Tapeworm is starting at Swift on Monday!

I will! Weather was nasty in Gary when we got here, so did not dig out the camera last night.
So Bluebonn - are you suggesting that I rest up while I have the chance? I see that the planners have kept you hopping from the time ya got your truck!

 

I have been running solo for 1 week now, and I have to say that I am having a great time! Yes, I have had a few "pucker" moments and made a few mistakes along the way but overall am a happy camper. I have spent most of the week down south, which is fine and dandy. I even got to have lunch with my cousin in NC who I have not seen for a long time!
I much prefer running solo rather than team! I still run just as many miles as I did during training, but I make sure to take a couple of long breaks during the day if possible. I have been getting up at 6, and shutting down for the day by 8pm so I can find a decent place to park.
As you know, everything does not always work according to plan. Here are some of the challenges that I dealt with in my first week running solo:
-I had to bump 2 docks that were located inside of buildings. The first one was a brutal 90 degree back, the second one was a straight back but it was pouring outside so very tough to see the mirrors. I did multiple drops/hooks that day, and got very wet. Must find and pack the raincoat for the next trip out..
-I went through "the gorge" on I40 2 times
-I spent 24 hours in shop status, waiting for a B service to be completed
(side note - can someone let me know if Swift normally pays shop time for a B service?)
-I accepted a preplan, knowing that I was going to be cutting it REALLY close due to HOS rules. I had a set appt time at the receiver for a morning delivery. The receiver was located close to a major city, and there weren't any truck stops nearby. I shut down the night before at a TS about 1 hour away from the receiver. I got up in the morning, and started rolling as soon as my 10hr break was over. I ended up making the delivery about 15 minutes late. Macro 22 was my friend, as I did not get a SF for that one.

I am still learning good stuff every day - some of it from reading TTR, some from other drivers I have met on the road, and some from firsthand experience. There is so much more to this job than simply driving a truck! Like others have said, the driving is the fun and easy part of the job(most of the time).