STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21279: North Platte Natter

October 15, 2005 on 8:20 pm | In On The Road |

On the 11th, I left Ontario at 1030 and drove to the Shipper in Chino. This was a live load and it took 2 hours. I left Chino at 1330 and drove to Ehrenberg, AZ at the CA/AZ border. I took 3/4 hour break and then drove through Phoenix to the Flying J in Eloy, AZ where I stopped for the night. I could have gone a little farther, but Eloy has 3 “brand name” truckstops and there was nowhere better to stop within my remaining driving range. I drove 417 miles.
On the 12th, I left Eloy at 1015 and drove directly to El Paso, TX. I took a long break here for fuel, dinner, and MMM exercise. I left at 1830 and drove to Pecos, TX where I stopped for the night. I drove 573 miles.
On the 13th, I got a late start and didn’t leave Pecos until 1300. I drove to Sweetwater, TX. I took a long break here to play on the computer, eat, and walk the MMM. I left at 1745 and drove to Weatherford, TX where I stopped for the night. I could have driven on in to Dallas and made my delivery, but then, aftyer unloading, I would have had to drive to one of the truckstops or our Terminal in Lancaster and try to find a place to park. I drove 360 miles.
On the 14th, I left Weatherford at 0900 and drove to the Consignee in Dallas. After the drop/hook delivery I drove to Lancaster for fuel and to await my next PrePlan. About 1100, the Planner offered me a load which picked up in Paris, TX and delivered in North Platte, NE (106 miles empty and 731 miles loaded). I accepted it and departed for Paris at 1230. This was a drop/hook Customer as well. I left at 1600 after doing the drop/hook, weighing the load and making a minor adjustment to my Tandem Axle. I also, needless to say, walked the MMM. I drove 380 miles directly to Newton, KS where I stopped for the night. The reason for such a long drive without a break was that most of the driving was either on 2 lane roads or Turnpikes and I wanted all of that nonsence behind me ASAP. I drove 565 miles for the day.
Today, the 15th, I left Newton at 0930 and drove to Salina, KS where I stopped for fuel after going on-line to compare fuel prices and check e-mail. I left at 1215 and drove to North Platte, did the drop/hook delivery and drove to the Flying J, where I am currently. Apparently, freight in the region is slow. No PrePlan yet. I’ll give them another hour or so, then call it a day.