STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21867: Visiting Vegas

May 26, 2007 on 2:36 pm | In On The Road |

For the last week or so, I have been working with our terminal at the Walmart Distribution Center in Corinne, UT. They keep you busy there which is good. General freight is still bad in the west, so this was a chance to get some decent miles for a while. I don’t particularly like the hours. Most loads pick up in the late afternoon or evening. You then have to drive to your destination overnight. I do like the paychecks though. You can easily clear $1200 a week. I renewed acquaintances with a number of Swift drivers I hadn’t seen for 5 years since they transferred up there.
Now for the chronicles:

Wednesday, May 16th, 2007:
I picked up the load in Tolleson at the appointment time of 1000. I drove here last evening from Vegas. I then drove to our terminal in Phoenix for fuel and to walk the MMM. At 1400, I drove to Panguich, UT where I stopped for the night. No need to be in a hurry because the load has a ‘firm’ appointment at 1600 tomorrow in Salt Lake City, UT, about 4 hours away.

Thursday:
I left Panguich at 1130 and drove to the consignee in SLC, arriving about 1530. After the unload, I drove to our terminal for fuel. That was it for the day. No freight.

Friday/Saturday:
I finally recieved and accepted a PrePlan which picked up in Corinne, UT and delivered in Henderson, NV. These loads are “round trip” loads meaning that after I do the Henderson drop, I return empty (or with store returns) to Corinne. After I accepted the load, they (Corinne)asked if I could help them out for the next couple of weeks, basically working out of there. I eagerly accepted. I went to breakfast, then drove over to Corinne (about an hour north of SLC). My load was ready at 1900. I left at 1930 and drove to the MMM’s favorite Rest Area for a quick break. I then drove on the the store in Henderson. They unloaded me as soon as I arrived. I then drove to Saint George, UT, arriving at 0700, where I stopped for the night/day/whatever because of the 11 hour rule. after my 10 hours off, I left St. George at 1715 and drove to Cedar City for fuel and a quick MMM break. At 1830, I left Cedar City and drove back to Corinne, arriving at 2330. I went directly to bed after dropping my trailer.

Sunday/Monday:
My load for today went to Colorado Springs, CO. I was ready about 1530. After hooking up and doing my paperwork, I left about 1630. I drove to Wamsutter, WY where I took a break for dinner. I left at 2200 and drove to the store in Colorado Springs, arriving at 0345. There was another “Walmart” truck in the dock, so I had to wait about 15 minutes to be unloaded. After I was unloaded (about 0600), I went to bed on their lot. after my 10 hour break, I left Colorado Springs at 1615 in a thunderstorm. I drove to Cheyenne, WY where I took a quick MMM break. It wasn’t raining there. At 1915, I left Cheyenne and drove to Wamsutter, WY, arriving at 2215. I fueled here and walked the MMM. At 2300, I left Wamsutter and drove to Corinne.

Tuesday/Wednesday:
I arrived back in Corinne at 0315, and went to bed. After my 10 hour break, I recieved my next load. It had 2 drops, Murray, UT and  Rock Springs, WY. I picked it up at 1930 and drove to the Murray store, arriving at 2100. After they unloaded their portion of the load, I drove to Rock Springs, arriving at 0100. They unloaded the rest of the trailer. I left Rock Springs at 0200 and drove back to Corinne, arriving at 0515. I went to bed. I’m having to take these shorter loads because of my “hours” situation. After taking my 10 hour break, I got my next load. This had 3 stops, Draper, UT, Washington, UT, and Saint George, UT. My load was ready at 2230, and I drove to the Draper store, arriving at 2345.

Thursday/Friday:
I left Draper at 0100 and drove to Washington, UT arriving at 0530. The bulk of the rest of the load delivered here. When they were done, I took 1 pallet of watermelons to the Saint George store, arriving at 0645. It took no time to finish here, then I went to bed. After my 10 hour break, I left St. George at 1730 and drove to Corinne, UT arriving at 2330. After dropping my empty, I went to bed. My next load (the one i’m on now) went to Las vegas, NV. It was ready about 1730 and I left Corinne and drove to Parowan, UT for fuel.

Saturday:
I left the Parowan at 0045 and drove to the store in Las Vegas, arriving at 0400. I did the drop/hook delivery, then drove to the Petro truckstop north of Vegas and went to bed. I don’t have enough hours available to drive all the way back to Corinne right now. I pick up enough hours after midnight to make it, so i’m waiting here until about 1800, then i’ll make the run all at once instead of in 2 legs.