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NEW INTERNATIONAL WITH DAY CAB TO DENVER
USED MACK WITH CEMENT PUMPER FROM DENVER
Monday
Another storm coming in, I had a couple of appointments today so I couldn't
leave in the AM. Dispatch had originally called and said this truck had to
deliver on Tuesday, I might have been able to do it but being a tractor only
it's not the best ride so I didn't try to make it work. A few hours later they
called back saying it could deliver on Weds, at that point I could have played
hardball knowing they couldn't find anyone else to do it, but I didn't.
I did offer that I could leave yet Monday if they had a second leg
that would make it worth it. They didn't, they did have a bus in ABQ that
wasn't' ready yet, so that was an option. As I'm walking out of the office the
boss is walking in and asks if I can do the pumper … blah … they are
on my 'won't do' list. But it is 'supposed to be' a small one and it would make
it a round trip. But I'm hoping on the bus back to the Grand Canyon.
No calls, so I leave Tuesday AM. By now it looks like if I hit any storm it
should be where I can shut down for the night and wait it out.
Tuesday - 3/8/11
7 AM … didn't want to leave before dispatch was
avail as I've done this trip three times this year already and had issues each
time. Ice, wipers, heater … ending up finally leaving about noon each day.
No issues today, not even traffic, the truck has enough fuel to get me
to Cedar Lake, IA so I run it down to 'E' as this is one where we are not to
leave them full. Boss is paying the fuel and anything we leave is a bonus for
the end customer.
This trip is mostly consumed by my next trip, we
usually only know a day or two before we leave, they called me already last
week when I was in the Grand Canyon for a trip two weeks out. Next week I'm
going from SLC to DEN three times … and that is the problem with doing
things on the phone. I only find out this week that there were four trucks
going and they want to add a fifth, plus the one that is ending up in the
middle of nowhere Nebraska.
Still later I will realize that I had
trusted dispatch, saying "Sure, if the math works." It doesn't. I will have
about ½ hour for any errors AND to get to the airport, which means the
taxi has to be waiting at my drop. Even later I realize that any errors,
problems that kick my day up to 14 hours will run me out of hours and force a
shut down on the road. This also will only work if I travel in the evening
after delivering my truck, before going to the motel. If I have to fly, and
then go to directly to my truck, again I will run out of hours. STRESS
This is the first time I can remember that I forgot to put up my NE plate when
I crossed the state line, I didn't remember until I was almost turning into the
first scale, but I keep everything within reach so I cleared OK.
Mid-day I find out that they want me to do the pumper that is in CO (not sure
where), and not do the bus. So now I need to push the max miles today as I will
likely have a bunch of hours between trucks. I could have pushed it 770 plus
miles but didn't' set the cruise on max.
Truck has an 80 gallon tank
and I didn't want to fill it last time, I based it on 12 mpg and have been
holding at 8.5 all day so I end up having to stop for fuel again. But I'm not
ready to stop for the night, I still have hours to go another two hours which
should get me to Big Springs, NE.
I get there. There is a Motel 6
there, not cheap but if there is anything else, it is in town. The next motel
ahead is another 15 miles and the prior one was 30 miles back. Don't know that
they are any cheaper. I've learned to phrase my questions carefully when asking
about places to eat, it seems that 'where did you eat last' is an honest way of
them not having to say that one is better than the other.
This exit
has a Grandma Maxs, I've eaten there before and was not impressed. But since
then I've eaten at the one in Grand Island and the food was much better. I talk
to a local who tells me that the person who cleaned up the Grand Island
location is now trying to do the same here in Big Springs.
But I go
for Sam's next door, other times I've stayed here … ??? … at least
one time there was a company party that I didn't want to join, don't remember
the other times. Maybe I just wanted fast food.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Motel 6, Big Springs, NE
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Slightly
overpriced, but when you're the only place in town ..."
3 of 5 stars
Date of review: Mar 11, 2011
I've stayed here before and will likely
do so again. I don't really like paying $49 for a Motel 6, but there isn't
anything else close at any price so it's either stop short or push further for
the day and you'd still be in the same price range.
Check in was pleasant
and helpful. WiFi is free, so that is $3 that other Motel 6's charge extra for.
It has an indoor pool but that was closed. Room was larger than a lot of 6's,
the beds where not pushed against both walls. Clean, warm, quiet, doors opened
to a hall instead of to the outdoors, a plus in the winter.
Two
restaurants next door plus Subway and Little Caesars. This is one of five Motel
6's owned by the Bosselman Truck stops
* Reviewer ratings for this
hotel:
o 2 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: March 2011
* Visit was for:
Business
* Solo Traveler
* Member since: November 28, 2010
*
Recommended by this reviewer? Yes
>>>>>>>> NO
REVIEW - Sams, Big Springs NE
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sam's …
didn't do a review then, now it is weeks later. Food was good, service was
good, no delays. No reason not to come back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wednesday - 3/9/11
I take a chance and sleep in. I don't
want to burn my hours waiting for paperwork. Dispatch never did get back to me
with any of the info I need for the 2nd leg of the trip, for all I know they
hit a snag. Couldn't get permits (yes, it is overweight), wasn't ready, bus
needs to move NOW. Anyhow I waiting to roll until I will be delivering an hour
after dispatch opens.
Thought I had the math right but on the second
tank of fuel the mpg kept dropping. 8.5 … 8.4 … 8.3 … 8.2 …
??? bad fuel? I had done the math at an even 8 mpg but I was still coming up
short. 20 miles out the low fuel light comes on, 10 miles past the last chain
truckstop. Oh well, there is a little Ma-Pa one coming up. 5 gallons of fuel
and I'm rolling again.
Same drop as the last three trips here so no
issues finding it. Dispatch has given me an address, it's in Denver about 20
miles away so I'm good on that end. It takes a while to find the guy who gets
to sign off on the truck, then I have to call a taxi. Not a long wait but it
all ticks away at my 14 hours.
The taxi driver has been driving taxi
in Denver for 12 years so he knows the street and the building number but not
the name, I guess names change.
Within the hour I'm at the pickup
location … and the first thing I see sitting in front of the shop pointing
to the road … is a seven axle truck, all ready with an 'oversized load'
sign. … Noooooooooooooo!
No paperwork yet, so more waiting. $55
for a taxi ride, but it's cheaper than an extra nights motel. The train runs
within two blocks of the pickup location.
After talking to a few
people I do find someone who knows about my truck, not having the paperwork, I
don't have a contact name. The guy who knows about my truck is working on my
truck. Airing the tires, adding engine oil, guess it's been sitting for two
years. That's what he says and those are the last tabs on the licence.
Still no paperework, so I decide to move the truck out so I can do my
inspection and have it pointed in the right direction. Oh yeah, and they had to
jump it this AM to get it started, but I forget that when I move it and hitting
the brakes kicks the cruise off, and having the cruise off allows the idle time
to shut the truck down. It restarts so that is a good thing, at least I know it
has a starter.
Now I have paperwork, and permits. But I don't know
where the roads go. I do see that I cannot go I-25 North so I have to call
dispatch for directions. Well, not really directions, just sort of which way do
I go.
Low gear is low, I'm the second one in line at the turn arrow
and miss it, that will happen a few more times today. Then when I come to my
first change of direction I don't know which way to go, I think East, but it's
a North/South highway. I know I have to go south around Denver so I guess
south, but I'm in the wrong lane. I can't get over … Or I'm just not good
at getting over, four lanes of traffic in less than a block by the time I
decided. So now I am off my permitted route. I turn at the next signal, how
hard could it be, 20 minutes later I finally am back to a main highway and now
realize that I did want to go 'North' all along.
Or did I? After about
five miles of stop lights I'm starting to wonder. But I know I'm going the
right direction, so if I don't hit the first highway I want, I will in the 2nd
or 3rd. But this was the correct route, long way around town. But I have used
more fuel than I thought I would so now I need to stop, I know where a TA is,
just not how to get to it. I go past it on my last four drops but never needed
to stop. Can't get there from here. I debate going to a nearby Pilot truckstop
but it is off my route, so I think I can find a frontage road and backtrack to
the TA, again I end up on city streets, debate at a couple of stop lights which
way to go, correct on the first one, wrong on the second. Then I'm finally back
to my drop, so around again we go, this time I aim for the Pilot but then see
how to get to the TA so I go there instead. Turns out you can only enter I-270
from one direction and can't exit at all from I-270 to get to the TA, you need
to get on/off for I-70 instead.
Another TA in Denver I don't like, I
would put these two on the top of my stay away list. Traffic wise, very hard to
get in and out of, plus the wait time and getting back out again. Depending on
where you want to go. I'm going North on I-270 so it's not an issue. FINALLY
freeway, no more 'off roading' until my delivery.
Permits, I do read
them right away (unlike my paperwork from dispatch). NE won't let me drive
after dark so I call my wife to find the 'official' sunset time. It is clear
today so I will know but I like to plan ahead. And I won't be running on my NE
plate, the permit is tied to my usual plate.
Cruise could run at near
70 mph, but I set it a little over 60, not in that big of hurry. I'll still be
home in three days total.
I get stopped only once at the scale on this
trip, CO with this truck. He wants to see my permit, stamps it and say "Boy
they sure gave you the run around in Denver." Yep they did.
41,000# on
the rear axles, almost 20 on the front so maxed out. So I'm guessing those with
seven axles weight somewhere near 140,000 or almost double what a loaded semi
weights?
No idea how much fuel this truck is going to use and neither
does dispatch, they guessed 7 mpg and I'm getting closer to 5. That means I
have to stop and fuel again before I stop for the night. I wanted to fuel at my
stop as I could do that after dark but I'm coming up short. And I wanted to
fuel after I crossed the scale, don't want the extra weight, but again, coming
up short.
No issues fueling at the Flying J, checking now I see that I
can turn on the pump from the pump (if it works), no more waiting in line
twice. No issue at the scale, we had to exit but everyone was getting the
bypass.
I've got the hours, daylight to make it to make it to
Lexington, but 15 minutes closer is my $29 motel in Cozad … debate,
debate. I decide I don't want Mexican, the only sit down place within walking
distance in Cozad so I keep going to Lexington.
When I exit in
Lexington I don't see the 1st Interstate Inn I was going to try, and I forgot
to buy anti-gel so I stop at the Sinclear station. I ask if the 1st Inn is
still open, they say yes, it was when they came to work today and explain where
it is.
I go looking for it and finally make a u-turn before I get to
far. I don't find it but I see another motel that might have been it so I stop,
the sign says $40 but then I realize there is nothing but fast food in the area
… maybe next time. I walk back to my truck and go back to the truckstop
and Super 8 next door.
I go in and ask for their price, knowing they
had some discount that got it under $50. We find it.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Super 8, Lexington, NE
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"The lowest
priced, best place in town that I've found ... so far"
3 of 5 stars
Date of review: Mar 12, 2011
... but I'm still looking. Personally I
hate having to pay over $50 when I'm traveling and all I want is a clean bed,
warm water in a quiet room. This offers all of that. I've stayed here a couple
of times now, another plus is that there is non-fast food within walking
distance. Kirk's Nebraskaland Restaurant, cafe, lounge and saloon.
Plenty
of big rig parking at the adjacent truckstop, I was facing the lot and didn't
notice any noise. The other side of the building faces the freeway and don't
remember noises being an issue last time there.
Basic breakfast in the AM,
looked at it, but I don't eat at 6 AM.
Front desk was pleasant both PM and
AM, their price is right for the motel, just not for me.
* Reviewer
ratings for this hotel:
o 2 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: March
2011
* Visit was for: Business
* Solo Traveler
* Member since:
November 28, 2010
* Recommended by this reviewer? Yes
>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Kirk's Nebraskaland Restaurant, Lexington, NE
<<<<<<
"Cafe, Bar, Lounge all in one" 3 of 5 stars
Date of review: Mar 27, 2011
Cafe was for me, don't need a drink or a
white tablecloth. I've been here a few times, so yes, I'll be back. This time I
had the French Dip with the endless salad bar. Both were good, there is enough
traffic between the three area's that the salad bar is kept fresh. Tonight the
place seemed to be a mix of locals who knew the staff and truck drivers who
talked even if they didn't know each other.
* Reviewer ratings for
this restaurant:
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Service
* Date of visit: March 2011
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thursday - 3/10/11
Opps, I could have gotten going 15
minutes earlier. I can't drive until a ½ hour before sun rise, but I
could have done my pre-trip before that, and warmed up the truck. Not much
frost on mine but there is on some.
Sun up, heading straight east.
Lucky with this cab it is not a problem. With some it would be a problem for
hours.
First thing I see pulling on the freeway is birds, geese I'm
guessing. Swarming, like gnats or a tornado. Thousands of them, then I see they
are circling a pond, the pond is full of geese with nowhere else to land until
someone takes off. Later I will see hundreds more. Last night I saw a field
with thousands sitting among the corn stalks. Yet other ponds have no geese.
Have to stop again for more permits before I get to IA so I plan for
the J in Omaha. Don't need fuel yet, but I will at some point so maybe cut an
extra stop? I see cookies for 2 for $2 but I only want one, $1.59 … opps.
$2 for each fax page, the boss is getting the bill.
IA ? a blur.
Except for Des Moines. One exit has had a few changes, only the Motel 6
remains. A few months ago a small brand motel was changed to a Rodeway Inn, now
in the last few weeks the Red Roof has changed to a Choice Motel and the
Country Kitchen has changed to Montana Mikes. All had been under their prior
names for the eight years I've been driving.
Was hoping to be out of
this thing tonight but the I'll get there to close to close time for dispatch
to arrange a drp, that and they want me to work local on Friday so that would
force me to come in. I get to the office about 15 minutes after the customer
would have closed. And I call dispatch to make sure they have gotten the permit
for my side trip to the lot, they have and want to know where I want it faxed.
I don't. I just want to know that they have it on record, and that they can
bring it to me if I get stopped. I'd be on as many 'wrong roads' stopping for
my fax as just driving to our lot.
Friday - 3/11/11
Coming from the lot I have to make a hard left turn onto the fourlane. I
realize too late that I can't make it, I'll either have to stop and back up
… or gun it through a snow bank than has infringed onto the road. I gun
it.
Later the shuttle driver comments that this is the first time he's
ever seen someone go baha-ing with a pumper truck. |
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