After updating our blog I went out to the truck. Ms. Teresa wasn't really complaining but it was getting pretty noisy out there. When you pull in at 1700 you might figure things were settled for awhile and you can get a feel for your daily neighbors. Sometimes that's true and sometimes not. NOT Tuesday. When we backed in noone was running. When I came back everyone had left to be replaced by runners.
I walked around and found a McDonald's that has truck parking. Sign says "no extended or overnight parking." There was one truck there and I walked over and asked him about it. He said he stops in occasionally and is never hassled. Whoopee, I do my best power walk back to the truck and head out. We were set...
Headed out Wednesday morning a bit early to make our 1000 delivery in SC. I HAD figured the used tires were going to be used for some other process. Turns out the Canadian tread laws are much stricter because of snow and other weather than in SC so they resell them to the open market. The don't even check for tire tread there. They only profit about $5 per tire, but we hauled 1,800 down there and they were doing a brisk business as we left.
While unloading we got our next w/a. I can tell right off this is going to be a tough one. We're to head up to Spartanburg to pick up a trailer, then back up to Asheville to be loaded. Looks like the insides of diapers. The load is to be unloaded in Laredo, TX by 1500 on Friday.
We were loaded by 1300 and had already spent 7 hours of our 14. I figured if we covered 300 yesterday and 600 today and 400 tomorrow we will be there by the delivery deadline.
Yesterday we only got 250 down - big hills in NC 8% grades, and Atlanta afternoon commute traffic. We made it to the Georgia/Alabama border. Today we scratched out 606 miles.
I figure if we leave by 0600 and are lucky getting through Houston we should be there by 1400 - 1430.
If I use my best manly persuasion - we might leave closer to 0500. The proof is in the pudding. We'll see.
I called the consignee and they are closed for the weekend, so if we miss our delivery we're stuck with the load for the weekend. On the other hand loads are often slow to come in Laredo, so we could be there for the weekend any way. Either way, I'm planning for a hotel in Laredo for tomorrow night. I figure we've both earned it.
Showered and got our walk in. Pooped out again.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Back to Tennessee
I forgot to add these pictures the other day on the way to SC. The car carrier was headed south, we were headed north. It still took us an hour to get past. I read later that the entire southbound was closed for over two hours.
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
This is the entrance to the Peace Bridge Sunday evening on our way in to Canada.
This is the Ambassador Bridge and Buffalo, NY on our way out yesterday.
Sorry about all the bugs on the windshield, but they are really busy this time of year.
We covered 525 today arriving in Dandridge, TN to fuel, shower and have salad for dinner. Got our walk in now Teresa's catching up on TV and me our blog.
While in Detroit we heard John Rich's song "Shuttin' Down Detroit" a few times. Good lyrics and music. Here's a bit of the song - if you want I can sing it later...
John Rich
Shuttin' Detroit Down
Written By: John Rich, John D. Anderson
My daddy taught me that in this country everyone’s the same
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
When it don’t go your way
Now I see all these big shots whinin’ on my evening news
About how they’re losin’ billions and how it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue
Well pardon me if I don’t shed a tear ‘cause they’re selling make believe
And we don’t buy that here
Shuttin' Detroit Down
Written By: John Rich, John D. Anderson
My daddy taught me that in this country everyone’s the same
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
When it don’t go your way
Now I see all these big shots whinin’ on my evening news
About how they’re losin’ billions and how it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue
Well pardon me if I don’t shed a tear ‘cause they’re selling make believe
And we don’t buy that here
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
Give it a listen... you can watch the video on YouTube
Monday, April 27, 2009
No longer an alien
Sunday seemed like it was going to be a relaxing day. After updating our blog and then fetching m'lady's tea we headed for WalMart. Got everything we needed.
We went in to the OC and were reading, etc. I was seriously thinking a nap was in order. But I thought, nope, better check the QC. There it was! Not sure why it took 3 hours to get assigned as the trailer had already been relayed there. I read the QC and the w/a is to Delhi, Ontario, Canada. Only 400 miles, but still, Canada !!!
We spent 30 minutes (maybe a little exageration) prepping paperwork for the PARS crossing. None of the phone numbers supplied we either valid or working on Saturday. Two calls back for more numbers and finally got one and subsequently got a fax number.
We were hauling 40,000 of Scotts Fertilizer plastic bags to be filled in Delhi. The route to Buffalo and over to Ontario was the hardest I have traveled in the time I've been driving. The hills were straight up and down.
US219 even has some places that the truck speed limit is 20 MPH. That will surely blow your average. It really is hard to hold 40,000 pounds back on the down hill, had to go into 5th gear to do it comfortably. Then lots of small towns. Eight hours to cover 300 miles.
We entered Canada at Ft. Erie then headed west on QE 3 to Delhi. While unloading we got our next w/a; go east on QE 3 12 miles and pick up a load of recycle tires to drop in Greenville, SC.
We made it across both directions of the border crossings so we are no longer aliens and are showering and resting up in Detroit for the evening. Then on down I75 to Tennessee and then east to SC.
Tonight I am pooped again. Either I am getting older or it's getting tougher, let me know when you figure it out.
We went in to the OC and were reading, etc. I was seriously thinking a nap was in order. But I thought, nope, better check the QC. There it was! Not sure why it took 3 hours to get assigned as the trailer had already been relayed there. I read the QC and the w/a is to Delhi, Ontario, Canada. Only 400 miles, but still, Canada !!!
We spent 30 minutes (maybe a little exageration) prepping paperwork for the PARS crossing. None of the phone numbers supplied we either valid or working on Saturday. Two calls back for more numbers and finally got one and subsequently got a fax number.
We were hauling 40,000 of Scotts Fertilizer plastic bags to be filled in Delhi. The route to Buffalo and over to Ontario was the hardest I have traveled in the time I've been driving. The hills were straight up and down.
US219 even has some places that the truck speed limit is 20 MPH. That will surely blow your average. It really is hard to hold 40,000 pounds back on the down hill, had to go into 5th gear to do it comfortably. Then lots of small towns. Eight hours to cover 300 miles.
We entered Canada at Ft. Erie then headed west on QE 3 to Delhi. While unloading we got our next w/a; go east on QE 3 12 miles and pick up a load of recycle tires to drop in Greenville, SC.
We made it across both directions of the border crossings so we are no longer aliens and are showering and resting up in Detroit for the evening. Then on down I75 to Tennessee and then east to SC.
Tonight I am pooped again. Either I am getting older or it's getting tougher, let me know when you figure it out.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Day from Hell
Yesterday was THE DAY FROM HELL, but let me catch up to yesterday first.
We dropped our load of Michelin tires in Laurens, SC on time Thursday. It looked like a recycling plant. Tires going in and rolled roofing going out. We could not see any processing but that's what we could see on the outside. Pretty interesting if you think about it - lots of oil in both products.
During the day I had contacted Cathie, my DBL and let her know how things were going and that if she could get us to Charlotte which was about 80 miles away I would be able to get spring training out of the way. After dropping she bobtailed us there. Enroute I called Ron and asked him if he was up-to-date on reading the blog. He had to confess he was not - bad move Ron. In it was a heads up that we might be coming through and he missed it. Anyway he met us at the OC and we had dinner and he helped us out by running us on a few errands. Thanks, Ron. We really like Ron, really enjoyable to chat with.
Friday morning I got the spring training out of the way. Nothing really new mostly on-the-job safety, which they cover every year. It's mostly to cover Schneider's butt. If someone doesn't follow procedures and gets hurt, at least they were given the instructions even if they didn't follow them. One of the things they also do is review your logs. The OSR ( the S is safety, I can't remember the other part of the acronym right now) comes over acting like he just stopped a nuclear bomb and says "Buddy, you're going to remedial training." There are no errors on any log but he had calculated hours driving and miles traveled to come up with MPH and he gets several days in excess of 65 MPH. He says "it can't be done in a 60 mph truck." I tried to explain my process, but he was so satisfied with himself he did not want to listen. Cathie will schedule ANOTHER class for me somewhere that will be a pain to get to.
The class was at 0700 est - keep that in mind as it's 0600 cst for us. Finished by 0900 CST. I stopped by the maintenance shop and for a small repair and then fueled and washed the truck. Now it's about 1130 est and I've been on the clock for 5 1/2 hours. Our next w/a came while we were remaking the bed. Teresa got laundry done while I was in training.
The w/a was to pick up a trailer there at the OC and go to Gastonia, NC 27 miles away and get loaded. No problem so far. The delivery was to Kutztown, PA 555 miles and deliver by 1000 est on Saturday. After quickly thinking it through I called the dispatchers and informed them it could not be done as assigned. After a little "negotiating" they relented and agreed to 1300 est Saturday. We have a deal.
Friday was fine, but quite long. We figured if we could get 350 miles out of the way by 2000 then we could get on the road by 0600 and arrive by 1230, giving a little room for error. We got our part done, and stopped at a rest area around Staunton, VA.
Saturday started fresh in the Shenandoah Valley. Really pretty and green. Around Harrisburg, MD we got a shower and some ice for the road, we're doing pretty good we think we're going to OK. Then the proverbial "shit hit the fan."
We're on I81 in PA headed north and blow a tire on the trailer. I pull over and check it out. Skinny shoulder. I contacted SEM, emergency maintenance and we agree I can hobble on upt the the Carlisle OC, about 30 miles. We're carrying 39,000 pounds. Each tire can carry 7,000 and there are 7 left, so we're good. Without too much delay they got us taken care of. I contacted the consignee (where we're delivering) to let them know I was going to be about an hour late. Being patient, they agreed. So we headed out.
We now have about 80 miles to go. 65 miles later the coolant alarm goes off. So I pull over again, at least this time I can get well off the road. Yep, blown water hose.
I contact SEM again. After an hour I get a message that they have contacted someone to come get us back in order. Then the guy calls and he doesn't think he has the part. By that time I have a Mcgyver repair in order and have put almost a case of our drinking water in. I had no idea how much it held or how much I water had been lost.
The guy arrives two hours later and likes my Mcgyver repair then adds 3 more gallons of antifreeze. How naive was I to think a case of drinking water was going to work ? Teresa got a good laugh about that.
We sat on the freeway for 3 full hours and were 12 miles from our delivery. Now it's 1615 and I call them again. Remember it's Saturday. They were about to shut down but said a couple of guys would wait and unload me. They did and I really appreciated it.
I contacted SEM one more time and told them it was jerry rigged and I needed to get back to the Carlisle OC for a permanent repair. We got back last night at 2000 and it was fixed by 2100.
Many thanks to my navigator/team domestic for her patience throughout the day.
You want to know the repair? I took the guts out of a bic pen and shoved it between the two pieces of hose and clamped it. Wasn't pretty but it held for 100 miles and that's all I needed.
Now you can call me Mcgyver Bob, if you want !!!
It's Sunday. No w/a yet, and that's fine. We're out of dinners, salad stuff, cereal and milk. So a trip to WalMart is on our list this morning.
We dropped our load of Michelin tires in Laurens, SC on time Thursday. It looked like a recycling plant. Tires going in and rolled roofing going out. We could not see any processing but that's what we could see on the outside. Pretty interesting if you think about it - lots of oil in both products.
During the day I had contacted Cathie, my DBL and let her know how things were going and that if she could get us to Charlotte which was about 80 miles away I would be able to get spring training out of the way. After dropping she bobtailed us there. Enroute I called Ron and asked him if he was up-to-date on reading the blog. He had to confess he was not - bad move Ron. In it was a heads up that we might be coming through and he missed it. Anyway he met us at the OC and we had dinner and he helped us out by running us on a few errands. Thanks, Ron. We really like Ron, really enjoyable to chat with.
Friday morning I got the spring training out of the way. Nothing really new mostly on-the-job safety, which they cover every year. It's mostly to cover Schneider's butt. If someone doesn't follow procedures and gets hurt, at least they were given the instructions even if they didn't follow them. One of the things they also do is review your logs. The OSR ( the S is safety, I can't remember the other part of the acronym right now) comes over acting like he just stopped a nuclear bomb and says "Buddy, you're going to remedial training." There are no errors on any log but he had calculated hours driving and miles traveled to come up with MPH and he gets several days in excess of 65 MPH. He says "it can't be done in a 60 mph truck." I tried to explain my process, but he was so satisfied with himself he did not want to listen. Cathie will schedule ANOTHER class for me somewhere that will be a pain to get to.
The class was at 0700 est - keep that in mind as it's 0600 cst for us. Finished by 0900 CST. I stopped by the maintenance shop and for a small repair and then fueled and washed the truck. Now it's about 1130 est and I've been on the clock for 5 1/2 hours. Our next w/a came while we were remaking the bed. Teresa got laundry done while I was in training.
The w/a was to pick up a trailer there at the OC and go to Gastonia, NC 27 miles away and get loaded. No problem so far. The delivery was to Kutztown, PA 555 miles and deliver by 1000 est on Saturday. After quickly thinking it through I called the dispatchers and informed them it could not be done as assigned. After a little "negotiating" they relented and agreed to 1300 est Saturday. We have a deal.
Friday was fine, but quite long. We figured if we could get 350 miles out of the way by 2000 then we could get on the road by 0600 and arrive by 1230, giving a little room for error. We got our part done, and stopped at a rest area around Staunton, VA.
Saturday started fresh in the Shenandoah Valley. Really pretty and green. Around Harrisburg, MD we got a shower and some ice for the road, we're doing pretty good we think we're going to OK. Then the proverbial "shit hit the fan."
We're on I81 in PA headed north and blow a tire on the trailer. I pull over and check it out. Skinny shoulder. I contacted SEM, emergency maintenance and we agree I can hobble on upt the the Carlisle OC, about 30 miles. We're carrying 39,000 pounds. Each tire can carry 7,000 and there are 7 left, so we're good. Without too much delay they got us taken care of. I contacted the consignee (where we're delivering) to let them know I was going to be about an hour late. Being patient, they agreed. So we headed out.
We now have about 80 miles to go. 65 miles later the coolant alarm goes off. So I pull over again, at least this time I can get well off the road. Yep, blown water hose.
I contact SEM again. After an hour I get a message that they have contacted someone to come get us back in order. Then the guy calls and he doesn't think he has the part. By that time I have a Mcgyver repair in order and have put almost a case of our drinking water in. I had no idea how much it held or how much I water had been lost.
The guy arrives two hours later and likes my Mcgyver repair then adds 3 more gallons of antifreeze. How naive was I to think a case of drinking water was going to work ? Teresa got a good laugh about that.
We sat on the freeway for 3 full hours and were 12 miles from our delivery. Now it's 1615 and I call them again. Remember it's Saturday. They were about to shut down but said a couple of guys would wait and unload me. They did and I really appreciated it.
I contacted SEM one more time and told them it was jerry rigged and I needed to get back to the Carlisle OC for a permanent repair. We got back last night at 2000 and it was fixed by 2100.
Many thanks to my navigator/team domestic for her patience throughout the day.
You want to know the repair? I took the guts out of a bic pen and shoved it between the two pieces of hose and clamped it. Wasn't pretty but it held for 100 miles and that's all I needed.
Now you can call me Mcgyver Bob, if you want !!!
It's Sunday. No w/a yet, and that's fine. We're out of dinners, salad stuff, cereal and milk. So a trip to WalMart is on our list this morning.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Back in the Saddle
Had a great TAH. Somebody remind me why we have to always go back to work!!!
Yesterday was tougher than the regular tough first day back at it. As per usual we hit the road at 0600 and thankfully did not forget anything. Checked in at the truck at 0805 and yep there's the first w/a. The little ones are a pain, basically no miles. We bobtailed up to Edmond and picked up a trailer - have to wonder why when there were empties in the lot. Then back to Waste Management to pick up paper to be recycled then back to the drop lot for someone else to take to Alabama. Don't ask me, as I can't figure it.
Then we picked up an empty there at the drop lot ( the drop lot is where we park the truck during our TAH ). Then we headed to Ardmore and dropped the trailer and picked up a loaded one full of tires headed for Laurens, SC. Since we were passing pretty close to Dallas I figured to pull in and give another try at getting the PM done.
We pulled in at 1815 and by 2115 they were done. Three hours and I'm pretty sure the tires are all aired up properly. Anything else I can't tell. But at least it's done for the next 20,000 miles.
We left Dallas this morning at 0700 and had breakfast on the road in Texas, lunch somewhere in Louisianna and skipped right on through Mississippi and had dinner at the Alabama welcome center. Real nice place. Then we pushed forward to Tuscaloosa to stop for the night - 597 miles. We'll drop the trailer by 1300. I am hoping to get to Charlotte tomorrow. If it works out maybe we'll get to say hi to Ron and family. Then spring training at 0700 on Friday.
We're good and pooped and ready for TV and bed. Good night, everyone !!!
Yesterday was tougher than the regular tough first day back at it. As per usual we hit the road at 0600 and thankfully did not forget anything. Checked in at the truck at 0805 and yep there's the first w/a. The little ones are a pain, basically no miles. We bobtailed up to Edmond and picked up a trailer - have to wonder why when there were empties in the lot. Then back to Waste Management to pick up paper to be recycled then back to the drop lot for someone else to take to Alabama. Don't ask me, as I can't figure it.
Then we picked up an empty there at the drop lot ( the drop lot is where we park the truck during our TAH ). Then we headed to Ardmore and dropped the trailer and picked up a loaded one full of tires headed for Laurens, SC. Since we were passing pretty close to Dallas I figured to pull in and give another try at getting the PM done.
We pulled in at 1815 and by 2115 they were done. Three hours and I'm pretty sure the tires are all aired up properly. Anything else I can't tell. But at least it's done for the next 20,000 miles.
We left Dallas this morning at 0700 and had breakfast on the road in Texas, lunch somewhere in Louisianna and skipped right on through Mississippi and had dinner at the Alabama welcome center. Real nice place. Then we pushed forward to Tuscaloosa to stop for the night - 597 miles. We'll drop the trailer by 1300. I am hoping to get to Charlotte tomorrow. If it works out maybe we'll get to say hi to Ron and family. Then spring training at 0700 on Friday.
We're good and pooped and ready for TV and bed. Good night, everyone !!!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Home at Last
We cheated on the last load. Instead of stopping in Wichita we got all the way to OKC, dropped the trailer and back to Ponca City by 2000. We're home...
Got a bit of golfing in on Friday, and a nap. Yesterday Teresa, Grandpa and myself we went to Stillwater and watched the OSU Cowboys baseball team beat the Baylor Bears. We enjoyed the game.
It was forecast to have 100% rain on Friday, 60% on Saturday and clear on Sunday. Well, it never rained on Friday, misted on Saturday and is pouring today. Those meteorologists, how do they keep their jobs with that kind of record ?
For dinner I made Pepper Jack Chicken pita pockets. Pretty good.
The big annual event here in Ponca City is the Prom Walk. The prom attendees all walk around t
the old Marland Mansion.
Somehow I talked myself out of attending, but Teresa went. The kids are very handsome.
This morning is Biscuits and Gravy and then check out Grandma's computer. Surely a nap for this afternoon.
Glad to be home and not moving all the time.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Still Still in Council Bluffs
We're still in Council Bluffs and I'm even snippier. We're at the end though. We have a w/a to pick up in Omaha this morning at 0900 then to deliver in Ft. Worth tomorrow. The snippier side came out yesterday afternoon when we finally got a w/a. After calculating our times I figured we could not reasonably deliver in Ft. Worth and still make it back up to OKC by end-of-day on Friday so I indicated to dispatch that we were going to drop the load in OKC on our way down. I figure we'll stop tonight around Wichita, KS and be in OKC by about 1000 tomorrow and then someone else can take it on down to Ft. Worth.
We've will have been out 26 days and we're ready to get out of the truck for a few days.
Yesterday we picked up groceries to cover us for the next couple of days and a Red Box movie; "Seven Pounds." Very good movie. Teresa didn't cry, but almost. I really like Will Smith.
Craig and Diane; I agree with Craig, "adapt and overcome" but that doesn't mean it isn't any less frustrating. I had the same feelings the last two days.
We're on the last leg and headed for the barn. We're betting we can put the top down on the VW bug when we head home tomorrow. Yippee.
We've will have been out 26 days and we're ready to get out of the truck for a few days.
Yesterday we picked up groceries to cover us for the next couple of days and a Red Box movie; "Seven Pounds." Very good movie. Teresa didn't cry, but almost. I really like Will Smith.
Craig and Diane; I agree with Craig, "adapt and overcome" but that doesn't mean it isn't any less frustrating. I had the same feelings the last two days.
We're on the last leg and headed for the barn. We're betting we can put the top down on the VW bug when we head home tomorrow. Yippee.
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