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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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210706 MN-KS 1 trash truck heading to Edwardsville KS ... spending the night at Kansas City MO I had agreed to this trip, the truck needed to be delivered 'this week.' After I had mentioned to dispatch about leaving Monday, I realized that some people were still considering Monday as part of the long weekend. We did go and get my paperwork over the weekend so that would be one less thing to do this AM. We pull out about 7:30. It is a 95 minute drive to the shipper. In about the last town we go through before getting to the shipper, I was following a semi. But not really paying to much attention to him. We get to a four way stop and I remember another semi turning our way and the one ahead of me turning at the same time. Then it was my turn. There was a car who got there about the same time and they let me go. As soon as I was turned I saw a state trooper in the oncoming traffic. When I am about a car length from him, his lights go on. As soon as I am past him, he makes a U-turn. I am trying to think of what I did ... I was at a complete stop at the stop sign. I was in my own lane, I hadn't gotten up to speed. But I pull to the side of the road as soon as I clear parked cars. And he passes ... whew. ... and he pulls over the semi. I'm not sure if the semi had stopped at the four way stop, or if the trooper would have been able to see it with the other truck turning. I'm guessing either a random ... or the semi driver was using his phone. That is a $2,000 fine for the driver and up to an $11,000 fine for the company. I thought it had been more evenly split between the driver and company. It had been raining most of the trip today but about five miles from the drop it stopped raining. 1st stop - Dodge Center at the shipper. The area where drivers park their cars was almost empty. And the shippers lot was as empty as I have seen it. And mine was the only key in the box. I had looked up the drop and seen that their other trucks were lime green. So that was what we were looking for when we got to the lot. We saw one, and then another. But the 'other' one had a Canadian web address displayed on the side of the truck. That narrowed it down. No long walks this AM. I should have worked quicker. As I start to put on my first placard, it starts to rain. And by the time I get to the second placard I need to wipe it dry and try to tape the placard on. And I did that as soon as I had started the truck, some times it is the last thing I do. No issues. Before I leave, I call dispatch to let them know I am leaving now (and not yesterday.) We haven't been this way for a while so it was interesting to see the work being done on US-14. They are making it four lane between Dodge Center and Owatonna. It is already four lane from Dodge Center to Rochester. On this stretch they are moving the road about a mile south away from the old road and south of any towns. BB does an extra stop at the rest area near Owatonna. 2nd stop is the BP truckstop at Dows. Arby's for lunch. They do have the chicken salad sandwich so that is what I get. And only eat one of the two slices of bread. We eat in the car. I hadn't seen anyone in the station with a mask on, but as we sit in the car I do see two more people in the next half hour that are wearing masks. There is an RV out of Forest City going to northern MN but we do not grab it. We are already tight on time and that would add a few more hours and make it harder to stop at home to switch to vacation mode. But it would make for a good paying trip. 3rd stop gets changed from a rest area to the Pilot near Osseola for fuel. I am down to about a quarter of a tank of fuel and am just over half way there. So I fill it. The tank is on the wrong side of the truck so I can not see how much fuel I am putting in. 48 gallons, over a half a tank of fuel. I may be leaving a lot of fuel. From here I call the drop, they text me back. We end up texting back and forth a few times. I will have to find out why he has an Isanti phone number. That's near where I grew up ... and he is using it in Kansas. BB does another extra stop. This time at the Pilot in Kearney for car fuel. I had planned on stopping there but she made a reservation from Ossceola so I knew where we were going. Sort of. I never looked at a map. I was just going to follow the airport signs. And I did. Even though I knew it was not the one I had looked at earlier. But it worked. I just follow my nose ... and the airport signs. I knew where the hotel was from the airport. I just didn't know how we were getting to the airport. 4th and final stop is at the Sleep Inn near MCI airport. Because we knew the area. It was easier that trying to find something else that would work. BB had gotten to the hotel ahead of me and was saving me a spot. This hotel has a lot of people who leave their cars while they fly to wherever. But they do a good job of keeping those cars ... and trucks in the rear. We get parked and check in. Then order food from Cracker Barrell to go. Good food. Too much. The RV to northern is now gone. Load Board US - 288 IA - 78 MN - 5 WI - 12 Once we drop tomorrow about 8 AM we will have another 8 hours to get back home. So we should be home by 4 PM. Then leave again tomorrow about 11 AM for vacation. 210707 MN-KS 1 RV heading to Edwardsville KS (delivered) ... spending the night at home Breakfast? Grab and go ... and throw. The main item was something that only had directions for a conventional oven, no directions for microwave. BB tried nuking it but she could tell that it was not 'pre-cooked' so we decided to throw them and get something after we drop the truck. Partly because we didn't actually eat breakfast, we are ready to go before 7:30. The desk clerk did ask how are stay was, but I got the feeling that they were not really expecting an answer so I didn't answer. 1st stop is at the drop. Someone pulls in just after I do so I aske them where I find Mark. Mark isn't there and neither is the next person they say I should talk to. But someone is willing to look at it and sign so I am good. In and out in 15 minutes. As soon as they sign we are off their property and looking for the closest place to park so BB can fax in copies of the paperwork. We find a lot a block away and she faxes. Next we look for food. Close before we leave town. 2nd stop is halfway back to the hotel there is a Burger King near the KC Speedway. I see the 'loaded' croissant. It comes with egg, cheese, bacon ... and ham and sausage. I get one. One was enough, I will likely never get another. Too much food, I don't need that much at breakfast. And I had eaten a muffin at the hotel. 3rd stop is at the rest area about 10 miles north of Kearney. I get out and stretch while I wait for BB. 4th stop was at the rest area near Osceola. 5th stop was in Ankeny for treats. Culvers. The line was long but they were quick. The usual. BB gets one scoop of the flavor of the day and I get a blue berry malt. 6th stop was for the fuel and rest room in Clear Lake. Our usual stop is Pilot but today Pilot was $.06 more than Kwik Star/Trip. So we saved ourselves $.30 on a tank of fuel. :) 7th and final stop is home. Load board US - 307 IA - 91 MN - 6 WI - 5 There had been two out of Dodge Center going to IA. Nice short trips that my other company usually gets. I didn't get a chance to call on them before they were gone. Just curious, not able to take them. Shortest trip out of IA is going to Springfield MO. One of the new 'hot spots' for Covid. Not sure we would take that one right now if we were wanting to work. If we work at all next week it will be Thursday and/or Friday. On vacation until then. |
