After sending the message in Grandview, MO that I was unloaded I sent a free text message telling them that there was nothing nearby and I was heading to the KCMO yard to wait on a load. Being #3 on the board I didn't expect it would take long, and I most likely would have received a load on my way up there.. .which was only 21 miles away. They didn't disappoint. I received a load immediately from the Kansas City, KS yard that should have been picked up at 1100am. That one puzzled me. There were others that were probably there earlier than me that could have picked up the load but I was going to get it nearly 2 hours late. In any case, I changed course and headed to KS instead of MO.
I got to the yard a little past 100pm, dropped my trailer, did a quick scan of the trailers in the docks, and headed to the office. I had a feeling after scanning the docks that I knew why I was chosen to pick up this particular load. there was only 1 trailer in the whole place that was placarded hazardous materials.. and I was probably the only one in the area holding hazmat... which made sense.
Well, I checked into the office and guess what? That load was mine. Not sure really what I was hauling but it was a ton of things with about 9 syllibals that I coulnd't pronounce. A quick pretrip and I was off.
View Larger Map
The trip was rather easy albeit long. I started up I-29 to IA 2/NE 2, which took me through Lincoln, NE. I met up with I-80 and followed that the entire way. I ended up stopping on Friday night at the Wal-mart in Lexington, NE. It wasn't my preferred stop as I would rather have had a shower but they have ample truck parking there and I was out of food. And, seeming that I was stopping a little later than I normally prefer I figured much of the parking available anywhere else would probably be in use by that time. I think I was finally shut down by 700pm or so when i finally went in to do my shopping. I know most drivers go out and eat but i'm too stingy to spend that much money. One could easily spend $200.00 a week on food out here. I spent $200.00 on my refrigerator, crock pot, electric skillet, and microwave when we first started teaming and I spend on myself around $50.00 to $75.00 a week on food, snacks, paper plates and silverware, and the like. I'm not one that has to snack all day long so my total cost is pretty cheap. The rest goes to Mary, who has greater cooking utensils at her hands while enjoying the comforts of our home.
Anyways, I think I was finally up and rolling around 500am. My intent was to wake up at 500am, which I did, but once the alarm went off I realized that was 500am CST. I forgot to take into account the time zone factor when setting my alarm. DAMN IT JIM! That extra hour allowed me to eat breakfast and make coffee though so I couldn't really complain. I was originally just going to wake up and go but this was a better unplanned route. I ended stopping at the Bosselman's Pilot in Big Springs, NE, off of I-80 and I-76 where I refueled and grabbed a shower before finishing the rest of the day. The rest of Wyoming was, well, what is there to say about a barren wasteland? I did get to see the sun for the first time in 8 days though.. and thats no exaggeration. I haven't seen it since I left Tucumcari, NM last week! I finally shut down in Evanston, WY at the Flying J. I could have made it further but I coulnd't guarantee I could make it to the truck stop I shut down at 40 miles outside of of SLC on my last beer run trip.
I ended up waking up and rolling at 300am and got into SLC, UT around 0500am. The yard is closed on Sundays so it was an easy drop of the trailer with the security guy taking care of the paperwork. He was, however, unsure if there were any empty trailers on the west side of the yard. I did a quick drive around and found he was indeed correct.. there were no empties. Not wanting to have the same ordeal that happened last weekend when I delivered at that Con-way yard I parked and walked around the docks looking in every one of them to find one that was empty. I struck gold on the 5th trailer. Thank god. I don't think I could have sat another whole weekend without a trailer waiting for a load.
I boarded right after and went back to bed... this 300am crap is for the birds. I don't seem to get the opportunity to sleep in anymore but, with this newest load I received this morning at 0830am, pickup in Bingham City, UT at 1100am on Monday and relay the load in Las Vegas, NV on Monday night i'll have a good morning of sleeping in. And, being I did my research, the truck stop i'm at tonight, about a mile away from the consignor and across the street from what appears to be a phenomenal Salt Lake City based Wings place, I know where i'll be hanging out tonight. Party on Wayne...
I got to the yard a little past 100pm, dropped my trailer, did a quick scan of the trailers in the docks, and headed to the office. I had a feeling after scanning the docks that I knew why I was chosen to pick up this particular load. there was only 1 trailer in the whole place that was placarded hazardous materials.. and I was probably the only one in the area holding hazmat... which made sense.
Well, I checked into the office and guess what? That load was mine. Not sure really what I was hauling but it was a ton of things with about 9 syllibals that I coulnd't pronounce. A quick pretrip and I was off.
View Larger Map
The trip was rather easy albeit long. I started up I-29 to IA 2/NE 2, which took me through Lincoln, NE. I met up with I-80 and followed that the entire way. I ended up stopping on Friday night at the Wal-mart in Lexington, NE. It wasn't my preferred stop as I would rather have had a shower but they have ample truck parking there and I was out of food. And, seeming that I was stopping a little later than I normally prefer I figured much of the parking available anywhere else would probably be in use by that time. I think I was finally shut down by 700pm or so when i finally went in to do my shopping. I know most drivers go out and eat but i'm too stingy to spend that much money. One could easily spend $200.00 a week on food out here. I spent $200.00 on my refrigerator, crock pot, electric skillet, and microwave when we first started teaming and I spend on myself around $50.00 to $75.00 a week on food, snacks, paper plates and silverware, and the like. I'm not one that has to snack all day long so my total cost is pretty cheap. The rest goes to Mary, who has greater cooking utensils at her hands while enjoying the comforts of our home.
Anyways, I think I was finally up and rolling around 500am. My intent was to wake up at 500am, which I did, but once the alarm went off I realized that was 500am CST. I forgot to take into account the time zone factor when setting my alarm. DAMN IT JIM! That extra hour allowed me to eat breakfast and make coffee though so I couldn't really complain. I was originally just going to wake up and go but this was a better unplanned route. I ended stopping at the Bosselman's Pilot in Big Springs, NE, off of I-80 and I-76 where I refueled and grabbed a shower before finishing the rest of the day. The rest of Wyoming was, well, what is there to say about a barren wasteland? I did get to see the sun for the first time in 8 days though.. and thats no exaggeration. I haven't seen it since I left Tucumcari, NM last week! I finally shut down in Evanston, WY at the Flying J. I could have made it further but I coulnd't guarantee I could make it to the truck stop I shut down at 40 miles outside of of SLC on my last beer run trip.
I ended up waking up and rolling at 300am and got into SLC, UT around 0500am. The yard is closed on Sundays so it was an easy drop of the trailer with the security guy taking care of the paperwork. He was, however, unsure if there were any empty trailers on the west side of the yard. I did a quick drive around and found he was indeed correct.. there were no empties. Not wanting to have the same ordeal that happened last weekend when I delivered at that Con-way yard I parked and walked around the docks looking in every one of them to find one that was empty. I struck gold on the 5th trailer. Thank god. I don't think I could have sat another whole weekend without a trailer waiting for a load.
I boarded right after and went back to bed... this 300am crap is for the birds. I don't seem to get the opportunity to sleep in anymore but, with this newest load I received this morning at 0830am, pickup in Bingham City, UT at 1100am on Monday and relay the load in Las Vegas, NV on Monday night i'll have a good morning of sleeping in. And, being I did my research, the truck stop i'm at tonight, about a mile away from the consignor and across the street from what appears to be a phenomenal Salt Lake City based Wings place, I know where i'll be hanging out tonight. Party on Wayne...