Happy Thanksgiving

Birmingham, AL

I almost made it home today, but according to DOT regulations I'm too tired to drive. So I'm sitting in B-Ham for ten hours.

Yesterday, I left Jacksonville at 6am and made it to Orlando at 9am for my delivery appointment. Then it was back to Jacksonville to get loaded at a recycling facility that barely accommodates cars, let alone tractor-trailers. Way too tight. Just getting there was a challenge. When I got off I-95 I needed to go left, but I could only go right. Good times. I was only a couple miles away, but my appointment time was fast approaching and I didn't know how long it would take for me to get un-lost, so I made a quick call to my dispatcher to apprise her of the situation so she could call the shipper. Two left turns later, I was heading in the right direction. Then, the entrance to the facility snuck up on me, so I ended up having to get turned around again. Once I got loaded I drove over to Baldwin and stopped for the night.

I had a lot of ground to cover today, so I woke up at 3:15am and I was rolling by 4:30am. I made it to the receiver in Childersburg, AL for a nice easy drop/hook around noon. Next, I had to go over to Fairfield, AL to pick-up the load that is getting me home. Yellow posts by the road, dirt driveway...alright, I found it. Goat path is a pretty accurate description of the entrance to this place. A ninety degree turn here, down a hill, another ninety degree turn, up a hill....I think they found an old logging site and just started building crap. Whatever, they had me loaded in no time and I was on my way.

I hope to be home by 7-ish and on the road to K-town by 8. See y'all soon.

Jacksonville, FL

I had a nice smooth ride down I-75 today and made my appointment with no problems. The problem happened after I was unloaded when I noticed a significant puddle of fluid under the truck. I'll be calling the shop in the morning to see what they want me to do.

I'm fortunate enough to have a couple friends in the Jacksonville area, so after I parked the truck for the night, they picked me up and we went out to dinner.

Time for a good night's sleep before the fun begins tomorrow morning.

Hometime?

I asked my dispatcher when I could plan on being home. This was her reply.

Lebanon, IN

The weekend is off to a good start! The mechanic came knocking at 7am to take my truck, so I hopped out and went across the street for some breakfast. The brakes had to be inspected, plus I wanted a few other items taken care of. I now have a power inverter installed so I can have a tv and mini-fridge. They also fixed the lumbar support and the "desk" in the cabinet behind the driver's seat. The best part is they were done around lunch time. I've heard stories about guys being stuck there for days getting their truck worked on, so I guess I got lucky.

And because the shop guys were so awesome and got me out of there quickly, I still got the Florida load. I made it to the shipper around 3pm and was told the trailer was pre-loaded, sealed, and ready to go. Sweet. I was out of there in an hour. I actually have two stops, one in Jacksonville on Monday, and the last in Orlando on Tuesday. Including today, that will be three days of nothing but wake up and drive, then shut down and sleep. If only every day were like this.

"Pull around..."

In this profession, I have learned, planning is absolutely pointless. Whether it's waiting in the docks, stuck in traffic, snowed in, or being inspected by the fine folks at Wisconsin DOT, something is going to happen that rips my neat little plan to shreds. Now I know. And knowing is half the battle. If you picked up on that reference, good for you. If not, you were deprived as a child.

Around noon, after seeing traffic moving pretty well and not hearing any horror stories on the CB, I decided it was time to get back on the road. The roads were damp but clear, it wasn't snowing, and the sun was trying to peek through. Five seconds later, I couldn't see the pavement in front of me. The snow didn't last long and I made it out of Michigan and through Indiana without any problems. Then into Illinois. Chicago traffic was, well, Chicago traffic.

As soon as I get into Wisconsin, I go over the scales and get the dreaded "Pull around to the inspection garage" sign. I knew I wasn't overweight, so I figured I was just the unlucky sap they decided to pick on. The officer checked my lights and brakes, looked over my logs and paperwork and told me I could go, but that I needed to get the trailer brakes adjusted soon. So I made my delivery in Menasha and headed to the yard to drop the trailer. So much for picking up the load to Florida. It actually worked out well because I can get the shop to install my inverter and fix the driver's seat while I'm here, hopefully.

More snow!

No more tire tracks...

Hunkered down

This is where I stopped last night. The Michigan DOT hotline reports that roads are snow and/or ice covered and slippery. CB reports are that there is a wreck on I-94 westbound a few miles from where I am and traffic is obviously backed up. I was hoping to get going this morning, but I may be hanging out for a while.

Paw Paw, MI

I wanted to see snow, and I've seen it. My day started off well enough. I got up and made it to the shipper in Kalamazoo at 8am to pick-up the load that was supposed to be ready yesterday. We've seen this movie before. So, I drop my empty trailer and they're supposed (there's that word again) to bring my loaded trailer to me. Nine hours later they bring the loaded trailer-the same trailer I dropped this morning, despite that when I arrived there was already an empty trailer of ours there. Whatever. I hook up and get on my merry way west. As soon as I get on I-94...snow. The roads are wet, the temperature is below freezing, snow is blowing sideways, and I could barely see the stripes on the road. It didn't help my nerves to hear other drivers, who presumably are more experienced than me, over the CB say things such as, "Looks like it's gonna be a fun night" and "Oh shit, I don't wanna be a truck driver any more." Apparently, a few miles up the road that snow turned to ice, because at least one truck got stuck trying to go up a hill. Traffic was backed up over 6 miles, so I got off and set up camp for the night. I decided to check the weather forecast, and below is what I found.

The Weather Channel

Local Severe Weather Alert for Paw Paw, MI (49079)

/O.CON.KGRR.LE.W.0005.000000T0000Z-081121T1800Z/ ALLEGAN-VAN BUREN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HOLLAND...SOUTH HAVEN 447 PM EST THU NOV 20 2008

...LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST FRIDAY...

A NARROW BAND OF INTENSE LAKE EFFECT SNOW EXTENDING FROM SAUGATUCK TO PAW PAW AT 430 PM IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ORIENTED FARTHER WEST LATER THIS EVENING. THIS BAND HAS BEEN PRODUCING SNOWFALL RATES OF GREATER THAN ONE INCH PER HOUR... WITH A TOTAL OF 5 INCHES REPORTED SO FAR AT SAUGATUCK AS OF 430 PM.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS MAIN SNOW BAND WILL MOVE OFFSHORE OF SAUGATUCK AND SOUTH HAVEN FOR A TIME TONIGHT BEFORE MOVING BACK ON SHORE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS BY 1 PM FRIDAY WILL BE 7 TO 11 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HOLLAND TO PAW PAW. ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER FARTHER EAST.

THE SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH IN INTENSITY DURING THE DAY ON FRIDAY.

A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS TYPICALLY ALIGN THEMSELVES IN BANDS AND WILL LIKELY BE INTENSE ENOUGH TO DROP 1 TO SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW PER HOUR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. VISIBILITIES VARY GREATLY AND CAN DROP TO ZERO WITHIN MINUTES. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Jenison, MI

Today confirmed that I am type A, not that it was really in doubt. When it comes to schedules and appointments, I like to have a bit of a time cushion. Today I had no such luxury. I drove every last minute of my available 11 hours and made it to the receiver, though I arrived later than scheduled. Of course since I used all my drive hours, I'll be sitting here for at least ten hours, but I freakin' made it! Take that, Murphy! Aside from the scheduling issues, the day was about as good as it gets driving-wise. I got an early start out of Knoxville, didn't hit any traffic jams, didn't get lost, and got unloaded right after I got to the receiver.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to pick-up a load in Kalamazoo going to Menasha, WI. The best part is I don't have to get up at 4am!

Under the gun

Once again, a mad dash to make a delivery on time. I'm in Knoxville
and must be in Grand Rapids, MI by 3:30pm tomorrow, though I can't
leave here until 4am. I was held up for over four hours this morning
to get unloaded, which pretty much wrecked my day. On the plus side, I got to have dinner with Mom and Grandpa.

#3

#2

Since I have some spare time...

Temple, GA

The first day back to work is always the hardest, isn't it? I got
started at 7am and hit some rush hour traffic around Atlanta. Not
long after I got on the road, the Qualcomm beeped with my next load.
I was to pick up a load at the same place I was dropping off going to
Oakwood, GA (basically right back where I came from). When I
responded with my concern about making the 8am appointment, the
dispatcher didn't seem to understand my predicament. You know, the
whole part about me needing to get fuel, eat lunch and dinner, do
paperwork, sleep, etc. So, I pretty much have zero downtime on this
load. I stopped at 7pm and will be back on the road when my break is
up at 5am. Needless to say, I am tired and will be going to bed
forthwith.

11/13/08

Okay, so I'm a little behind.

I've pretty much gone in a big circle these past couple of days. Atlanta to Calhoun, TN, Calhoun to Charlotte, NC, then down to La Grange, GA and back to Atlanta. Presently, I'm sitting at a recycling
facility getting loaded with scrap paper.

I did get to stop in Knoxville Tuesday night and have a nice dinner with Mom and Dad (and a few other people). My load from Charlotte got me back through home in Lawrenceville last night, so I got a good night of sleep.

This week's lesson: when you're responsible for everything (trip planning, driving, paperwork, etc.) it requires a much more concentrated effort to sit down and blog at night instead of allowing yourself to fall asleep standing up. So I've heard.

11/10/08

The lesson learned today was start early. That way, when the punks take 3.5 hours to get me unloaded, I'll still be on schedule. And if little hole-in-the-wall shippers didn't expect me to double drop and hook trailers on the patio that they call a parking lot, I wouldn't have wasted 2 hours of my life today. Yeah, you know who you are.

Anyway. I'm much calmer now. I was supposed to get a load tonight going from Calhoun, TN to NC, only when I arrived at midnight, it wasn't ready. If it had been and if I had arrived earlier, I would have been able to stop in Knoxville and see some family, but that wasn't in the cards today. I'm supposed to check on the load in the morning, so we'll see.

11/9/08

Okay, so no pics yet, but at least I can walk again. Apparently, proper lumbar support is incredibly important while driving. The airbags that are supposed to provide back support in my driver's seat are busted and don't hold air, so I drove for two days bent over like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. By the time I got home late Saturday night I was pretty much invalid. Thanks to Wal-Mart, I am now the proud owner of a lumbar support pillow.

11/07/08

Damn you, Murphy. You just couldn't leave well enough alone. This is how the the day was supposed to have gone (in my perfect world): Leave the yard by 9am and drive up to De Pere where I would hook to my load, head south just in time to miss Chicago rush hour, and make it to Indianapolis around dinner time when I should have no trouble finding parking.

I didn't leave the yard until noon - Murphy intervention #1. And I had to take a load to Green Bay first, then go back to De Pere - Murphy intervention #2. I get to the shipper in De Pere and I'm told to drop my trailer and pick-up my loaded trailer which is ready to go. So after spotting said trailer, I hook up, raise the landing gear, connect all my lines, and pull away from the dock so I can close the doors. Only when I get back there am I able to see that the entire trailer is empty - completing the Murphy trifecta. Now, I was scheduled to pick up this load any time between 8am-4pm, meaning it should have been ready to go at 8am. I got there at 3:30 and didn't get loaded until almost 6pm. On the bright side, I missed Chicago rush hour. I made it to Lebanon, IN just before my clock was up and got one of the last spots available. Not bad.

And so, that was how my first day on the road as a solo driver went.

11/6/08

It's so close I can almost taste it. Tomorrow morning I'm scheduled to meet with the safety director and my dispatcher and afterwards I'll be free to pick-up my first load. My truck has been assigned, I have my required supplies, the laundry is done, and I'm ready to load up the truck....if only it weren't raining. Tomorrow isn't going to be any better, weatherwise.

Speaking of crappy conditions... Chicago, let's get one thing straight, I don't like you and I don't care if you like me, but I'm coming through tomorrow and I don't want any trouble, got it? Good.

I'm supposed to load near Green Bay tomorrow before 4pm and deliver in Atlanta Monday afternoon, so I'll have plenty of time to make the trip.

11/5/08

Looong day, still doing laundry, phone battery almost dead. Should be out of here by Friday, but not yet sure where I'll be going. I'll try to get some pics of the truck up by the weekend.

"I gotta say, today was a good day"

I finally got the hard part over with today - I did my final driving tests for the company, passed, and got my truck. It's a Freightliner Columbia mid-roof with a 10-speed and around 750k miles. I think it's 4-6 years old. I still have another day or two before I'll be able to leave, but hopefully I'll be headed south by the weekend. Maybe the mass of people that has descended upon Chicago will have cleared out by then. Please, please, please.

Most of my evening was spent watching the election results surrounded by several apparent McCain supporters, a couple of which lacked the ability to accept defeat graciously. Turnabout and all.

Don't forget to vote

I'm realizing my motivation to update my blog might be a bit greater if I didn't wait until I was half asleep.

I was supposed to do my final skills test today, but that didn't happen because the tester had the day off. At least that gave me an extra day to practice. Most of the day was spent running errands. First, I went into town to pick up lunch (on the company) for everybody that attended the morning safety meeting. Then I had to pick >up an orientation student around 6pm in Waupaca and another one in Appleton at 9:45pm. So, I just got back to the yard and will be going to bed very shortly.

If you have a pulse, I'm sure you know the election is today, but consider this a friendly reminder to vote today if you haven't already.

Is it Friday yet?

It's freakin' cold here. That is all.

10/31/08

The truck was actually ready this morning, so we hit the road at 11am to make our delivery in Bedford Park. No problems there, on to Kankakee, IL to pick up a load to Wisconsin. No problems there. I drove until midnight, then hopped in the bunk to nap while Steve brought us into Amherst. We just got here (the company yard) a little while ago and I'm officially off of his truck for good now, so I'm enjoying the smoke-free environment of the company bunkhouse. I have the weekend to relax and will hopefully finish the training process next week.

Oh yeah, to the driver of the car that cut me off this afternoon in Chicago and almost wrecked in the process: You're a moron. Don't do that.