Life Day 21377: Back in Las Vegas
I'm way behind on the daily journal, so here goes:
On Thursday, the 12th, I recieved a Preplan which picked up at our Terminal in Jonestown, PA and delivered in Richwood, KY (25 miles empty and 507 miles loaded). After accepting it, I left Harrisburg at 0545. I arrived at the Terminal, picked up the load, walked the MMM and departed at 0700. I drove back to the TA in Harrisburg to weigh the load because it weighed over 44,000 lbs. The axle-weights were OK, and I left Harrisburg (again) at 0800. I drove to Seville, OH where I took a break for a quick lunch and MMM walk. I left at 1430 and drove to Richwood, KY. I arrived at the Consignee at 1845 and was unloaded immediately. After the unload, I drove the 1 1/2 miles to a TA truckstop where I spent the night. I worked 11.5 hours, using 10.75 of those to drive 587 miles.
On Friday the 13th, (do, do), I recieved 2 Preplans. The first had 2 pick-ups, one in Hebron, KY and the second in Cincinnati, OH. It delivered in Jersey City, NJ (13 miles empty and 645 miles loaded). The second Preplan picked up in Paterson, NJ and delivered in Rio Rico (Nogales), AZ (16 miles empty and 2384 miles loaded). I accepted both of them. The problem, I discovered later, was that the second Plan did not pick-up until Monday the 16th. I should have read them more closely. It really didn't matter because I was not about to turn down the Nogales load for something so trivial as waiting an extra day to pick it up. They probably had few loads coming out of this area on Saturday anyway and I wasn't going to "cut off my nose to spite my face" by getting "pissy" about the delay. I left Richwood at 0800 and drove the 15 minutes to Hebron KY. It took about 1/2 hour to be loaded and I then drove to Cincinnati for the 2nd pick-up. I arrived at 1000 and was loaded by 1100. I then drove to our Terminal in Columbus, OH for fuel and a break. I left at 1415 and drove to the Midway Service Plaza on the PA Turnpike. I took a 15-minute break here then drove to Carlisle, PA where I stopped for the night. I worked 10.25 hours expending 9 of them driving 485 miles.
On the 14th, I left Carlisle at 0700 and drove to Jersey City. I did the drop/hook delivery. This is where I discovered the fact that the Paterson - Nogales load didn't pick up until Monday. Like I said earlier, I should have paid more attention to the pick-up time, but I was so happy about the destination that I over-looked it. Anyway, since I was so close I decided to drive to the Shipper to check out the location. I'm glad I did. Had I not done so, I would have had problems finding the place, and in much worse traffic conditions than Saturday afternoon. I arrived at the address, but could find no 'truck' entrance. I turned on the next 'side' street, parked and walked (in a heavy downpour) around the block. I finally roused the Security guard and found out where I needed to go. The 'truck' entrance was on the next parallel street behind the building through an un-marked gate into a dirt field. Armed with this handy information I left Paterson at 1330 and drove to the nearest "safe haven" which was the TA truckstop in Columbia, NJ; 60 miles away near the PA/NJ border on I-80. There are NO 'safe' places to park a truck anywhere near the Patterson/Jersey City area. It is nothing but a crime-ridden cesspool. I call it New York City south. It would be an ideal place to conduct the next above ground test of a Neutron Bomb. I arrived in Columbia at 1445 and settled in for the duration. It was 55 degrees and raining when I left Paterson, but by the time I reached Columbia, it was 25 degrees with 40 mph winds and sleeting. NASTY!! I walked the MMM upon arrival, then set up my computer. I had WiFi for about 20 minutes before the wind knocked out power to the truckstop. The WiFi was down for the weekend. This place must be jinxed because the same thing happend the last time I was here about 6 months ago.
On Monday, the 16th, I left Columbia at 0930. I have once again accumulted enough consecutive hours off to re-start my 70-hour clock. Yesterday was boring without WiFi, but I survived. At least the weather has improved slightly. Now it's just cold. The rain and snow are gone. I arrived at the shipper at 1045 and began loading at 1115. The loading dock was recessed into the building and the entry doors were extremely narrow. With my trailer doors open, I had about 1 1/2 inches of clearance on each side. Plenty of room!!
At least there was enough room to back straight in rather than try to 'angle back' into that narrow opening. I was loaded and left Paterson at noon. I drove to Lamar, PA. I fueled and took a quick MMM break here. I then drove to Austintown, OH. I had dinner here, then left at 2015. I drove to Berkshire, OH where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.75 hours using 10.5 to drive 589 miles.
I left Berkshire at 0930 on the 17th and drove to our Terminal in Columbus, OH for fuel and a MMM break. I left at 1100. Just outside Indianapolis, the rain turned to snow. I stopped in Brazil, IN for an early dinner. I left at 1615 and drove to East St. Louis, IL. I stopped for 15-minutes here because of the speed limit change and to walk the MMM. The snow is gone. I can see stars. I left at 2000 and drove to Lebanon, MO where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.5 hours driving 598 miles in 11 hours. From here on, the speed limit is 65 mph+. Yea!! Now I can make some time.
At 0900 on the 18th, I left Lebanon and drove to Joplin, MO. I stopped here for lunch. I left at 1215 and drove to Oklahoma City, OK. I need to fuel, and as is often the case, it is cheaper at the Flying J than at our Terminal. After fueling and a break, I left the Flying J at 1700. I drove to Amarillo, TX where I stopped for the night. I had 1.5 hours remaining that I could have used, but there is nothing west of Amarillo worth stopping at before my 1.5 hours would be gone. I worked 10 hours using 9.5 to drive 581 miles. Here you can see the difference between a 55 mph speed limit and a 65 mph speed limit. Yesterday I used 11 hours to drive 598 miles and that included the 156 miles in Indiana which has a 65 mph speed limit for trucks. Today I drove 581 miles in 9.5 hours.
On Thursday, the 19th, I left Amarillo at 0845. I drove to Albuquerque, NM. I had lunch here and walked the MMM. I left at 1445 and drove to Lordsburg, NM. I took a 1/2 hour break here then drove to Willcox, AZ where I stopped for the night. Today I worked 11 hours and used 10.75 of them driving 651 miles.
On the 20th, I left Willcox at 1030. I wasn't being lazy leaving so late. I still don't have a Preplan, and freight usually doesn't start coming out of Mexico until after 1400. If I start too early, I may be screwing my self later because of the 14-hour driving window. There was road construction at the exit of the truckstop, so naturally, the Arizona D.O.T. chose here to set up a random truck check. What a bunch of Chicken S--t A--holes. How F---ing stupid are they. Within 2 seconds of their setting up, the entire truckstop knew they were there. Anyway, between the traffic and the D.O.T check, it took almost 1/2 an hour before I was rolling at speed down the freeway. I arrived in Nogales at 1245. As I was dropping the loaded trailer, I recieved a Preplan which picked up at our 'drop yard' in Tucson and delivers in Las Vegas, NV on Monday the 23rd (64 miles empty and 425 miles loaded). I naturally accepted it and left Nogales at 1330 and drove to Tucson. I hooked to the trailer, did the quotidian paperwork and departed at 1530. I drove to our Terminal in Phoenix. I walked the MMM, had dinner and left at 1800. I drove to Kingman, AZ. I took a 1/2 hour break, then drove to Las Vegas. I arrived at 1130. I worked 11 hours, using 10.25 to drive 633 miles. HOME AT LAST, HOME AT LAST. I was out for 19 days this time. That's too long!!
On Thursday, the 12th, I recieved a Preplan which picked up at our Terminal in Jonestown, PA and delivered in Richwood, KY (25 miles empty and 507 miles loaded). After accepting it, I left Harrisburg at 0545. I arrived at the Terminal, picked up the load, walked the MMM and departed at 0700. I drove back to the TA in Harrisburg to weigh the load because it weighed over 44,000 lbs. The axle-weights were OK, and I left Harrisburg (again) at 0800. I drove to Seville, OH where I took a break for a quick lunch and MMM walk. I left at 1430 and drove to Richwood, KY. I arrived at the Consignee at 1845 and was unloaded immediately. After the unload, I drove the 1 1/2 miles to a TA truckstop where I spent the night. I worked 11.5 hours, using 10.75 of those to drive 587 miles.
On Friday the 13th, (do, do), I recieved 2 Preplans. The first had 2 pick-ups, one in Hebron, KY and the second in Cincinnati, OH. It delivered in Jersey City, NJ (13 miles empty and 645 miles loaded). The second Preplan picked up in Paterson, NJ and delivered in Rio Rico (Nogales), AZ (16 miles empty and 2384 miles loaded). I accepted both of them. The problem, I discovered later, was that the second Plan did not pick-up until Monday the 16th. I should have read them more closely. It really didn't matter because I was not about to turn down the Nogales load for something so trivial as waiting an extra day to pick it up. They probably had few loads coming out of this area on Saturday anyway and I wasn't going to "cut off my nose to spite my face" by getting "pissy" about the delay. I left Richwood at 0800 and drove the 15 minutes to Hebron KY. It took about 1/2 hour to be loaded and I then drove to Cincinnati for the 2nd pick-up. I arrived at 1000 and was loaded by 1100. I then drove to our Terminal in Columbus, OH for fuel and a break. I left at 1415 and drove to the Midway Service Plaza on the PA Turnpike. I took a 15-minute break here then drove to Carlisle, PA where I stopped for the night. I worked 10.25 hours expending 9 of them driving 485 miles.
On the 14th, I left Carlisle at 0700 and drove to Jersey City. I did the drop/hook delivery. This is where I discovered the fact that the Paterson - Nogales load didn't pick up until Monday. Like I said earlier, I should have paid more attention to the pick-up time, but I was so happy about the destination that I over-looked it. Anyway, since I was so close I decided to drive to the Shipper to check out the location. I'm glad I did. Had I not done so, I would have had problems finding the place, and in much worse traffic conditions than Saturday afternoon. I arrived at the address, but could find no 'truck' entrance. I turned on the next 'side' street, parked and walked (in a heavy downpour) around the block. I finally roused the Security guard and found out where I needed to go. The 'truck' entrance was on the next parallel street behind the building through an un-marked gate into a dirt field. Armed with this handy information I left Paterson at 1330 and drove to the nearest "safe haven" which was the TA truckstop in Columbia, NJ; 60 miles away near the PA/NJ border on I-80. There are NO 'safe' places to park a truck anywhere near the Patterson/Jersey City area. It is nothing but a crime-ridden cesspool. I call it New York City south. It would be an ideal place to conduct the next above ground test of a Neutron Bomb. I arrived in Columbia at 1445 and settled in for the duration. It was 55 degrees and raining when I left Paterson, but by the time I reached Columbia, it was 25 degrees with 40 mph winds and sleeting. NASTY!! I walked the MMM upon arrival, then set up my computer. I had WiFi for about 20 minutes before the wind knocked out power to the truckstop. The WiFi was down for the weekend. This place must be jinxed because the same thing happend the last time I was here about 6 months ago.
On Monday, the 16th, I left Columbia at 0930. I have once again accumulted enough consecutive hours off to re-start my 70-hour clock. Yesterday was boring without WiFi, but I survived. At least the weather has improved slightly. Now it's just cold. The rain and snow are gone. I arrived at the shipper at 1045 and began loading at 1115. The loading dock was recessed into the building and the entry doors were extremely narrow. With my trailer doors open, I had about 1 1/2 inches of clearance on each side. Plenty of room!!
At least there was enough room to back straight in rather than try to 'angle back' into that narrow opening. I was loaded and left Paterson at noon. I drove to Lamar, PA. I fueled and took a quick MMM break here. I then drove to Austintown, OH. I had dinner here, then left at 2015. I drove to Berkshire, OH where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.75 hours using 10.5 to drive 589 miles.
I left Berkshire at 0930 on the 17th and drove to our Terminal in Columbus, OH for fuel and a MMM break. I left at 1100. Just outside Indianapolis, the rain turned to snow. I stopped in Brazil, IN for an early dinner. I left at 1615 and drove to East St. Louis, IL. I stopped for 15-minutes here because of the speed limit change and to walk the MMM. The snow is gone. I can see stars. I left at 2000 and drove to Lebanon, MO where I stopped for the night. I worked 11.5 hours driving 598 miles in 11 hours. From here on, the speed limit is 65 mph+. Yea!! Now I can make some time.
At 0900 on the 18th, I left Lebanon and drove to Joplin, MO. I stopped here for lunch. I left at 1215 and drove to Oklahoma City, OK. I need to fuel, and as is often the case, it is cheaper at the Flying J than at our Terminal. After fueling and a break, I left the Flying J at 1700. I drove to Amarillo, TX where I stopped for the night. I had 1.5 hours remaining that I could have used, but there is nothing west of Amarillo worth stopping at before my 1.5 hours would be gone. I worked 10 hours using 9.5 to drive 581 miles. Here you can see the difference between a 55 mph speed limit and a 65 mph speed limit. Yesterday I used 11 hours to drive 598 miles and that included the 156 miles in Indiana which has a 65 mph speed limit for trucks. Today I drove 581 miles in 9.5 hours.
On Thursday, the 19th, I left Amarillo at 0845. I drove to Albuquerque, NM. I had lunch here and walked the MMM. I left at 1445 and drove to Lordsburg, NM. I took a 1/2 hour break here then drove to Willcox, AZ where I stopped for the night. Today I worked 11 hours and used 10.75 of them driving 651 miles.
On the 20th, I left Willcox at 1030. I wasn't being lazy leaving so late. I still don't have a Preplan, and freight usually doesn't start coming out of Mexico until after 1400. If I start too early, I may be screwing my self later because of the 14-hour driving window. There was road construction at the exit of the truckstop, so naturally, the Arizona D.O.T. chose here to set up a random truck check. What a bunch of Chicken S--t A--holes. How F---ing stupid are they. Within 2 seconds of their setting up, the entire truckstop knew they were there. Anyway, between the traffic and the D.O.T check, it took almost 1/2 an hour before I was rolling at speed down the freeway. I arrived in Nogales at 1245. As I was dropping the loaded trailer, I recieved a Preplan which picked up at our 'drop yard' in Tucson and delivers in Las Vegas, NV on Monday the 23rd (64 miles empty and 425 miles loaded). I naturally accepted it and left Nogales at 1330 and drove to Tucson. I hooked to the trailer, did the quotidian paperwork and departed at 1530. I drove to our Terminal in Phoenix. I walked the MMM, had dinner and left at 1800. I drove to Kingman, AZ. I took a 1/2 hour break, then drove to Las Vegas. I arrived at 1130. I worked 11 hours, using 10.25 to drive 633 miles. HOME AT LAST, HOME AT LAST. I was out for 19 days this time. That's too long!!
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