Millis OTR journal

When did "You must slide your tandems all the way to the rear before loading/unloading" become the norm? Because I do not remember having to do this when I drove before. Maybe it's because we had 48' reefers?

 

I don’t remember it from before either. Of course I was pulling grain wagons and skate boards back then too. If the trailer is being dropped, I can understand them wanting the tandems all the way back but if live load/unload, I don’t get it.

 

What I understand even less is those places that want you to disconnect and pull away from the trailer. Seems safer to have the trailer nose supported by your truck when running in and out with a forklift. Assuming the driver doesn't pull away early which is probably the main reason some places do it. Still think that occurrence would be rare.

How did you make out at Midwest un Memphis the other morning? How early did you try? I have a 7 an tomorrow. I usually do not get to most places much more than 45 minutes before my appointment if I have to start my clock to get to the delivery. Seems to normally just cause me to waste my clock if I get there much earlier than that.

 

That was this morning, and I don't think it made a difference. I got there a little after 6 and they did put me on a door right away, but they still didn't start unloading me until well after 7. Once they started, they were pretty fast but I still didn't make it over to Blues City until around 0820. But they gave me a door and loaded me fairly quickly for them. I was out at 0930.

Ugh I stayed last night at what was probably be the nastiest, most ghetto truck stop I've ever seen. The Fast Market Citgo on 55 at Exit 14 is a dump. I didn't want to stay in West Memphis and this was the last place with parking before there. I'll take my chances with West Memphis next time.

 

I don't get that either. That would have to be an awfully heavy forklift to raise this trailer and tractor up off the ground. Not to mention that most of these dock locks also provide some level of support for the rear of the trailer. I guess it's just another form of overkill, probably to make some insurance company happy. Just like the places that make you disconnect and turn in your key before they put an air lock on your trailer then use a dock lock. Ridiculous.

 

Ok. Looks like I'll plan on getting there around 0630-0645. I have a reload there at 8 am. Haven't been there since they started working weekends. Any smoother or still a cluster zoo?

I'm at the West Memphis Petro for the night. Walled up the access road to the sh__hole Foying J to grab a shower with a credit. Saw some characters both ways. One car pulled up to me as I was walking and I waved them off like I wasn't in the mood for any B.S. (because I never am in the mood for that) and they drove away. Saw them circling around the J and when I got back to the Petro I saw them pulling in there. Another guy was circling around the Loves on foot and loitering around too.

Last time I stayed at the J I was asked for money. I always say "no, sorry" and they usually move on. This guy started yelling at me so I barked back which worked and he walked away. Like this run but hate the area.

 

Guys the casino is right there off 55 in Memphis and is totally safe and free of all the panhandlers. Good food inside too. Bunch of truck parking at that casino.

 

Well there's an option I was unaware of. What exit?

 

Yes I did not know that either. This time probably would have come here anyway because I needed a shower and wanted to do that at the end of the day.

 

I want to say exit 279A but I'm not 100% positive on that. You can see the casino to your left as you are going south on 55. Behind it is always a bunch of trucks.