Running with JCT

I like that idea, and I've looked at a few like Schneider's Choice program. Reading through their thread it doesn't sound like they're doing any better. For now I'm sticking with the "devil I know".

 

Picked up this load of tomatoes in Nogales and was happy to scale out under 60k lbs for once. My new trailer doesn't have any aerodynamic doodads, but with the light load I'm aiming for 8 mpg. I'm getting 1578 paid miles on this trip and will go over 3000 miles for the week.

It's been a couple of months since I was in the northwest. We get some interesting loads outta there too. My last northwest trip was frozen apple pies from Kent, WA to Allentown, PA for 2906 miles! No Montana for us so the company pays the extra mileage to run down to I-80. It'll be nice to leave the south behind for a bit. I just hope that the heat wave is gone when I get up there!

In other news, I guess I jinxed Terry. He has the Cascadia Evolution "loaner" truck while his show-pony Coronado is getting its hood fixed. Anyway, all the whining I did about Freightliner sticking with ancient door lock technology and locking myself out must have inspired him! So the locksmith came out and wanted over $100 to slim-jim the door AND was too incompetent to do it! Luckily, Terry has a "colorful" past (think, "Gone in 60 Seconds") and borrowed (rented) the slim-jim and broke in within a couple of minutes.

Tail winds to all. Keep it out of the weeds!

 

I've actually taken one load there, but we just don't have enough freight in that lane to be able to cover loads in case of breakdowns or HOS problems. JCT is big on doing relays to guarantee on time delivery.

It's too bad too. As an ex-Watkins Shepard driver, I have driven almost every mile in Montana. Very nice scenery and beautiful streams to soak your aching feet in at the end of the day. Of course, they're a bit chilly!

 

Got a pseudo-appointment to drop these tomatoes. Receiver says if I can get to Portland by tomorrow at 16:00, they'll unload me. I have about an hour to spare but that new 30 minute break is gonna cut that in half. I've got a pretty solid week going. My 7-day running total is 3313 miles including that big ten miles I drove on Saturday. My eLogs are not a smoking wreck either as I'll start tomorrow with 13.4 hours available.

I got a hot tip via PM on the Cascadia cruise-control problem. It's not completely ironed out yet, but a definite improvement! I had cruise available 90% of the time today. I'll give a shout out to my tipster once it's back for good.

The national average fuel price jumped up to $3.90/gal and our FSC is up to $.44/mile. I'm fueling tomorrow in Troutdale at $3.679 (if the price holds 'til then) so if I can maintain 8 mpg my net fuel cost will be 2 cents/mile! Deadheading east up the gorge I've seen 12 mpg with that force 5 tailwind, lol. Racing tumbleweeds and raking $$$!