STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 22352: Same Stuff Different Day

September 22, 2008 on 8:44 am | In On The Road |

When I left you last Monday, I was in Quartzsite, AZ just getting ready to drive to Phoenix to deliver my load. Par for the course, I had trouble with the delivery. When I arrived at the consignee, I discovered that they took deliveries by appointment only, and naturally the CSR had failed to make one. I also discovered that the Shipper had added an additional delivery in Goodyear, AZ (which I had to pass by on the way to Phoenix). I  drove to Goodyear to try to make that delivery, but with the same result. I was finally allowed to T-call the load at our terminal in Phoenix, after wasting about 4 hours. By then, there was no freight left, so I was done for the day.

On Tuesday, I got a load to North Las Vegas. I made the pick-up and delivery with no trouble, then drove to the WWW for some home time. Time to clear my head.

On Wednesday and Thursday, I did the mundane things I normally do when home; check mail, laundry, wash vehicles, etc, etc, etc. I was going to leave on Thursday, but I decided to extend my stay. Petsmart has their “shot clinic” and the MMM needed a number of Vaccines. Also, Wolfie needed a follow up for his ’soft tissue damage’ (which was all better). By using the “shot clinic”, I save $50.00 in ‘office visit’ fees.

On Friday, the 19th, I received a load to Amarillo, TX which I accepted. It didn’t deliver until the 23rd at 0300, so my DM set up a T-call in Albuquerque.  I left Vegas about noon and drove uneventfully to Albuquerque, arriving a little after midnight.

On Saturday, I was told that there was no freight and to find an empty trailer and deadhead to Fontana (LA), CA (750 miles). I left about 1300, after a nice lunch at Golden Corral. I drove to Newberry Springs, CA where my 11-hours for the day expired.

Sunday was a bad day. It started out well enough. I received a PrePlan which picked up in Oxnard, CA and delivered in McCarran, NV. I drove to Fontana and fueled. From there, I drove to Oxnard. Here is where the “bad day” began. As I was backing in to the spot to drop my empty trailer with the doors open, the retaining chain became unsecured from the right door and I hit the trailer next to mine and ripped the door off of my trailer. After about an hour of paperwork, I had to give up the load and take my trailer to our yard in Mira Loma and drop it. That ended my day.

Today, Monday, the 22nd, will hopefully go better. I just received a load to Bloomington, MN (a bit over 1800 miles). It’s ready now, so as soon as I finish this, I’ll go pick it up.