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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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210712 MN-NE 1 cement truck heading to Hastings NE ... spending the night at home (or not at work) We have been on vacation since the 8th. On the 9th I got a call from the local dispatch wanting me to go to Omaha. Sorry. Today I am still on vacation and I get another call from the same company. This time they want me to work as soon as we get back. The shipper actually wanted this truck delivered on Thursday, but our car will be in the shop Thursday AM so they are good with getting the truck Friday. Plan is to pick up the truck as soon as we get our car out of the shop. And get as far as we can on Thursday. We need to be back by Friday night because early Saturday AM we have to take someone to the airport. Load board US - 176 IA - 34 MN -0- WI -0- So we will be gone one night and then home again for the weekend. And then I have a 'pre-DOT' dr appointment on Tuesday. 210715 MN-NE 1 cement truck heading to Hastings NE ... spending the night at York NE Before I accepted this trip, we had made an appointment to get our car into the shop. So when I was offered this trip, we did the math and we could still get the trip done if we left by noon on Thursday. But when I dropped the car off Wednesday night, they said they might work on it yet that night. And they did. But we already had our plans set to leave Thursday so we stuck to that, we just left earlier than expected. Alarm did go off this AM. Rolling at 7:30. Once I realized, remembered we needed fuel there was only one more station on the 'right' side of the highway and their card readers don't always work. So we ended up at the Pilot in Inver Grove Heights. And we paid $.09 less a gallon than we would have at the other place. It wasn't too hard to find my truck in the lot. The shipper is mostly done building mixers so there are only a couple of them. ... before I start doing my paperwork for my inspection I see that I have the check engine light on. So phone calls are made. Then I get the truck inspected, but don't do the paperwork until I get a call back. I had three questions, the only one they answered the first time was on the warning light. Take the truck to a shop a half a mile away. So I call back on my 2nd question. The truck is missing something but I am told to just note it on the paperwork. While I am on the phone, someone from the shipper is looking at a truck close by. So I ask if I can ask a question. My drum isn't turning and I don't know how to start it. Luckily this guy still knew how to handle this as they aren't building them here anymore. And luckily I asked instead of just hitting buttons. He had to log into the trucks computer and set the drum to 'transit mode.' And then he logged back out. But it's turning, that is all I need. So I get the paperwork done and head down the road. The person I need to see at the shop is standing outside. He looks at my truck in the driveway. He clears the code and looks under the hood and says I am good to go. Light is off and stays off. But all this killed most of two hours. Glad this didn't happen on a tighter schedule. 1st stop - again - is the Arby's in Dows. We eat in the car. While we are stopped I get a call, but I don't have a name on the number so I let it go to voice mail. It is the IA dispatcher. Can we do a trip for two to CO. I call them back and let them know, but they don't even ask my name. So either they don't care who can't do it, or they know my voice. Just as I am pulling back on the freeway I see the warning light is back on. So I hit the shoulder and dispatch says I should try driving it a ways ... So I ask ... "like all the way to the drop? ;)" ... yes, was the reply. It has been years (?) since I did a cement mixer and they are not as bad as the cab over trash trucks I have been moving. BB makes a few more stops than I, but I am still stopping every 2-3 hours. 2nd stop is the Flying J in Avoca for fuel. Half the diesel island are not open and none of the gas pumps are open. I hadn't seen her but BB was just leaving when I was coming up the exit ramp. ... and the satellite pumps were not working, not an issue for me as only fuel from one side. But their card readers are not working so I have to go inside to pre-pay and then go in a second time to get my receipt. I am guessing I am making 8 mpg. I doubt I am, but that should get me near my drop and then I can top off across the street from the drop. I left way to much fuel last time. Road work ahead ... so the signs suggest a detour. Take I-880 / I-680 around Omaha instead of I-80 through Omaha. 3rd stop is at a rest area just past Gretna. I need to change my plate from MN to NE before I get to the scale. BB walks over to the truck before I get out. Houston, we have a problem. We had wanted to use rewards points for this summers trips to keep our expenses down. But that isn't the only issue. We had hoped to make it to Grand Island tonight. But they are not showing having any rooms. Not with points, not with our discount, not at full price. Same with York, same with Lincoln. And we are already past Omaha. I end up calling Grand Island. They do have two rooms available. They are not sure why the computer does not show them, my guess is the computer is programmed to allow rooms for emergencies. But those rooms are $100 more than the other times we have stayed there. We end up using our Best Western rewards and getting a room in York at a more 'normal' price. 4th and final stop is at the Best Western in York. Applebee's is inside the hotel so that is where we get food from. Load board US - 170 IA - 8 MN - 13 WI - 1 We have about 45 miles to go in the AM before our drop. Then another 500 miles home. All freeway if we choose. It is almost 60 miles shorter to take the back roads all the way home. I have done that route before, but likely not tomorrow. Then we are off for family stuff and my appointment before looking for work later next week. Right now there are two trucks out of MN on the loadboard that are less than 300 miles that would work for us. So between the two companies it looks like we should be able to keep busy. And Aug is the end of the year for our IA shipper so they usually get busy, busier. 210716 MN-NE 1 cement truck heading to Hastings NE (delivered) ... spending the night at home A breakfast that is back to 'normal. omelettes, sausage, yogurt, juice. Then back to the room. Running a little slow this AM so we were not quite going at 7:30. 1st stop is at the gas station across the street from the drop. The fuel gauge had been right on 1/4 when I was still on the freeway, then dropped as I did the cloverleaf. I had to wait for the only diesel pump and while I sat there, the gauge was back to 1/4. I added less than two gallons and as I was waiting to leave at the stop sign the gauge was over 1/4. But by the time I stopped at the customer it was back to laying on 1/4. 2nd stop was the drop. This person did a complete inspection. Dealers seem to be more picky than the actual drop. This guy noticed a scratch on the front bumper. I looked at my pictures from when I picked up the truck and yes, it was there when I picked the truck up and I missed it. We will see if this comes back to haunt me. Within 15 minutes the truck is inspected, paperwork signed and faxed and we are ready to roll. 3rd stop is back in York, this time at the rest area. While we are at the rest area I call the MN dispatcher. There had been two short trips but they are gone early. I called to ask what the minimum pay is. There isn't one. It varies by trip. But based on the numbers he did throw at me I am better off working for my local company, if there is work. BB had come through Omaha on the way out and it was no worse than usual so we headed back via I-80 through Omaha. 4th stop is at the Loves in Shelby at Chesters ... instead of McD's. BB had a shredded chicken sandwich, pre-made and none to warm. I had chicken sticks, a four pack. Only needed, only ate three of them. Today was a work call at 1 PM, it MIGHT be considered a safety meeting so we both had our phones on for an hour plus. Nothing interesting to me. 5th stop is in Ames at a Kum and Go for fuel, BB didn't want to run the range down below 40 miles. We could have saved a buck if we had made it 20 miles to Loves. 6th stop is in Clear Lake at the Culvers for custard. Drive thru only again/still. 7th stop is at the rest area near Owatonna because we couldn't use the rest room in Clear Lake. One stop for family and then home. Final stop is at home. Load board US - 126 IA - 1 (non-RV) MN - 3 WI - 2 We have two grandchild things for Saturday. Sunday is so far open. Monday is now family and Tuesday is my Dr appointment. So Tuesday PM or Wednesday will be the soonest we will be working again. We still do not plan on going over 500 miles on a trip until October. By then I should have my DOT renewed and family issues should have settled down. |
