Monday, February 2, 2009
Nunica, Michigan
Well I have a load, and it was one of those get there faster than we sent you the load loads. I got the message at 11:30 and needed to get there before noon, well I go there at 12:15 and they are loading me now for Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. Since my computer is down I have no idea when this load is due there, but will find out shortly.
Holland, Michigan: Walmart parking lot
Well I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, I am empty and have no next load. I also apparently have a fried onboard computer. With this new truck I have a new system, rather than Qualcomm it is a Geologic. It tracks more data and seems to be better than Qualcomm, but there are very few trucks in the fleet with it, and it doesn't sound like they will be getting more of them. Anyway, the computer is not hooking up with any network and is not responding to key presses. It also seems to be resetting itself every now and then. So next time I am through a shop I will have to have someone take a look. Otherwise I will have to do everything by phone.
Actually since I have my laptop, I might be able to get some of it by email. I will have to give that a try.
Actually since I have my laptop, I might be able to get some of it by email. I will have to give that a try.
Ionia, Michigan: Pilot
When I got out of the truck this morning, I was treated to the lovely aroma of cattle. Somewhere down wind of here, there is definitely a farm with cattle on it. Last night the wind must have been blowing a different direction.
The showers here are much like the parking lot, small. They also had fairly weak water pressure, and smelled like they were off of a well system. They were very clean though, which makes up for a lot.
Nothing else going on, just killing some time till I can roll at 6:15.
The showers here are much like the parking lot, small. They also had fairly weak water pressure, and smelled like they were off of a well system. They were very clean though, which makes up for a lot.
Nothing else going on, just killing some time till I can roll at 6:15.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ionia, Michigan: Pilot
This Pilot is one of the smallest I have ever been at. I think there are actual parking spots for ten trucks here, the rest are just scattered around. It is however the closest truck stop to where I deliver in Holland, Michigan, tomorrow morning. I could have driven all the way to the consignee tonight, but without knowing the parking situation it is better to do a good part of the driving today and have about an hour drive tomorrow morning.
This past week I haven't made any posts for a simple reason, I wasn't out driving. Considering the weather this little unplanned vacation worked out well for me. Now Monday I piked up a load in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Since it didn't deliver in Taylor, Michigan until Tuesday afternoon, I had plenty of time to stop in Perrysburg, Ohio, and sleep at home. After backing the truck into a spot in the terminal, I finally had the clutch do what it did on occasion on the road, refuse to engage. Fortunately there was a mechanic on duty, so I was able to show him the problem, and the verdict was in, the truck needed a new clutch. Tuesday morning I found out that that repair would not be a priority so I would have to change trucks. I had a choice of an automatic that was a bit dirty and a manual transmission that looked like someone had spewed dip all over the center console. I took the automatic.
Since I was having to change trucks, I emptied mine out that day and made arrangements with the terminal manager to be able to get in the garage on Wednesday to clean out my new truck. I also found some issues with it during my trip so it ended up spending the night in the garage after being worked on. Which meant it wasn't buried in the snow we had on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, I headed over to the terminal and took about fours hours cleaning the interior of the truck. I started with TSP, and then redid the entire thing using Scrubbing Bubbles. Weird as it may sound, Scrubbing Bubbles work great cleaning dirty vinyl. I won't go into how nasty the water was in the bucket each time I emptied it out, lets just leave it at I used four buckets and threw out four previously white detailing towels.
After getting the interior in shape, I took advantage of being inside to give the truck a really good looking at, and found one of the rear wheel seals was just starting to go, that got fixed Thursday morning. I also got a call from dispatch about a load that picked up close on Thursday and delivered Friday in Indiana, about three hundred miles away. Thinking about it, and their recent track record, I called her back and rejected the load. I just didn't feel like sitting over the weekend three hundred miles from home for no good reason. She understood, and made the planning people understand as well, at least that was the way it was told to me. Now rejecting a load is something a driver is allowed to do at this company, but it isn't something you want to do if at all possible. First a note is place in your file, so permanent record time here. Your dispatcher will remember the fact that you rejected a load, and if they are looking for drivers to get rid of, it can come up on the negative side. I felt I had a good enough reason and record to be able to survive doing this, this one time. I don't think that this issue will come up because unless I end up mechanically stuck in Toledo again, I shouldn't be stuck with leaving the area at the end of the week.
I did end up working on Friday, driving a day cab along with another driver, out to West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. We then were able to grab a truck with a sleeper to take back to Toledo. The worst part is that the one we brought back had just been serviced, and was almost immaculate inside. I could have moved right in, but I had already done so much to this truck, the effort would not have been worth it.
Which brings us back to tonight and delivering tomorrow morning in Holland. Hopefully I will be able to get moving right away, or at least that day. There really are no truck stops around there so I really don't want to have to sit around to long. If I do, you can bet it will end up here. If I don't it will end up here as well, it just might take longer.
This past week I haven't made any posts for a simple reason, I wasn't out driving. Considering the weather this little unplanned vacation worked out well for me. Now Monday I piked up a load in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Since it didn't deliver in Taylor, Michigan until Tuesday afternoon, I had plenty of time to stop in Perrysburg, Ohio, and sleep at home. After backing the truck into a spot in the terminal, I finally had the clutch do what it did on occasion on the road, refuse to engage. Fortunately there was a mechanic on duty, so I was able to show him the problem, and the verdict was in, the truck needed a new clutch. Tuesday morning I found out that that repair would not be a priority so I would have to change trucks. I had a choice of an automatic that was a bit dirty and a manual transmission that looked like someone had spewed dip all over the center console. I took the automatic.
Since I was having to change trucks, I emptied mine out that day and made arrangements with the terminal manager to be able to get in the garage on Wednesday to clean out my new truck. I also found some issues with it during my trip so it ended up spending the night in the garage after being worked on. Which meant it wasn't buried in the snow we had on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, I headed over to the terminal and took about fours hours cleaning the interior of the truck. I started with TSP, and then redid the entire thing using Scrubbing Bubbles. Weird as it may sound, Scrubbing Bubbles work great cleaning dirty vinyl. I won't go into how nasty the water was in the bucket each time I emptied it out, lets just leave it at I used four buckets and threw out four previously white detailing towels.
After getting the interior in shape, I took advantage of being inside to give the truck a really good looking at, and found one of the rear wheel seals was just starting to go, that got fixed Thursday morning. I also got a call from dispatch about a load that picked up close on Thursday and delivered Friday in Indiana, about three hundred miles away. Thinking about it, and their recent track record, I called her back and rejected the load. I just didn't feel like sitting over the weekend three hundred miles from home for no good reason. She understood, and made the planning people understand as well, at least that was the way it was told to me. Now rejecting a load is something a driver is allowed to do at this company, but it isn't something you want to do if at all possible. First a note is place in your file, so permanent record time here. Your dispatcher will remember the fact that you rejected a load, and if they are looking for drivers to get rid of, it can come up on the negative side. I felt I had a good enough reason and record to be able to survive doing this, this one time. I don't think that this issue will come up because unless I end up mechanically stuck in Toledo again, I shouldn't be stuck with leaving the area at the end of the week.
I did end up working on Friday, driving a day cab along with another driver, out to West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. We then were able to grab a truck with a sleeper to take back to Toledo. The worst part is that the one we brought back had just been serviced, and was almost immaculate inside. I could have moved right in, but I had already done so much to this truck, the effort would not have been worth it.
Which brings us back to tonight and delivering tomorrow morning in Holland. Hopefully I will be able to get moving right away, or at least that day. There really are no truck stops around there so I really don't want to have to sit around to long. If I do, you can bet it will end up here. If I don't it will end up here as well, it just might take longer.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Back On
Well my load is now back on, so off to Carlisle. It doesn't deliver until Tuesday at two so I will have plenty of time to get some laundry done while at home.
It is a Monday
I just got back into my hotel room from loading up the truck after my paid weekend of doing nothing in Allentown. After pretripping and starting up the truck the Qualcomm beeped with a message, my load for today is cancelled. All I can say to that is fantastic, at least I found out in time so I haven't checked out of the hotel room yet. So now I am just waiting to find out what they come up with for me now.
Last night I had dinner at the Red Robin that is next to the hotel. I had a really good burger, fries and two ice teas. Now for anyone that has eaten with me, the two ice teas is a sign, usually I will drink almost a pitcher at a meal in a restaurant. The sign is of poor service, it is rare that i don't tip, but the service this time around just did not warrant a tip. I don't know if he was just too busy, or new, or both, but I only saw him a total of three times. Someone else greeted me, took my order, and brought me my tea. He got me one refill, brought out my food, and dropped off the check. When he dropped off the check, he didn't ask if I wanted anything else, refill on my tea, more fries, or dessert (all of which I would have liked). So I just paid the bill and left, with a large line through the tip amount. I think that this was only the third time in my life that I have done that.
Well I think I will just lay back and doze a bit while i wait for them to figure out how to get me out of here. Probably a load straight into the ice storm that is coming.
Last night I had dinner at the Red Robin that is next to the hotel. I had a really good burger, fries and two ice teas. Now for anyone that has eaten with me, the two ice teas is a sign, usually I will drink almost a pitcher at a meal in a restaurant. The sign is of poor service, it is rare that i don't tip, but the service this time around just did not warrant a tip. I don't know if he was just too busy, or new, or both, but I only saw him a total of three times. Someone else greeted me, took my order, and brought me my tea. He got me one refill, brought out my food, and dropped off the check. When he dropped off the check, he didn't ask if I wanted anything else, refill on my tea, more fries, or dessert (all of which I would have liked). So I just paid the bill and left, with a large line through the tip amount. I think that this was only the third time in my life that I have done that.
Well I think I will just lay back and doze a bit while i wait for them to figure out how to get me out of here. Probably a load straight into the ice storm that is coming.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Taste of Italy Ristorante
I just ate at a fantastic Italian restaurant, Taste of Italy Ristorante (two websites), apparently a very popular one as well. I was in there at around three thirty and by the time I left at four fifteen the place was packed. I started with ice tea as usual, unfortunately it was the strongest tea I have ever had. It tasted like there were tea leaves still in it, and was just undrinkable. Switching to water was the best option there. The entree was chicken giardino, and it was delicious. I finished with a dish of tiramisu, again delicious. They have won several awards over the past few years and their menu makes it almost impossible to decide, it all looks so good. So if in the area, definitely plan on trying this place out, a little warning, it is a lot of food, and it is not inexpensive. Though there are lower priced items on the menu, most things start at around twenty dollars, at least the most interesting dishes that is.
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