 |
|
|
|
|
...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
|
.. the trip continues from HERE 2024 02 26 IA-CA 2 RV's to Davis CA (1 delivered, 1 at the shop) ... spending the night at Woodland CA Up at 5 AM, ready to make calls at 6 AM. At 6 AM I go out and start my RV, the waring light is still on. So I call RV dispatch. They say I can call the drop to see if they will take it with a warning light on. This is new, to me. It also changes all the plans we have talked about. Now I need to wait until I talk to the drop before calling a shop. Drop opens at 8 AM. We need to leave by 8 AM to make our appointment. By the time I walk out at 6 AM, the Super Sucker from yesterday is already gone. Now there is a coach bus heading to Yosemite parked near us. That company is from MN. Didn't see the driver or would have talked to them. I did talk to the hotel front desk while I was waiting for my receipt. I commented on how quiet it was this week, very few guests. They said that was OK after the prior weekend, they had a full house of school sports teams. :) We have our RV's inspected and running at 8 AM. Someone at the drop answers my phone call, no ... they will not take the RV with a warning light on. And they only have one later appointment today so we can not delay both appointments. At this point BB heads out. I'm still talking to the drop about the what if's and they put me on hold to talk to the boss, I was hopeful but no ... they will not take the RV with a warning light on. Saturday I had given my name and phone number to the shop I am heading to, they were to have called me back at 7 AM. They did not. And I did not call them. At this point I just went to the shop. Plan A, B and C are out the window. We are now just playing it by ear. I get to the shop and first go to the wrong (but right) building. So I have to get back out on one way streets and take U-turns where I'm too big to make the. At the correct shop, I pull way ahead out of the way. Then a yard person catches me and wants me to back up out of the main path. So I do. I am watching my right side because I am just inches away from a car. So close that that is all I am watching. THEN I see the car on my left ... I have to stop and take deep breaths. I was not that far away from the car on the left. I drove in that way, so backing through again should not have been an issue. The issue was I didn't look on my left for too many feet. I should have been constantly checking all mirrors and backup cameras. And I should have adjusted the mirrors for backing. No harm done, but a good shake up. NOW I get to walk back to the right building, it is not in the same lot as we have to park. The first person in line ahead of me is from the RV dealer where I was supposed to drop today. The second person has an RV that will not go over 65 mph. Then me. Ha, ha, ha ... no we can not just walk out and look at the RV. The shop is two miles away. I offer to take the RV there, but no. No customers allowed. All vehicles must be shuttled over by a company employee. It will be the same 1-2 weeks before they can look at it. So ... it would have been better for US if we had dropped it by our hotel. Now I need to sit and wait with both our our luggage until BB is done at the drop and can get here. One car of interest in the lot was sitting on it's rim. No rubber. No scratch marks on the pavement. Other than that one, most units were being moved in and out quickly. They gave me the OK to wait in the RV until BB got there. While talking to the write-up man, I asked about re-setting the warning lights. Not advised as they can not do warranty work unless there is a warning light. At the drop, BB is having fun. Because she was not out of the lot at 8 AM, she missed the 9 AM appointment and they took one ahead of her. We had the 9 and 9:30 appointments. Someone else driving an RV follows her in. Then a guy hauling two RV's pulls one it and says he was there first ... So BB asks him what time his appointment was for ... ??? What appointment ? Neither the guy who followed her in nor the guy hauling the RV's had appointments, and the drop is booked full for the day. BB didn't get to stay around to see how that played out. She was out of there and at the rental car place down the street by 10 AM so less than the half hour inspection time that they allow. Back at the shop, someone finally comes to get my RV. I said no problem, my wife should be here any minute ... 'yes, I think she is parked on the other side of the RV.' And she was. As soon as we were done loading up, I went back inside to let them know I was gone and also needed to give them our dispatchers name for a call back when done. Not sure how this will play out. We, our carrier, is supposed to do the finally delivery. But this shop is on a first name basis with the drop so if we can't get there quick enough, they might just take care of it ... for the shop. From here we head to ... In-and-Out. We have delivered, if only one of them. Today is Vacaville. :) but on the way, we stop back at BB's drop. She had forgotten to get released from her trip while she was at the drop. GPS knows where we are and we can only get released while we are at the drop. She forgot, so we head back. It's a block off the freeway from where we are going anyways. Just after we got on the freeway after leaving the shop, traffic in the center lane comes to a stop. Pallets, a total of five over the next quarter mile. Then we see a semi driver re-tying down his now partial load of pallets. Neither he nor anyone else stopped or went back to move them out of the travel lane. As we pull in, there is a driver sitting there that gets up ... he must have thought we were his Uber ride. He is the driver than had driven his RV in. So he is delivered. It only takes a second for BB to get released so I just make a U-turn and we are gone again. At this exit, there used to be a Motel 6 and a Sheri's Pies. The pie places closed and is now full of graffiti. Right on the main streets. That has been closed a few months. The Motel 6 just changed since we were here last time. I did notice this time that their whole roof now is solar panels. I surprised more companies don't do that. Food, Vacaville In-and-Out. I don't think I have ever seen it so slow over a noon hour. The tables were never more than half full and most of the time there was only a couple of cars in the drive thru line. Usually at meal time there is standing room only indoors. All tables stay full. Next stop is Walmart. Before we get to the second rental car place, BB needs a restroom ... not like the person we saw squatting behind their car. And when she pulled up her pants, we got the 'full moon.' The rental car place does not have a public bathroom and the closest gas station has a key request system to a not so clean restroom. So we found the closest discount store. As long as we were there, I bought some juice. I was out. At the rental car place, glad I wasn't pulling a bus in here today. This lot is full. When we drop off after hours, I usually just drive round the lot and back out. Oh ... While I was waiting with my RV, I had called the west coast dispatcher about their short trips. By then they were all gone. So I asked about the longer ones, pay isn't bad but not sure I want to chance taking a long one before I know what they are and how they ride. So, the plan that had started all this has fallen apart. We were thinking as long as I could take a truck to Stockton, why not just get two local rentals instead of the more costly one way? Before we leave the rental place, we move all luggage to the 2nd car. And we are off. I have the car that is being returned so I need to stop and fuel before dropping it. BB is close, parked on the street, before I get there. I didn't think about that and she was looking at her notebook when I went past. So I messaged her that I was there. As soon as she was done returning the car I drove, they are in her name ... I call the bus dispatcher. No work today, likely tomorrow or for sure on Wednesday. ... then I call the other west coast dispatcher. Two of the trips that we wanted this AM are back on the load board. Somebody took them but couldn't do them. I told them I would take one ... for now. They say ... take both and if you can't do the second one ... Sorry, that is not how I work. Also they want me to do a longer trip because it has been sitting there for two weeks. First, I need to know what I am driving and how they drive ... 2nd, that trip is four times the miles and pays <> the same total dollars. So not the same rate per mile. We look at getting a hotel closer to the shipper tomorrow, then end up heading the opposite direction because it is a 'known.' And there is a Black Bear restaurant next to it. I have their version of a French dip sandwich. Too much of a different tasting au jus sauce. I am going to be thirsty tonight. I've been in this area enough to list off the hotels, food and gas stations. The Black Bear is next to the Days Inn (and now a nearby homeless encampment) I've stayed at the Quality across the freeway with Davis buses years ago and now we are staying a mile down the street at a Comfort Inn. Load board 2024 02 27 CA-CO 1 tractor to Stockton CA (delivered) 1 bus to Grand Junction CO ... spending the night at Santa Nella CA (the following is written almost 2 weeks later, so likely missing some details) This AM we are thinking that getting closer to the drop last night would have been a good idea. At one point, the center lane of traffic was stopped. When we got up there, we saw that there were pallets in that lane ... and then a mile ahead we saw a semi on the shoulder re-tying down his remaining load of pallets. At the pick up, we stop at the right address, I go up to a locked door. Finally someone comes to the door and says I need to go into the fenced parking lot and follow it around until I get to an office. Turns out it was the other door for the same building and I was talking to the same person. I was the only driver there right then so it didn't take long and then they went and found my truck and brought it up to the office for me. When I do my inspections, I notice that the rear wheels are all dirty but no oil is pooling and they are all just as dirty so I don't pay it a lot of attention. Truck is near 'E,' and I need to drive it 50 miles AND leave it with over 1/4 tank of fuel. So we picked out a couple of stations between the shipper and the freeway. One was tapped off and the other was on the wrong side of the street. Then our 3rd choice didn't really have diesel. Now we are at the freeway. Big tanks, so I keep going. Finally after a few exits I saw one with a sign before we got to it. But once at the exit, I realized that it would be faster to go back to the prior station than cross the freeway. That was at Galt, Velaro I think. I put in $100 before the pump stopped and my gauge hadn't moved. This truck has two tanks so I decided to try putting fuel in the other one. Luckily it was slow right then and I was able to get turned around before the place filled up. As soon as I started filling the other tank the gauge started going up. I put in another $50. Back on the freeway I see a huge cloud of black smoke. Before I figure out what it was, it was gone. Then again, this time I was able to figure out that it was from a car, not for a fire. It was thick enough smoke that the pickup and travel trailer ahead of me were slowing down .... The drop is a big dealer, easy to find, just off the freeway at a major interchange. I guessed right and still have enough fuel so I didn't need to stop again. When I get there I stop at service ... nope. I need to go around back to the collision center. There were three rows of vehicles waiting to be moved from the check in area. Luckily I was able to get between them to get past them. At the correct door I go inside to check in ... they know nothing. And at the moment they can not log into the manufactures computer. So after doing some checking they decide to inspect the truck and deal with it later * Then the person doing the inspection finds paperwork saying the truck was to go somewhere else. I choose to remain silent. They are taking the truck at the location on my paperwork. Changing that could take hours. When we are done, BB decides we are not doing a 2nd truck today. She doesn't like CA-99 and doesn't want to do it twice in one day. We finally decide to head the opposite direction to a Black Bear restaurant. But first we go back to the office for the rest room ... and ask about closing times. Dispatch had told me yesterday that a drive had just been here and closing time was 7 PM. Nope. The stop taking trucks at 2 PM. No way we could have gotten both of them here today. We'd have been spending the night and been late for any bus. It finally comes out that BB had not slept well last night, likely because of her back. That is why she is not up to taking a 2nd trip today. Next stop was the Black Bear in Modesto. We still have time so we head to a cemetery in Manteca. When we get there, it all looks like we have been here before. It's a big place so I have to ask directions. I notice a picture on the wall from 100 years ago. The mausoleum was already there. Most of the way to food, food trucks come up. But they are the other direction and BB is hungry now. That would have been a good way to spend a few hours. Maybe tonight? At the cemetery, the marker we were looking for was right next to the street so easy to find. Finally I look at my other notes. We have been here. But on the other notes I have this location listed as Stockton. We call the bus dispatcher and we have a bus but won't have the paperwork for a few hours. We head to our parking spot at the outlet center and wait until closer to when we can pick up the bus. Once it is 'close enough,' we head to the shipper to do our inspection and wait for paperwork. Oh ... we got a bus to Grand Junction. Right direction but I was hoping for a longer trip so we'd be set for the rest of the month and part of the following. At the shipper, there are other drivers. And we can not find my bus. I look, BB looks, other drivers look. Finally we are all standing around talking and someone hand me their phone ... I have no idea who I am talking to. They ask which bus I need and confirm it has to be there. Later I realize that half the drivers today are shipper drivers, not transporters. And one of them had called their contact in the office and that is who I was talking to on the phone. Because of all the drivers, we had not gone to look at the prior parking spot. We did now, with the help of security. No bus. I finally call dispatch. He also says it is there. But we will wait for my paperwork. Then BB decides she needs to use the restroom ... as she walks to the building, she sees my bus. It is the center bus where buses are three wide. It is here, but lots of service panels still open. I get the OK to take it. And am able to get out of there without moving other buses. No time lost. I have it moved by the time the paperwork gets there. Off to drop the rental car. This is a short bus but the rental lot is full so I end up backing around instead of driving completely around the lot. Back at the bus lot, with the sun shining just the right way and being able to look at the car from a distance ... we see door damage. This is the first time we haven't been parked between cars or came up to it from that angle. More things to worry about. We head to Santa Nella, the Quality Inn there. it's an hour and a half at this time of day. See a couple of places where there are major washouts on the side roads. Must have gotten some rain at some point. At the hotel, we walk across the street to a food truck. There are now two. We've been going to a Mexican. Now there is a Indian one right behind it and the Subway. What ever the possible next trips were then ... I don't know anymore. No travel trailers parked on the city streets anymore. I parked in the hotel lot, easier to do with a 30 foot instead of a 40 foot. Load board US - 169 IA - 45/44 MN - 3 WI - 1 2024 02 28 CA-CO 1 bus to Grand Junction CO ... spending the night at Mesquite NV (the following is written almost 2 weeks later, so likely missing some details) ... first word in my notes is 'Opps.' Opps what? It's been two weeks. My guess ... At some point this AM we realize that I may have not taken a full 10 hours off last night. Late night, early AM. BB does the math and I had 10 hours off ... and 15 minutes. That was close. I try calling the drop but 'press 1 for bus schedule, press 2 for a missed bus, etc.' Everything I try goes to voicemail. I give up for now. At some point I will get the right info from dispatch. 1st stop was a rest area near Avenal. 2nd stop was at the CNG fuel station in Buttonwillow. As we are coming down the ramp, the bus driver we were talking to last night is heading up the ramp. Today the fueling station is empty. So I can pick my pump and I pick the one I did not try last time. This one works. But the place fills up and the first person who try's the pump I tried last time gives up trying to get it to work and moves to a different pump. No issues for me today, but no receipt either. So I take a picture. 3rd stop was Loves and Carl's Jr for food. By stopping in Buttonwillow we do not need to stop in Tehachapi today. The Loves is a couple of blocks off the freeway and there is a guy on the shoulder of the road, with a table and a grill. Selling BBQ. Leaving, we notice there is a new 'No Parking' sign across the road from the BBQ stand. I'm thinking he has been here before today. No takers today. We thought we might see the other bus again today but we don't. He is heading to VA. He's been here less than a year and he's already getting the better trips. He's also moved a few electric buses. They get <> 250 miles a charge so one or two charges during the day plus overnight. But we are moving them instead of hauling them. 4th stop is the rest area near Baker. 5th stop was in Las Vegas. We had choices, but this one was the closest to the freeway. Traffic was stop and go by the time we got to downtown Vegas. Today we were noticing how many miles the city has expanded since we were here 30+ years ago. The CNG fuel stop is empty, no other customers. We find the one CNG pump. Only a few extra inches on one side so we take the other. My card does not work, the way it responds I'm guessing it is too worn out. Then I try a 2nd card, that one is declined. So I try the pump from the other side (tying up both sides) On that one the key board does not work. So ... we try BB's card. It works. With our credit cards, we have to call every time we are in Las Vegas. Or they will automatically decline them as stolen. We know that, but forgot. It works up to $100 each time. Fuel here is not cheap so we had to restart the pump three times. And there was no restroom on site. We had planned on getting past Las Vegas because the prices. We should have adjusted. Now we will be driving the last hour in the dark. 2 days in a row. 6th and final stop was the Best Western in Mesquite. Food was next door to Peggy Sue's. Really too late for much food but it's good and we need to eat. BB would have been fine with a single taco from Taco Bell tonight ... or a sandwich from the gas station. Load board US - 240 IA - 116 MN - 3 WI - 8 ... the trip continues HERE |
