STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21832: (Lack of freight) Lament in Lathrop, CA

April 21, 2007 on 5:49 pm | In On The Road |

Friday, April 20th:
I left Santa Nella at 0930 and drove to our terminal in Lathrop, CA. I fueled, walked the MMM, then left at 1115. I drove to McCarran, NV. I did the drop/hook delivery, then drove to our terminal in Sparks, NV. I consulted with Dispatch and accepted a load which picked up at our terminal in Lathrop, CA and delivered in Las Vegas, NV. It was scheduled to be TCalled there tomorrow. This area has never recovered from the “after Christmas slump”. There seems to always be a 1 to 2 day layover for freight when ever you come to this area. I left Sparks about 1930 after a good dinner and MMM walk. I drove to Lathrop and settled in for the night.

Saturday:
When I woke up this AM, I checked with Dispatch to find out the status of my load (about 0800). I was coming out of Portland, OR. They said that it was in the process of being loaded. The ETA was about 2200. Armed with this information, I decided to take the day off and leave  tomorrow. I dropped my empty trailer in the yard, then drove to the Wally World in Manteca to do some shopping. I then drove to Ripon, CA for lunch. I ate at the Sonic adjacent to the Loves truckstop. I was disappointed to discover that they had taken their chicken fried steak sandwich off the menu. I settled for a couple of hot dogs and a root beer float. I then drove back to Lathrop to wait. Brother Donald called to say that he was in the Las Vegas area. I told him my plans and he said that they would be in their usual ‘haunt’ at the Rio.

Sunday:
I left Lathrop at 1000. I drove to Bakersfield, CA. I had lunch at Bill Lee’s, then drove on to Vegas. I arrived at the WWW about 2130. I called Don & Lou. I loaded the MMM into the Jeep and drove over to the Rio. I stayed about an hour, then drove back to the WWW and went to bed.