Running With Shipex

They sent me to Newport AR to pick up a load. You ever walk into a shippers office and see a list of do's and don'ts? It's kinda of good because at least we know what to expect from them and ourselves. Anyway, there was this one thing i thought was odd. It said "we don't load reefer trailers" ok obviously i might have a problem because all we have is reefer trailers. So i kindly ask the woman what exactly does that mean? She said the product has to be loaded to the ceiling so if you have that air ducting in the top of the trailer it won't fit. Plus the interior walls are insulated so the width is smaller than regular dry van and they need that full 72inches i believe is what she said.

Okay i said thank you. Called Dispatch told them what i read and heard. Sure enough someone missed that so that load is not happening. Waiting for new load now, here in Newport AR.

For those that may not know reefer vans normally will haul both dry products and or wet/temperature control products. This was just one of those situations where you couldn't haul there product in a reefer. I assume this was a chip load it didn't need temperature. They tend to hand load floor to ceiling boxes of chips and that is probably why they need full capacity of the interior trailer ceiling and walls. It can also take several hours to load. It appeared other drivers were waiting for a longtime to get loaded.

 

Yes as a matter of fact! Thanks for asking. After that last load cancelled they sent me dh down to Ashdown AR. Picked up a load of paper. Paper mill machines were down so that took another day sitting. And that's why i like this salery pay. I drove about 1000 miles that week so if you do the math i got paid over a 1.00 per mile that week.

 

Took that paper load to Salt Lake city UT. Picked up a load of medical supplies and headed out to Ohio. Snow storm in Nebraska. Uggh!! no problem though. I just waited a little later in the morning to leave after the road crew and traffic had a chance to clean it up. Just took it easy. When I was in Salt Lake i let my dispatch know i wanted to go home for couple of days. I meant to tell him before they got me that new load but they preloaded me before i had a chance. No problem tho i said I'll run the load to Ohio and then go home. Well I got to Cheyenne WY and he sent me a message for a swap with another driver in Iowa wanting to go home in Ohio. We swapped loads and i went back to Salt Lake. Then they gave me a load to Cali to my home. Now sitting on my couch waiting for dinner just taking it easy. Back out on Monday then coming back home for Christmas. That's the plan anyways. Will see how it goes ..

 

Unfortunately my wife got sick and had to take her to the hospital. It was terrible feeling watching my babe suffer so much i had to stay with her. She's doing a lot better now. I ended up spending the entire week at home to see her through this. Shipex was very good about it. Sence i had time saved up it wasn't a problem being home for the extended time. However now i will probably work through Christmas and New Years and that's ok with both my wife and I. Later in January I will take time off for us to visit family. It's all good.

Back out on the road now. Picked up out of Anaheim CA heading to Corinne UT on Friday and after getting loaded i was able to stop by the house again for another night because there was plenty of time and it was on my route. Which was awesome they set me up like that.

 

After delivering in Corinne UT. I went over to Ogden and picked up a load and now heading to Lebanon PA. Nice run and so far nice weather . This load delivers on the 21st 7am its a little bit tight on the schedule but shouldn't be a problem. In Rawlins WY now so i should be able to get to the customer the night before delivery.

Trucking on!

 

Thank you @motocross25. Happy holidays to you and yours!