 |
|
|
|
|
...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
|
.. the trip continues from HERE 2023 10 25 IN-IA 1 box truck to Ankeny IA ?1 RV to Altoona IA (Thursday) ... spending the night at Iowa City IA Spent last night at the Comfort Inn in Maumee. Breakfast this AM wasn't much. The cups they had for juice were maybe the syrup cups? I used a coffee cup for my juice. The best trip on the load board this AM was still the one truck to Ankeny IA. At 9 AM eastern I called them and got the trip. We hadn't had any work lined up so we were running late, no alarm, doing our own thing. So it was closer to 9:30 when we pulled out. Two hours later we are at the drop in Bristol IN. One of many lots. Two people ahead of us there. Both of their trucks were dead, someone had left the lights on. They are the drivers taking the other two trucks to IA. Didn't get a strait answer as to why they didn't take both trucks going to Ankeny. We spent more time talking to them than inspecting. Mine started. By then their first one had started but they only had one set of jumper cables. They couldn't figure out how to jump the 2nd one as the battery is hidden somewhere. The driver finally got out the manual and figured out where to connect. But 15 minutes later it was still too dead to turn over. We finally decided to leave. But not before they hit us up for a ride to Forest City if they could get work out of there. We never did hear anything from them so we don't know. If we haven't heard from them by the time we leave the drop they are on their own. 1st stop with the truck is in Goshen at Loves for fuel. There is a receipt in the truck that shows they put in $10 of fuel, that brought it off of flat 'E' but barely. Not knowing what mileage I might get, I put in 25 gallons. Fuel here is $3.39. BB filled the rental car here also. 2nd, not a stop, was picking BB up at the airport. In the past I have found a place to park in some business lot. She's told me to just park in the rental car lot so today I did. No gates, no one watching, and I'm only there long enough for her to check the car in. Today it gave me long enough to get my mirrors better adjusted. 3rd stop was the first Oasis on the toll road. Sbarro's. BB had pizza, I had ziti. Half hour break because that is how long it takes me to eat. Wouldn't need it today as I didn't start driving this truck until 11 AM. Sometime this AM, IA dispatch put out RV's and there was one for Des Moines. BB called and grabbed it. That may be her only trip for the month. We had been looking at other options, other trips. One of our issues was that we were going to have to use this truck and put extra miles on it to get to the airport to get our rental car. That is the only location that is doing one ways right now. Now that we have this trip, we will get a local rental ... right at the drop location :) and use it to go get and drop the RV and then go pick up the one way back to MN. All BB had to do for that one was change the time from 9 AM to 5 PM. And this way we will be in town for our family thing and we will be in town for BB appointment next week. Instead of looking at traffic before we get to Chicago, BB looks after we come to a stop. The GPS says it will be TWO HOURS shorter to get off of the freeway. I'm not buying it and stay on the freeway while she finds out why. We never did find out why, but after a few minutes and changing our destination the freeway was again the fastest. ... and then about the time traffic started moving ... we noticed a pickup with a travel trailer in the center lane ... or without a travel trailer. It had come unhooked. Based on traffic, he had to have been about five semi's ahead of us when it happened. The driver was just getting out of his truck and no one behind him was trying to get out of that lane yet. Next stop for us was the Loves in Utica. Last time we were here there were two school buses full of kids in the store and the pumps were all full. Today there was one old guy pumping when we got there. Lots of room inside and out. Just over two hours to the hotel so we need one more stop. Not much for hotels between Iowa City and Des Moines and we aren't going to make Des Moines. So we stop at the welcome center in Davenport for a quick break. Park in the 'No Trucks - Tow Away' zone. But I never left my truck ... So not likely anyone would have towed me, but still could have gotten a ticket. Small lot, all truck parking is full. Tonight we do the Comfort Inn in Iowa City. As soon as we check in, we go for a walk on the sidewalk. About a half hour. Then we get all of our stuff out of the back of the box truck because we don't have/don't use a lock on it. We move everything to the cab. ... and then we walk next door to the Kum and Go for some gourmet shelf food. BB had looked at places we could walk to and we could have stopped before we got to the hotel. But she wanted to get a walk in before it got dark ... and this was the cost. I took the last shelve burger and she got a salad, but there was so little of it that she ate half my bun just for something to eat. Our hotel room. It was missing shampoo so I decided to let the front desk know even though we do carry some. And that we were also missing half our towels and the smoke alarm. Didn't want them to be billing us for stuff that was never re-stocked. Load board US - 166 IA - 10 MN - 8 WI - 1 We don't usually like to get too far ahead on our work but there are three trucks near our house that would be easy money. I think I will call and see if we can do them ... and see if Monday is OK if we don't get them all done on Friday. Before that ... we have about two hours before I drop in the AM. Then an hour to pickup the rental and get inspected. (And wait of others if they call??) Then it is two hours to get the RV and two hours back. That should leave us an extra two hours for things to go ... not quite right. And if we have to. We can switch out cars tomorrow night and drop in the AM and still be back home shortly after noon. We'll see. 2023 10 26 IA-IA 1 box truck to Ankeny IA (delivered) ?1 RV to Altoona IA (delivered) ... spending the night at Ankeny IA Today we wake up at the Comfort Inn in Iowa City. Last night we had talked to the front desk about all of the things we were missing in our room, including shampoo. When we came back from getting our food from the Kum and Go, they handed us a bottle as we came in. It wasn't until this AM ... in the shower ... that BB realized they had handed us another bottle of conditioner. So she had to use bar soap to wash her already wet hair. At breakfast they were out of butter and the juice machine wasn't working. They said they were out of 'a lot of things' because they had a very busy weekend. By 7:30 AM we are ready to roll. It had looked like I would not need to add any more fuel to leave it above where I picked it up. Then when the gauge gets under 1/16 the range drops fast. And the low fuel light comes on. It doesn't make an difference if the low fuel light comes on at 1/16 or 1/4, it makes me nervous. And the cheapest fuel was coming up. $2.77 at the Loves in Newton. But I only needed nine gallons so not a huge savings. As long as I was putting in fuel I brought the gauge up to 1/8 at delivery. Somewhere about now the other couple does call us. They are dropping in Marshalltown and should be at the drop about the same time we are. My drop in Ankeny is the Chev dealer. First we go around back and BB picks up our rental car. Then she meets me in the parking lot before I go around front to drop. I walk in and someone greets me right away and says someone will be right out. By the time someone pulls around front of my truck to inspect it, the other drivers are pulling up behind it. The thing that took the longest was a salesman looking at the truck also, noticed a pencil eraser sized chip. That had to be written up. And this was one of the two trucks in IN that wouldn't start and now it has a starter issue. Only issue with mine was they needed to find the 2nd key and the title. I knew nothing about either but they found them in the glove box. We had hopped to be leaving by 11 AM, it was 11:15. Non-stop from there to Forest City. I guess I should have asked is someone needed to stop anywhere. They did offer a few $$ for the ride and we did finally take it. It was a fraction of what they would have paid to get there any other way. BB was picking up an RV, and the gal of the other couple was. He was not. And there were two other people leaving with RV's while we were there. It was misty raining while we were inspecting. Raining enough that my jacket was soaked and I ran the heater on high for a while when I got back in the car. But it was raining more once we got on the highway. Often going a lot less than the posted. At the Boondock exit, some semi had missed the turn ... and the stop sign? ... He was at the bottom of the ramp, but went in the ditch across that highway. Two wreckers were there working on pulling him out. Just before we get to Des Moines, there is a pickup crossways in the on coming traffic and missing a tire. In road construction so no one was getting past. Police were just arriving as we past. I thought it might be backed up for hours but by the time we were done fueling the traffic was moving again. Fueling. BB had thought she would have enough fuel to get to the drop without adding any. But about ten miles before the drop she pulls off and adds $5 worth of fuel at the Kum and Go in Ankeny. As long as we are there, I fuel the rental car. Wasn't planning on it, and shouldn't have. Then BB has to stop again and put in 'final dealer fuel' which someone pays us for. She did this at the Kwik Star closest to the drop. We've never been to this drop so we didn't know where to park. Signs said where to go ... just not where to stop. I finally went in and asked. I had thought about doing that while BB was fueling but it was only a fleeting thought I guess. This drop was the RV1 in Altoona. We got to the drop about 3:45. They stop taking deliveries at 4 PM so we just made it. Quick inspection so we were out again by 4 PM. 4 PM and we haven't eaten lunch today or anything since breakfast. We want to get the rental cars switched yet tonight so we opt for Culvers to go. Then off to the airport. It's roughly a half hour away and then back again. Glad we didn't have to do it with my truck. That's a lot of extra miles to put on for a short trip. When BB gets to the airport there is a line. One line. She is told she can't wait in the 'Preferred Line.' So she has to wait in line with the rest of the folks. When it is her turn, she comments about the 'preferred line' and they tell her it is open ... now. Now that she has had to wait in line forever. I think I was back near the other rental car place by the time she had the second car. We meet at the Fleet Farm a couple of blocks from the rental car place. As soon as we are done moving stuff I say we need to get going. 'Why? They place is open until 6 PM?' ... yes ... and it is ten to six NOW. She kind of lost track of time. We get the car dropped just before closing. Then we decide we are going to the closest hotel. Not sure why the ay was so taxing. No issues, just go, go, go. Tonight we are at the Sleep Inn in Ankeny. We've likely stayed here a half dozen times just this year. We each crash on a bed for a few minutes before deciding we are not going to eat again today. No apps, no treats, no food. Load board US - 177 IA - 11/6 MN - 7 WI - 1 There had been two trucks in IA going across the state but I think they were gone by the time we picked up the RV and we don't like getting too far ahead of ourselves. The three trucks in MN going to MN were gone shortly after we got up. There was a truck in IN going to Stillwater MN today which is kind of close to us, too bad it wasn't there yesterday. Someone saw a truck to Rochester today also. That would have been a nice pair for us ... but a day too late. Not sure what we are doing tomorrow yet. Nothing but chassis or tractors that I don't want to move. There are two trucks in MN that might work for Monday. We'll talk about that in the AM. 2023 10 27 MN-MN 1 trash truck to Burnsville MN (delivered) ?1 PU to Shakopee MN (Monday) 1 box truck to Orange City IA (Monday) ... spending the night at home Breakfast, plenty of breakfast. Looks like there was a sports team or two that had stayed the night so they had plenty of food. We hadn't really done the math on today. Now we realize that we need to be going by 11 AM just to get the rental car dropped by 4 PM. We finally get going at 9:30. Actually we were both zapped last night. Both in bed by 9 PM and not up until 7 AM. First stop was for rental car fuel at the Pilot in Clear Lake because it was cheaper than anywhere else and it was about two hours from the hotel. I had started earlier calling on a trip out of Grand Rapids MN, the 1st dispatcher said to call one of the other two. I called the 3rd one but no answer so I called the 2nd who told me to text the 3rd one. Finally after two hours, I called the 1st one again and they got the 3rd one of the phone with the both of us. BUT the 1st dispatcher said they needed to call the owner before I could move it. Never did hear back from him, sent a text later. Nothing yet. Then I called our central dispatch and got lined up on a truck from Burnsville to IA for after we drop the first one. We should be able to get both of them dropped on Monday. Later, our MN terminal put up a really short trip, almost on our way ... so why not. Easy money. I call and get the trip. Paperwork is not ready when I get there so I need to call so they can bring it out (that's how it works there). Then we get to the shipper and no keys. We aren't supposed to talk to the office people but we were standing there long enough they asked if everything was OK. Turns out they still had my keys on there desk. This place is getting their yard paved :) It has been a mud lot and gets to be a real mess. Now the trucks are parked 'other places.' Mine was easy to find and with the first near freezing day and with a wind, the inspection didn't take long. As we were ready to leave, a semi pulled in with a chassis. By the time I get into the office for the last time, security is there. They are not letting this guy deliver, partly because he had not called ahead and it didn't look like they had a place to do it with the construction. When I am ready to pull out, BB pulls around the other side of his semi blocking the only lane that direction. Another truck pulls in and waves for BB to come past but BB is watching me so she doesn't see this. Finally that person throws their hands in the air and goes around a different side of the building. He had been blocking me so I had no way out and BB wasn't leaving until I did. A mile or so down the road warning lights start flashing and it starts beeping. It's not the load beep and I know that it is only the sensor's not an issue so I keep going. It's only an hour. Plan was to fill fuel near the drop and today I had plenty of fuel to get there. But when I get just past a fuel stop, I get a 'low fuel pressure, stop now' message. I pull to the shoulder and call dispatch. No answer. So I back down the on ramp and head to the fuel station. Now the truck will only go 9 mph and then it cuts out until it drops to 5 mph and then kicks in again. I got to the fuel station but all pumps are full. I pick one of the two CNG lanes and wait. After a while someone comes back out and try's to get their credit card to work. Then they got in their truck and I thought 'good, they are moving until they get this figured out.' Nope, they got back out and went inside and pre-paid their fuel. Then I had to wait for them to fuel. At this point I didn't want to start my truck again until I could get to the closest pump. The inside gauge still showed I had 67% full and the other gauge showed over 2,000# (3,600# is max.) But something is wrong somewhere. When I filled, I could only get in 16 gallons. ??? Don't drive enough CNG's to remember how much I should be putting in. At 5 mpg that is enough to get me to my drop but we are supposed to deliver full. I call dispatch again to see if they know what the issue is. No answer. So I leave ... or try too. I thought the truck was running rough because of lack of fuel, but it is still running rough. So I drive around the parking lot a couple of times. Beeping all the way. BB realized I should get on the freeway that way, I was thinking it might 'clear.' But I call dispatch again. I finally get them and the shippers yard man is at their office so we walks be through a couple of things that should clear it. I'm to drive for 10 minutes and then call him back. I've had enough of beeping in the lot so I go down the road. 10 minutes later I am back with only one burst of speed so I'm thinking they will be calling a tow. But he now has a couple of other things to try. So my plan was to do the 10 minute loop again but I have full speed every time so I stop and call BB and head out. We have now lost an hour and a half of down time. A half hour down the road and the 'low fuel pressure, pull over and stop now' message comes on. So I do. And I call dispatch, the yard man is still there and I am told to keep going. As soon as I pull back on the road, the message is gone. Final fuel is supposed to be at the Holiday in Lakeville. Pumps are bagged off so I go inside ... they no longer sell CNG. So one more call to dispatch. I get the OK to drop as is, check engine light and all. We had made all these plans for this trip while driving and I had never looked at a map. So I missed a turn that I didn't know was supposed to be there. But we had discussed everything enough that I knew about where the drop should be and two blocks later I stop and finally look at a map. Can't (hardly) get there from here. I take a u-turn through one gas station only to find out I can't take a left so I have to go up to the next gas station and make another u-turn and that was a very small lot. Two gas pumps and lots of U-hauls. I get back to the drop and find someone who will sign. Then other show up and they all look it over. I get a clear bill, they never look at the fuel level. We have dropped before 5 PM. I tried to call but that number was long gone so I had no idea how late they were open, still don't. NOW we are scrambling on what to do with the car. One of our house guests is already gone for the weekend. The other works until 6 PM so we'd be waiting outside for 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Or we could keep the car for another $100 for the next day. Or we could drop it at the airport and only pay for a couple of extra hours and get home by 8 PM. Finally we realize the cheapest way was to get to the rental place and switch from a one way to a local. We have time enough to do that, just not time enough to get our car first. And we can keep the same car so we don't need to stop and fuel it first. But we do need to stop in. And we will use rewards point so all we are paying is <> $10 tax for the extra day. Or extra hours as we will be dropping it off tomorrow AM before our family stuff. Once we are done with that, the closest food is Taco Bell. We haven't eaten since breakfast ... two days in a row. And home again. Load board US - 150 IA - 16/12 MN - 2 WI - 1 As of now, our plan is to head out on Sunday assuming we can pick up Monday AM. I'll try again tomorrow to reach the dispatcher.
|
