05/10/2010

I have but a few minutes before I need to mosey on down the highway.

Yesterday went well until I hit north of Richmond, VA. From that point until Washington it was speed up and slow down, rinse and repeat. It added a hour to two hours to what was already going to be a long day. I did make my objective for the day though.

Today the plan is to get within 150-200 miles of tomorrows 7am delivery point in Riviere De Loup, PQ. This will entail another long day. But once I get beyond NYC area the scenery becomes nice. So it should be a pleasant day.

Well it is going to be a short one. Got to get moving and all that

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

05/10/2010

I have but a few minutes before I need to mosey on down the highway.

Yesterday went well until I hit north of Richmond, VA. From that point until Washington it was speed up and slow down, rinse and repeat. It added a hour to two hours to what was already going to be a long day. I did make my objective for the day though.

Today the plan is to get within 150-200 miles of tomorrows 7am delivery point in Riviere De Loup, PQ. This will entail another long day. But once I get beyond NYC area the scenery becomes nice. So it should be a pleasant day.

Well it is going to be a short one. Got to get moving and all that

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

05/08/2010

After delivering the peat moss. I was sent a couple of hours away to Yorkville, Oh to grab a couple of coils. I made it down to Ripley, WV with the coils. Friday I delivered them to Clinton, NC.

From there I went straight home and made it there about 6pm Friday night.

This will be a short weekend. Sunday I plan to take off about 6-7am run over to Laurinburg and grab a load which will deliver Tuesday in Rivere De loup. Going to have to push it to make it on time but it is doable. It just going to be a couple of lonnnngggg days. LOL

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

05/05/2010

Well I made it out of Canada this morning.

After I completed my reset and delivered my load Tuesday morning. I got a work assignment picking up a load of peat moss in the most remote part of Canada I've been in yet. The scenery was great, the roads left a bit to be desired and the people were nice. This place was 2.5 hours from the nearest four lane highway and an equal distance to the nearest truck stop. I did find a part time D.O.T. Inspection station on the route back to the border in which to park for the night. When I got up at 2am to (hmm...) inspect the truck there was a street or house light to be seen and it was overcast. In other words it was dark really really dark. Fortunately the truck inspection with off without a hitch.

This morning I once again had to traverse the border crossing point which I had ranted and raved about so vehemently. Seeing I was still 3 hours from the border I had all that time to dread the hassle that was about to come. So I get there. Hand over the papers. Get asked some proforma questions. Hear the stamping of two papers and …........have a nice day. My jaw hit the steering wheel in shock. I tried to mess it up by asking “So I am free to go?” She said just had the slip to the guard on your way out.

I was floored!

I had started to think about the power of the Internet and all that. Started debating what stupid government program would be worthy of my powerful attention next. Imagine all the wrongs that could be righted. This will take some considerable time to decide where to start.

OR

I could have just been lucky today. They might have already filled their quota of stupid people tricks for the day/ week/ month.

At any rate I will wait to see how mighty is my pen when I next cross that location.

Tomorrow I will deliver this load to Emlenton, PA and after that the jury is still out. This weekend is my home time so I suspect my next load will have a more southern destination.

Until tomorrow

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

05/03/2010

Fighting boredom is the theme for the day.

>> Friday << The load in Jefferson Hills Friday went fine. The getting in the door challenge was up to level three today. You had to back past the door and the rail cars strategically placed. Pull forward between the uncoupled rail cars. Once that was complete you had to see saw back and forth to get the rear of the trailer to line up with the door. Getting out was the same obstacle course, but there wasn't as much backing involved. Once loaded and clear of the obstacle course I made it to western Ohio for the night. Oh I did get another work assignment. I am to drop this load in Ottawa, Il and grab another load headed to Montreal, PQ for Tuesday morning. >> Saturday << Ran over to Ottawa. Bypassed the Sausage burger and associated adult beverage. And made my way up to Perry, MI for the night. Other than the 600+ mile day and the rain I encountered in Indiana everything went smooth. >> Sunday <<

Plan for the day was to get to the Flying J in eastern Montreal. Well..... I made it to a Flying J, but the one in Napanee, On was as far as I got. A massive dose of laziness overcame me and so here I sit doing my 34 hour reset. I plan on taking off tomorrow morning with plenty of extra time built in in case of bad traffic.

That bring you up to date. With all the stuff I have to do in the truck you would figure boredom would not be possible. Today none of it seems appealing.

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

04/29/2010

I am not sure what is happening with PPG, but it is spooky.

I took off at 8am and the put me at the plant at 11:30am. At noon I was backed in the door and 50 minutes later I pulled out of the door empty. See what I mean spooky. The load went well and the unload went equally as well.

After unloading I pulled back into the drop yard and sat around there for several hours. About 3 I got a work assignment picking up a load in Jefferson Hill, Pa and taking it over to Owatonna, MN for a Tuesday delivery. That is a bit of a long time between pick up and delivery, but they did talk about relaying the load in either Ottawa, Il or Dewitt, IA. Well see, as lazy as I am feeling I would be just as happy to take the load all the way in and sit on it for the extra time.

I made it over to Sliding Hill service plaza for the night. It leaves me about 2 hours out from Jefferson Hills. I plan to make it in there about 9am and perhaps I'll get loaded a bit early.

The only aggravating thing of the day was the trailer I had to pick up. The idiot who had it before me taped the bridge boards to the a frames with ½ inch paper masking tape. Tied the straps to the frame and left the honeycomb cardboard all over the trailer. Once that stuff gets wet it makes a huge mess. So I spent way to much time setting up the trailer for travel. Once that was done the rest of the day went smoothly.

Well I need to get to work

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

04/28/2010

What can you say. The weather was excellent, the roads were good at least until I got to Pennsylvania. So the hardest battle I fought today was the urge to pull into a rest area and grab a nap. I won that battle and made it over to Smithton, PA by 5:15. My appointment isn't till noon so the plan is to start rolling about 8am.

I'll be at a glass factory so odds are they will try to load me out of there.

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/27/2010

Well the unloading didn't go as fast as I would have liked. But when the receiver said they would get to me as soon as they could the big red flag reared its ugly head. All things considered it wasn't too bad 3 hours later I pulled out of the door.

If I had bet on what the rest of today would have entailed I would have lost. Granted they want us to haul glass as much as possible, but it was 300 miles to the nearest glass plant and I have a trailer which can be broken down to haul system freight. So odds would be a system load.

Nope not happening off to Mt Zion, IL I went. Now Mt. Zion is the worst live location we service. It is a union shop and is a personification of all the worst things unions entail. Having said all those negative things. Today was totally different there.

My appointment was at 5pm.
I was backing in the door at 4:15 (weird)
At 5:10 they started loading me. (strange)
At 5:35 they were done. (fantastic)
At 6:10 when I was ready for the crane to put the tarps over the glass. They were on break.
At 6:30 they were back and using the crane to put the tarps up. (unbelievable)
At 7:30 I was pulling off the property.

If someone had told me I would be pulling off the property as the sun went down I would have ask the to share the drugs they were on. Today might have just been an aberration, but I take it and run with it.

This load is due in Mt Holly Springs, PA Thursday. I just about make it there tomorrow or pull up a bit short all depends on how lazy I feel and what time they set my appointment for.

Until then....
Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/26/2010

Well I dodge the misadventures with the bees. It was raining to hard and they probably wouldn't have shown themselves anyway.

Two good notes for today. I-40 in western North Carolina is open, it doesn't officially open till tomorrow so I went through as a test dummy today. They only have one lane open but it is not widely known that it is open so no back up today. The second good note. I have in fact been here before. It is a nice facility and it does have space for over night parking. So that was the target for today.

I took off when my wife had to go to work. Might as well leave then and she makes an excellent back up alarm clock, though I don't think she likes that role. I am not a mind reader she told me as much Sunday night. I actually did pretty good waking myself up. I usually make her beat me about the head and shoulders when I know she'll be there. On the road I have an alarm clock called the "Screamin Meanie" and as the name suggest it produces a god awful sound. If it is left run long enough it will wake neighboring drivers. Not a good scene. I usually spring out of bed/bunk once it goes off.

These guys will unload you early if they can so that is good. But nobody will be in load planning till 9am est. So... what happens tomorrow is a mystery. I think the last time I was here I had a double drop which we can only load glass on, today I have a step deck, which once the racks are down anything is possible. It is 360 miles to Ottawa, Il my favorite place and 300 miles to Mt Zion, Il not my favorite but it keeps me hauling glass. So we will just have to see what the jury(CSRs) says.

Until then
May your roads be flat
May the wind be at your back
May all the four wheelers take smart pills
May you have a safe day

Bookerz out

04/24/2010

They had me swing through the Laurinburg yard grab a different trailer. Monday I will be running to Richburg, SC and picking up a load of glass which will deliver in Kentucky. This or that will be the first time delivering anything in Kentucky. So I can knock that state off the list.

This weekend will consist of a few honey dos. Apparently the fan I installed last time I was home is faulty. Well the switch in it that changes the speed of the motor is messed up.

I need to get the forms filled out and sent off to the IRS. My wife fill out and extension form and sent it off while I was on the road. I forgot to do it last time I was home so there we are.

Lastly we have some bees that seem to have taken up residence. I need to find where they have decided to call home and change their mind about the niceness of the neighborhood. That could be interesting I should have Cheri video it but more likely than not they would attack her instead of me. Insects don't like attacking me for some reason.

Tonight it is off to the local minor league baseball field to watch the Greenville Drive play Lexington, KY. A small irony. Sunday may consist of a trip to the picture show and perhaps the relatively new Chinese joint over on Woodruff road. The jury on the picture show is still out but the tickets for the game have already been purchased.

SIDE NOTE:
Dad sorry I haven't called! It is either too early or to late when I think of it.


That is all for now.

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/23/2010

I called the plant as soon as I pulled into the yard at Laurinburg, NC. The trailer was in the bay but not loaded yet. Ok np I wasn't going to run with it till the morning anyway.

Had chinese for dinner. Finished moving in the truck. Kicked back and watched some Boston Legal episodes. All in all not a bad way to spend the afternoon and evening.

Got up in time to grab my load and make my way over to the customer and arrive an hour early. You never know when that or earlier will pay off. Well I arrived at the plant and search the loaded trailer area and no luck. The I started searching the bays to see if maybe the glass was on but not tarped yet. I finally found the trailer on the far side of the plant and there wasn't a stitch of glass on the trailer. This was a first for me so I fired off a message to extended services. No response. Ok even if they responded there would be nothing any of us could do. But I did my part by informing (or trying to) them of the situation.

About five hours later after a phone call with my FM it was decided to push back the load 24 hours. Ok good enough. Bobtailed back to town and parked at the Walmart. Now it is time to spend the day reading, watching dvds and fighting periodic boredom. I picked up that Avatar movie yesterday man the graphics and scenery are awesome. I saw it at the picture show and just had to have the dvd.

Well I am at the place I was to deliver to yesterday and in the process of getting unloaded. From here I can ether go straight home or swing back by Laurinburg and grab a load that will delivery Monday or Tuesday.

Either way it home time today!!!

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/21/2010

Well getting unloaded Tuesday was easy, but unloading untarped product is always easy. I didn't get a load out of Geneva. I did however swing by the plant and traded out trailers. Upon do so I was given a deadhead to Mt. Holly Springs, PA and prior to my arrival there the dh was changed to Laurinburg, NC.

So I got to Thurmont, MD there is a nice little truckstop there with a virtual cornucopia of eating establishments within a stones throw of the truckstop. Only a few of which are recognized national chains. And a awesome mom and pop pizzeria within the travel plaza. I do so like getting away from the big chains when possible.

Well I got down to Laurinburg about noon grabbed a well deserved/ much needed shower. And proceeded to finish setting up my new truck. Still had to set up my CB and hide some wires just to unclutter the dash.

Tomorrow I have a short run upto the Raliegh, NC area and after that I should get a load assignment that will take me home for the weekend.

Well I need to hit the sack tomorrow morning will arrive much to soon.

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/19/2010

I've been told I worry to much by a fellow driver. My wife would balk at that idea, but that is what I've been told. Now on to why I even mention that.

Today had so much potential to be a crappy day.

• I was going to be late for my appointment. Not my fault but I'm a bit O.C.D. About being late.

• The address on the work assignment said one place. But when I pulled up the automated directions they said another.

• You never know how customs is going to be and the later you are the worse the border usually is.

So I worried about the customer being angry their product was late and me arriving at the wrong location which would in turn make me later yet.

Well customs was a breeze as I pulled to the crossing point the truck infront of me was pulling away.

The Queens express way slowed down in a few spots, but was good considering it was the tail end of rush hour. The customer didn't even blink. They are moving from one facility to another and I did go to the right one first time. They got me unloaded super quick!

So all that worrying was for naught.

For my reload I headed over to get a load of lumber after breaking down the trailer into flatbed mode. They did overload me (the only hiccup of the day) but I was able to get that fixed and myself back into the states for tonight. I am taking it over to Geneva, NY and once unloaded will most likely get a load out of the glass plant there. We will just have to let that part unfold.

Have a good day! I sure did!!!!

Bookerz out

04/18/2010

Well by the time I got everything transferred it was 6pm Saturday. I was beat and dirty from head to toe it seemed. So off to a 30 minute get the dirt off and relax for a bit shower. After the shower and with the shop closed and the company car in lock down for the night, I scavenge some food from the truck ate it and called it a night.

Took off bright and early. Stopped by the Blue beacon in Kenly, NC. I needed to get the truck washed in part so I could see to clean the windshield and it needed a wash just to get all the dirt off. Man!

I made it to Kanona, NY for the night and won't be able to take off till 3:30 am. Unless the border gives me grief I should only be 2 hours late. Hopefully this won't be one of those places that can only take deliveries at 6am. If so I am going to have a boring day. Well the powers that be were warned.

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

04/17/2010

Well I got down to Laurinburg an hour early and got the truck put into the shop for the pm. It was only an "A" pm so no motel room for the night. I called thinking that I'd put myself up for the night and they were all booked up.

So I was standing around shooting the bull with some other drivers when the mechanic came out and asked if I wanted the good news or the bad. The bad. The wheel bearings are shot and they need to send my truck to freightliner. The good. You get a motel room for the night. They have to transfer the inverter from one truck to the other and I won't be able to start moving my stuff until Saturday morning.

Well at least I get a room for the night. I might have to bump the Concord, On load I am not sure how long it will take to transfer my stuff. Well I called Maverick to warn them and they said to wait until I got everything transferred and then give them a call with my new eta. Good enough.

Have a good day
Bookerz out

4/13-/4/15/10

I getting neglectful. After unloading Tuesday I was given a deadhead over to Ottawa, Il. From which I'll be grabbing a load headed for Etobicoke, ON.

Now our drop yard is next to a place called the Bears Den. They serve a killer sausage burger. It is rumored that their other sandwiches are equally good, but I haven't ventured away from the sausage burger. It has been my experience that a sausage burger and a couple of pints of ale will cure what ails you. Seeing that I get to spend the night here it was just what the doctor ordered.

The next morning just as the sun started brightening the eastern horizon. I was under way. Today's objective is to try a new truck stop(new to me) only 20 miles from the Canadian border. My usual stop is 80-90 miles from the border in Perry, MI. This different truckstop called Bricoe's is... well a shit hole with a bad parking lot and a dilapidated building. So unless I really need to stage that close to the border it won't be happening again. My usual place has a nice smooth parking lot a nice building and quite a few eateries within walking distance and on site.

Thursday after unloading I was given a dead head to Laurinburg, NC. The truck is overdue for a PM so that is scheduled for tonight (Friday). When Maverick has to keep the truck overnight to do a PM or fix something they will generally put you up in the hotel. So tonight it should be a hotel for me.

I've already got my next work assignment which will take me to Concord, ON. for Monday morning at 6am. At that point I'll have 1600 miles in almost as many miles as I got this week.

Well your up to speed now. My coffee is ready and I need to do a walk around the truck so I can start my day.

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

4/12/2010

Today was a day to try a driver's backing skills and luck.

At my delivery point they unloaded half the load in one building and the other half in another. While my backing skills/luck were not operating at the highest efficiency they were up to the task. And despite moving from one building to another the unload time was still better than some places where movement is not required.

Now my next shipment picked up on the south side of Pittsburgh, PA. There is a considerable amount of construction going on in downtown. Despite the fact the shortest route was through downtown I decided that circumventing it was the best option. Especially considering that running through there with no traffic at 11pm or so last night proved a problem. But it did add 30 miles to my destination.

Once at my destination they decided that my backing a plume was to be challenged again. I got to back my way between 2 rail cars and a semi trailer and about 400 yards to the narrow door. It wouldn't have been so bad but backing straight wasn't within my skill set today. Alas in the door and the only thing hurt (a small amount) was my pride. Good enough. I had heard this was quite the hell hole. I must say that my experience here wasn't all that bad.

Now the qualcomm said that my consignee was a mere 205 miles away. With Pennslyvannia and eastern Ohio roads being what they are I decided to stick with the interstates. That added 50 miles and probably reduced the stress by 50 percent. I consider that a good trade so I went with it.

I have a 6am delivery time and I am only 40 minutes away. So life is good!!
As for tomorrow we will just have to wait and see. Perhaps, hopefully I'll get something with some legs to it and I won't have to work so hard.

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/11/2010

Yesterday was ill planned, but luck was on my side. Sometimes, just sometimes luck will suffice.

I spend a minute explaining. I left the house late enough that my only option that would keep me legal is to drive straight to the consignee and park on sight. Yesterday, until I got here, I didn't remember being here before, alas I have been here before and there is a place or two where you can park overnight.

I wasn't able to best the best route in due to the highway construction and I missed the detour route. I hate it when I am in the wrong lane in this thing. You can't jump two or three lane and make the exit. Fortunately the gps will adjust to you missing a turn. AS a special note it doesn't berate you for missing the turn either.

Once unloaded I need to make my way to the south side of Pittsburgh and do a live load of crated glass bound for Upper Sandusky, OH for a 6am delivery tomorrow. Good times!

Have a good day

Bookerz out

04/09/2010

After yesterday today seemed like a dream. No international borders and no maintenance people too wait on.

The drive down I-90/I-271/OH-8/I-77 was nice. I hit all the sections at the right times and traffic wasn't an issue. The directions were clear and concise and the receivers receiving area was a bit fun.

I'll take a moment to explain. I had to back down the lane about 250 yards. Push the trailer to the right between two objects towards the dumpster and then pull forward to square up the truck. Actually there was about 8 mounds of stuff to work myself between and around. Fortunately the mounds consisted of sawdust, horse manure, peat moss, top soil, and a couple of mounds where they mixed the stuff with big front end loaders. What was fun about it there was no way I could damage either the tractor/trailer or the material. And the back job went of without a hitch.

After getting unload and waiting a bit. I got a work assignment of picking up a coil in Coshocton, PA and taking it to Randleman, NC. This steel facility unlike my experience in Birmingham, AL went off without a hitch, the only problem being is when it came time for me to leave it was time for shift change. During shift change they close the pedestrian cross walks to motorized traffic. Therefore I couldn't leave I kinda thought that was a bit anal, but it had been 777 days since the had a work time loss due to injury. That is an impressive safety track record especially considering the size of the plant.

I didn't really want this load. At some point along the working for money curve Uncle Sam figures you are making entirely too much money. He figures that taxing you to death at this point will deter you from becoming to greedy. To be frank it was working and somewhere along the way to randleman I'll cross the making too much money line and from that point forward I'll be working for the tax man and not Maverick or myself. But as I am not my own boss and there is no way I could (or would) refuse this load. I will just have to suck it up and cry as the tax man has carnal knowledge of me.

It was the best week this year as far as miles covered 3120 and an additional $100 or so in ancillary pay.

Once I unloaded in Randleman I was released to head home. This alowwed me to arrive home mid afternoon Friday. SWEET! I had encouraged them to find me a load that would get me rolling on Sunday. The response wasn't exactly encouraging to me, but alas they came thru. I am picking up a load Sunday in Richburg, SC and taking it to Cheswick, PA. and I have a preplan on top of that. Running upto Jeffersonhills, PA and taking a load of glass over to Sandusky, OH for Tuesday. I need to be careful how much encouraging I do :). Anyway that will be a nice start for the week coming out of the house. Now I need to get started loading the truck and getting myself underway.

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

04/06/2010 posted out of order

This is out oder but somehow this one didn't get posted


I've been neglectful of the blog the last couple of days.

I left you off with me grabbing a 34 hour rest in Wichita Falls, TX. Having completed that on Saturday morning. I went to the plant and grabbed my load. The next three days consisted in putting on full 600 mile days.

On day 2 I stopped in Perry, MI and discovered that the Michigan roadways in conjunction with the load crew in Wichita Falls had managed to break some glass on an optimizer rack. The glass was already tempered so at least when it broke it turned into this small pebble shaped stuff. I threw a strap around the glass using coil protectors to protect the strap and prevented any more breakage.

Monday I finished up my drive into Montreal at about 8pm. I had driven to the consignee and parked there so no driving in the morning and no alarm clock and off to bed I went.

Tuesday as they were unloading the receiver mention they would note the damaged glass. He also mentioned that the remaining glass might be scratched something I hadn't considered. So I got to learn something job related.

Prior to being loaded I got a preplan to pick up a load of peat moss in St Remi, QC and take it to Orrville, OH another 630 miles. This week is adding up pretty good. I can deliver this load either Wednesday or Thursday and the receiver is open till midnight. So the plan is to get it there today (Wednesday). But upon doing my pretrip inspection I discovered a flat tire so I am waiting on Road service to get here and replace the tire.

Only 3 days till hometime!!!

Have a good day
Bookerz out

04/07/2010

Well the Canadians kept passing the buck. Finally 4.5 hours after the call went out my tire is patched.

Now to add insult to injuring I have to deal with the bone heads at U.S. Customs. I have to admit that some of the procedures are for security reasons, but they are so impregnated with people justifying their jobs and their inflated budgets you can't tell which is which.

1 ^st they have only 2 lines open for the initial check. It took thirty minutes to get to where I could hand my paperwork over for someone to look at. 5 minutes of stupid questions. If I was really gonna break the law I would just lie.

2 ^nd I have to pay a $10.75 border crossing fee. I don't pay enough taxes already? Also could this not be incorporated into the customs tax that gets paid by the companies anyway? I get this money back from Maverick, but it is stupid anyway.

3 ^rd I can't pay this fee at the customs booth. I have to go inside this huge building to stand at a counter with 15 computers of which only 2 are in use. To be totally ignored by the two that are working the counter. Mean while there is 20-30 people milling around in the back ground not making eye contact because it might mean they have to do something. So I FINALLY get the honor of paying my money so I can get back in my country.

4 ^th I have to get the truck x rayed. Okay I can see the security reason for this and get this. There isn't a additional fee to pay for this service. I thought that rather magnanimous of them. BUT!!!!! Every border crossing point does it different. One place you stay in the truck and roll slowly through the machine. The next place you get out of the truck and walk to an area that is clearly marked, but they don't bother to tell you you are and ready to roll. Today was get out of the truck and step out of the building and finally after they got tired of me standing there they bother to say I was done. The big thing about this is if your not sure how they want it they treat you like your stupid.

5 ^th And final thing the rules or procedures change day by day. It is like there are too many rules. The head jackass comes in the morning. He throws a dart at a wall where the rules are place and on what every rule the dart lands on that rule will be enforced today. Someone needs to sneak in and place some customer service rules up on the wall.

Rules like......

These people pay our salaries so don't treat them like dummies.

If the trucks/customers are lined up a mile back. Open twice as many check stations.

If a customer is standing at the counter greet them and take care of the business.

I say something about signs with clear instructions but with the way the rules change they would have to hire another 10 slow/ don't mess with me cus I carry a gun types. Just to change the signs daily. And we are already spending way too much for what we are getting.

Enough ranting......

I am not going to make the delivery tonight. I got bogged down in to many way today so tomorrow will have to do.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

04/01/2010

Well today was about as easy as they come. I took off about 5am so I could make my projected eta to Wichita Falls, TX by 11am. I stopped off in Hewitt, Tx before the sun came up to grab a longgggggggggggg hot shower. Hot coffee and a hot shower what a way to start the day. I received my next work assignment about an hour prior to getting to Wichita Falls, TX.

I am to deliver a load of glass to the Montreal, PQ area on Tuesday morning at 10am. Now I could grab the load and dash up the highway and grab a reset somewhere along the way or I can opt to take my reset right here in Texas. Being that I am feeling lazy I decided to opt for Texas. So Saturday morning before the chickens get up I plan to grab the load and take off. I haven't quite decided to run over to Champlain, NY and enter there or proceed thru Port Heron in Michigan. I got a couple of days to make up my mind so we will see.

I moved over the the Walmart on the southwest side of town. There is a mall and quite a few eateries within walking distance. In fact there is a Texas Roadhouse just down the street and I am debating whether to make that tomorrow nights dinner or not. I will just have to wait and see how that plays out. For today there is a chinese buffet over by the mall everytime I went to stand up and go to the buffet she wanted to give me the check. Perhaps she thought I was eating to much or she was just trying to be nice. Not quite sure. Anyway it was about a mile from the truck so the way back to the truck was quite the challenge. I did fail to mention it was very good.

So for the rest of the day. I'll split my time between reading watching movies and perhaps a nap.

Life is good

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

03/31/2010

I've been genetically blessed. Even though I am closer to 50 than 40 and my physique considering my age has not failed me. But you will never find me in public without a shirt on.

This all leads into the premise that I found Billy Bob redneck tonight and I was disgusted. A man a decade or 2 younger than I and his genetics have totally failed him. While I don't hold the genetic failure against him. The fact that it had to paraded around the parking lot in Bib overalls (without a shirt) I will hold against him. Just like the idiot that runs around in a speedo. If your belly is larger than your waist you have no business in a speedo. If your man tits are larger than even a small portion of the female population you have absolutely no business running around without a shirt. On another note the wife beater t-shirts are tainted and should be avoided. The nick name should say it all.

Enough P.S.A. Message. And for those without total indoctrination in government speak that public service announcement.

Back to our regularly scheduled blog.

After I took off I made it to Grosse Tete, LA (please don't ask me to pronounce it, especially if a lady is around). Anyway next door to the truck stop was a place called “ Big head Barbq”. I ordered my old stand-by chicken fried steak. It was good! Admittedly it is hard to screw up chicken fried steak but I've seen it done. I got rolling as early as possible to make it to San Antonio a bit early in the hope I might get unloaded early, but it was not destined to be. I arrived 2 hours early for my appointment and they unloaded me exactly when the appointment time was. I can't and won't complain. It beats the hell out of getting unloaded late.

Once unloaded I got a dead head move to Wichita Falls, TX. Just in time for rush hour in not 1 but 2 cities. Both San Antonio and Austin, TX although admittedly I should have figured Austin as well and should have stopped short of Austin. So far my experience with Austin has not revealed a good time to hit Austin. So I'll be in Wichita Falls some time between 9-11am tomorrow morning. Until then …...

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/29/2010

Today. What can I say about today without a long line of expletives.

Well unloading the glass went well. It was a small mom and pop operation and other than the drive area in front of the door I was to back in being to small (a little less than a truck length). They were extremely nice so the unloading process was pleasant.

After pulling out I broke down the racks figuring that my next load would a system load. My suspicion was confirmed when I was dispatched to GP in Throsby, Al for a load of lumber. I get there and the load is a preload. So all I have to do is secure and tarp the load and away I can go. After doing that I sent off my loaded macro. And I get back a bad trailer location message “call dispatch”. I called and that is when the pain started. We (meaning the specialized division) do not back haul system freight out of Texas. What that means to me is they can't send me with this load into Texas. So the final decision was for me to untarp and unsecure this load and return it to the factory. Not in that order by the way. Return to the factory was first in the list of things to do.

Somewhere along the line I lost my reading glasses. And I can't read the messages bouncing back and forth. So I am calling dispatch everytime to find out what is going on.

Well after returning the load I received a new work assignment. I am going back up to Birmingham (where I started my day) and pick up a load of steel. Along the way up there I found a place where I could pull over and go in and get several pairs of reading glass. I determined it is good to have back ups just in case this happens again.

I finally get upto Birmingham and this has to be the worst steel mill I've been to so far at least as far as getting you in and out of the plant. I get there about 7:30 and after everything was said and down it was 12:30 cst.

Not fun. So now I am just waiting for my 10 break to be over to start this days adventure. After yesterday today will seem like a breeze.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/26/2010 - 03/28/2010

As I was headed to the customer I got my next work assignment. I am to go to Laurinburg and pick up a load to Bessemer, Al for Monday.

So no sooner do I get unloaded I headed to Laurinburg grabbed my load and headed for the house. There was a bit of a hold up at the plant but I still got home by 7pm.

I'll be leaving the house Sunday at 2pm. I googled the place and it looks like I'll be able to park over night at the customer. So I plan to head straight to the customer. I am pulling a flatbed so the possibilities for tomorrow are pretty much endless. At any rate it should be easier to find a load for me.

Have a nice day
Bookerz out

03/24-25/2010

I thought I posted yesterday I guess I didn't. To catch you up. I got there a bit before 11am and about 11:30 got backed in the door. The unloader told me they were about to go to lunch and not to kill myself untarping the load. That was nice I thought. Once they got back from lunch he started unloading me and got interrupted to do and then to do that. It definitely extended the unload time. Roughly about 2 pm I pulled out of the door. Once the empty call went out I settled back and returned a few calls that occurred while I was unloading.

Twenty minutes or so I get a deadhead move to Laurinburg. Figuring that would be the call I had picked out a few places along the way down for tonights stop. But five minutes later that all went out the window. Scratch the move to Laurinburg. Go to Mount Holly instead. Now I am not all that familiar with I-78 and not being sure how traffic would be in New York City I decided to pull up short in Connecticut. I figured to tackle NYC in the morning and to check out I78 in case I get to go through there in the future.

I originally set my eta to mt Holly for 7am, but not getting a work assignment before the close of business today I figured actually get there about 9am would be better. Typically work assignments don't start popping until 9am edt anyway no sense in sitting unnecessarily.

I arrived there at 9:30 and 20 minutes later the work assignment came through. I was to pick up a piece of equipment in Mcconnellsburg, PA. I sent for the directions and what I got back sounded like the shipper was right off I81. In fact the shipper was 25 miles off I81 and quite the scenic drive it was. I had determined this prior to heading to the shipper so it wasn't a problem.

If all our loads were this easy I would be sitting in hog heaven. But then they wouldn't feel the need to pay me as much as they do. 30 whole minutes after arriving at the shipper I was pulling out. A mere 4 chains and 1 strap and I was on my way. The loader was quick as well.

Now when I got directions for leaving (because you don't go out the same gate your came in). They sounded a bit like “Go down to the red house with the white trim and make a right. Then you goto the center of town and make another right”. I always somehow always miss seeing the red house. You can imagine how that usually turns out. But today after looking at my gps and studying the map it made a bit of sense so no problems. So after crawling back over the mountain at 25 mph despite only hauling 35,000. and then going down the other side at 20mph. 8% grade don't ye know. And going through a couple of towns with a lot of character. I am back on I81 heading south.

The main problem for today was I was going to hit DC at the wrong time. Now while I have had a better time going through DC it's also been a lot worse. I only made it to Rutherglen, VA before the 14 hour clock was going to be a problem so I called it a day there. Whipped it in to the local Flying J and called it a day.

That leaves me a 3 hour drive into the customer tomorrow. From there it will be a couple hour drive to Laurinburg. But we will just have to wait and see how that plays out.

For tonight have a good day

Bookerz out

03/23/2010

The devil is in the details.

A mantra I should exercise now and again. Anyway the appointment read

Delivery 03/24 00:00-00:00 and if I had been thinking I would have remembered that means it is to be delivered on the 24 ^th, but the exact appointment time is to be determined. I went on the assumption (and you know what that will get you) that 7am was the target time. Today I learned a little before noon that the appointment time is 11am.

That means yesterday I fore go the Chinese buffet for no good reason. I could have actually slept in today, not that it would have really happened. I am always up before the chickens. Anyway perhaps next time I won't forget what 0:00-0:00 really means. I still put on about 500 miles today before I found out and that is good enough and tomorrow I drive the last couple of hours in and get unloaded.

With this being a dedicated glass trailer there are not many choices once I am unloaded. So I will just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

For today …. Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/22/2010

Well productivity was the word of the day. No sooner did I get down to Greensboro, NC and get unloaded. When I get two not just one load assignments. Fortunately they pulled the first off me before I could work up a sufficient head of dread. It was for Brooklyn, NY and no matter how much I may be feeling my oats about my trucking driving skills. I don't think I want to deliver in downtown NYC or one of its boroughs. What I did end up with South Easton, MA has a couple of hundred more miles to it and doesn't involve getting off the Brooklyn express way.

Figuring I would be pulled into Laurinburg and get something that heads out in the morning. I had been planning on stocking up on some Chinese food at the local eatery and then sleeping it off till morning. This load shot that idea in the butt cause with a 7am Wednesday delivery appointment I needed to get a couple of hundred miles knocked out today. Hence I am back in Virginia at the 40mm on I-95. That leaves right at 600 miles to cover tomorrow. I've been to this location once before. In fact it was the last run of my training program almost a year and a half ago. It is situated in an industrial park so parking overnight won't be a problem. Good enough!

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/21/2010

Well today went off without a hitch. I stopped at the TA in Eaton, OH to let them figure out what my turn signal problem was. Somewhere along the line the insulation on the right turn signal line and the marker lights line had worn off and they had fused together. So... when I had the maker lights on the right turn signal or four ways wouldn't work properly. Anyway 2and a half hours later that is fixed and a couple of lights replaced and away I went.

I only made it to the first rest area in Virginia before I ran out of hours. That leaves me a little over a 2 hour drive into the consignee in the morning. With a fuel stop and the pretrip I am going to be later than my original eta, but it is an appointment window and not a set time so it won't be a problem.

Odd are once unloaded I'll be headed over to Laurinburg. There was quite a few of us pulling out of Porter, IN so the likely hood of my getting a glass load is up for debate we will just have to wait and see.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/20/2010

Last time I blogged I was in Mount Airy, Nc. They had the Brintle's parking lot jammed like sardines in a can. After winding my way to the the fuel pumps and then squeezing my way out the rest of the day was pretty mundane. I made it to just inside of Illinois on I-74. That left me slightly over 200 miles for Friday morning's delivery.

Nice thing about delivering here is you just back the trailer into the bay untarp and unsecure the load and your done. No waiting for them to unload it. But waiting for my next load assignment made up for the efficient unload process. In fact it was almost to late for me to make it prior to the end of my fourteen hour day and if there hadn't been several truck stops within a quarter mile of this place I might have been in a pickle.

The loading went fast and it was Friday so finding a parking spot wasn't bad at all. I decided to do my 34 hour reset right here at the Pilot. Not my favorite kind or truck stop especially for a 34 hour reset but the showers are free. Gotta take the good with the bad.

My turn signals are acting screwy so tomorrow on I-70 I'm gonna stop at the TA just inside of Ohio and have them fix it. Thought about waiting till Monday when odds are they will pull me into Laurinburg, but having them fix the truck in the middle or beginning of the week is not very conducive to getting work assignments and tallying up a good amount of miles.

Tomorrows destination should be Mount Airy, NC again, but that all depends on how long it takes the TA to get me back under way. We will just have to wait and see.

Until then......

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/17/2010

What do you do when the day comes off exactly as planned? Admittedly I was lucky another driver going to the same place had arrived at 6am and still had another 2 hours or so to wait before his load would be ready. Apparently the trailer type he needed wasn't available earlier when it was suppose to be. As I said today went off perfectly and I ended the day at Brintle's in Mount Airy, NC.

I tried they buffet here for the first time and while not the best buffet I've encountered on America's highways it was far from the worst. When I woke up we are parked in here like sardine's and a few drivers decided to make a few spots.

On a somewhat sad note they have changed my FM today. I've been moved off the trainee board. During normal economic times this would probably would have happened quite a while ago. Anyway her sarcastic and slightly smart ass rapier wit will be sorely missed, especially when I am taking myself too seriously. All our Fms in Laurinburg are good from what I can tell, but she was my first. So with the changing of the guard we march on.

Hope you have a nice day

Bookerz out

03/15/2010

Well today's consignee is just a block away from another I delivered to a couple of weeks ago. Once untarped it took them aibout an hour to get started with the unloading, but they started it went pretty quick. Once unloaded I battened down the trailer equipment and took off. There isn't anyone down in this neck of the woods to load this kind of trailer. So northward was the mantra today.

As I meandered up I-95 I got the deadhead order to Laurinburg. In the afternoon they changed their mind and sent me a work assignment. I'll be picking up a load in Richburg, SC and taking it to Dewitt, IA for Friday. So this is turning into quite the nice week as far as mileage goes.

I could have put another 100 miles on but the lazy bug got a hold on me and wouldn't let go. Well the target for today is Mount Airy, NC. That is assuming the load is ready for pick up.

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

03/15/2010

What a nice weekend! Mostly chilled out and ate good food and watched some movies on the tube. I was wondering now that we are digital can we still call it the “tube”.

We watched The Hurt Locker on VOD (video on demand) and either it wasn't as liberal/anti- war as I expected or I missed the point. In either case we enjoyed watching the movie.

We also had breakfast for dinner, my personal favorite. With it we had a desert of fresh strawberries, blueberries, black berries, raspberries with a whip cream base. Life is good!

Well onto today. I got up when my wife normally gets up to goto work 2am. By the time I myself primed with a cup of coffee. I was pulling out of the house shortly before 3am. That would put me in Southern Florida mid to late afternoon. And so it was. It leaves me about 150 miles to drive in the morning by 8am. At which point due to the trailer type I have I should be dead heading upto Laurinburg, Nc tomorrow. That will put me back up there sometime late Wednesday.

Oh BTW the song of the day was … Sway by Dean Martin

Have a nice day

Bookerz

White sox stadium in Chicago

From chicago

03/12/2010

Seldom has this occurred. The loaders in Mt Holly and I were in perfect sync. I was the first truck in this morning and they wanted me out of the way. I needed to secure and tarp a load and drive 550 miles to get home. And it worked perfectly 2 hours and 15 minutes after my appointment time I pull out of the bay totally ready to roll. Sweet!!

Now the next question Take the I81/I77/I85 route which involves some pulls, but is 40 miles shorter. Or the US15/I270/I495/I95/I85 route that involves significant traffic risk from DC to Richmond, but no pulls. With it being Friday the DC corridor seems its worse on Friday. Add to it the fact that I am in a hurry which always calls the traffic jams out of hiding. I decided on the country route. Once I got out of the mess which Pennsylvanians call I-81 it was a relatively smooth ride. The whole day involved a misty rain until I got south of Charolotte where once it got dark the sky decided to let loose with a real rain storm for about 40 miles. But I-85 from Charolotte to Greenville is always a bit of white knuckle driving even in the best of weather.

I figured at best today would be filled with aggravation and delays and I wouldn't make it home till midnight. As it turned out I rolled into the house at 8:30 and not nearly as tired as I figured. So a very nice way to start the weekend.

I have been told we will be seeing a movie called “Green Zone” a Matt Damon vehicle that extends the Bourne type action flick. More about that Monday.

Have a nice weekend

Bookerz out

03/11/2010

About four hours into today's drive I got my work assignment. Picking up a load in Mt. Holly Springs, PA for a Tuesday delivery in Miami, Fl. Not a bad way to start the week, but it won't get me home till late Friday night. Well last time at home was good and long (comparatively speaking). And I won't have to leave out until the wee hours of Monday morning.

I grabbed some pictures up in new england and once I sort through them I'll post a couple here.

They've replaced the Flying J restaurant with a Denny's here in Carlisle, PA. I spent a bit more money to eat but the quality was better as well. Sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad.

Well I had best get back to bed.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/10/2010

Well I took off and top off the tanks in Pembrooke, NY this morning. I got to Syracuse and decided a short break was in order. I set my alarm for an hour and a quarter. Fifty-five minutes into my break the qualcomm beep with a routine safety message. What makes that ironic is that yesterday I didn't receive one message nor today either unless messages I sent generated an automatic response.

This customer is pretty specific about appointment times. I didn't know this heading in so getting here early doesn't help the cause. They do have plenty of space for parking so getting here early doesn't hurt either. There is a sign outside the bay door where they receive glass. “Driver are not to help unload trucks”. I thought that was a no brainer. I mean once the tarp and securement equipment is out of the way they should handle the rest. That is pretty normal. Once they got one side of the trailer empty I went back to remove the dunage on that side of the trailer and roll up the tarp skirt. That doesn't help them it helps me to get rolling sooner. I was quickly inform that I wasn't allowed in the area while they are unloading trailers. Hmm.... That is what the sign means. To my of thinking the sign should have said “Drivers are to remain out of the unload area while unloading”. Anyway I apologized and got my skinny butt out of the area. Once they got me unloaded I put up the rest of the stuff pulled out of the bay and parked off to the side for the night.

I did get a deadhead move for MT Holly Springs, PA for the morning. Hopefully it is just a way to get me out of the northeast. I truly dislike loading out of that joint. We will just have to wait and see.

So have a good day

Bookerz out

03/09/2010

Just a quick summary.

From Cudahy I went down to our yard in Gary, In and dropped that trailer. Then I bob tailed over to Ottawa, IL. Then I grabbed a load out of there headed over to Haverhill, MA which delivers Wednesday afternoon at 5:30. A quick 1250 more miles on this week. The kind of trailer I've latched onto almost precludes being able to get another load that closes this week but the tally so far is over 2000 miles. Which is better than the last couple of weeks.

Well with the late unload time perhaps I can get a deadhead move prior to the close of business today. That will allow me to at least move in the correct direction fairly early tomorrow morning. We will just have to wait and see.

For have a nice day

Bookerz out

03/07/2010

I found a purveyor of adult beverages next to the truckstop where I am parked. And true to form I took my ebook reader and consumed a fair number pages along with the beers. It is now safe to say that my ability to read under the influence is a lot better than my ability to walk with the same amount of alcohol in my system. At any rate I safely made my way back to the truck and my ability to sleep under the influence goes on unabated.

Tomorrows appointment is for somewhere between 7am -2pm. My plan is to be there shortly after 7am in order to take advantage of the day. Hopefully the CSRs will feel the same need. That will help the week be profitable. To that end I should make my way back to bed for the night.

Have a good night

Bookerz out

03/06/2010

I hate I-80 across Ohio, Indiana there are service plazas every thirty miles or so. It never fails when I am traveling this stretch of roads that at every other service plaza my body needs to stop. Whether it is for food or munchies or the ever present bio-break. Other interstates it is not unusual for me to drive for hours on end without stopping, but not I-80. Anyway that is why I hate I-80.

Other than the aggravating service plazas todays journey was pleasant enough. I've posted a collage of the photos I took while traversing the greater Chicago metro area. That was a first for me and it being Saturday wasn't all that bad. I can imagine hitting this area at the wrong time during the week being a total pain in the butt. Of course if it had been during the week I probably would have circumvented the area to avoid the mess.

At any rate as the “where am I” section of the blog indicates I am right by Racine, WI. That leaves me a whopping 21 miles to cover Monday morning to make my delivery. So I'll have a fresh 70 hour clock on Monday and ready to roll.

Now just to fill the hours between now and Monday.

Have a nice weekend

Bookerz out

Chicago collage

 

 

03/05/2010

Whenever I have a non-glass load I seem to work myself (mentally) into a state of tension. Despite the fact that historically speaking all my non-glass loads have been easier than live loading glass.

Today was no exception. Getting to the shipper was easy. Once at the shipper they provided directions a blind man (metaphorically speaking) could follow. Actual loaders weren't the hard asses you hear stories about. Load was loaded in a timely manner. Plenty of time was provided to properly secure and tarp the load. Even the roads in and out of the shipper were decent, a somewhat rare occurrence in PA. So I've come to the conclusion. That a lot of the truckers out here are candy asses that are looking for reasons to be offended. Now that is just my opinion which is based on non-scientific data. Could it be that I am special and just get the good shippers (not likely)? Another possibility is I only see the silver lining when there is a cloud about (possible).

At any rate my luck or whatever is holding up and I shouldn't let getting system loads raise my tension level above normal safe levels.

All the above words boil down to it was a good day. I got loaded in good time and I knocked out 400 miles of the 745 I got to run. Today I discovered I have a burnt out headlight so I won't be able to take off as early as I like. But that will be tomorrows problem.

Tomorrows plan includes running the gauntlet through Chicago, Il. To date I've dipped my toes in that arena, but haven't actually had to run through the area. With tomorrow being Saturday I figure it will be a good day to test my luck. The other task to complete tomorrow is to replace my headlight. Not a particularly daunting task, but one I'll need to complete none the less.

Until tomorrow then. Have a good night.

Bookerz out

Plant where I loaded today

Thought I'd take some photos while I waited
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

03/04/2010

Well todays ending was a mirror reflection of its beginning.

I woke up this morning and broke down the racks on the trailer in anticipation of getting a system load today. At 4pm I was instructed to DH over to Mt Holly Springs and switch trailers for a load that will be loading tomorrow morning. Once I got to Mt Holly Springs I get the dubious honor of putting the racks I took down this morning back up. Hence the mirror reflection. Brings back flashbacks of military basic training of picking them up and putting them back down.

At any rate it only took a combined 80 minutes to earn $40 which equates to $30 an hour. Not bad for a non-union sort.

The load tomorrow I'll pick up around Harrisburg and run it over towards Milwaukee for a Monday delivery. What kind of load I'll get out of there is anyones guess.

Well I'm off to bed

Have a good night

Bookerz out

03/03/2010

A short 2.5 hours up the road plus a fuel stop found me at the customer today. There was a bit of snow falling as I made my way up but it wasn't enough to impede progress or bring out the daredevils that like to play smash em up on such days.

What I found when I got to the customer was a motivated one. They have to unload the product outside and as it was snowing and it is not good to get the glass wet. So a mere 2 hours later I was rolling off the property. I've had customers with all the advantages, such as an overhead crane, take more than 3 hours to unload. So these guys were hopping today.

I passed on the way in, a rest area about 15 miles south of the customers location so that was my destination to await further orders once unloaded. I waited about an hour or hour and a half before I was told to head for New Jersey. So that is where I sitting tonight. When the sun comes up I break down the racks and wait to see what is next. I could have broken them down tonight but a fit of laziness washed over me. I won't get anything before 8 or 9am tomorrow anyway so nothing lost by waiting.

I am proud to announce that the Big Apple (or traveling through it) has lost it's power to make me a nervous wreck. I still don't care to go through there, but I am comfortable with my skill level. Delivering within the city will probably still drive me crazy but passing through is ok. I used to stop short and then blast through the city in the dead of night. The last 3 times I haven't had a choice and while it is not a nice drive it isn't as bad as I used to think. SMALL VICTORIES!!

On that note

Have a good day

Bookerz out

03/02/2010

Well my NYC end of luck has come to an inglorious end. The last 4 or 5 times I had to pass through the city has gone off without a hitch. Today, while no where near as bad as it could be, not so much. From half way across the GWB to where I-95/I-295 split it was stop and go the whole way. Washington was great, Baltimore I take US50/US301, even Jersey was a breeze. And I actually hit New York at a good time because rush hour chased me out off town. I stopped at the first service plaza in Connecticut and rush hour had caught me the rest of the way out. My initial plan to go all the way to the customer failed when I decided to be lazy and drive the last 2-3 hours in the morning. Well anyway I made it to West Haven, CT and I plan to take off at 4am. Which should put me at the customer by 7am.

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

03/01/2010

After getting unloaded this morning the customer loaded up some racks going back to Laurinburg. On my way back to Laurinburg I got a preplan for a load going to Wilington, Ma for delivery Wednesday morning. I needed to grab this load and get a couple of hundred miles knocked out so I can go all the way into the customer tomorrow. Fortunately they completed this load around 4pm and I was able to take it and get up to Roanoke Rapids, NC tonight. Not quite as far as I wanted to go but it is getting late enough that finding parking farther up I-95 is in doubt. So I topped off the fuel tanks and called it a day here. I should be able to get the entire way up tomorrow for an early delivery time on Wednesday. Which can open up the possibility of getting another load that closes this week. We will just have to see how it plays out

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

02/25/2010

This one will be a short one.

It was only 4 hrs to the consignee this morning and besides a bit of heavy snow east of Raleigh, NC it was a nice ride. I got to the consignee about 11am and the receiver there was extremely nice and cooperative. I mean it was like he wanted to facilitate the receiving of the product and sending me on my way. A good deal of the companies (shippers or receivers) we deal with seem like they could care less. For this shipment both the shipper and the receiver were focused on moving the product. Good deal all the way around. Anyway once empty I sent off the empty call and then proceeded to put all the equipment away.

About an hour and several hands of Texas hold'em on the Blackberry later I get a work assignment. A load that loads sometime today and delivers in Salisbury, Nc Monday at 7am. Not a perfect homeward load, but considering market conditions nothing to complain about.

So I get to head straight home from here. I got to conspire with my daughter and tell the wife that I would be home sometime Friday evening. Kimberly (my daughter) said Cheri (my wife) was ranting a bit about my never getting home early. As a side note last time home was delayed by the ice storm north of Atlanta. Perfect I thought only 5 hours from the house. So I got home last evening about 7pm eastern time. So I'll end up with almost 72 hours at the house. Which is considerably more than usual.

Well it wasn't as short as I thought

At any rate have a nice weekend
Bookerz out

02/24/2010

Had the midas touch today. Well....almost and that is good enough for this ole boy.

I awoke a bit early as is my habit and the work assignment described the load as a single coil. So I set up the deck with coil racks and such to receive a coil weighing 44,200 lbs. With this being a brokered load there is a chance that the load description is totally wrong. Such as multiple coils and so on. Next the work assignment said not to show up for the appointment more than an hour early or an hour later than the appointment. The hour later than the appointment was the weird part. Next potential problem is sometimes steel plants take forever to get you loaded and then bust your chops to get out of the way. Next weird thing was there isn't a pick up number in the work assignment. Most places if you don't have a pick up number, well you don't get to pick up anything. With all these potential problem points I kinda figured today might turn into one hassle after another.

But this is how it played out.

I left the truck stop early enough to arrive 30 minutes prior to the appointment. The highway was crawling at 30 mph till I got considerable closer to Toledo, OH and road conditions improve quite a bit. So that I ended up only 5 minutes prior to my appointment. So far so good. I pull up to the guard shack and before I can explain anything the guard hands me my pick sheet to give the loader. She tells my to pull in the door all the way to the right (no backing! Sweet!!). I take a second to look at the pick sheet. Load description is right and the destination is right so far so good. Next I pull into the building there isn't truck one in here. Wow!. I pull up to the indicated spot. Hop out with load sheet in hand the factory guy waves me off and says just get your deck set up. He said it nicely though. So I pull the strap that is holding down my coil racks and put on a couple of coil pads. I soon as I get the coil pads on here comes my coil. Then he wants my pick sheet signs it and hands it back. Then he starts talking about his son and the weather and where I was going and and. Nice guy usually you can't get them to answer simple questions and this guy is talking my ear off. I did during the course of the conversation ask him if I should secure and tarp the load here. He said if it is going to take you a while to pull off to the side and secure it there. Cool inside out of the weather what could be better. An hour and fifteen minutes after pull in the building I'm pulling out secured, tarped and ready to roll. And don't you know the tarp job actually looks like a professional did the job. Will miracles never cease. Everything I was worried about was for naught.

Now the only bad thing about this load is the “up the hill down the hill” pull the the Virginas on I-77. It was overcast all day but until I got to US35 in southern Ohio there hadn't been any precipitation. Once there it decided to snow and the further south I got the heavier the snow. Once in West Virgina it even had some freezing rain for a bit. The whole time I am thinking Charleston is going to be a nightmare and rush hour to boot. Once I got east of Nitro on I-64 though it dried up at least until I got to the higher elevations on I-77 where it snowed some more. So now I am thinking to get out of the mountains at least before I call it a day. Perhaps I won't have to face snow/ice covered roads in the morning. So I made it to the new Loves' at exit 1 in Virgina and called it a day.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

02/22-23/2010

I need to get back in gear skipping days and all that.

Well the run up to to Fenton, MI went off without a hitch. You can park at the consignee and looks like there is a nice eatery across the road. I had arrived at 3:30 and didn't feel hungry yet. I crawled back into the bunk to relax for a FEW. Ten O'clock I woke up and dreams of a decent non microwaved dinner crumbled. Messed around a bit and went back to bed.

My appointment time was 8am so about a quarter till I checked in. Ah you'll be back in that door over there. Kool so I moved the truck and started backing in towards the bay. A forklift driver pops out the door. He is dumping scrap into the bin and has one more if I can wait a minute. Alright 10 min later he comes out the door with his final load. I finish lining up with the door. Go in and see if the door can open. Another place that stacks finished product in the receiving door area. And I will have to wait for it to be cleared. By now I've come to the conclusion that being anything other than mr patience is just going to ruin my day. After everything was said and done I was empty at 11am. Could have been worse.

An hour later I get a message go ahead and break down your racks. I don't mind this the air hammer has made doing this a simple thing. But today the air hammer has decided to retire and I gave away the ratchet to do it manually to a friend of mine. I'm only 10 miles from Flint, MI and there is a Home Depot and Lowes across the street from each other. I didn't know all this prior to today, I hopped on the Internet and looked it up on google. Anyway I exchanged the air hammer for a replacement and purchased a manual ratchet for just in case. I doubt that next time I'll be so lucky as to have both or one of the places that close. Anyway I got the racks broke down and called and let the boss know.

About 4pm I start thinking about the eatery across the street again. If they just leave me here tonight. So I begin to stare at the qualcomm, don't beep, don't beep …. ..........

4:25 beep (crap)

Dreams of tasty morsels banished again, but I am going to start making money again.

Well I'm picking up a coil in Walbridge, OH tomorrow morning and taking it down to Clinton, NC for Thursday or Friday and depending on how the pick up goes will determine when it is delivered. Although Thursday would be better because this weekend is hometime.

Now that I'm caught up you have a good day!

Bookerz out

02/21/2010

The drive down to Laurinburg to grab my load went rather well. And the trip up into to Virgina was nice as well. It was a rather toasty 69 degrees when I took off in Candor, NC and only 49 degrees at 8pm in Hicksville, VA.

I don't know about you but if I lived here I seriously consider changing the name. I can't imagine a high tech or any other self respecting business locating there. Think about having to recruit new hires to work/live there. It would be a rough sell.

Well I left myself 490 miles to go tomorrow and the location has overnight parking. So that is the goal for tomorrow.

Have a good night

Bookerz out

02/20-21/2010

Friday evening I had decided to do my reset in Laurinburg. So I took off rather late after my 10 hour break and a nap. I only made it to Candor, NC and the last 60 miles were looking like a million miles. To hell with it. I can grab a shower here and there is a Wendy's to eat at should I be starving. So here I sit in Candor taking a reset. It is a nice Wilco quiet for the most part.

I had arrived here about 2am and went to sleep. I didn't wake up till 9 and for some reason I didn't make my morning coffee. I grabbed a shower about 11:30 soon after I got back to the truck I started getting a bad headache. It was one of those headaches that cause you to sweat and upset your stomach. I rarely get these and could only figure it came from two different things. Either the food I ate last night for dinner, not really sure how that could give a person a headache or a low caffeine problem which has caused this kind of headache in the past. So I quickly brewed a pot of coffee and drank half of it, took two Tylenol and laid down to take a nap. Three hours later I awoke and the headache was gone. Kool.

So I spent the rest of the day listening to books and catching up my spreadsheets and being generally lazy. Wish I could say cleaning the truck was in the list of thing I had done but alas it is not.

Sunday morning –

Only 6 hours before the reset is done. Wendy's for breakfast 2 grande breakfast burritos, a sample of hash rounds, and a rootbeer. First time I've eaten at Wendy's for breakfast may not be the last time but I won't be going out of my way to eat breakfast there again.

Anyway the plan for this afternoon is to get to Laurinburg grab the load and get about 240 miles up the road. There is a nice rest area in VA along I-77. I think it is in the national forest up that way and if all goes to plan I should be there by 6 or 7pm.

That is all for now

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

02/19/2010 part II

Here is part two of my journey down the stupid road.

They were able to find someone else to complete the delivery. I'll need to wait here and complete a 10 hour break. Which will get me back on the straight and narrow. I will get a service failure write up which will detail my stupidity. And unless I get attacked by another case of the dumb ass in the relative near future it shouldn't represent a problem over the long haul. Just when you think your done with rookie mistakes.

Enough kicking my own butt and on with the show.

I did get another work assignment this afternoon. Picking up in Laurinburg over the weekend and delivery in Fenton, MI. This will be my first glass delivery to the state of Michigan. I did delivery a steel coil in Sawyer once. I'm taking it up on a step deck so who knows what the back haul will be. We will just have to wait till Tuesday for that drama to unfold.

On another positive note. There is a sit down restaurant at this truck stop and I'm going to give it a whirl. Let you know later how that turns out.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

02/18/-19/2010 part 1

Thursday 02/18/2010

Well I dashed down to Mount Holly Springs, Pa and got there by 6:30am. If I had been thinking I would have waited a couple of hours and got there later and more sleep. There was no way I was going to to hear or know anything till 9am est. Sure enough 9:15 beep work assignment. Picking up 3pm and delivering at noon Friday. Well Iback into a bay a little before 3 and finally pull out at 6:30pm. And off to sleep I went.

Now here comes the stupid part

Friday 02/19/2010

I got just under 400 miles to the customer. 8Hrs driving time. I got to stop for fuel. .25 hrs. And for good measure I'll throw an hour in just in case I get sleepy and have to pull over for a short nap. So without consideration as to when the previous day ended I set my alarm clock. And away I went this morning. Well I did stop for fuel, but I didn't get sleepy. So I get a call right after I turn on HWY220 in Roanoke, VA. “YOUR BREAK LAST NIGHT WASN'T LONG ENOUGH. I have to shut you down.” But, But, But all to no avail the boss was right. Now speaking to myself “You dumbass you got yourself hoisted on your petard. Anyway I went to the nearest truck stop out on I-81 and they are trying to find someone not quite so stupid to relay the load. They may try but I don't think they'll be able to beat up on me more than I already have.

I have to continue this once I see how it plays out.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

02/17/2010

Sometimes it pays more to get up early than others. Take today for example. I got up at 3am main goal was to beat the traffic in Toronto and perhaps grab a nap when I got to the consignee while I was waiting to get unloaded. I did beat the traffic it was thickening up but there wasn't any traffic snarls. And when I got there at 7am the unloaders came out and asked if I was ready to unload. I explained my appointment wasn't until 10am but that I would be glad to get unloaded. He said the 7am delivery was late and that he would take me now. SWEET!! So now I'm three hours ahead of schedule. Let see if the dispatchers can continue this roll of good luck.

Ahh it was not meant to be. The three plus hours I saved on the front end was wasted on the back end. Such is life. My initial deadhead move was to Laurinburg, but that has since changed. I am now dead heading to MT. Holly Springs, PA and grab a load that delivers some where in Canada sometime Friday. That is the extent of my knowledge. I truly dislike loading at this facility, but it is one of our customers. They are still ironing out the details so we will just have to wait and see how this plays out.

It started snowing shortly after I began driving out of Canada and now that I am 240 miles away from my start location it is still snowing. I've got to start pretty early in the morning so here is hoping the roads are in good shape once I begin rolling. We'll just have to wait and see.

My wife stocked me up on a few items before I left the house and tonight I finish the refrigerated items. Last night the stuffed shells and deep fried pork chops were consumed with great enjoyment. Imagine the sleep with a stuffed belly caused by stuffed shells. Life is good! Tonights dinner will consist of Ruth's chicken salad (a personal favorite) and Tostitos with dip as a side. As a follow blogger says “Good times, Good times”.

Have a good day

Bookerz out

02/16/2010

Today was fairly mundane. Up by 3am, out to the plant, cinch down the load and away we go.

I was heading up the road by four am to today's target of Kanona, NY.

When I say mundane I mean mundane. No traffic in Washingtion to speak off, Harrisburg, PA was a breeze, even Washington, PA where the traffic usually isn't an issue, but the stoplights every 100 yards can be, was easy today. It did start snowing during the last 20-30 miles into Kanona, NY, but as I blog you it has stopped. Like I said mundane, hopefully the 230 miles I have left to Concord, ON will take heed and follow today's example.

Bets for tomorrow after unloading.

70% Laurinburg

10% Mt Holly << ewwwwwwww!!

10% Carleton, MI

10% Ottawa, IL <<-- Least likely, but most hoped for. I feel the need for a Sausage burger

Have a nice day

Bookerz out

With the freeway looking like a parking lot. Damn this traffic jam. Damn

The title for today's post is a line from a James Taylor song from the 70s. And for Friday night it aptly describe I-85 north of Atlanta, GA. Apparently there was a major accident around the 126-127 mile marker. This shut down traffic for hours. This allowed the precipitation that was falling north of the accident time to actually freeze to the roadway. Georgia was not prepared for the combination of events and considering their normal weather patterns this is not much of a surprise. The state troopers initially wanted us to just get off the interstate. And go where was the natural question. Again, initially the answer was head south. Atlanta was starting to have it's own problems and really wasn't a good option. Taking secondary roads around wasn't a good option because the roads out there if anything were worse off than the interstate. Naturally the area around the accident isn't designed to accommodate that much stalled traffic. So nature took it's course and I-85 became a parking lot for the night. I slept fitfully in the drivers seat wanting to make sure I didn't miss when the traffic would start moving again. I and thousands of other truck drivers basically got a ten hour break in while sitting in the middle of the freeway. At 7 or 8 o'clock the next morning the traffic cautiously began to move.

Anyway I made it home around noon and that is where I'll be until Monday morning. I scheduled for noon at a construction site in Charlotte, NC. I will probably deadhead to Laurinburg from there, but I have a flatbed trailer so anything is truly possible.

Have a nice weekend
Bookerz out

02/12/2010

02/11 – 02/12/2010

Blogging in the northbound granny lane. Yep stuck behind some pile up on I-85 north of Atlanta. So while at any moment we might be able to move 10 to 100 feet I am not blogging while in motion, but technically while I am driving.

02/11/2010

Got there the place was further down the street than originally thought. They had to load one of their trucks first. Once they accomplished that they started on my load. They took forever, or so it seemed, finally at noon they finished my 8am delivery. I send in my empty call. About an hour later I give them a call. Head to the nearest truck stop. Now I am in North Miami, Fl and truck stops are a bit rare in this neck of the woods. So I opted for the nearest rest area which was 90 miles north. I figured at the very least I'll be headed in the right direction. Once I get to the rest area I wait around for an hour. Fire off a qualcomm message and 15-20 minutes later I get a deadhead move to Palmetto, FL. Where I was would have been the best place to be cause I could have gotten on I-75 and followed it straight up. But here I got on US70 and scooted straight across the state. Got to the rest area at SunCity, FL and called it a day.

02/12/2010

Scheduled to pick up the load at noon. Still needed to break down the glass racks and I wanted to make it over there by 10am. Just to see if I could get loaded earlier. They were happy to see me so good deal. Took off and made it through the Florida rain and thirty miles into Georgia it turned into snow at some points quite heavy snow. Once I got to Macon the snow almost tapered off to nothing. I saw a warning sign about the back up on I-85 northbound but figured it would clear up before I got there or shortly thereafter WRONG on both counts.

So here I sit catching up on my blog in the middle of the interstate.

Have a nice weekend
Bookerz out