El Paso, then loads 4-6

Had to do some laundry. Had scoped out the laundry room at the J. 4 washers wnd 4 dryers, and 3 of the dryers were out of service. However, when I went in to wash, no one was in there.
I was laidover at that truckstop for some 50 hours before finally getting another load. Load #3 was picking up in El Paso going back to Laredo.
I get to go through no man's land again. US 90 and TX277 are some long roads with very little to no services on them. I wasn't as worried about it this time. However, I did stop at an Autozone and put some deer warning devices on the truck. I know them things work.
Both times I have gone through this area have been at night. Can't see anything through there. I would to go through there in the daytime.
One thing I did see, almost in the middle of the road is one of those roadside memorials. (You have seen them. Someone gets killed at a certain location, and the family puts up a cross or something to mark the spot where their loved one died.)
This time was a lit solar powered cross, and I could see that there were flowers and other decor around it. This spot is miles from any towns both ways. That is one dedicated family. If I go out there again, I will try to take a picture.
This delivery was on a road that I delivered on before. There was me, and about 5-6 other drivers checking in. I told the guy that took my paperwork that I was in a sprinter. He saw I had one skid. I got to go first. I love this!!!!!
Got unloaded and went to the flying J. Was only there for about 10 hours before I got another delivery. Dispatcher called and said I had 10 minutes to pickup the load. It had to go straight through to a location in Arlington.
I made a mistake and went to wrong location. Took me about 20 minutes to get there. The clerk I dealt with wasn't upset about me showing up late as long as I got it delivered by 1 am cst.
Well, being the professional I am, I got it there by 12:12 am cst. Had talked with Gene earlier, and he told me to come there to sleep when I was done. It was around 2 am when I got there. That was Load #5.
Load #6 came pretty early Friday morning. Pick up in Ft. Worth and deliver to Laredo. Was told it wouldn't be ready until 11pm cst, but it was critical to get it delivered by 10 am cst the next morning.
I went to the pickup site around 8:30pm to see if I would get lucky. I was told that it was being offloaded from a trailer and they could load me up in about 25 minutes.Sweet!!!
I had to stop a couple of times to rest. I also tested the fuel usage of this truck. Had two fuel stops and both I waited until the guage flashed with one bar.
On the second fuel stop, I had been watching the guage really close. I was trying to make it to the Flying J. I am tring to earn points. However, I came up to a Love's, and the J was another 25 miles. Didn't think I could make it.
Well, got this load delivered by 0930 cst.
So, I go back to the Flying J in Laredo. This is the third time I have laidover here. As I type this on Sunday, at 1920 cst (7:20 PM) I have been here since about 1:30pm cst Saturday. Just talked with dispatcher, won't have anything until at least 8 am est Monday morning.
I found a Cici's pizza-had supper there last night. Then I ate at a Sirloin Stockade tonight. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as Murray's. I think I want a Big Sky Sirloin for Christmas!!

Load #3

Saturday, December 5

Thought I could make it all the way, Anticipated getting there by 0300 Saturday morning. At about 2350, I got tired. I stopped at a TA at New Braunfels something and went in to walk around a bit. It was COLD outside. Upper 20’s. Walked around a bit to try to wake up, but it didn’t help.

I called the dispatcher and asked for the delivery time. It was 0800 Saturday. So, I shut down for about4 hrs and took a nap.

Got up and back on the road hoping to arrive around 0730. When I got to the address on the paperwork, the street ended at around 10140. The address was 14670, TILT!!!!

Called the dispatcher back and verify. He had a different address. New address wasn’t on paperwork at all, but I was only about 6 blocks off. Got to the location at 0810. There were dozens of trucks everywhere. There was a line going in. I was truck #6. Waited about an hour, then I got to go in. Got unloaded and had to go back about 10 miles to a Flying J to fax to the dispatcher. Got paperwork faxed and called the dispatcher and went available. He said hopefully I could get a load soon. However, by 1400, I check with him again and he said the loads had dried up.

So, thinking I was to be stuck there for the weekend, I found a Walmart, and got a few things, picked up a couple of movies from Red Box. I stopped and got Pizza Hut pizza and headed back to the J. Just before I got back, dispatcher calls and says he has a run. It has some deadhead, but he got the truck some extra pay for it. Load is picking up in Los Indios, TX. And going to El Paso.

However, when I put in the address he gave me, the GPS didn’t have a match. Called him back to confirm, and he told me it may be a new road that isn’t in the GPS. I went into the J to get online to research it more. Found nothing.

I was able to pull up the town on the GPS, and verified that route with the Atlas and mapquest. Thought if I could get down there in town, I can try to get better directions. Pick up was at 8 am, and I had 4 hours, so I rested a little.

Got up and made it to Los Indios by 6:30 am. Started calling the dispatcher for help. He gave me a contact number, but when I tried it, I got a automatic phone system that I couldn’t get past the “Please enter your 4 digit extension…”

So, (Unlike a man, like my wife would say.) I went into the store where I just fueled and asked about the road. The pickup location was across the field behind where I parked. I had found it. But with GOD’S doing, cause I was praying about it all the way.

Went to the guard and told him I was picking up. He said it won’t be ready until 10 AM. Says I can park across the street. I was there by myself, so while I was waiting, I went to the back of the truck to give myself a little bird bath, Laid down and rested a little, then at 10, I went back over.

Got loaded and headed to El Paso. Made it as far as Ft. Stockton, and I decided I had earned a hotel stay. I had pushed myself pretty hard on this run. Stayed at a Motel 6. The shower was little weak, but the bed was great. Got to bed about midnight.

Got up at 5 am and was on the road by 0530, with 3.5 hrs left to drive, with an appointment at 10 am. Got to the delivery site at 0935, checked into the guard house and was unloaded right away.

Came back to the Flying J and faxed paperwork. I was available again by noon. Finally got internet working properly in the truck, and as of 2008, 12/7/09, no load yet. Looks like a night off.

I got a couple movies to watch. Just watched “Pink Panther 2” with Steve Martin. F-U-N-N-Y!!! Now going to watch “Mall Cop”.

Visit with Gene

Friday, December 4

Last night, got to the GM plant. Was informed that the area I was to go to was at a different location. Found that place and had to wait for about an hour and I was unloaded. I discovered that I need to tell clerks/personnel that I am in a Sprinter truck that is NOT dock high. I was informed to go to a door. Fork truck driver directed me to a ramp. He unloaded me and when I went to get my paperwork, he was fussing to the clerk that he shouldn’t have sent a Sprinter to a dock door. My fault. LOL

After I got unloaded, I went to Gene’s house. (My brother) Told him I’d buy dinner. Took him to Mcdonald’s. Yes! Mcdonald’s. I was trying to get more Coke glasses, and Gene agreed with MCD’s.
Unfortunately, this MCD wasn’t doing the Coke glass promotion. It was good though.

Got a shower and crashed on Gene’s couch. Next morning, Gene went to work, and I checked in with the dispatcher. While waiting, I went to Walmart for a few items and returned to Gene’s. Gene has a blue healer that is about 9 months old. He seemed to take up with me pretty good. Gene came in from work. He said he had nothing to do.

About 1330 or so, dispatcher called and said he may have a load but was awaiting paperwork and would call me as soon as he had it. In about 15 minutes, he called back and said he needed me to get to a fax machine, because I would need to have paperwork to pick up this next load. I went to an Office Depot and got the fax. The dispatcher called me back and said the load wasn’t scheduled for pickup until about 1800. But he suggested if I wanted to go on over, may be able to get loaded early.

The pickup was at a terminal at DFW airport. Got there around 1500. Was told the load wasn’t there yet. Perhaps 1830. So, I went back to Gene’s. He was returning from running some errands. We decided to go eat. I treated him to Chili’s. (Definite upgrade from MCD’s, don’t you think?)

Went back to Gene’s and I done some last few things there and headed back to DFW. Picked up 2 skids going to Laredo, TX. Headed out at about 1900 or so.

First Load-The adventure begins

Thursday, December 3

Well, today I got my first load. Had to meet another driver for a relay in Camden, TN. Was told I would need to assist the other driver in loading my truck.
Seems that the other driver was having vehicle trouble. He and I loaded 5 racks into my truck. The front of the load had to go into the middle of the truck where my sleeping area is, but that is ok.
The load is going to Arlington, TX. Called up my brother cause he lives in the area. I learned that he is just 15 minutes away. So, when I am done, I get to go see him.
Probably won’t have a load until morning, but we’ll see.

Update #1

I have an update on this blog, but let me catch you up. I have still been looking at trucking. My leg eventually healed, which took long enough.

In late September 2009, I got discharged from Rentacenter for having too many past due accounts. (Even though I wasn’t the only one with this problem, I was the only one fired. WASN’T RIGHT!!!! I better stop there. RAC’S LOSS!!!)

I got a paper route at Murray Ledger & Times, and was working part-time at Domino’s. On Sunday, November 29, I was home after attending church. I got an interesting call.

In late September, I had responded to an ad in the Ledger about a driver for an expedite van that required no CDL. When I called, the position had been filled. Unexpectedly, this opening again came open, and I was being asked about this job.

I won’t go into particulars here, but I was interested-VERY interested. When I asked when he wanted me to start, he said the truck needs to go back on the road tomorrow. (Monday) I said woe, I have to give some kind of notice. He agreed to let me start Wednesday, December 2

I Told Domino’s that night. I worked MLT the 30th and left. Quitting so fast without notice wasn’t an easy thing, but I wasn’t turning down this opportunity.

Well, I have followed blogs of some other drivers on & off, and decided I wanted to continue with my own. No one may ever read it, but I enjoy it.