10/23/2009

It had to happen. The last four or five times I've loaded out of here I had been able to get loaded quite early. Today not so much. The order isn't ready yet. It is still before my appointment time and I'm parked in a rather large gravel field waiting for a loader to come get me. It's very quiet here as the hussle and bussle is over at the loading area. Here is hoping I get loaded early enough to be able to get stateside and find parking. The plan as it stands is to make my way for Kanona, NY and call it a day and proceed on down to Butner, NC tomorrow.

About pm they pulled me over and loaded me. If it hadn't been cold, raining and windy it would have gone nicely. So I've strap it down and hands are stiff and frozen. You have to run over and scale the load before you can get your paperwork so off to the scale I go. Scale and walk inside and the girl/lady behind the counter ask "Have you had a nice day?". So far I reply. She then proceeds to tell me I'm 800 lbs over gross. Wonderful so back to the shipper but instead of paperwork its to gety a bundle removed. Each bundles weights in at a hefty 2500lbs or so. So I tell the loader and he point to were to park yank off 2 straps he pulls one I restrap and walk in to get the paperwork.

Off to the border I go. I let co-pilot for trucks do the math and it says Kanona, NY 8pm. KK np if not the Pilot there the truckstop across the street will have parking. Rain and Buffalo metro area rush hour traffic slow me down a bit. Somehow so far I had missed rush hour in Buffalo, NY to date. It wasn't too long though and on the NY thruway I go.

Still made Kanona by 8 and went in to grab a shower. There was 6 drivers waiting in line. Hmmmm tomorrow morning it is.

There is either something still wrong with the engine or this trlr sucks to hell and back. My fuel mileage has tanked in a large way. Gonna continue to watch it for a couple of days to try and see which it is.

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

10/22/2009

Yesterday afternoon and evening went like this... Nap, read, watch movie, read, watch movie which was extremely cool, but it gets better. Across the way from the Pilot in Kanona, NY I was park at was a truck stop that had a mom and pop dinner. I ordered the Angel spagetti with italian sausage sauce (one of the specials of the day) it was amazingly good! simple but good. I recommend it highly.

Woke up this morning left with plenty of time. Projected myself at consignee with 2 hours to spare never know when u might get lucky and get unloaded early. Alas it wasn't meant to be. The place was hopping and while I pulled in 45min late. I pulled out at 3pm which is a very good unload time.

While there got a preplan to pick up a load of lumber in the morning (actually between 12pm & 2pm) usually if you show up early and they can work you in they will. Nice place to get a load and you dont have to tarp it. It doesn't deliver until Mon in Butner, NC so an extremely leisurely weekend is in store.

There is a rumor of an purveyor of adult beverages just down the street where I'm parked for the night. So I figure to go check it out and perhaps grab a bite to eat. Oh and there is a free wifi spot here man if I'm not batting a thousand.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

10/21/2009

Started my day early, real early. I wanted to be at the I95/I495 split in Washington at or before 6am. I made it with 20 mins to spare so I was headed out of Washington while the maddness going in was beginning. Caught upto a little back up on the south end of Harrisburg where the construction is on going where US15 and PA581 meet. Fueled up at the Pilot on the North end of Harrisburg. Man the Pilot is laid out weird, it is likely due to the river. Got up to Kanona, NY before noon and called it a day. 225 miles togo before 13:00 tomorrow should be able to that standing on my head even with the border crossing.

It seems today that hurry hurry hurry is the montra of the day. When I was at the fuel pumps some jack*** of a driver decided to see how fast he could pull into the pumps. I was personally impressed with his driving aplumb (dumba**). Now I been bored and have been watching the drivers race around this parking lot. I usually avoid watching such things but like I said I was bored.

The great debate is still raging inside me. To go across the street and get a cooked meal or eat out of the truck. This Pilot only offers Subway and I've eaten within the last two weeks so I'm not hungry enough for that. As the debate resumes....

Have a good day

Bookerz Out

10/20/2009

It was quickly determined that I would not in fact be using a loner truck. A somewhat sedate celebration insued at this point. It was decided that I would attempt to find a FL dealer along my route and slip in and effect the repairs that are needed and avoid the downtime or switching trucks.

After finding out that I got a w/a to Etobicoke, ON for midday Thursday. There is an excessive amount of time on this load but it will make for a couple of short days. Made it to the Davis travel plaze @ exit 33 in VA today a mere 225 miles for the day. Tomorrow plan to take off early enough to be in the Greater Washington DC metro area at 6am and leaving as the four wheelers are pouring into the area. Only challening area will be Harrisburg, PA and only because PA seems to have decided that big trucks are only a figment of our imgination. And fail at almost every turn and instance that we do in fact exist. Other than that tomorrow should be a peaceful journey to Canona, NY.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

10/19/2009

Successfully acomplished nearly nothing outside spending time with my wife and family this weekend.

Took off this morning about 3:30 and made my way over to Conway, SC. Looks like a sleepy town just outside of Mrytle Beach. Missed the turn into the consignee's driveway and spent a lot of time working my way back around town to get to the driveway again. After accomplishing that unloading went fairly quicky. Sent off my empty call and got the obligitory looking for a load message. By the time I had got the truck postioned on their driveway off to the side received a dh move to Laurinburg, NC. It's only 90 miles, but all of them are back roads so 2 hours later I pull into the yard.

On my way over I decided that if I didn't get a load I would put the truck into the shop and have them look for this hissing sound I had been hearing since the work had been done on the head gasket. Turned in the write on the truck at noon about 4 they pull the truck in. I wlked over to the mechcanic and asked if if he had heard what I was talking about when he pulled the truck in. He stated "No" I explained it better to him. He told me to get in and fire it up and try to duplicate it. KK no problem. Apparently when they put it back together the big hose that runs from in front of the raditator back towards the block had so extensive air leaks. Took about 2 hours to get all the leaks eliminated and away I go.

There is some recall work that needs to be done to this tractor. It will entail a couple of days to get into the dealer and all that. At this point they are talking about sticking me into a loaner truck. If so that means my Tuesday may suck pretty bad. We'll see..........

Have a good day

Bookerz out