Saturday, June 4, 2011
I am HOME, HOME, HOME, HOME, oh my, HOME!
Just got home from walking my black lab after arriving mid morning. Matt and I are heading to my favorite bar for dinner and then a GOOD NIGHT SLEEP at home. I will share more about the last few days tomorrow. Have a great weekend my virtual truckers!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Alive in Sacramento....bruised but not broken!
Here I am, sitting in a truck stop on I-80 West, Exit 84, in Sacramento, CA. It has been a couple of days and I won’t go into the continued nightmare of last Saturday but will share with you that Memorial Weekend was not a total wash! I got to spend 24 hours with Marie! And I sure am beat but smiling!
I ended up Sunday morning getting a load from Long Beach to Woodland, CA. due to dispatch not informing me that an empty trailer was required for this yard, I spent 2.5 hours driving to another yard and back to replace an empty trailer with a loaded one (another one of those again that prove the trucking industry isn’t logical) but none the less, it pushed my clock to the point where I was not going to deliver in time and that happened in the same neighborhood as Marie! I arrived mid evening and we talked until nearly midnight and were up at the crack of dawn to enjoy Memorial Day. Let me share what we did!
The ranch..........
Maria greeting her babies....
Marie's backyard.........excellent!
Gummy Bear
Come closer, I want to bite that camera ;)
Our road warrior..........
Of course, a bloody mary!
Hot!
Maria and I had to try the local favorite.......
The view was awesome!
The boy that bruised me......it has been years since I become one with a fence!
We made up........and did just fine
Great view and a great day.......thank you Marie!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Still sick but on the road again......
As for the unbelievable night dispatch and 200 miles of useless driving around LA without a load to show for it............AUGH!
I now have a load from Long Beach to Woodland, 450 miles closer to home. Told dispatch they better have a room waiting for me when I arrive as my hours will be running low and I am not going to spend a night in the rust bucket. That being said, off to check out and get back on the road. I think my fever broke!
I now have a load from Long Beach to Woodland, 450 miles closer to home. Told dispatch they better have a room waiting for me when I arrive as my hours will be running low and I am not going to spend a night in the rust bucket. That being said, off to check out and get back on the road. I think my fever broke!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
I am tired, sick and pissed ............. more to come in the morning
It is not a good afternoon from the Fontana terminal and I had a feeling this was going to happen due to the three day weekend. That shag that they wanted me to run last night was waiting for me this morning when I arrived to my truck. I drove the 60 miles to only find the client had mentioned security but not security of dead bolts! Yuppers, the lot was locked tighter than Grandma’s medicinal tonic cabinet! Then, dispatch in their finest wisdom, had me sit there for two hours before they would let me return to the lot!
On the way back though, I did take 45 minutes of personal time and stopped at Wal-Mart for supplies, and socks (I was down to three pairs and the holes were getting larger than my toes!). I also bought a brand new Coleman Cooler! It is huge and no more worries now about backup ice because of improper insulation and unwanted bacteria due to temperature changes (and $40 cheaper than the truck stops). I know, I get that credit card down to reasonable, find myself with down time and what do I do…..SHOP!
Now…….I have been sitting here at the terminal for near three hours. As soon as I got back from the dead shag, they sent me a message to head right back to the previous client! I sent a message stating NO, site is locked and not a single person read it! It wasn’t until I asked for hotel as the truck was becoming very warm that they asked why I wasn’t on the load…….and then blamed it on staff shift change. So here I sit as they THINK they might have another load for me. What a way to spend a three day weekend my virtual truckers. I want to be on your couch or picnic bench, drinking a cold drink, and eating BBQ chicken and STEAK! Instant coffee and turkey baloney just doesn’t have that holiday flare. And I use to get paid holiday pay……those were the good ole days of 401K and paid sick leave……augh!
Off to send another irritating message to fleet! I made enough today to cover my half of the room, yeehaw! Now let me enjoy it dang nab it!
On the way back though, I did take 45 minutes of personal time and stopped at Wal-Mart for supplies, and socks (I was down to three pairs and the holes were getting larger than my toes!). I also bought a brand new Coleman Cooler! It is huge and no more worries now about backup ice because of improper insulation and unwanted bacteria due to temperature changes (and $40 cheaper than the truck stops). I know, I get that credit card down to reasonable, find myself with down time and what do I do…..SHOP!
Now…….I have been sitting here at the terminal for near three hours. As soon as I got back from the dead shag, they sent me a message to head right back to the previous client! I sent a message stating NO, site is locked and not a single person read it! It wasn’t until I asked for hotel as the truck was becoming very warm that they asked why I wasn’t on the load…….and then blamed it on staff shift change. So here I sit as they THINK they might have another load for me. What a way to spend a three day weekend my virtual truckers. I want to be on your couch or picnic bench, drinking a cold drink, and eating BBQ chicken and STEAK! Instant coffee and turkey baloney just doesn’t have that holiday flare. And I use to get paid holiday pay……those were the good ole days of 401K and paid sick leave……augh!
Off to send another irritating message to fleet! I made enough today to cover my half of the room, yeehaw! Now let me enjoy it dang nab it!
Dang nab it! I got the beginnings of a cold!
Morning my dear truckers! It was a nice night but I woke up with a scratchy throat and a little stuffy. I knew as soon as I hit California and the bad air, after months of temperature changes and stuck in confined spaces with others, it would take this state to get me sick :(
Just a short note that we have a two hour shag this morning and hopefully when we return to the terminal, a load will be waiting to take us home. Have a great Memorial Weekend and HUG A SOLDIER!
Just a short note that we have a two hour shag this morning and hopefully when we return to the terminal, a load will be waiting to take us home. Have a great Memorial Weekend and HUG A SOLDIER!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Gotta love Mom and BACON!
She cooked me breakfast with hashbrowns, toast, eggs, and six slices of BACON! Thank you Mom :) It was a quick two hours but time with you was priceless and made my weeks of ........ so much better.
Now, I am currently in an awesome room for the night as I could not stay in my truck as you are not allowed to idle in the state of CA.......and that leaves me, here! One of the blessings of not having an APU besides the loss of weight when going over scales, which by the way, I passed as well as a DOT 1 inspection! Good night all, 5 AM is just around the corner.
Now, I am currently in an awesome room for the night as I could not stay in my truck as you are not allowed to idle in the state of CA.......and that leaves me, here! One of the blessings of not having an APU besides the loss of weight when going over scales, which by the way, I passed as well as a DOT 1 inspection! Good night all, 5 AM is just around the corner.
Now this person knows how to travel!
My mom's dream since high school.......and to be a wrestler. Ready for that spandex wrestler outfit now Mom?
Had to make a rest stop.........and found these on my way back to the freeway and for the next 20 miles!
Love you Mom and Charlie!
Morning from Mom's in Yuma!!!
Mmm.....breakfast made by Mom! Life is good! Notes from the past few days.....
Good evening from MM# 156, I-25 S, at a Roadrunner Travel Center. It has been a long day with little rewards but I am slowly heading WEST! I ran my hours out quickly today after that early AM shag drop to the existing trip from El Paso to Arizona. I will be driving 550 miles with an empty trailer (again, the trucking business makes no sense). Cross your fingers that when we arrive tomorrow at 2:30 PM that we will be heading north.
While waiting for the unload at Sam’s Club this morning, I met a driver for Eagle that was hauling one of our trailers. We talked for a bit and guess what, he was once a company driver and not for long! He gave me a business card to contact the recruiter for his company. He stated that he was home when needed and they always had a load waiting for him. Guess what…..I left a VM with the recruiter. I will let you know what I hear!
I stopped at this cool rest stop on I-25, see the pictures below. This place is in the Camino Real which wound its way below the black basaltic buttes of San Acacia. Named Acomilla or Acomita by the Spanish, these buttes form the walls of a narrow passage for the Rio Grande, along which Apache frequently waited in ambush. Caravans had to be well armed along this section of the Camino Real!
I also went for a walk to this Spanish Catholic cemetery in Sabino Y Lemitar. The Camino Real passed here below the bluffs on the east bank of the Reo Grande. Apache raids prevented permanent Spanish settlement of this area until the early 1800’s, when the village of Sabino was established. A good day for information you will never use ;) Man, those Apaches were busy along the Rio Grande!
Off to bed……have the coffee ready at 5 AM!
Hello from MM# 208, I-10, westbound, at the Pilot! It is Thursday evening and we are on our way to Fontana, CA, to drop a very heavy load of charcoal that we picked up in Nogales, NW, earlier this afternoon. The load is extremely heavy and kept me from flying around the interstate like the empty trailer I delivered to the Nogales lot. That heavy load did cost me as I thought I would reach the truck stop within the 15 minute “we will slap your hands” after my 11 hour clock was reached……..I hit it at 25 minutes so I expect a naughty email for it soon!
While in route today, my dentist called to confirm my appointment on Tuesday, the second time I have changed the appointment, and I delayed it another week. Shortly after, I found out I was going Fontana that is only three days from Seattle it I get a direct load. But considering these one day runs, it is better safe than sorry and a dang good reason on why I need more than five days at home since I have been gone for going on 14 weeks!
You know, I mentioned earlier about broken teeth, nails and glasses. Well, they haven’t broken me yet! I may get down emotionally as I do miss my family and friends so much but I will NOT let any company that is going to pay me an average of $10 an hour get the best of me…I am paid to sit, not think! I will get home and stay as long as needed……they can wait, I sure have. Besides, I keep waking up smiling so life is good, even from the seat of the Seattle Rust Bucket!
My load will take me past Yuma mid morning. Hey Mom, you ready to buy me a real meal? Thinking steak and eggs! If I leave here around 6 AM, that will put me in Yuma around 9 AM, then Fontana around 3 PM and with enough hours left that I might make it to Marie’s place a few hours north of Fontana. Time to make some phone calls! Later truckers………….
Good evening from MM# 156, I-25 S, at a Roadrunner Travel Center. It has been a long day with little rewards but I am slowly heading WEST! I ran my hours out quickly today after that early AM shag drop to the existing trip from El Paso to Arizona. I will be driving 550 miles with an empty trailer (again, the trucking business makes no sense). Cross your fingers that when we arrive tomorrow at 2:30 PM that we will be heading north.
While waiting for the unload at Sam’s Club this morning, I met a driver for Eagle that was hauling one of our trailers. We talked for a bit and guess what, he was once a company driver and not for long! He gave me a business card to contact the recruiter for his company. He stated that he was home when needed and they always had a load waiting for him. Guess what…..I left a VM with the recruiter. I will let you know what I hear!
I stopped at this cool rest stop on I-25, see the pictures below. This place is in the Camino Real which wound its way below the black basaltic buttes of San Acacia. Named Acomilla or Acomita by the Spanish, these buttes form the walls of a narrow passage for the Rio Grande, along which Apache frequently waited in ambush. Caravans had to be well armed along this section of the Camino Real!
I want to travel this way!
I also went for a walk to this Spanish Catholic cemetery in Sabino Y Lemitar. The Camino Real passed here below the bluffs on the east bank of the Reo Grande. Apache raids prevented permanent Spanish settlement of this area until the early 1800’s, when the village of Sabino was established. A good day for information you will never use ;) Man, those Apaches were busy along the Rio Grande!
Off to bed……have the coffee ready at 5 AM!
Hello from MM# 208, I-10, westbound, at the Pilot! It is Thursday evening and we are on our way to Fontana, CA, to drop a very heavy load of charcoal that we picked up in Nogales, NW, earlier this afternoon. The load is extremely heavy and kept me from flying around the interstate like the empty trailer I delivered to the Nogales lot. That heavy load did cost me as I thought I would reach the truck stop within the 15 minute “we will slap your hands” after my 11 hour clock was reached……..I hit it at 25 minutes so I expect a naughty email for it soon!
While in route today, my dentist called to confirm my appointment on Tuesday, the second time I have changed the appointment, and I delayed it another week. Shortly after, I found out I was going Fontana that is only three days from Seattle it I get a direct load. But considering these one day runs, it is better safe than sorry and a dang good reason on why I need more than five days at home since I have been gone for going on 14 weeks!
You know, I mentioned earlier about broken teeth, nails and glasses. Well, they haven’t broken me yet! I may get down emotionally as I do miss my family and friends so much but I will NOT let any company that is going to pay me an average of $10 an hour get the best of me…I am paid to sit, not think! I will get home and stay as long as needed……they can wait, I sure have. Besides, I keep waking up smiling so life is good, even from the seat of the Seattle Rust Bucket!
My load will take me past Yuma mid morning. Hey Mom, you ready to buy me a real meal? Thinking steak and eggs! If I leave here around 6 AM, that will put me in Yuma around 9 AM, then Fontana around 3 PM and with enough hours left that I might make it to Marie’s place a few hours north of Fontana. Time to make some phone calls! Later truckers………….
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