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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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200103 NC-IL 1 Tree truck to Romeoville, IL ... Made it to Dayton, OH tonight. We were not up at 6 AM local today. 6 AM central, yes. Breakfast was eggs, sausage and yogurt again. Nothing outdated here. It has been really slow at the motels this week. Half dozen cars max, at 80-100 room motels. Should have asked more questions yesterday about paperwork. Got to the company just before 8 AM when everyone was getting to work. Everything was fenced in, passes needed to get into the parking lots. So we kept driving down the street and finally got to where trucks were lined up on both sides. ?? The third truck we looked at the number of was mine. It was open, keys in side ... and their paperwork said to leave a copy in the box. I thought I would have to talk to someone. It seems they pull the trucks out to this area when the 1st employees get here and then it is self serve. So we were in and out in about a half hour. A nice big Ford with the kind of box they blow wood chips into. Club cab so lots of room for luggage. No issues so we sign the paperwork and go. I was wondering why I hadn't seen this place from the road. It is tucked behind the airport and to get there by road is about three miles. The way the crow flies, about a block off the highway. Truck came with a quarter of a tank of fuel. That would have been good ... but we were going to go 'a few' miles out of route to return the rental car before heading out. As I'm driving the opposite direction from my drop there is a van following me and I'm thinking that it is the shipper wondering where I am going :) They finally exit the freeway two exits before I do. I had looked at the map this AM and noticed the software wasn't routing us 'my way.' I ended up taking my way and found out why ... the bridge over the railroad tracks is gone. So we had to follow the detour. Both BB and I had fueled before we got on the freeway, but the rental car dropped below F so BB stopped again before the airport and topped it off. So I got there before she did. Not a busy airport so I was able to park a big truck a few feet from the door and wait for her. Once BB was in the truck we headed back, though the detour. Oh, on the side street before we got to the airport there was a guy walking down the (almost) center of our lane yelling at someone, somewhere. When we came back about 10 minutes later he had walked about another block and now was just standing in the street. Not doing anything other than just standing there. Fuel gauge hadn't moved in the 1st 30 miles so that was good. But I did need to stop and make a couple of calls so we stopped at the 1st rest area past my pickup point :) 1st stop was fuel in Mount Airy at an Exxon. 2nd <> stop was the airport to return the car. 3rd stop was in Fancy Gap, VA at the rest area. BB used the rest room and I called the drop and got the OK for a Saturday delivery and then called dispatch and left a message that I was on the road. We had to cross a few scales today, but no issues. Lots of fog and rain all day. I think the only time all day when I didn't have the wipers on was when I wasn't in the truck ... 4th stop was less than an hour later at the TA in Wytheville. Computer said that fuel was going to be $.10 cheaper than the other truckstops ... it wasn't. I guess the computer hadn't been updated, didn't ask. As long as we were stopped we ate at the Taco Bell. This TA had a Subway, Popeyes, Taco Bell and a Country Pride (sit down restaurant.) We were there about 11 AM local and the Country Pride did not have a single customer the whole time. ??? Lots of up and down for the next couple of hours. Tunnels, rain, fog, mountains. 5th stop was at a rest area in WV, Kimberly. An oasis on the toll way. I-pass is working, but I still go through the lanes that have a human just in case. Charleston, WV. We saw a sign that said left lane closed ahead so we got in the right lane ... as traffic continued to fly by in the left lane. Finally we get to where the accident was and it was cleared, all lanes opened. BB had been watching the route and knew there was more slow down ahead. Again, left lane closed so I get in the right lane as people keep flying by. Finally I get in the middle and then the right lane. It is hard to do when you have a truck, and are stopped, and the other traffic is flying by. We did make much better time in the left lane until we got to the accident. Not sure what happened but a semi was jack-knifed on the freeway and was missing his rear tractor tires. All three lanes were closed and traffic was going past single file on the shoulder. Now I know, when the signs say '___ lane closed ahead' ... get in that lane until you can't go any further in that lane. Second time today, third time this trip. This time it cost us over an hour to go less than 10 miles. BUT ... we were able to keep driving, we weren't hauled away. Too foggy to see how far the work is getting on US-35 in WV. 6th stop ... We had planned on stopping at the 2nd rest area in OH, but after our delays we stopped at the 1st one near Rio Grande. We weren't sure how far we were going to go, before or after our delay. We had talked about getting past Dayton so even with the delay I kept driving and made it ... long after dark again. 7th and final stop is the Comfort Inn in Englewood, just NW of Dayton. And we ate next door at the Waffle House. As we were getting out of the truck, BB saw a man walking over to us. After a little chit-chat, he hit us up for money. Nope. After we were in our room we looked out the window to see if we could see him, we couldn't so not sure where he was hiding out. Later I did notice what looked like a homeless cart hiding behind the Waffle House. Food at the Waffle House was good. It had been over seven hours since we ate last so anything not bad would taste good. We each had a burger. Other than us there were two other guys in a booth and they had their three grade school kids sitting at the counter. BB was watching the board today. All the trucks going to IL got taken and nothing else got put on the board until the very end of the day and none of that going to the midwest. But for a few minutes there was a truck from FL to River Falls, WI and then a truck from WI to FL. Those were quickly gone, and then there was a truck from Hudson to CA. Later there was another truck from WI to FL and one from FL to WI, but all were gone very quickly. But it gives us something to think/talk about, the what if's. There was also an RV to CA for a while, and ones to FL and the Carolina's ... and one from OR to NC, a nice cross country trip. But by the end of the day there were five RV's out of IA, no two going to the same place. So for now we will drop on Saturday and make it part way to Forest City. Then do the rest of the trip home on Sunday and be watching the board on Monday. Weather is if'y heading west so we will most likely try to get something back down the SE. But it all depends on what is available. Insurance has gotten the estimate on the glass breakage in CA so now they want to talk to us/me. We still haven't decided if we'll file a claim on the other issues yet. So two agents called me today, I talked to my local agent but was driving when the other one called so that is now on the list for Monday. 200104 NC-IL 1 Tree truck, dropped in Romeoville, IL ... Made it back to Cedar Rapids tonight. Breakfast? Mini omelett, ham, yogurt. Apple juice was water, OJ had a little kick, the pineapple orange was a little flat but OK. Very few cars in this lot in the AM either, quite a few more over at the Waffle House. Where I thought was a homeless cart last night was a garbage can this AM. ??? Still dark when we left but light shortly after. Had to cross the scale coming into IN, sat on the scale a minute or two and then got the green light. Not sure what they were checking. Noticed they did the same thing to the empty truck ahead of us. 1st stop was the Greenfield rest area just east of Indy. Thought we'd make it past Indy but didn't. Doesn't make much difference, we were going to stop twice before delivery. 2nd stop was Demott, IN at the Love's. I had planned on making it further but my range dropped ... and Loves had the cheaper fuel. I make the mistake of asking BB what she wanted to do for food. I should have asked what SHE was going to do for food while I fueled. The drop said they would be there until 1 PM and I wanted to make it before then if I could. At Pilot/Flying J, you swipe your credit card first and then your rewards card. At Loves, you swipe your rewards card first ... UNLESS you are paying with a company card. I messed it up the first time so it took a little longer. For fuel, I knew that when the range was at 145-155, I was at a 1/4 of a tank of fuel. So I did the math of how much fuel I would need when I reached that level and then added one more gallon. 3rd ... stop ... Midway. Not sure what was going on in Chicago today, but the routing software kept changing our route. It changed one more time just as we went past the point of no return. We went up Cicero avenue, eight miles of stop lights and 35 mph speed limit. Right when we were at the stoplight at the corner of the airport. BOOOOoooommmm ... a plane came in right over our heads. It looked like the wheels just cleared the fence next to the sidewalk. Luckily there was a turn lane to get into the rental car area so I put on my flashers and let BB out. No one coming at that moment. Not shoulder on these streets so the UPS person and anyone else, just blocks one lane of traffic. BB had fun trying to find her way into the rental area, she finally had to walk in where the cars drove in, any doors there were, were locked. 20 more miles and I was at the customer ... with a range of nine miles to spare. So I wouldn't have needed that extra gallon :) I drove around back of their building figuring they would be working in the shop. Those doors were open so I walked in and everyone was standing eating. Company must have bought food. They had told me where to park the truck when I had called, but today they wanted it right where it was. Soon as my stuff was out they backed it around and started loading it. The guy who signed for it, never came out to look at it or had anyone else look at it. All he asked about was the plates. I knew nothing about them and he said the last eight trucks didn't have them either ... I had noticed at pickup that there was a place to sign if I had gotten them. I didn't get them so I didn't sign. BB got there a few minutes later and we loaded up and were off. 5th stop ... off to RAX. One of the five Rax still open is in Joliet, IL. We have stopped at this location a few times. It was a couple of miles out of route but nothing compared to the side trips to the airports. We both had the Big Rax. Lots of staff for the few customers. When we left the place was empty. But by then it was 2 pm. Oh ... I made a $100+ on the fuel and that was after the side trips to the airport. From Rax we were about a mile off of I-80. Nothing exciting there. 6th stop was the rest area / welcome center near Davenport. We weren't sure how far we were going to make it so we didn't make reservations until we were in Cedar Rapids. It was after sunset and from here it is 5 hours to the airport and we have to have the rental car back about noon. So we should be able to make it. 7th and final stop, Cedar Rapids. First at Wendy's for food and then Comfort Inn for the night. After eating at 2, we weren't hungry but knew we wouldn't want to go back out. Wendy's was the closest except for the doughnut shop. We used to stay at the Clarion, but they lost their franchise when the employee's didn't get paid. Now it's a Ramada and we haven't stayed there again. Yet. Lots of kids here tonight and loud. Christmas party was just winding down. I've been out of the room since and all is quiet. At our motel last night there were cookies sitting out, we grabbed two when we checked in, another two when we came back from the Waffle House and another two this morning after breakfast. Some of the Comfort Inns have cookies in the evening others don't. When we checked in tonight I could see the empty cookie rack sitting behind the counter so I commented about it. The person said they would make more as the others were gone already. (Usually it's when they are gone, they're gone) About an hour later I get a knock on the door, the person delivered a plate of six cookies ... we ate them all ... they were good. Didn't need that many. Unusual for a Saturday but work added RV's to the board. It is up to 28. Two to CA, FL, MN, MD, Greer and a bunch to NJ. We've done the NJ before and it's fair money but no chance of a 2nd leg. The CA are too far from the buses to make the connection and be back in two weeks. The FL are along the same route, but then it would be 700 miles back up to NC to get work. So we MAY try to get the Greer on Monday. Only one is a non-towable so the pay will be a little less. Right now there are two trucks out of NC going to MS, about 600 miles but who knows what will be there by next week. Maybe another IL ... or MN. So this trip is done, we have another five hours to get home tomorrow. Then take about 24 hours off and leave out again by Monday after noon. 200105 NC-IL Heading home, made it home. Breakfast wasn't until 7 AM on weekends so we decided to pass and get going at 6:30. Driving in the dark ... again. Today I hit a deer with the rental car ... the carcass but still, it was dark and I didn't see it in time to swerve. Saw the first parts of it and thought there sure wasn't much left of it, then 'ku-klunk.' Guess I was too busy looking at the first parts to be looking ahead where there was more. No damage, just more reason to be off the road and stay off the road when it is dark. 1st stop, Flying J near Waterloo. Only had enough fuel to get an hour down the road this AM. Fuel had been cheaper last night but ... 2nd stop was the McDonalds in Clear Lake, it's the only fast food place that is open for breakfast. Not a fan of their breakfast, wish they would server burgers all day instead. Had thought of just getting potato cakes, but ended up with a McGriddle. Ate the stuff off of it and left most of the bread. There had been slow in Forest City so they were busy moving snow. 3rd stop, pickup the van at the lot. No issues. Guess the roads had been icy up in MN, there was a semi tractor and two pups in the ditch, everyone was going past on the shoulder. No highway signs before it, but everyone got in the left lane including me. Then a few miles later when we came over the hill we could see it was in the left lane so everyone got over to the right lane. Should have just stayed in the open lane. Was only waiting for BB a few minutes when she texted and said it would be a little bit. Later she would tell me the delay was because she had picked the car up early ... and they had charged her for gas. The first is an ongoing issue with Avis. If your reservation is for 2 PM, and you pick it up at 1 PM they charge you for an extra day without taking into account when you are going to return it. The 2nd is they 'assume' you are going to drive it less than 75 miles and not put fuel in it. So you have to have to prove you have added fuel ... yes, we left it with a range of 40 more miles than when we picked it up. We did go over our 'one day' by about 4 minutes because of the accident this AM, but that was not the issue today. Good thing we did get going early. It would have cost us if we hadn't. "Home again ... safe at last ..." ... from the Berenstain Bears, Spooky Old Tree |
