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REFER ON AN INTERNATIONAL - NEW - TO
MONTGOMERY, AL
REFER ON AN INTERNATIONAL - USED - FROM MONTGOMERY, AL
Monday - 1/3/11
First trip, new year. 6 AM dispatch, car
is froze (to the ground) so my wife had to drop me off before she goes to work,
this may be a first. Other driver calls me just as we are pulling into the lot,
looks like we may be ready to go on time. Lot is just about empty, only two
trucks, one is ours. A quick inspection and we are rolling, truck was plugged
in and has enough fuel to get to the drop so thanks to the prior driver on
that.
I pull out of the lot and about two blocks away I notice my hood
coming up. Opps, in my rush to get going I started the truck as soon as I had
checked the fluids, thinking I would latch the hood later. Now it's later. When
I got out of the truck I noticed another little 'Opps' so back to the lot. Back
at the lot I see the other drivers we were to ride with if this truck hadn't
made it back. This truck had been caught in a snow storm in ND over the
weekend, driver only made it <> 100 miles on Saturday before shutting
down again.
New year, new licence plates, new DOT books. I have an
extra copy I'm to give to a 3rd driver at our pickup. About 7 AM he's calling
to see where I am … we'll be there at 8 AM … and to let me know he
can't find his truck. Then calls again to see if he can find our trucks, he
can't. By the time dispatch is in the office, we have checked our lot, the
pickup customer and the closest truck dealer, nothing. They are at the one
place I forgot, a nearby building used by our drop customer.
I have to
drop this truck at the pickup customer, catch a ride back to the 2nd lot to
pickup a 2nd truck, then back to our main lot to drop the car (which doesn't
even belong to the guy who's driving it, it was someone elses who left the keys
in it-with permission), then back to the 2nd lot to pickup the last truck. The
guy who rode up with me is new and had questions but I didn't take as much time
helping him as I normally would have. Once I saw the paperwork I knew I was up
against the clock. Didn't know when I took the run that we needed to deliver by
4 PM … and I was the only driver on the paperwork for the 1st truck that
was at our lot so that means I'll have two hours less drive time than everyone
else today.
We have four trucks going to AL today, me and a guy who
left at 7 AM are going to … Montgomery ??? … I thought I was going to
Mobil, another driver thought I'd better double check my paperwork. The driver
now with me is going to Huntsville and the driver who rode up with me is going
to Birmingham.
The guy who shuttled me back to my truck from the
customer is willing to 'run short' tonight so that we can bunk together one
night. I ran with this guy a few weeks ago to STL. I'll be up against my hours
by tonight so I take off as soon as I'm done fueling, we aren't going to try to
run together. I call the delivery early and leave a message to let them know
I'm on my way … paperwork says 48 hour in advace but that was before I
picked up the truck.
Not much new on I-90 / I-39 today, by IL the snow
is gone except for a few drifts. Found a new Pilot in Mendota, IL at the
RoadRanger. Diesel pumps are in and working, scale is still being installed,
building is being added on to … I'm guessing to add a fast food place but
nothing was posted on the doors.
http://www.pilottravelcenters.com/Locations/Location.aspx?location_id=530&Title=%23530+Mendota%2C+IL
lists 4 parking spots, must be old info, should be able to fit at least six :
Once we found our trucks this AM every thing has clicked so I'll be
able to make it to Effingham, IL tonight. Anything short of that and I was
concerned that this would turn into a five day trip. It did help that the truck
was going to Montgomery and not Mobil, that cuts 360 miles off the trip. Would
not have been able to make that in 4 days. A couple of hours out from Effingham
I finally know I can make it, so I call the other driver and he is … six
miles behind me … after seven hours. We meet at the Flying J to fuel and
then I head to find a motel.
I had thought I was looking for a Red
Roof Inn, but finally realize that that motel is in Mount Vernon, not
Effingham. There is a Motel 6 next door and a Super 8 a few doors from that. No
price on the Motel 6 sign so I go to the Super 8. I like a little more room in
the Super 8 with two people. Price should be $40 including the Corp cut, so $20
each for the night.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR -
Super 8, Effingham, IL <<<<<<<<<<<<<
... one step above a Motel 6 (which is across the street). Two
people/two beds in one room was the reason for choosing the 8 over the 6. Super
8's, including this one, usually have enough room on BOTH sides of the bed to
walk. Not the case in most 6's.
It's a split level, rooms are either up or
down. Didn't see an elevator. Two signs saying "No Semi-parking." But they did
let us park our two 'non-semi's' there after asking if the refer's would be
running. (they wouldn't be)
Check-in was OK. Room was clean and quiet. TV
worked, fridge worked. Didn't use the microwave or coffee machine. Two of us in
one room, still under $50 at a corp rate.
Very basic breakfast. Two kinds
of juice, one kind of muffin, one kind of roll, two kinds of dry cereal, might
have been a couple of more things but not much. Not an issue for me as I almost
never eat that early in the AM (5 AM this stay)
* My ratings for this
hotel
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars
Location
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
o 3 of 5
stars Sleep Quality
* Date of stay January 2011
* Visit was
for Business
* Traveled with With Colleagues
* Member since November
28, 2010
" Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Supper tonight will be at the Stake and Shake a block away. Could not
get the guy I'm running with to make a decision last time we ran together so
tonight I ask and then I pick. He orders a sandwich with a shake … I had
planned on ordering water but then a shake sounded good, strawberry … with
a pattymelt and coleslaw still came to under $10. Cole slaw was 'creamy' and
was the best one I'll have this trip, and at a (almost) fast food place.
Tuesday - 1/4/11
We are legal to roll at 6 AM. We check
out the breakfast but it's 'limited.' Rolling down the highway I quickly loose
the other driver, not sure how he caught up to me yesterday, him fading in my
rearview is the last I'll see of him this trip.
One scale open in KY
is the only one heading south. Hit Nashville midday so no issues there. Another
fuel stop at the Pilot on exit 22 south of Nashville, I know it's not the
fastest place to get in and out of but I stop for the 'points.' I, of course,
pick the slowest lane … except for the guy next to me who is filling a
100+ gallon tank with the 'auto' hose.
Somewhere just south of the
TN/AL line I see something that causes me to write the following to their
company …
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1/4/11 - mid-day - nine of your buses passed me heading south. Only
one had more than a bus length between him and the one ahead of them. Just
wondering if these drivers have any concept of what would happen if the 1st one
crashes at 70 mph?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No slow downs in Birmingham, now I'm writing down exit numbers and
motels. I hope to be back to somewhere near Birmingham yet tonight after I swap
trucks. I call the customer again about two hours out, voice mail again, so
this time I also call the 2nd person on the list … He says he'll have the
truck ready so all we have to switch off keys. I've looked at my handy pocket
sized truckstop guide …
http://www.truckandtravel.com/
… and
found there is a TA at the exit before my drop. Starting last week all trucks
for this customer need to be full of fuel at delivery.
I'm in and out
of the truckstop and my drop in about a half hour. Customer saw me drive in but
they want to look the truck over, no issues. This truck didn't have the
multi-copy BL so we need to find a copy machine, that takes longer than
anything else. I did talk to the other driver earlier today … he had
started out 2-1/2 hours ahead of me when the left the lot, as of when we shut
down last night he was an hour ahead of me. By the time I get to the drop, I'm
ahead of him … didn't wait for him. I'm still hoping to get another run on
Thursday/Friday.
On my list I had noted a Motel 6 at $39 and a Rodeway
Inn for $44 at the same exit, also saw a Quality Inn - 150 rooms all for $45 an
exit or two away. I'm making good time so I stop at a rest area to pick up
coupons, I find one for the Rodeway Inn for $42 … that seals the deal.
Likely the Motel 6 would have charged me for internet (just guessing).
… and when I pass the Quality Inn exit, I don't see either the motel or
food … interstate sign only showed fast food.
Off the interstate
in legal time. One of the other plus' for the Rodeway Inn was I could see the
truck parking, don't have to guess if I'll fit.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Rodeway Inn, Birmingham, AL
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"This is no
longer the Holiday Inn"
The layout of this motel looks like a Holiday
Inn, and a web search says it used to be, but those days are gone. Not sure how
many years it has been, but when it was a Holiday Inn may have been the last
time a lot of the repairs were done.
IMO this looks like a motel that used
to be first class, now someone else owns it and is just collecting the income
without putting anything back into it.
I did take pictures of the first
room I was in, at first glance everything looked good (and maybe some rooms are
kept up better than others based on who's staying?). But then I noticed that
one side of the bed was six inches lower than the other, so I asked for a
second room.
2nd room, the heat was either on or off. The temp control
didn't work, I didn't realize how hot it was getting in the room until I was
ready for bed and didn't want to change rooms again so I just shut the heat
off.
As an example of poor upkeep, all the doors seemed to have nicks in
them. Some were left that way while others had the nicks painted over. Not the
whole door, just the nicks.
Used to be a restaurant on-site, Ashleys,
closed. Used to be a lounge on-site, Jitterbugs, closed. Used to be a fitness
center on-site, closed. Didn't check out the pool, etc.
In the morning
when I went to check out I found out that I was not billed the $42 coupon rate,
but a higher $45 "Because those rooms were gone." I was not told that at
check-in. Up to this point I did not know if I would recommend this place or
not. Now the answer is NO! I could have stayed at a Quality Inn for $45 and had
a 'quality' clean room, or stayed at the Motel 6 for $39.
After I checked
out, I checked out 'breakfast.' One pot of coffee, one jug of orange juice, one
roll. That's it. Nothing else.
* My ratings for this hotel
o 2 of
5 stars Value
o 2 of 5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Location
o 3 of 5
stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
* Date of stay January 2011
* Visit was for Business
*
Traveled with Solo Traveler
* Member since November 28, 2010
"
Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? No
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Looking a the other 'Trip Advisor,' I see that at two stars, I gave
them their best review in over a year. All five reviews in 2010 gave them only
one star) Read my 'post trip' comments at the bottom of trip for a followup.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Jim 'n Nick's Bar-B-Q,
Birmingham, AL <<<<<<<<<<<<<
Seeing a billboard along I-65 today was the first time I had heard of 'Jim n
Nicks'. A few hours later I pull into a motel that has a Jim n Nicks two doors
down and is recommended by the desk clerk.
The place was busy but not
loud. I was there at 6PM on a Tuesday and never a line. Seated right away, fast
service. I did notice one person who was seated and not waited on (timely),
when she got someones attention, the person who seemed to be in charge took
over her table and kept checking back, so 'we' never knew who's table it was
supposed to be. Good way to cover for the help.
I had 'the original' BBQ
pork sandwich with creamy cole slaw and biscuits. Sandwich was good, very good.
Cole Slaw was NOT creamy, good, but not at all creamy. Biscuits were good, but
they would have been better with a stick of butter ... they didn't offer, I
didn't ask.
Yes, I'll be back to this or another location.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wednesday - 1/5/11
My usual mode of driving is 10
hours off and rolling, but when I only run 12 hours that means I'm getting up
two hours earlier every day … and I started the week at 6 AM. So to keep
things in line, I plan on starting at 6 AM every day this trip, or at least
until something changes. Didn't make 6 AM this morning, got started looking at
something on the computer and it was quickly 6:30 … and rolling.
Fairly early in the AM, I get a 'happy call' from dispatch … when they are
that 'friendly' I know something is up :
Yep, they want me to play
taxi again. Last time it was 'OK.' … this time it was … 'OK, what's
in it for me?' Turns out there was $100 in it for me, just for the asking. But
I earned at least part of it. It took me on back roads from Paducah, KY to
Sikeston, MO.
By the time I get to Nashville it is snowing, big
flakes. I'm running low on fuel, and I don't know where there is a 'name' brand
for another 50-100 miles after that, so I stop at Love's in Nashville. Big
flakes again but nothing adding up. Now I'm in no hurry, I've found out that
the other driver is about three hours behind me. I'll need to stop again and
get a fax, Flying J in Oak Grove. No fax. I finally call and as the dispatcher
is reading me the fax number they realize that it is for the Pilot in Oak
Grove, not the Flying J. They offer to re-fax, but I say 'no problem' I'll just
drive across the street.
… and for a while I think that 'fate'
has stepped in. At the Pilot, I meet someone selling truckdriver legal
insurance. We talk, I join, I kill an hour. I've been procrastinating and now
it lands in my lap … or does it?
(see more on this company in the
'post trip)
The road from Paducah to Sikeston is a narrow winding
road. US Highway mostly but narrow, in places the blacktop is broken away up to
the white 'shoulder line' and then it's straight down. To the ditch, creek,
raven. No reason to post speed limits on this highway, I doubt if I go over 45
mph. Then a high narrow bridge, it was wide enough that the mirrors on the
trucks didn't hit but not much more. I do like to get off the Interstate, but
not like this … kind of wishing I'd have stayed on the freeway. A lot of
extra miles, but I've got nothing but time.
I fuel again in Sikeston,
Flying J about five miles south of town. Loves / TA also at that exit. Thought
of eating here but then I'd have to guess when he'd be there. Instead I decide
to park at our meeting spot and find something close. I get there and I have a
choice of McD's, Burger King, Ruby Tuesdays and Grillz Diner … I go for
the Diner. I walk two blocks and find it … closed ??
I walk back
past the truck to Ruby Tuesday's … and see a truck coming down the freeway
ramp. Yep, they come and look at my truck so I walk back and talk to them. They
are looking for the driver who is still an hour plus away, it'll be one of the
drivers 'new' truck. We talk a bit and then I say I need to eat.
I see
I didn't do a Trip Advisor on Ruby Tuesday's …
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Didn't see anything that 'jumped' off the menu at me, finally decided
on a ½ pounder with cheese. Soup would be extra instead of fries so I
went with 'Blue Cheese Cole Slaw.' Interesting, but good. I see they did have
salad bar. Place was empty, it was only <> 4 PM. Crew was training
someone it. Burger was good but I couldn't eat the whole thing … too much
meat.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Back outside the local drivers are gone, truck is still there. I
didn't see them at Tuesday's … (Now I see looking online that one of the
motels has a place to eat/bar) I get back in my truck in time to see the driver
I'm meeting coming down the freeway ramp. He calls his contact, no answer.
Finally one of them comes out of the motel/restaurant. We chat for a couple of
minutes, he signs, we roll. We need to get an 3-1/2 down the road tonight to
make it home tomorrow so I give the driver the choice of 'fast food.' He goes
for Burger King. I drive, he eats.
It gets dark, we get past St Louis.
I fogot how many motels there are in East St Louis on the freeway. Could have
stopped there but we keep rolling until my 14 hours are up. Litchfield, IL.
Coupon book shows motels there. Super 8 had been the goal, but a sign on the
Best Value Inn said $36 so we stop there first. … and stay.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Best Value Inn - Litchfield, IL
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"It's what I
expected from a 'best value inn'"
This isn't the Hilton motel chain.
If you've ever stayed at a 'Best Value' before, this one is in line with the
rest I've stayed at. Clean, with more perks than a Motel 6, but likely lacking
in the 'appearance' area.
Lots of room for truck/large vehicle parking.
Our first issue was with the price. A sign outside just said "$36." Turns out
that was the 'weekly' rate, the real rate starts at $39, the same as the Super
8 across the street.
No issues with the room, clean, with a microwave,
fridge, coffee maker, with everything plugged into one power strip. All doors
faced the outside, but the outside was enclosed with clear shutters that could
be opened/closed depending on the weather, something I'm surprised I don't see
more of. One downside was the enclosed staircase seemed to be the designated
smoking area.
Basic breakfast in the AM, two 'name brand' cereals, toast,
juice/coffee.
Because of the 'misleading sign,' I would try the Super 8
next time for the same price. The real question is where I would stay the 3rd
time?
* My ratings for this hotel
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of
5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Location
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o
3 of 5 stars Service
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
* Date of stay
January 2011
* Visit was for Business
* Traveled with With
Colleagues
* Member since November 28, 2010
* Would you recommend
this hotel to a friend? Yes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The other driver was looking for a beer but nothing was close, we
ended up at the gas station across the street. Because I ate so early I was
hungry, got a bottle of Blueberry juice and a bag of Oreo's. Didn't even eat
half the bag … wasn't as hungry as I thought.
Thursday -
1/6/11
Good thing I slept in yesterday, or I'd have been in Sikeston
waiting for even more hours and still been somewhere south of St Louis this AM.
6:30 AM … 10 hour off and I'm inspecting my truck. The other
driver is already down eating breakfast. We didn't share the room, he choose
not to. Don't know if he never does or if it had just been a long day
yesterday. He had thought he was flying home from STL yesterday but dispatch
couldn't find a ride from Sikestone to STL … He said he was a bit confused
when dispatch called and asked if he wanted an 'earlier' flight … earlier
than what? … he didn't know they had booked one. Turned out they booked
him a flight for an hour after his expected drop time, and the wanted to change
it TO his drop time? … and he was three hours from the airport, plus
logistics and being to the airport an hour early … in rush hour?
I drive … until we stop for fuel the second time. Then I let him drive so
we/I can use all of my 14 hours, I'll need them as we will each have our own
truck the last two hours of the day. My first fuel stop is a Thorntons
http://www.thorntonsinc.com/
it doesn't say anything on their website, but
at least the Lincoln, IL location is now co-branded as a Pilot, has been for
over a year, per the fuel clerk.
Once back to the customer, we again
have to drop the truck at their office and shuttle back to our lot where we
store their trucks. We had both done our inspections when the other driver
picked up his truck, when I get back from dropping off I hop in my truck and it
starts slow … WHAT, it had been plugged in and started right off a few
minutes ago, it's not that cold out. Then I realise that I am not in my truck
… opps. Mine starts right off, he fuels, I get something to eat and we
roll on home. We end up with the 1-1/2 hours that I thought we were going to
have by getting north of STL.
Back at the lot I have to use my truck
and a tow rope to move my car, it's still frozen in. After I parked it two
weeks ago we had a couple of warm days, which created a puddle where my car was
parked.
Friday - 1/7/11
Trip Advisor …
No
work today so I'm running errands. Late morning I get a call from the Rodeway
Inn I had reviewed. It started out with a couple of questions but after a
couple of minutes it has gone down hill to the point where I asked the person
where they were going with this call … (by that time I had answered his
questions, including who I worked for) … from there on it became an eight
minute rant about my bad review which ended with the person swearing at me and
hanging up (by this time I had not said anything for over a couple of minutes.)
It's the weekend and I still haven't heard anything back from Trip
Advisor … I do plan on adding a 'note' if they will let me.
Truck driver legal insurance …
AFTER signing up, I
checked online and found a lot of comments on truck boards. Don't know yet if
these companies are all that bad, or just if the 8 % who lose their cases are
posting on the boards. |
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