Boy was it hot in Laredo last night. Not sure of the temp but we saw nineties on the road. Made it with 15 minutes to spare for DWTS. Lucky me.
Went to bed with a fan on, and went to sleep pretty well as we were both pooped. About 2330 we both awakened feeling suffocating. I closed everything up and turned on the engine to run the A/C. I'm not a good sleeper with the engine running, but I finally got back to sleep. Let me tell you the A/C works good. About 0330 I woke back up and turned the engine off and opened back up. Luckily got back to sleep again. Unusual for me though.
This morning we picked our fuel stop at Van Horn, TX to stop for the night. Some time during the day I decided we should push on to El Paso and we're here - 580 miles. Tomorrow we're going to go about 440 miles and stop somewhere around Phoenix and get a Motel 6. We should be there by 1300 - 1400 and so we'll have a good opportunity to enjoy the pool and relax. Then Thursday we'll head on to Delano, CA.
Now we have a new plan, but as you know plans are made to be changed. You never know, and we like to be fluid and enjoy everything we can.
We just finished a walk-about and Teresa's ready for DWTS elimination.
One of the speakers is "blown" on my side of the truck. After we got here I put some "Nu-skin" on it. You know that paint on band-aid stuff. I'm going to let it dry good then see if it works. It works on me so who can tell.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Go West Folks
We delivered our load at 0830 this morning in Laredo. Had a bit of anxiety passing long lines of trucks waiting to do the same thing we were. Thankfully we were the only one at our forwarder.
We were in and out in less than 30 minutes. While I was dropping the trailer we got the first blip on the QC of our next w/a. A little squeel from Teresa and I figured it was good.
We went further south in Texas and picked up another load coming north across the border and we're headed to Delano, CA - 1662 miles loaded. We covered 350 today going south and coming back. We're back in Laredo at the Pilot watching DWTS. Our delivery is by Friday but I figure with three back to back 500 mile days we can be done on Thursday and be ready for another one on Friday.
We love our Sirius radio but you can only sing so much to the radio. I also catch CNBC in the morning and some FOX and CNN. Pretty sure I catch most of President Obama's speeches. Caught today's on the auto bailout. I mostly agreed with him, but figured that stand should have been taken before the previous $17 billion was paid out.
My issue is where do the rest of the overpriced occupations come in ? Should it really cost $75 - $85 per hour for a plumber or $100 for a mechanic. I realize they are not being bailed out but the inconsistency baffles me. That's my political comment for the day.
18 days till TAH - I think we're planning on taking Teresa's dad to the OSU Cowboys baseball games.
We were in and out in less than 30 minutes. While I was dropping the trailer we got the first blip on the QC of our next w/a. A little squeel from Teresa and I figured it was good.
We went further south in Texas and picked up another load coming north across the border and we're headed to Delano, CA - 1662 miles loaded. We covered 350 today going south and coming back. We're back in Laredo at the Pilot watching DWTS. Our delivery is by Friday but I figure with three back to back 500 mile days we can be done on Thursday and be ready for another one on Friday.
We love our Sirius radio but you can only sing so much to the radio. I also catch CNBC in the morning and some FOX and CNN. Pretty sure I catch most of President Obama's speeches. Caught today's on the auto bailout. I mostly agreed with him, but figured that stand should have been taken before the previous $17 billion was paid out.
My issue is where do the rest of the overpriced occupations come in ? Should it really cost $75 - $85 per hour for a plumber or $100 for a mechanic. I realize they are not being bailed out but the inconsistency baffles me. That's my political comment for the day.
18 days till TAH - I think we're planning on taking Teresa's dad to the OSU Cowboys baseball games.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Good stuff at Jalepeno Tree
You may recall our recounting of eating at The Jalepeno Tree in Marshal, TX awhile back. Naive, we might be, but we did not know at that time that it was a chain, but we're happy that it is.
Thursday night thinking about how to execute our 1408 mile trip to Laredo, TX with a 1000 live load I had figured; leave CN about noon and then cover about 350 miles, then 450 Sat and 450 Sun and about 150 on Monday and we could deliver at about 1000 on Monday and be ready for our next load.
As usual we got there early, about 0830 and were loaded by 0900. Headed back to the Pilot to scale the 43,690 lb load. Before driving onto the scale I set the tandems in the 10th hole. When I got the scale receipt it was dead on. So by 0915 we were on the way. Now we can't just stop at 350 miles can we ? Nope, we covered 450 and got to Charleston, MO. Took our walk with weights and then walked about 1/2 miles to a Dairy Queen. See how that works; calories out - calories in.
As we headed out yesterday Teresa was checking for another Jalepeno Tree. Yep, there's one in Mesquite, TX, right on I635 where we were headed in Dallas. So we pushed it 579 miles and got there for dinner. Yummm, they get our hearty recommendation. We then finished up 10 miles later at the Dallas OC. Now we have only 420 left for today to Laredo and we'll make it to the OC early this afternoon and deliver early tomorrow morning.
One more comment on the digital to analog converter; seems to work very well in many locales.
We got great signal in Charleston and here in Dallas. I'm guessing that all of the stations have turned on their digital signals but have not turned off their analog signals and will not until the official June 12th cutoff.
Time to call my Mom and hit the road. If you're in Texas - hit the Jalepeno Tree !!!
Thursday night thinking about how to execute our 1408 mile trip to Laredo, TX with a 1000 live load I had figured; leave CN about noon and then cover about 350 miles, then 450 Sat and 450 Sun and about 150 on Monday and we could deliver at about 1000 on Monday and be ready for our next load.
As usual we got there early, about 0830 and were loaded by 0900. Headed back to the Pilot to scale the 43,690 lb load. Before driving onto the scale I set the tandems in the 10th hole. When I got the scale receipt it was dead on. So by 0915 we were on the way. Now we can't just stop at 350 miles can we ? Nope, we covered 450 and got to Charleston, MO. Took our walk with weights and then walked about 1/2 miles to a Dairy Queen. See how that works; calories out - calories in.
As we headed out yesterday Teresa was checking for another Jalepeno Tree. Yep, there's one in Mesquite, TX, right on I635 where we were headed in Dallas. So we pushed it 579 miles and got there for dinner. Yummm, they get our hearty recommendation. We then finished up 10 miles later at the Dallas OC. Now we have only 420 left for today to Laredo and we'll make it to the OC early this afternoon and deliver early tomorrow morning.
One more comment on the digital to analog converter; seems to work very well in many locales.
We got great signal in Charleston and here in Dallas. I'm guessing that all of the stations have turned on their digital signals but have not turned off their analog signals and will not until the official June 12th cutoff.
Time to call my Mom and hit the road. If you're in Texas - hit the Jalepeno Tree !!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Looping around Indiana
Wednesday night on our way to Elkhart we passed through South Bend. Last night we ended back up in South Bend. After unloading in Elkhart we waited, then waited, then waited more. It really wasn't that long, about 2 hours. The morning was fruitful though. Seemed in Elkhart we could not get any TV signals. While we were on TAH I had picked up the new Digital to Analog converter. While waiting I hooked it up and voila, there they were. All of the TV stations there have already switched. We got all the stations great - cost $9 plus tax after the rebate. Not bad, we may even be able to dump the satellite dish.
Cathie, my DBL, had called and said she had 3 loads, all short and which would I like. Nice of her to inquire. In the end, she decided to wait and see if something better came up. While waiting I sent her a QC note just to give us anything, to get moving.
So she gives us this little w/a to deadhead over to Albion - 45 miles and pick up 1 pallet and take it to Ft. Wayne - 45 miles. Not too much in that. Apologetically, she says the load was given to someone else that couldn't get there in time. This load was time critical for p/u - all GM loads are. Anyway she says she find us a good mileage one after. En route to Albion it comes through. After Ft. Wayne we are to head for a pickup at 100o in South Bend and take it to Laredo, TX - 1408 miles. Now that's a good one. Hence the reason back in South Bend. So this morning we'll fuel and shower and maybe "something" else. Then we'll head for Texas, which is great timing since that snow storm is headed this way fast.
Indiana is an interesting amalgam of farming, industry and people. We passed through the Nippersink area of Amish which is always exciting to see.
Thinking ahead we figure to get 300 miles in today, then 550 on Sat and Sun and be in Laredo Sunday evening, in time for Teresa to see The Amazing Race. Typically it's not quick to get a load out of Laredo, which works well so she can also see Dancing Monday night. Although the last time we were in Laredo we got a fast one out. You never really know. Anyway we have our plan, we'll see how it works out.
You may recall that about a month ago I wrote that Schneider had stopped all pay raises for 2009. Turns out I got mine. For enquiring minds I'll let you know. Now we get .37 cents a mile which means a 550 mile day earns us $203.50 which takes about 9 hours. That's about $22 per hour of driving, about 1/4 of what we used to make. That works out fine since we have no house payment, car payment, utilities and so on. We still put 20 percent away in my 401k. I'm not sure why since we lost over $200,000 the last year in our old ones. It's still the right thing to do though and I'm REASONABLY sure in the next 10 years most of it will return, so we're not getting out.
And what other job can you have that you spend 24/7 together like we do ? We really do like it, and each other !!!
Cathie, my DBL, had called and said she had 3 loads, all short and which would I like. Nice of her to inquire. In the end, she decided to wait and see if something better came up. While waiting I sent her a QC note just to give us anything, to get moving.
So she gives us this little w/a to deadhead over to Albion - 45 miles and pick up 1 pallet and take it to Ft. Wayne - 45 miles. Not too much in that. Apologetically, she says the load was given to someone else that couldn't get there in time. This load was time critical for p/u - all GM loads are. Anyway she says she find us a good mileage one after. En route to Albion it comes through. After Ft. Wayne we are to head for a pickup at 100o in South Bend and take it to Laredo, TX - 1408 miles. Now that's a good one. Hence the reason back in South Bend. So this morning we'll fuel and shower and maybe "something" else. Then we'll head for Texas, which is great timing since that snow storm is headed this way fast.
Indiana is an interesting amalgam of farming, industry and people. We passed through the Nippersink area of Amish which is always exciting to see.
Thinking ahead we figure to get 300 miles in today, then 550 on Sat and Sun and be in Laredo Sunday evening, in time for Teresa to see The Amazing Race. Typically it's not quick to get a load out of Laredo, which works well so she can also see Dancing Monday night. Although the last time we were in Laredo we got a fast one out. You never really know. Anyway we have our plan, we'll see how it works out.
You may recall that about a month ago I wrote that Schneider had stopped all pay raises for 2009. Turns out I got mine. For enquiring minds I'll let you know. Now we get .37 cents a mile which means a 550 mile day earns us $203.50 which takes about 9 hours. That's about $22 per hour of driving, about 1/4 of what we used to make. That works out fine since we have no house payment, car payment, utilities and so on. We still put 20 percent away in my 401k. I'm not sure why since we lost over $200,000 the last year in our old ones. It's still the right thing to do though and I'm REASONABLY sure in the next 10 years most of it will return, so we're not getting out.
And what other job can you have that you spend 24/7 together like we do ? We really do like it, and each other !!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Back at the grind
Well, we're back at it. Yesterday, actually. The first day is always the toughest. First we add an extra 2 1/2 hours to get from Ponca City down to Oklahoma City. Of course that's if you don't forget anything important. Which I did. We were about 18 miles from Joe and Beth's place and I realized I had left my phone on the bed after we assembled it. So add another 40 minutes to our original 2 1/2 and it can be a long day.
Our first w/a came immediately after signing in - pick up a trailer there at the drop lot and dead head up to Winfield, KS, 143 miles, deliver in Elkhart, IN on Friday at 0800 est. The w/a indicated there would be a trailer preloaded for us. No such luck. The guy there said Schneider always tells their drivers that is the case and it never is. The loaded us up with tote-and-store rollie carts that they make there. We got as far as Springfield, MO for the night.
Since the Funny Lady hates early morning departures I wanted to get as close as possible to Elkhart tonight so we could get up at 0700 est and make it there early. We jammed into Gary, IN at 1615 and showered at the OC then skipped on over to Elkhart, 580 miles for the day. We are on I80 toll way 2 miles from the exit for the consignee. We should be there by 0730 and unloaded by 1000.
I have to make this catch up post quick. I couldn't find any plugins at the service plaza and the laptop is running on fumes.
We're good and have 23 days until our next TAH. Seems like a long time without a day off, but we're still enjoying it. Spring is springing everywhere and we get to see it all over the country.
Bob
Our first w/a came immediately after signing in - pick up a trailer there at the drop lot and dead head up to Winfield, KS, 143 miles, deliver in Elkhart, IN on Friday at 0800 est. The w/a indicated there would be a trailer preloaded for us. No such luck. The guy there said Schneider always tells their drivers that is the case and it never is. The loaded us up with tote-and-store rollie carts that they make there. We got as far as Springfield, MO for the night.
Since the Funny Lady hates early morning departures I wanted to get as close as possible to Elkhart tonight so we could get up at 0700 est and make it there early. We jammed into Gary, IN at 1615 and showered at the OC then skipped on over to Elkhart, 580 miles for the day. We are on I80 toll way 2 miles from the exit for the consignee. We should be there by 0730 and unloaded by 1000.
I have to make this catch up post quick. I couldn't find any plugins at the service plaza and the laptop is running on fumes.
We're good and have 23 days until our next TAH. Seems like a long time without a day off, but we're still enjoying it. Spring is springing everywhere and we get to see it all over the country.
Bob
Thursday, March 19, 2009
On our way out
We delivered in Ft. Worth and scooted on over to the Dallas OC. We got our next w/a that evening, it was a pisser. We were to pick up a relay trailer there at the OC and deliver at another location in Dallas at 1400. At least it gave Teresa a chance to catch up on all her morning programs; The View, Regis and Kelly and the like. As always I'm hopeful that we can deliver early so we hit the place about 1230. That didn't work. They didn't start unloading till after 1430 and finished at about 1630. Since it was also in Dallas the miles was zero. Seems we get a whopping $25 for a short load. Hurray, a whole day and $25. I think we might get an extra $15 or $25 for detention pay since they took over 2 hours to unload. Then we had a pick up another 20 miles away. But since it's still in Dallas it's zero miles again. So I've driven about 35 miles so far and get no miles recorded I'm OOR (out of route) by 35 miles. Then they, Scheider, wonders why the drivers are OOR. Go figure.
The next p/u was at 1900, but again got there early. This time it helped by about 20 minutes. We got out of there at 2015 and headed for a place to rest. We made it to the Love's truck stop north of town and have about 180 miles left to OKC today. That was supposed to be our start of TAH but we got a message that they may need us to pick up another load around OKC and also drop it at our drop lot in OKC. No details yet. Needless to say we're ready to be done for this 3 weeks on the road.
"Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you" I think yesterday the bear got us!!!
The next p/u was at 1900, but again got there early. This time it helped by about 20 minutes. We got out of there at 2015 and headed for a place to rest. We made it to the Love's truck stop north of town and have about 180 miles left to OKC today. That was supposed to be our start of TAH but we got a message that they may need us to pick up another load around OKC and also drop it at our drop lot in OKC. No details yet. Needless to say we're ready to be done for this 3 weeks on the road.
"Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you" I think yesterday the bear got us!!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
All for Naught
Saturday we got our next w/a; pick up a trailer there at the Edwardsville OC and take it to Laredo, TX. Cool. Only problem is the trailer doesn't arrive until 0230 Sunday morning. It's a HOT load, needs to be there on Monday. Not too bad 1087 miles - two days.
Got up about 5:30 and started looking for the trailer... nope nowhere. I called the support folks and was told the previous driver had put the wrong trailer number in on the Qualcomm. So I started looking again. Yep, there it is. Might have been there awhile, who knows.
Anyway got hooked up while Teresa slept and hit the road. Made it all the way to Durant, OK 565 miles. Not a bad day. This morning I got up a bit too early - 0400. Got in a bit of trouble for that one. Anyway we got to the freight forwarder (it's actually headed across the border into Mexico ) at 1600 and they were locked up tight. They left early for a Mexican holiday.
Tomorrow we'll head back and deliver at 0700 then there is a load at the Laredo OC that HAS to be back in Ft. Worth, TX tomorrow. The w/a say 427 miles. Should not be a problem, depending on traffic.
We're hanging out at an IdleAire at the Pilot in Laredo. Teresa's so excited watching "DWTS."
After waking her up at 0400 this morning, it's the least I can do.
Here's a sunrise from OK, I took the morning of my Mom's birthday. 
It's a little blurry but the colors are good.
It's a little blurry but the colors are good.
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