Wednesday, August 29, 2007

OH-MI-OH

Been lax in posting here. Recovered from the TSBFS, and went back in service last Sunday. No loads available until Tuesday.

First load was from Mt. Vernon, OH to Warren, MI. Picked up at 16:00 Tuesday for 06:00 Wednesday delivery. Made that drop and almost immediately got the second load from Plymouth, MI to Wooster, OH. Picked up at 09:30, delivered at 13:30. Two loads completed in less than 24 hours. Not bad. Wish every day was like that.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

TSBFS

Made my drop at Frankfort as scheduled, went back to the Flying J in Waddy to wait for my next load. Didn't pass a McDonalds or Burger King on the way so I decided to get breakfast at the truck stop restaurant. Big Mistake.

Sat in Waddy until 14:00 and was still #3 on the Lexington board, so I asked to be moved. Fortunately for me they authorized a bonus move to Columbus,OH (Home). About halfway there I started feeling the effects of breakfast.

Made it home and for the rest of the day, I became best buddies with the commode. Diagnosis: TSBFS (Truck Stop Bad Food Syndrome) which will cost me a day or two of lost revenue.

Won't make that mistake again.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Whaddya mean I'm in Waddy???

Yep, I'm in a truck stop in Waddy, KY. right outside of Frankfort. How they came up with a name like that for a town I'll never know.

There are four Panther cargo vans and one Express 1 Sprinter here as well. The Express 1 driver said he's been here since Friday afternoon. One of the Panther drivers said he's been here for 5 days. I'd never stay in one place that long. Bottom line is that it doesn't look good for getting a load from around here.

May head home if I'm a high number on the Lexington board. I can do it with the fuel that's in the tank, and that's better use of it than to sit and idle to keep cool in the 90 degree heat.

We're not in Kansas Anymore Toto!!!

Picked up my load in Manhattan, KS and left at 12:30. Wanted to get to a truck stop near Evansville, IN as the first leg. Made it to the truck stop at 21:30. 667 odometer miles. Had some dinner and watched a DVD to chill out.

Will do the next 100 miles later today to a truck stop near Lexington, KY. From there the drop is only 11 miles away. Delivery time is 06:00 Monday.

Will see what board position I am when the delivery is complete. Hopefully will get another good load.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Westward Ho

At least a little. Checked with dispatch at 16:00 and was still #2 on the KC board, so I figured it was a wash for today and probably the weekend. Dozed off watching some tv and dispatch woke me at 17:30 with a load offer.

Manhattan, KS to Frankfort, KY. Picks up at 13:00 tomorrow and delivers at 06:00 Monday. Will try to make Evansville, IN by tomorrow night, Lexington, KY by Sunday night, and deliver Monday as Lexington is close to Frankfort.

Good load, good revenue, and it puts me in the heart of the Midwest for the start of the week. Since I plan to take the first week in September off, I need to make as much as possible in the last two weeks of August. My daughter is visiting over Labor Day, the Idlebuster is being installed on the 6th, and the truck will need its routine maint. by then.

MO Waiting in MO

Still waiting for a load out of KC. Recent macro message shows me #2 on the board, so that's an improvement from yesterday. Idle time up to 24 hours, 33 minutes, or as I like to put it "BORING".

I can still see the other truck across the lot, so I assume he's the #1 truck since he was already here when I pulled in yesterday. At least I can tell if he gets out.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Kansas City

In Kansas City, MO. Brought 5 small boxes of automotive paint to a body shop here. Expensive paint.

This is as far west as I've come since I started in expedite, so I have no idea how the freight is here. There are three other trucks ahead of me on the board, so I may not get anything today. I hope that I do because it is HOT, HOT, HOT. Predicted 99 degrees. Boy will I be glad when that Idlebuster is installed. I understand that it's being built right now.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Boring Day

Didn't get a load out yesterday even though I was #1 on the board. Somewhat unusual for this area, but as I understand it all the loads were straight truck loads.

Don't anticipate sitting another full day, but with expedite you never know. The only bad thing about being #1 is the waiting. You really can't do anything since you have to be available to go on a moments notice. If you're not, it could cost you the load and some big $$$$.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Another Dry Weekend

Stayed in Louisville until 14:30. No profitable loads materialized, so I deadheaded home. Expedite weekend loads, when they happen, are usually for Monday deliveries. You have to weigh the time and destination. I turned down a load that delivered Monday afternoon because it did not pay enough for the miles, and the destination is not known for freight going out.

I have a better chance for getting a good load from here, and I'm #1 on the board as well.

Friday, August 10, 2007

IN to IL to SC to KY

That's how things went yesterday and today. Got a load from Paris, IL to Duncan, SC first thing Thursday morning. I was in Indiana so go to Illinois for the pick up and head to South Carolina. Drop the load at 23:37 on Thursday night. 774 total miles in less than 12 hours. Went to bed one tired puppy.

Got up at 08:00 today and checked in to find that my board position was #4. I knew that wouldn't fly, so I asked them where I should go. They bonus miled me to Louisville, Kentucky where I am now. Difference is that I am #1 on the board and the chances for getting a weekend load are three times better.

If I get a short run, I'll go home after I drop it. A longer one and I'll be out through next week.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Back Home in Indiana

I started the day with a run within IN with the promise that I would not lose my #1 position on the Indianapolis board. Made the delivery, sent the POD on the QC and the message I got was that I was #2 on the Anderson board. I replied on the QC listing the dispatchers name that made the promise on my board position. He calls me a few minutes later saying I could be #2 on either the Anderson or Indy board. Supposedly, another driver had more idle time than I did. I thought that was funny since I was #1 at the start of the day. So I sent a QC message that I was heading to Indy so there would be a record of it.

Before I get to Indy, I get a call offering me a load from Rushville, IN to Tifton, GA. $750 to the truck. I'm all over this figuring they are making up for the earlier mess. 8 pieces, 2100 lbs. So I get to Rushville. It's 8 PALLETS. Shipper had ordered a straight truck. Dispatcher says they will fit on my truck based on the dimensions. (they were small pallets) I explain to her that yes, dimension wise they will fit on the truck but only if I tear the roof off and load them from the top. The fork lift could push them in, but they were too heavy to manhandle into position. Meanwhile, shipper is going ballistic saying he ordered a straight truck, and that's what he wants. So I lose the load.

So, I'm back at the Flying J where I started this morning only I'm $750 poorer but hey, I'm #1 on the Indy board.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Indiana on my Mind

Back in Whiteland, IN. Got the same run that I got last week from Mt. Vernon, OH to Columbus, IN. Same shipper, same consignee, more $$$$.

When I emptied and sent the POD on the QC, they offered me a run from Paris, IL to somewhere in MI. 124 deadhead miles from Columbus to Paris and 431 miles to MI. Delivery was direct which means as fast as I can get it there.

As much as I wanted the money, I turned it down. It would have meant driving a total of 896 miles without any sleep. I figured the mileage would be more since their mileage figures are always low. Bottom line was that it wouldn't be safe.

After I turned it down, dispatch said that they were prepared to talk me out of it because of the safety issue. They had to offer it though since I was #1 on the Indy board. Didn't lose my board position though. They said they weren't going to penalize me for being tired. Looks like this company actually does care about the contractors that drive for them.

Kenworth, The Praying Mantis and the Battery Box Cover

Started the day #1 on the dispatch board. At 11:06 dispatch calls with a local run from Hebron to Chillicothe. You don't loose your board position when the run is local, so I figured what the heck and took it. Got paid for all the deadhead miles.

As I get in the truck, I notice a praying mantis on the right front fender. I hate these bugs so I don't mess with it figuring that the wind will blow it off. Start driving on the freeway and the mantis does a pretty good impression of a surfer and slides onto the windshield. So here I am trucking down the highway at 70 MPH with a praying mantis doing obscene things to my windshield. I couldn't believe it, but the wind is not blowing him off.

His backside doubles back over itself and I thought, OOOOHHH that's got to hurt!!!! Nothing. He's still there doubled over butt and all. I get to the pick up in Hebron, still there. Does he take the opportunity to bail while the truck is stopped??? Noooo, not this guy.

The "load" is a 25lb. box with a battery box cover in it for Kenworth in Chillicothe. I figure Kenworth is just as buggy as my passenger to pay this kind of money to have a battery box cover delivered. What the heck, not my problem.

So, I take off. I considered knocking my passenger off the windshield, but I thought "no I want to see how this plays out." I take the back roads towards Chillicothe, and decide to give my buddy a name. "Evel Bugevel" He's still there bent butt and all, but he's inching up the windshield towards the top of the truck. The last I see of him is his leg as he makes it to the body of the truck over the windshield.

I arrive at Kenworth. After signing in at the guard shack and getting my security pass (I considered asking for one for EB) I check the front of the truck. HE'S GONE. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?????? IS HE OK????

With a heavy heart I deliver my "HOT" battery box cover and head towards home crestfallen that EB left me to carry on alone.

I arrive home and the dogs and I hold a small but tasteful memorial service for EB just in case he's splattered all over a windshield somewhere, but I prefer to think that he just moved on to his next stunt. So if anyone is travelling in Ohio and you all of a sudden have a bent butt praying mantis doing obscene things to your windshield, tell EB I said hi and to please write home.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

No Load for the Weekend

Sat at the Pilot in Minooka, IL until 14:00 and was still #3 on the Chicago board which was exactly where I was Friday night.

Decided to deadhead home rather than spend the weekend there or in a motel. Had enough fuel in the tank to get home anyway. If I had used some of the fuel to idle and had to buy some at this Pilot the cost was $3.03 gal. I noticed when I got about 10 miles south of Gary, IN the fuel cost at the Flying J and Pilot was $2.75 gal.

Now I'm #2 on my home board, so I'll be sure to get out tomorrow. Possible that I would get out today but Sunday loads are rare in expedite.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Drive Shafts for Cat

Delivered 1400 lbs. of drive shafts to the Cat plant in Joliet, IL this afternoon. There were only 10 of them in a small metal tub like pallet. The shafts were only about 2 feet long. Have no idea what type of vehicle they would be used on.

Spent an hour sitting in traffic on I80 waiting to pay a 60 cent toll. Then bumped into another jam caused by two big trucks going 20 MPH in both westbound lanes. Supposedly they were protesting the cost of diesel fuel. Don't know if any troopers busted up their little protest, but the CB was alive with comments, most of them not fit for this blog.

Hopefully, I'll get a load today as I don't relish the thought of sitting at this truckstop all weekend.

Friday, August 3, 2007

SUV vs. Two Big Trucks

SUV lost. I don't know how he did it but he was bouncing off the rear tandems of the trucks. One truck jacknifed in the left lane and the SUV came to rest against the tandems of the second truck in the right lane. There were parts of the SUV everywhere on the road. I even saw brake shoes on the road.

Add $300 to the week for a run from Mt. Vernon, OH to Columbus, IN. Used only 12 gallons of fuel even with the A/C running the whole way.

Only problem was the hour and a half it took to do 29 miles after that accident. Still made the appointment on time though. Sitting at the Flying J at Whiteland, IN. #3 on the Indy board, so should get a load by noon.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Short Run

Ran a short one today to get dispatch out of a jam. Started the day at #3 on the Columbus load board which usually means getting a load out between 13:00 and 15:00. Dispatch called at 10:00. Run from Mansfield, OH to Sydney, OH. 118 paid miles, 60 mile deadhead.

Some quick math tells me that I'll still make money so I tell them I'll take it. They ended up paying me for the whole 60 mile deadhead. Would have been only 10 since the first 50 is free, so I made a little more. Every little bit counts.

I've learned that in expedite, you don't turn anything down as long as you make a profit on the load. There are no guarantees that a longer run will be available, and there were two vans ahead of me on the board anyway.

Up side is that I'll sleep in my own bed in the A/C so I won't be idleing to keep cool. It was 95 here today. Also, the Idlebuster install was approved today so hopefully I'll be able to get it installed ASAP and my idleing days will be over.