OH-TN

Finally a decent load I didn't have to deadhead over a hundred miles for. Went only 14.

One pallet 1136 lbs. (Too tall for Sprinter) from Macedonia OH to Smyrna TN.Arrived at the consignee at 0000 this morning with 15 minutes left on my 14, 30 on my 11.

I 65 through KY is the worst road I've been on lately. I bounced more than I went forward. They actually have signs posted warning motorcycles that the pavement is uneven. Cheaper to post signs that fix the road I guess.

Fuel prices are nuts!!!!!! $3.75 in OH and $3.57 here in TN. Gas prices are dropping and diesel prices are going up. Won't be long before we won't be able to run unless the FSC is increased right away. It's my understanding that diesel fuel is a by-product of the gasoline refining process. In short, diesel is what is left over. Sure they add additives, but not to the tune of charging $3.75 a gallon to cover it. The one sure way for one of these presidential candidates to get elected is to reduce the cost of gas and diesel and then freeze the prices. Let the oil companies choke on it for a while. If there is a oil company executive that reads this blog, don't complain when prices for everything goes up. You caused it.

The Federal and State Governments should also back off with the taxes on fuel. If they don't tourism will drop because no one can afford to travel, and prices across the board will go up since the trucking companies will have to increase freight prices to cover the fuel costs.

This time last year, diesel was around $2.35 a gallon. That's almost a 62% increase. No company, especially one like mine, can survive very long without a rate increase.

Presently at a truck stop in Antioch, TN. It's near Nashville. Raining here now but that is much better than snow. Warmer too, but still have the space heater running.

OH-WV-OH

Another long deadhead to pick up a load. Picked up in Eleanor, WV 173 miles from the house. Going to Brook Park, OH for a 0500 delivery today.

Stopped at the Pilot near Caldwell, OH for the night and left about 0200. Roads were bad due to ANOTHER winter storm. Snow covered all the way to Brook Park.

Arrived on time only to find out that the receiving dept. didn't open until 0615. Could have had another hour of sleep. This place was a pain as you had to check in at one building and drive to another to unload. Tough to do in 7 inches of snow at a major auto plant that is more like a maze than anything else. Didn't get out of there until 0830 as they had trouble unloading the truck. Their fork lifts were too tall to get the front four pallets off, and they hit my door pulling one of the rollers off. I fixed it well enough to open and close until I get home to replace the roller.

Presently at a service plaza on the Ohio Turnpike out of hours until 1900. Almost got a load from Johnstown, PA to Lockheed Martin in Bridgeport, NJ but it was too heavy for my truck. One reader of this blog will be interested in that once he reads it.

Will probably be stuck here for the night unless dispatch comes up with something.

The Adventure Begins

Got a load, Got a load!!!!!!!!!!!

Ran a intrastate run this afternoon that brought me right back to Columbus. T/S pumped up the load rate and gave me full bonus for the deadhead mileage. Truck gets around 8MPG, at least according to the onboard computer, so it right around where I expected it to be.

It's easy to drive and since I'm familiar with Allison automatics, I pretty much knew when it was going to shift. I was comfortable driving it and by the end of the day I had gotten rid of the Sprinter's tight turn habits and back into the habit of driving a bigger truck.

All three trucks were moving today, so I hope the soft freight period is over. Need to catch up.

Now it's snowing again with freezing rain and sleet in the forecast as well. Sure will be glad when winter is over.

OK, So I'm Still Here!!!!!!

What do they say about the best laid plans? Didn't get out of here like I wanted to since I didn't have the Comdata (fuel) card for the truck and I didn't want to mess with Comdata checks. The card finally arrived in the mail Friday, and I had spent the time waiting putting the finishing touches on the International.

Weather around here just plain sucked most of the week with snow and ice storms every other day. Didn't miss driving in it.

Tri-State's web portal is down so I can't read the load boards or tell where my other drivers are. Hopefully, it will be back up tomorrow so I can tell what's going on.

With any luck, I'll get a load out of here.

Sprinter Left Home

I had planned to get over to the International early and complete my changeover from the Sprinter but someone, who will remain nameless, was several hours late arriving to pick it up. Had to stop what I was doing and get him in the truck and going. As luck would have it, he gets a load to MD 10 minutes after he gets in the truck. Looks like the decision to put him back in the Sprinter was the correct one.

Went back over to the International and stayed there until around 1900. Got the desk built and installed it and the sink. They fit perfectly side by side on the drivers side of the sleeper, and the TV will sit on the raised portion of the desk. All that's left is to install the laptop stand and CB. I would like to install the CB in the factory overhead console, but I don't see how to get power up to the CB. I found the holes in the console to route the antenna cables, but there is no power supply unless I tie into the overhead lights.

Started snowing on the way back home and before I got halfway there, I found myself in blizzard conditions. Couldn't see more than 20 feet so I pulled off onto an exit ramp berm to wait it out. Twenty minutes and 2 inches later it slacked off. Made it home without any further problems. Can't remember when I last saw it snow that bad around here.

My plan is to get the International done tomorrow and head out Wednesday.

Teardown

I removed all my stuff from the Sprinter save a few things under the bed and loaded them into the Ram. It's packed to the gills, so I'll have to make two trips to where the International is parked. Supposed to rain tomorrow so I'll be dodging raindrops but once I get everything into the sleeper, it won't be an issue. The only outside stuff I have to do is mount the CB antennas.

It was painful to remove all the stuff I added and reinstall the passenger seat, but I keep telling myself it's for the best. I will enjoy all the room I'll have in the International, but I'll still miss the Sprinter.

Generator Runs!!!!!

Spent part of the morning working on the International's generator. The radiator was leaking at the rear seam. It's obviously a small one, about the width and height of a phone book. The low coolant sensor was preventing the motor from starting. Added coolant and she started after a couple of pre-heat cycles.

While running I added Prestone's sealant product and let the motor run. The slow stream of coolant leaking from the seam slowed to a drip and then stopped altogether. Radiator built pressure normally and the leak is stopped. Topped off the coolant and oil levels. If the leak returns, I will remove the radiator and have it recored.

Today, I plan on removing my personal stuff from the Sprinter. The frustrating part of it is that I spent several months adding the sink, closet, desk, and other additions getting the truck the way I want it. Now, I have to remove all these items and put them into the International. I will get everything out of the Sprinter, but I may not get everything installed into the International by Monday.

I purchased a small student desk, and when I install it and the sink the 60" of blank wall on the driver's side of the sleeper will be filled. I also have to purchase a power inverter to power my laptop when the generator is not running since there is no inverter system in the truck now. I plan on installing a seperate inverter system and deep cell battery similar to the one in the Sprinter just not as large.

I'll probably be adding stuff for months as time and funds allow.

IL-OH The Easy Way

Dry roads. You take them for granted until they are gone. Waited until 1500 for a load to take me back east, but nothing was available.

Deadheaded home using those wonderful DRY roads versus the snowy, icy roads of Tuesday morning. Took me 10 minutes to knock some of the ice off the nose of the truck.

Now I will start a new phase. Driving the International. Will be spending the next few days getting things transferred from my Sprinter to the International and working on the generator. I'm going to miss my baby. I'm the only one who's ever driven her. She kept me warm and safe and she never let me down. Any dents, misuse, abuse, etc will be met with discipline up to and including death. Driver thinks I'm kidding.

OH-IL The Hard Way

Finally got out of the house, but in a way I wish I hadn't. Started snowing about 2200 Monday night. Dispatch calls at 0500 Tuesday morning saying a van driver had spun out and hit a retaining wall on I70 near Springfield, OH and can I go meet her and transfer the freight.

Take off about 0600, roads are a mess all the way to Springfield. Go to the van at a Ford dealer where it was towed. Transfer one 150 lb. box and take off for Springfield, IL. Ran through snow, ice, more snow, until I finally hit dry pavement outside of Decatur. Dropped the box and headed to the truck stop in Williamsville.

While all this is going on, my driver in the International calls to advise me he had a death in the family and needs to head home. No problem, but he wants to transfer from the International back to a Sprinter, so I am giving him my Sprinter and I'll drive the International. It's probably a good move since he can run harder and make more money when he's not hampered by the HOS. May end up putting a team in the International if I have the same problem.

Had to scramble to find a place to park the International since it will in no way go in my driveway. Located that without too much trouble, so he is coming through Columbus tomorrow and dropping the truck off so I can start transferring my stuff to it and do some more work on the generator when I get back home. He's going to get a rental car to get the rest of the way home, and I'm splitting the cost with him.

Sure am glad I've got a headset for my cell phone otherwise I'd be writing this from a ditch instead of the truck stop parking lot.

OH-HOME-OH-HOME

I had moved up to #1 on the Dayton board Thursday afternoon, but there was little chance of getting a load late in the day. I had been watching the Columbus board, and it was moving to the point that I figured I might get a load by Friday. Shortly after I left the Dayton area my wife calls saying that she had just come back from the Ohio BMV trying to get an Ohio title and tags for the International. They told her that the lease with Tri-State had to be in our company name before they would issue the title. It made no sense since the lease has nothing to do with the title. We had already jumped through one hoop getting an "official" Ohio inspection form filled out.

So, I called T/S and advised them of the problem and arranged to go up to Millbury on Friday morning to sign the corrected lease. The T/S folks were great and the lease was ready to sign when I got there. Faxed it to my wife and she went back to the BMV and FINALLY got the title and tags.

I would have gotten a load out from Columbus Friday had it not been for all this nonsense. Now, it will be Monday or Tuesday before I do get a load.

Truck #2 was dispatched on two loads Friday, but the first ended up being a dry run, and the second was moved back to a 2300 Sunday pick up for delivery in Hebron, KY

Truck #3 had a couple of load offers that either were too heavy, or were too long to fall under the HOS rules. They moved him from MD to the Harrisburg,PA area where he is now.

Hopefully, all the crap is out of the way and we can run without problems next week.

OH-MI-OH

In a rut. Starting to know every bump and pothole in I-75 from OH to MI. Picked up a load in Cambridge, OH Tuesday afternoon for Wednesday morning delivery in Wixom, MI. Dropped at 0900 and went to a truckstop near Ann Arbor. Was eating breakfast when dispatch called with a load from Melvindale, MI to Franklin, OH direct. Picked up at 1200 and dropped at 1605. Now at a truckstop south of Dayton. Decided to stay here #2 on the Dayton board rather than drive the 90 miles home and be #5 on the Columbus board. Will see how tomorrow goes and will decide to stay here or go back home.

Second Sprinter has been busy. On Monday he took a Hazmat load from Columbus to Cleveland, a second load from Cleveland to Akron, and a third load from Akron to Cambridge. All in one day, all in OH. He picked up a load late Wednesday from Zanesville, OH to Evansville, IN where he is now.

The International finally got the generator fixed, and took a load from Peoria, IL to Chillicothe, OH. Two CAT engines for Kenworth weighing 3000 lbs each. He's now on his way to Hagerstown, MD with a load from Powell, OH.

Busy week so far, thankfully. Will help recoup the start up costs on the International.

OH-MI-OH-MI-OH-IN

Wild couple of days. Dispatch called on Wednesday morning with a load from Raymond OH to Grass Lake MI. Initially turned it down as it did not pay enough to make it profitable. Dispatcher got nasty saying that I would have to talk to the fleet coordinator for not accepting the load. I advised her that this is my business and I will not accept a load that means I will operate in the red just to make her job easier, and if the fleet coordinator wanted to talk to me about it he has my number.

She then apologizes and says that I am the only one available and it is a shipment from one of the company's steady customers. I asked her why she didn't say that in the first place instead of trying the intimidation tactics. I told her ok, I'll take the load and I expect her to remember that I did it to help a steady customer.

I was on the way to the pick up when I got another load offer from Coldwater MI to Anna OH. Pick up was 0200 Thursday deliver by 0600. This was from the same customer as the Raymond shipment only a different plant. Made both deliveries with no problems and went to the J in Beaverdam OH after dropping in Anna. Initially stopped off at the Speedco in Beaverdam to get the oil changed in the truck and the Idlebuster serviced. I got there 30 minutes or so before they opened, so I was waiting in the back for one of the bay doors to open. Shortly before they opened, a kid arrives and starts to open the store. He came out a few minutes later and tells me that they don't service Sprinters, that it's company policy. I asked for the manager, and he said he wasn't in. OK, we're not done with this.

Went over to the J and got some chow. Came out to the truck and called Speedco's main office in IN. Spoke with the district manager for customer service in charge of the Beaverdam location. He confirmed that Speedco will not service the Idlebuster on the Sprinter vans, but had no idea why I was told they wouldn't change the oil on the truck and asks me to hold on while he calls Beaverdam. He came back and apologizes for what the guy said and he hoped I would go back over and get the needed service. I said I would think about it. Hit the sack for a few hours. Got up about 1300 and since I was #3 on the board I decided to go back over to Speedco and get the oil changed on the truck. They did the service and took $10 off and will take $10 off the next one I have done there. Dispatch called about 1500 with a load from Van Wert OH to Detroit MI picking up at 2200 delivering at 0600 Friday. Picked up at 2200 and drove to the rest stop in Monroe MI to sleep for a couple of hours. Woke up to heavy snow, but made the delivery on time. Was #3 on the Pontiac board, but decided to head south as I didn't want to get snowed in. Went to the Pilot in Monroe after fighting the idiots on 75 in 6 inches of snow. Ended up being #7 on the Toledo board. Hit the sack figuring I wasn't going to get a load. Dispatch calls about 1330 with a load from Gibsonburg OH to Rushville IN. picking up at 1530. Had moved up to #4 on the board, but the other 3 vans were still there, so I figured it was the load size. Sure enough, it was three pallets of crankshafts that would not have fit in a regular cargo van. Dropped in Rushville at 2052. Headed home from there rather than sit in the truck over the weekend. Four loads, won a partial victory over Speedco, and will start the war with Idlebuster next week. Right now, I'm tired.

My other Sprinter is back in service and has already run it's first load and has been dispatched for its second load for Monday. A Hazmat load from Columbus to Brookpark OH.

The International's generator is finally fixed an the truck is ready to roll. Lost a week getting the generator fixed, but it had to be done.

I've noticed that I am spending more and more time on the phone taking care of little things related to the trucks. Hopefully, this is just start up pains with two new drivers and a new truck and will subside soon.