I ended up not being able to sleep through the 10 hours off so I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. I figured I would use the split sleeper option to get me through the night so I wouldn't have to drive the entire time. That proved to be a good option IMHO.
I picked up my load right on time... 900pm.. did my pretrip, and hung out until 1015pm when I was able to leave. I only sat so I could wait for my 10 hours to time out. During my break it started snowing but I didn't suspect it was that bad.. until I started to leave. There was around 3" of snow on the ground making it a little slick with a layer of ice underneath. I took my time to the freeway and didn't have any problem... until the on-ramp.. although the problem wasn't with me. I did a rolling stop at the stop sign of a 4-way stop so I wouldn't get stuck on the small incline with what ice I did see near the yard. Immediately before, however, a UPS driver pulling doubles attempted to climb up the 30 degree onramp and ended up spinning his tires. It took him a few minutes to get going before finally making it to the top. At that point I saw there had to be at least a good half inch of ice on the onramp. I activated my quad lock (differential lock) and made it up no problem after a rough start.
Since I wanted to avoid the toll roads on I-35 in lower Kansas outside of Wichita I decided to take U.S. 169.. which met up with I-44 south to Oklahoma City, OK.
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The freeway was rather slick most of the way but I-35 cleared up pretty quickly the closer I got to US-135. However, 135 was a totally different subject. I spent most of the time battling snow and ice covered road all the way to Iola, KS, where I stopped for the night, somewhere around 1230am. I expected to travel much further but fighting the roads and people who don't know how to drive in the snow took it out of me.
I finally got up around 800am, got ready, and headed out as soon as my 8 hours were up, a condition of the split sleeper. I anticipated the roads to be a little clear.. and they were for the most part until Oklahoma.. then it was back to hell. I fought drivers who, again don't know how to drive in snow, and spots of ice. The temperature warmed up to 48 degrees at one point so that helped make the drive at least maneuverable until I hit I-44... then it was smooth sailing, with minimal snow on the roadway.
I finally arrived at the yard at 130pm, about 30 minutes early. I was told to park it along the fenceline and, if there were any empties, I could grab one. After doing as tasked I noticed there was only 1 other truckload trailer there.. but it contained a seal. Damn it. I sent my dropped trailer message, followed by an informative no trailers message and asking for advice. Well, it was shot back that the load planner would be informed but that I could not go on the board without a trailer. hmmm. I went back in and explained my situation to the guy and asked if I could get an empty today... and... well... there won't be one until sometime Monday morning since they were all leaving for the day. I sent that back to my dispatcher and was told "there is no freight now but the load planner will 'keep you in mind'." What does that mean? Once shift change occurs later in the day I will be forgotten about. So, because freight was backed up due to weather at the freight terminal and they couldn't empty our trailers i'm being punished and will now have to remain here, trailerless, and off the board until sometime monday. Now, what I want to know is why I can be bobtailed home without a trailer but I can't be put on the board without a trailer.. making me eligible for a drop & hook load in the area. Needless to say i'm a bit pissed about the entire situation. This leaves me with only 1800 miles for the week, much less than I prefer. And, to top it off its in the 10's and 20's here temperature wise so i'll have to idle most of the weekend for my comfort, which means my MPG will be shit come next week. Grand!
I picked up my load right on time... 900pm.. did my pretrip, and hung out until 1015pm when I was able to leave. I only sat so I could wait for my 10 hours to time out. During my break it started snowing but I didn't suspect it was that bad.. until I started to leave. There was around 3" of snow on the ground making it a little slick with a layer of ice underneath. I took my time to the freeway and didn't have any problem... until the on-ramp.. although the problem wasn't with me. I did a rolling stop at the stop sign of a 4-way stop so I wouldn't get stuck on the small incline with what ice I did see near the yard. Immediately before, however, a UPS driver pulling doubles attempted to climb up the 30 degree onramp and ended up spinning his tires. It took him a few minutes to get going before finally making it to the top. At that point I saw there had to be at least a good half inch of ice on the onramp. I activated my quad lock (differential lock) and made it up no problem after a rough start.
Since I wanted to avoid the toll roads on I-35 in lower Kansas outside of Wichita I decided to take U.S. 169.. which met up with I-44 south to Oklahoma City, OK.
View Larger Map
The freeway was rather slick most of the way but I-35 cleared up pretty quickly the closer I got to US-135. However, 135 was a totally different subject. I spent most of the time battling snow and ice covered road all the way to Iola, KS, where I stopped for the night, somewhere around 1230am. I expected to travel much further but fighting the roads and people who don't know how to drive in the snow took it out of me.
I finally got up around 800am, got ready, and headed out as soon as my 8 hours were up, a condition of the split sleeper. I anticipated the roads to be a little clear.. and they were for the most part until Oklahoma.. then it was back to hell. I fought drivers who, again don't know how to drive in snow, and spots of ice. The temperature warmed up to 48 degrees at one point so that helped make the drive at least maneuverable until I hit I-44... then it was smooth sailing, with minimal snow on the roadway.
I finally arrived at the yard at 130pm, about 30 minutes early. I was told to park it along the fenceline and, if there were any empties, I could grab one. After doing as tasked I noticed there was only 1 other truckload trailer there.. but it contained a seal. Damn it. I sent my dropped trailer message, followed by an informative no trailers message and asking for advice. Well, it was shot back that the load planner would be informed but that I could not go on the board without a trailer. hmmm. I went back in and explained my situation to the guy and asked if I could get an empty today... and... well... there won't be one until sometime Monday morning since they were all leaving for the day. I sent that back to my dispatcher and was told "there is no freight now but the load planner will 'keep you in mind'." What does that mean? Once shift change occurs later in the day I will be forgotten about. So, because freight was backed up due to weather at the freight terminal and they couldn't empty our trailers i'm being punished and will now have to remain here, trailerless, and off the board until sometime monday. Now, what I want to know is why I can be bobtailed home without a trailer but I can't be put on the board without a trailer.. making me eligible for a drop & hook load in the area. Needless to say i'm a bit pissed about the entire situation. This leaves me with only 1800 miles for the week, much less than I prefer. And, to top it off its in the 10's and 20's here temperature wise so i'll have to idle most of the weekend for my comfort, which means my MPG will be shit come next week. Grand!