeter of the mill until I got to where I needed to go. So that's what I did. Followed the road around the inside of the fence, and drove and drove and kept looking for a big pile of coke (the black kind, not the white) and loader and finally I got to a place where all I was seeing was finished goods and I decided I was lost. Turned around, found another guard shack. Went inside and she really had no idea where I needed to go either so she had a mobile guard come escort me to the big pile of coke and loader.

That mill is freaking huge.

 

I wonder where Smith used to drop their trailers before being bought out. Seems that every terminal east of the Mississippi is being over run with Smith trailers. Except for Heartland in Atlanta which I don’t blame em.

 

I just learned that Jay in dispatch passed away. He's one of them that I liked, too. RIP.

 

I don't know that I ever talked with him, you guys must have had a different group to talk with than I did.

 

I'm staying at a weird place tonight, and it's making me feel uneasy. It's a combination Thornton's for gas and Pilot for diesel in Lincoln IL that's got 2 parking lots like a Love's. It's in town so there are businesses all around it and the whole thing just seems so off to me that I locked the side boxes for the first time in ages and set the tractor brake under tension to keep the fifth wheel locked. I hope I'm just being paranoid.

 

The little cafe inside makes good made to order sandwichs.

 

I got a burger from Steak and Shake. I try not to eat much fast food, and they're an exception. I think part of the reason I was feeling like I did was I ended up parking between 2 Swift trucks, I wonder how things will look when I get outside.

 

I like that little place. I don't think you'll have any problems. There's a couple of truck stops along that stretch of 55 that I like: There's that Thornton's, there's a Road Ranger that has a Route 66 themed bar and restaurant across the street from it, and there's a Mr. Fuel that has a bunch of restaurants near it.

I kinda miss running up and down 55.

 

Hello. I’m an experienced driver thinking about making a change. Any info on a day in the life of a Millis Texas Regional Driver? Thanks in advance for any information.