Life Day 21209: Cheyenne Chaff
August 6, 2005 on 10:49 am | In On The Road | No CommentsTo finish up with the 4th, I left North Las Vegas, after runing a few more errands and doing the drop/hook pick-up, at 1545. I drove to the MMM’s favorite Rest Area on I-15 in Utah at exit 88 (the one where they get to play off-leash). After a 1/2 hour break, I left and drove to Salt Lake City, UT. I decided to alter my route because I had some business to take care of at our Terminal (still my Home Terminal) there. After consulting Microsoft Streets and Trips I discovered that it would be less than 60 miles out of route to run this way, and when you consider the terrain on I-70 through western Colorado, maybe a bit faster. I worked 8 hours 7.25 of which were utilized driving 428 miles.
The first order of business on the 5th was to pick-up the TCH (Transportation Clearing House) Fuel Card which I ordered through my DM a few weeks ago. It will enable me to fuel at Flying J truckstops. Swift still uses CommData as it’s primary fuel/money services card, but due to numerous requests from we Owner/Operators (who are extended the courtesy of making our own feuling decisions rather than being routed by Swift as are the Company Drivers), they recently made the TCH Fuel Cards available to us as well. If we opt for both Cards, our fueling options are greatly expanded. Flying J fuel is usually 1 to 4 cents per gallon cheaper than the other Truckstops in any given area, but they have been “at war” with CommData for over a decade and, with the exception of about 6 remaining Independantly Owned Flying J’s, will not accept CommData for any reason. Now, with the TCH Card, I will be able to fuel and WiFi at the same location. YEAH!! Fuel at our Terminal here in Salt Lake City today was priced at $2.492 per gallon. I consulted my favorite fuel pricing websites and gleaned the following example of the difference in fuel prices along my route. In Cheyenne, WY today, the Loves truckstop, right across the street from Flying J has fuel for $2.299. The Sapp Brothers located about 10 miles east of Cheyenne has its fuel priced at $2.319. The TA about 5 miles farther east is also at $2.319. The Flying J price, $2.279, four (4) cents cheaper than the “major” brands in the same area, and 2 cents cheaper than the “bargin” brand just across the street. DOESN’T IT ALL COME FROM THE SAME REFINERY ANYWAY!!! Guess where I’ll be fueling (now that I can)!!!
My next order of business was to access my Driver Folder and take care of anything urgent in there (ie: signing my Quarterly Driver Reviews and clearing up any Log discrepancies, etc). It has been over 6 months since I have been through Salt Lake during business hours to take care of this type of personal business, so it took a while.
Finally, I put my truck into the Shop. The left side tool box was ‘falling off’ because I had my tire chains stored in it and the weight of the chains, combined with corrosion caused by trapped moisture, and constant vibration led to it’s demise. I also had a few lights burned out in my dashboard. While the mechanic was making the requested repairs, I did a ‘walk around’ inspection of my truck just observing it’s general condition, and picking rocks out of my tire treads. I noticed a nail in my right rear inboard drive tire. I pulled it out and heard the dreaded hissssssssss, so after the mechanic was finished, I had to go to the Tire Shop to get it repaired as well.
After completing all my “chores” and having lunch at the Sapp Brothers Truckstop, I left SLC at 1400. I drove to Little America, WY. A 1/2 hour break here to exercise the MMM and ‘daddy’, then off to Cheyenne, WY. After due consideration, I decided that this was as good a place as any to stop for the night. It was a long, boring morning. The MMM woke me up at first light and then I had to wait around while my truck was in the shop, etc, etc, etc. I worked 7.5 hours expending 7.25 of those driving 432 miles.
Life Day 21207: North Las Vegas Narrative
August 4, 2005 on 10:39 am | In On The Road | No CommentsWith my WiFi connection at the Flying J seemingly holding up today, I’ll pick up from where I left off yesterday.
On the 2nd, I awoke at 0500, walked the MMM, then drove the 2 blocks to the Consignee. I was assigned a dock immediately, positioned my trailer, then went inside. This Customer has a rule that drivers can’t remain in their trucks while being loaded/unloaded. It only took about 1/2 an hour to unload, and when I was finished, I drove back to Farmer Boys. The Planner offered me a load which picked up in Fontana, CA and delivered in North Salt Lake UT (16 miles empty and 648 miles loaded). After accepting it, I decided to take a nap since it didn’t pick up until 1100. I arrived at the Shipper at 1030. This was a drop/hook customer, but it still took an hour to get in and out. The drop/hook took less than 15 minutes as usual. The rest of the time was spent checking in and checking out with Security. I don’t know why the process was so time consuming, but it was. Anyway, after leaving the Shipper, I drove to our Terminal in Fontana and filled up with fuel. It was $2.76 per gallon. GEEEZE I then took the MMM for a final stroll. I left Fontana at 1230 and drove to our drop yard in Henderson, NV where I had arranged to T-Call the load. I’m way overdue for some time off. After dropping the loaded trailer and hooking to an empty trailer (I learned my lesson about being in Las Vegas area without an empty a couple of months ago). The MMM “helped” me with the drop/hook. Helping me means that they deploy from the truck, sans leash, in a random search pattern and protect me from any rogue rabbits or gophers while I’m busy. :>} I then drove to the TA in Las Vegas where I began my time off. I worked 7 hours of which 5.75 were expended driving 279 miles.
On the 3rd, besides having WiFi connectivity problems, I did some laundry while hanging out at the Flying J. At about 1900, I decided to go to Palace Station for dinner. While traveling to the Flying J from the TA I noticed that the Grande Cafe was open again. I was gleeful to discover that they did not drop the Asian Food section from the menu since a P.F. Changs is now open in the Casino as well. I had Egg Drop Soup, Pork Fried Rice, and Crab Rangoon (deep-fried Crab & Cheese filled Won Tons). I also had a Chocolate Covered Strayberry for desert. They only offer 1 Combination Dinner. It includes Egg Drop Soup, an Egg Roll, Fried Rice (w/out meat) and then 1 choice from a few of the entrees. They don’t have Egg Foo Yong either, but the quality of their food makes up for that, at least in my opinion. They DO have Fried Shrimp, another plus. Looks like I have a Chinese Restaurant again. After dinner, I went to check my mail. I then went to “Wally World”. I intended to rush in and buy some dog food and get out. $124.00 later, I left with the dog food (thankfully I didn’t forget that), 2 new pairs of Khakis, a combination electric shaver/trimmer/shaper (a Braun Cruiser 3), and a First Aid Kit for my truck. I then went back to the Flying J and went to bed. Nothing to Log today.
Today, the 4th, with my PTA set for 0800, the Planner offered me a load which picks up at noon in North Las Vegas, NV and delivers in Elwood, IL (14 miles empty and 1721 miles loaded). Elwood is about 10 miles south of Joliet, IL. I accepted it and am waiting to go pick it up. My route will be I-15N to I-70E to I-76E to I-80E.
Life Day 21206: Las Vegas Laconism
August 3, 2005 on 1:22 pm | In On The Road | No CommentsToday, I’m having ‘connectiivity’ problems with WiFi. After 5 futile attempts to connect from various locations at the TA truckstop, I decided to drive north to the Flying J and try my luck. Here the connection is spotaric. Just when I think I have a good connection and begin work, it drops me offline and I have to start all over. FRUSTRATING!! So, if this posting seems incomplete, it will be because I have abandon my efforts out of aggrevation, not because I’m having a “senior moment”.
On the 1st, I left lovely Lodi and drove to Tracy, CA. I arrived at 0800. I got assigned to a dock immediately and positioned my trailer. It took about an hour to be unloaded. After delivering the Tracy load, I recieved a PrePlan which picked up in Modesto, Ca and delivered in Ontario, Ca (30 miles empty and 344 miles loaded). I departed Tracy and drove to Modesto at 0915. This was a drop/hook Customer, so I was finished there quickly. Before leaving, I called my brother and sister-in-law who were still in Bakersfield, where I mis-spent my youth, and arranged to meet them at Milt’s Coffee Shop for dinner. I also called a former girlfriend, Debbie, who had e-mailed me “out of the blue” yesterday, to see if she wanted to join us. She had obtained my contact information from my sister-in-law earlier. She said that she had an appointment, but would try to meet us. I left Modesto at 1100 and drove directly to Bakersfield. Upon arrrival, I called Donald, my brother, and Debbie to let them know that I was there. I then walked the MMM and soon all arrived. I had Chicken Fried Steak, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans, and Navy Bean Soup, with Cherry Cobbler for desert. It was delicious, as it always is there. We all had a nice, if too brief, re-union. Debbie has certainly aged more gracefully than the rest of us. :>} Anyway, Debbie had to go to another appointment (she’s a Real Estate agent), and I had to finish driving to Ontario for my 0530 appointment. I left Bakersfield and drove to Ontario where I spent the night in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant called Farmer Boys about 2 blocks from the Consignee. It has about a dozen locations all in the Ontario, Fontana, Mira Loma, Rancho Cucamonga area, and the food is a ‘cut above’ the “big 3″ fast-food chains. Most have truck parking as well. It sure beats the HECK out of parking at the Terminal in Fontana or the truckstops in Ontario. I worked 9.5 hours for the day, 8.5 of which were spent driving 421 miles.
Powered by WordPress with Pool theme design by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^
Copyright 2006-2009 Ernie Wood