Stevens Transport aviary

Hi all. Kinda have a problem with my laptop where the screen doesn't come on. So, I finally get wireless internet and . . . lol
$70 bucks a month and a connect fee, and two weeks later it's useless.
Weather this last week was a major player. I was usually delayed each day due to severe cells in the way, or I had to go around them. FM thought I was delayed each day in Columbus site by no trailers. For a change, that wasn't a problem. If it had too, ugh.
But the weather was enough. I got some awesome images on camera that I have to upload this weekend. Amazing cell rolling NW right up I-55 into Chicago. It got solid and rotated, but didn't drop a tornado. It did record multiple gusts over 60, sustained at 45, max gust at 69 at about 6:30 in the county SW of me down I-55, which happened to be about thirty miles from where I stopped and hid.
Wish the good camera had charged batteries. Would have gotten much better pics.
But other than weather dancing, pretty normal week. Chicago, Columbus, Louisville, Chicago, rinse, repeat. Three possible locations in Chicago, now two in Columbus, only the one in Louisville, but sometimes that one isn't Louisville, it's the far back woods of Ohio's lost outback hills. Deep down and over a buncha hollers and hills. And a truck speed and pester trail for nearly a hundred miles.
Drop and hooks all. Weekends are wildcards. Shuttle empties around in Chicago or Columbus. Short runs of 200-300, maybe a couple or three in two days. If you keep your hours cleared.
This weekend I was supposed to shuttle a half dozen trailers from Morris to nearly downtown Chicago. Then take a last empty and go home for a Monday night p/u 30 miles from home.
Who knows what's next week. It can change anytime, lol. That's the thing with this fleet and how he can use me for new stuff or alternate runs. I like the variety from time to time, but I can do the predictable for a while between changes.
The t2k hit 520k and is due a couple dealer pms. sigh. A good day, maybe two down. Been putting it off, but they'll actually call sooner or later, and they don't like to have to call you to remind of something they've QC'd more than once.
Still running one tank. lol And nearing time for brakes, mostly fronts. And the steering needs that tightening thing they do.
And if I go to Dallas, which is only place they will do a tank, I probably won't drive out in it. And I don't want a 700. And I really hate trading trucks.
Well, time for biscuits and gravy at the cs. They have a great deli in there, and breakfasts are awesome.
TLeaHeart, the stories you can hear out here, huh?
I know I've had plenty of short weeks. It happens. I've even been asked why by higher ups. I took to noting exactly on logs 'svr wx' and on my laptop when the screen comes on, if it does, I'll save the radar in a folder named by dates.
When I leave Columbus, I'm deadhead over 200 miles. Through southern OH, into northern KY and up to Louisville. And it's got mile after mile of narrow one-lane construction on rough, angled, tippy surface.
It might also be a hundred miles into the remote KY/OH border hills.
Either way usually at night.
As far as entertainment, I was just passed by a flatbed with steel headed west along I-70 when the left front wheel came off a mid nineties Taurus like sedan and came across the grass right in front of him. He was a good thousand feet ahead of me by then, but I was on my brakes real light, just to have them activated. His lights came on, then went off as I saw the wheel go off the right side of the road. It gets down in the ravine/ditch and bounces and drops. Not much traffic at all.
The car was stopped before the truck ahead of me passed it. I rolled by the tire, then the car in the left shoulder over there, next to the meridian. He was getting out of the door as I passed. Looked like he had a phone, so I didn't worry.
Grab mike, say, 'Flatbed, how was that for fun?'
'Yee haw. For a sec thought it was gonna suck real bad. It stop back there somewhere?'
'In the ditch, outta the way.'
'10-4. The Petro up ahead sells underwear, so I'll be all fresh and pretty in a bit.'
'10-4. If I wasn't pushing to get this thing dropped I'd stop and buy ya a cup of coffee. Nice diner in there.'
'10. Next time driver.'
I thought about saying I hoped there wouldn't be a next time I saw a tire go right across a truck in front of me, let alone it be him again.
Okay, honest. Breakfast time. Hope the lappy screen works again if I turn this thing off.
Be safe all.
Not even twenty miles up the road a state boy was headed that way over the limit but no lights, so that was that.

 

On a side note. It often pays to plan around big cities during rush hours. When you have to watch your hours, but have the luxury to time it right.
Around Indy can be half an hour in the wee hours. Over an hour during the day. Two or more from 6 to 9 or 10 and 16:00 to 19:00.
Morris into Chicago can be an hour, or it can be three on rare days at the wrong times.
Columbus is a bear all day, and the loop is backed up in many places at ramps on and off for hours. Overnight, it's a breeze.
That's really for you newer guys. But I timed and mucked about with the times the past few weeks.