Running With Schneider!

Made delivery in Woodland CA, picked a load (shorty) to Reno NV and another load going back to Paterson CA. Now been thinking I might want to wait until next week to get work on my truck done due to the holidays. Most shops will be limited staff and/or closed. Again! It's all about the planning. Will see how it plays out. Right now looking for loads and seeing what my best options are!

Have a Good Turkey Day!

 

My laptop took a flying leap out of the sleeper the other day and hasn't recovered from the fall unfortunately... I was using it in the sleeper at the customer and got side tracked when the shipper came to the door. Went off to get the paper work, checked my load, the trailer, closed the doors and off I went forgetting I left the laptop wide open sitting on the bed (usually close it up and tuck it away for travel). Few rough bumps and several miles down the road hit another rough patch in the road surface and out pops my laptop on to the floor next to my shifter! Awwwww crapp! this can't be good (thinking out load to myself)! Sure enough it damaged the receptacle so you can't plug it in to charge.. It was an older PC and was having some other issues as well..Guess it's time for a new one!

I have a mini laptop for back up. With only 8" screen it's not the best at maneuvering around the load board but getting the job done for now until I can get somewhere and spend a few hours, shop and pick up a new one. Nothing fancy just need a decent size screen and processor.

Mean while had some tough times back out here in the west during the Thanksgiving Holiday, load cancelled etc.. but after that managed to be running pretty good now. Seemed to have fixed some of the issues with the truck ( Will update more on this later) Still have window washer that needs repair and it's getting to be time for my next PM. Need to get that stuff taken care of next.

This week so far ran loads down from Utah to Southern CA. Started Tuesday in Utah ran south to Perris CA, did a short load in Southern CA, stop by the house couple times, ran back up to Utah then came back down Mira Loma CA and now on my way to TX. This week will come out pretty good. Should gross about $4850 to the truck, last week was a different story though, came out to be about $2900.

Last few months I have suffered a bit trying to stay out here in the West. Running up and down the west won't pan out well when trying to do it consistently. However it does seem to work out better when I run west, maybe do a short load or two and then go back toward the east or Midwest. At least that's been my experience for me anyway. Someone else may do just fine depending on there income threshold, how they run etc.. For me it's better I stick to what I was doing, which is basically follow the money! Now that winter has pretty much shown it's ugly hand I will be trying to find the money in the south ..lol I like the warm money! Butttttt ........!! ya never know. Will go most anywhere if it's worth it!

Keep on trucking!

 

I hear that! Thinking I might run til after New Year then take some time off.

 

Good run today 561 miles! Across AZ, NM and into TX. Shortly after dark I ended the day with only 7 minutes left. Found a decent little out of the way truck stop. Parked along a tree line in the back/side of the lot. Not much room here for to many trucks but good for me .. So I thought anyway!

Did my post/trip, went into the store came back out to the truck and Whamm! big spot light and extremely loud horn from a freight train appearing to come directly toward me! Dang it I parked right next to the railroad tracks LOL... Oh well! Once I'm asleep, I hear nothing!

 

You were about 2 days in front of me and I still got a taste of that on Monday! Drove over ice (Mostly at bridges) I-20 for about 6 hours from I-10 to Wheatherford TX and then stuck in heavy traffic through Dallas to Grand Prairie TX.

 

Presently at the Dallas OC just picked some loads to get going again! Heading down to Houston TX then over to Mississippi.. Was off yesterday per my plan to see if can get some work done on the truck. Stopped by Freightliner an showed them my list of things I needed... needless to say they said they had time to do an analysis on the truck that day but wouldn't be able to get any of the items fixed til Friday! Of course~~! Soooo...on to plan "B". Went over to speedco and got a quick PM done. Typically don't use them for PM but in a pinch it will do! Then went to the OC and ask if they could get any of the items on my list (less the PM) done. Well... of course, they had 30 trucks in front of me and pretty much a No, unless I wanted wait around til Friday. However! I did purchase a clutch switch from them because as I discussed with the shop manager the problem with the cruise and engine brake cutting out was a common problem on this truck and he confirmed the most common fix with this is the clutch switch. No guarantees tho! So he showed where it was and how to put it in. Taking a chance but it's worth the gamble. I'll be getting that done myself. Checked it out this morning and realized I need some Allen wrenches to do it so will have to pick up some those latter and see if can get it. At least making progress here and still moving the truck at same time.

My plan from the past to stop at the house for several days and take the truck to Freightliner got derailed because I had such a crappy check last week and few others in the weeks prior I just needed to keep going. It's an on going rescheduling planner out here! Oh well! that's just me tho! Can't say I've done really bad or anything like that, Just need to keep the cash flow strong right now.

Until next time!

PS .. Did some shopping too and picked up a new laptop, it's perfect! just what I needed.

 

Just cruise n along out here! Delivered there in Texas.. Went to Houston over to Mississippi up to Tennessee and now in Texas again on my way to Arizona. After that already picked loads to going into Cali and then grab another load going back out to Texas. Hit a bit of rain in TN Few days after the ice escapades through TX last week but other than that all Sunshine! Gotta love that!