Superior Carriers 2012

LOL. I would have my hammer ready and that ceramic mold wouldn't have stood a chance. Going to cook up 9 gallons of beer in the morning as well as 30 lbs of barbecue. Won't get to drink the beer until August though.

 

7/2

Heading down to the terminal in a few minutes. The maiden journey in my new truck will be back out to Carlsbad Ca delivering a snot load Friday. I hope the AC works. I seem to get this load over holidays. Last time I went to this plant my trailer needed repairs on Easter Sunday.

 

7/2-7/6

Headed out Monday morning a little later than I wanted to after installing my radio and TV in the new truck. It was an interesting experience learning to shift the new truck with a snot load that kicks pretty hard. I had to stop a couple of times after missing a gear because of the surge. After about on hour of rush hour traffic around the loop in Atlanta I started to get used to the transmission. I ran to Birmingham and stopped at the Petro on 20.

The second day I ran to Van Tx and called it a day stopping at the Loves with Soul man barbecue. I brought a big bag of barbecue with me so I checked out the home style country restaurant beside the Loves on the other side. I will definitely eat there again. Very good food and they surprised me with free pecan pie for desert.

I ran to Van Horn Tx the 3rd day stopping at the Loves again. It seemed like every leg of this trip but the first one left me with about an hour and a half to drive but the next place to stop required averaging 60+ mph and running the E log down under 15 minutes. I had plenty of time so I just ran leisurely.

Ran to Gila Bend on I-8 Thursday stopping at the Loves again. I really wish I had pushed on to Yuma with the way today worked out.

It was 320 miles to the plant and another 90 miles up to the tank wash in LA. I had no problem with the first half of my day. Got to the plant around 9:00 and was on my way up to LA by 11:15. It took 2.5 hours to go that 90 miles. I made it to the Tank wash with less than 3 hours on my clock to get washed out and my trailer spotted at Ashland. It generally takes right at 3 hours to get the tank washed. I told the manager my predicament and he lit a fire under the guys. I got to Ashland with 10 minutes left on my 14.

I could have stayed at the tank wash and took them the trailer after an 8 hour break but this worked out much better. I went off duty at Asland and used personal conveyance to make it to the Comfort Inn in Norwalk. This way I can get a 34 in and run with this load early Sunday morning. Its going to Ikea Ms which is East of Memphis. The load is scheduled for pick up at 13:00 tomorrow but I am going to go ahead and reset. It doesn't deliver until Wed. Might as well make some layover pay rather than run 8-9 a day like I did getting out here. Looking forward to I-40 again.

 

I don't have one so it isn't strictly required. Check with the closest terminal manager.

 

They seem to have different policies for different terminals. I have heard drivers being refused for 60 miles away and then meet one who lives 100 miles away who got hired. Best to ask the terminal manager. Thats the deal with Superior. Driver management occurs at the terminal level.

 

7/8-7/11

Got my load from Ashland at daybreak Sunday without issue. Ran to St Joseph Az and shut down at the Loves. As I was backing into the hole my air alarms started going off. Everytime I pressed the brake pedal all my air would leak out. I called road service and they repaired an air line that was rubbing against the drive shaft.

I ran without issue Monday and Tuesday stopping at the Memphis terminal for the night to grab enough hoses just in case I had to do a pump unload at the plant 130 miles away. I parked in a tight hole for the night next to a clean trailer. Another driver showed up and couldn't hook to it without me pulling out. When I did all my air drained out again leaving me stuck in the middle of the driveway. My SPCR driver handbook said the shop hours were 04:00-20:00 so I just went to bed. Truck aired up fine with the parking brake on but would dump all the air and not release the brakes when I would push in the yellow button.

Got up and showered the next morning and waited for the mechanics to arrive at 06:00. They caged my brakes and sent me over to the International Dealership to get a new brake chamber and warranty repairs on the road repaired air lines. I dropped my trailer for someone else to deliver the last 130 miles. Looks like I will be here a while. At least it is on the clock. I will probably make more money this way.