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NEW FORD TANKER TO BC
USED HINO
REFER FROM SEATTLE
(From my earlier post) I was all lined up with good
runs for the next two weeks 10 days working and only one day off, then it would
be my long weekend.
BUT
… no marker/tail lights on the first
truck I picked up. They (and I) thought it would only take a minute to fix
… 10 hours later I dropped it off at a dealer who wouldn't be able to look
at it for a 'couple of days.' Because of the weekend, border crossing and
customer hours that was the end of that trip, for me anyways.
And by
the time the trip was canceled, the dispatcher I was working with was leaving
for the week and didn't know what anyone else had been working on and the
others were gone. It looked like a bleak week.
(Current)
I
did get a couple of short runs in last week, worked four days but not for the
same kind of money. One of those runs was to pickup this truck on Thursday from
the dealer. STILL no lights. Very glad I was the one that tried to pick it up,
I just might have come un-glued if someone else had picked it up (and not done
a proper inspection) and I found out Saturday AM and then lost another week.
Someone else did pick it up on Friday when I was doing my re-start.
(and the lights work)
6/18/2011 - Saturday
8 AM
Just because.
Mostly because I like to drive 12 hours and be off 10.
So that means a 6 AM start on Sunday and a 4 AM start on Monday … 2 AM
local if I make it to WA.
Truck checks good … 8:30 … a
little slow in rolling out of bed this AM. Half a tank of fuel so I make it to
the Pilot in St Cloud. Just as I'm leaving a dozen vans pull in with kids
… everywhere.
Rainy day, off and on. Nothing too memorable in MN,
stop again in Fargo for fuel in hopes that I can make it to Beach. Wow …
Love's is up and running right across the street from the Flying J. Didn't know
it had been that long since I'd been here, it was a field the last time I
walked across it. The shop is now a Boss Shop and the motel is now a Motel 6,
other than a paint job not sure if anything changed, it was a bare bones motel
before. Sign still says 'Cookery' at the Flying J but not sure if it is still
open.
Water, lots of it. Red River is still high, fields are still
flooded but not as bad as last time I went this way a couple of months ago. I
noticed the water was higher than usual on a few ponds, then …
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LOOK UP LAKE
Near Medina the road was down to one lane both directions because of
water over the road. A few hours later I hear on the radio that they are in for
more bad weather in that area. Also tornado warnings about 35 miles south of me
but clear skies for me by then.
Saturday and the midwest are good
places for classic country music. Starting all the way down by MLW. Then near
Eau Claire they have the Moose … 106.7fm. A dead area around MSP then west
on I-94 you can pick it up again on AM 800 most of the way to Fargo where there
is another station that gets you most of the way to MT. MT has some good
stations too …
Besides all the flooding that makes the news,
there is also lots of areas where 5, 10, 20 acres is under water or had been
flooded. The MO river is still up in Mandan but has gone down some based on the
debris it leaves behind.
Did have a hot dog at Fargo, am trying to eat
a little more during the day and hopefully not put on a bunch of weight. Quite
sure eating once a day is not good for the system.
This truck will
move, never did try it out. Once I fueled on St Cloud I set the cruise at 70
mph. Speed limit in ND is 75 but I kept it at 70. Would have gained a ½
hour but don't need the hours and there are aren't any motels a ½ hour
past Miles City.
Interesting fuel readout. Gauge worked fine but the
readout would start at '200 miles to E.' Ended up doing 355 on the ND tank
full. DEF gauge read ¼ at pickup, knew I wouldn't make it on that so I
bought a box in St Cloud and added it in Fargo, Gauge never dropped. All day,
never dropped. ???
I have plenty of time to make Miles City, scale is
closed at Wibaux so I'll have to stop in Billings tomorrow instead.
Had thought I'd try the Super 8 this time but I guess they no longer do my corp
pricing so it's the Motel 6 one more time. The plus side is it is the closest
to the 4B's :
Last time I went through here the price posted was $59,
this time no price was posted inside or out and I was able to get it for a
little less than that.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR -
4Bs, Miles City MT <<<<<<<<<<<<<
"MMMMMMMMMMMMmmm" 4 of 5 stars Reviewed July 1, 2011 NEW
I
suppose I need to write more :)
Tomato soup and a French Dip sandwich.
I've eaten at this one a few times over the last eight years, never a bad
meal. First time I've been here for three years, glad to see the food is as
good as ever.
First building off the freeway, next to Motel 6.
*
Visited June 2011
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Motel 6, Miles City MT
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Your average '6"
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 23, 2011
No price listed inside or out
... that's not a good sign. And they have you sign a slip of paper saying that
you understand that you have 20 minutes to complain about the room or it's your
problem … another not so good sign.
But other than that … it's a
'6. Meets all their standards. IMO, a lot of the Motel 6's have become
overpriced this summer but unless you can find a Ma and Pa place in this town
(I haven't) for less, this is as good as it gets.
Two people behind the
front desk, place was busy. After I went out to eat at the 4B's next door (a
great reason to stay here) I had a message waiting on my phone. Front desk was
wanting to know if everything was OK with my room. It was.
Did have to
call down and ask about the WiFi … it's free but not working tonight. Full
signal, likely just need to be re-booted, I didn't stay up that long. It was
working again by the AM.
No pics, this is your average '6
*
Stayed June 2011, traveled on business
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5
stars Sleep Quality
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6/19/2011 - Sunday
I could have been rolling 15 minutes
earlier but kept the start time at 6 AM. Just getting light by then. Long day,
few stops, more country music. Just because … I don't stop for fuel in
Billings, want to run it down more. I'm thinking maybe I can make it with only
one stop today … ha, ha. No such luck. I stop once in Columbus at Pilot,
Town Pump. They have their pumps in two different locations, I've noticed that
with a few stations, add them where they fit I guess.
Did have to stop
in Billings and get a permit. Got the green light, he was busy going over
everything with someone … said it would be a while. It was. I did catch a
break when the drivers license came back as expired. I got my permit from the
truck while he was trying to figure that one out.
From Columbus I'm
able to make it to Bonner … lots of high water in MT too. Lots of hours so
I keep rolling. When I get my permits in Hogen I'm told that I'll "too
organized" … if they only knew …
Somewhere in MT there is an
area called 'Cedar Creek' … they had a 'Your Mother (earth) Festival' this
weekend. Lots of tents, campers and old buses. It's just a big field, with a
permanent stage … stage being poles and a platform. No roof. Outhouses, if
they cut any grass it was only enough for the sitting area.
Looks like
I'll make it to Post Falls, I checked last night and my old motel does have
corp pricing again. Last trip the other driver said $50 was the cheapest in
this town … But I never find out for sure. I realize that I have enough
time to make it past Spokane so I'm going to pay the extra $$$ and go for it.
I have a brief illusion that I can make my delivery Monday and be this
far back Monday night, cutting one motel from my trip …
The same
other driver who told me that the cheapest motel in Post Falls was $50 stays at
a Super 8 just west of town. My other choice is the motel by the other
truckstop that until recently was advertising adult movies as one of the perks.
Finally I look at my BC permit info, I get everything I can think of
together, title, VIN, credit card … I get through and things go well
… until they ask the weight. I have no idea and don't want to pay more (or
less) than I need to. And I've run myself out of hours so I can't drive across
the street to the scale. I'll have to do that in the AM.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Super 8, Spokane WA
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Location,
location"
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 23, 2011
That is the reason
I stayed here ... location ... it was time to shut down for the night but I
needed to get this far to make tomorrows drop
... plus I know a co-worker
likes to stay here. Close to the truckstop and truck shops if needed.
No
problems at check in … CDL rate is the best rate tonight … down side
of running the weekends. I check the room and it checks good.
Covers the
basics. Quiet, clean, comfy.
One pet peeve of mine though, the power cord
for the hair dryer was so close to the sink that I kept bumping it when I
washed up. I unplugged it. I know they have circuit breakers, but there those
can be faulty too.
Was gone long before breakfast if there was any. I'll
let the pics tell the rest.
* Stayed June 2011, traveled on
business
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
o 3 of 5
stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>…….
No review
Iron Skillet
$12 for a steak buffet was too steep
for me so I ordered a patty melt with as salad, custom made, they asked exactly
what I wanted on it. Food was good, service was fast, ticket was on my table
before I was done eating.
Place was full the whole time I was there, makes
for a good turnover at the buffet.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6/20/2011 - Monday
5 AM (3 AM local)
The down
side of running 12 hours a day heading west. (and taking 10 off). It gets early
fast. Upside is it's summer … longest day of the year tomorrow so it's
already getting light.
I scale the truck, no one at any of the fuel
pumps at this time on a Monday AM so I drive backwards through one and park.
$9.50. Once dispatch opens I call and leave the weight with dispatch, plus an
email asking if they can purchase the permit for me as WA is a no cell phone
state (while driving). So I'd have to park until I was done, and last night
they said that Monday is the busiest time to call.
Not everyone in
northern WA spent big money on crop circles and big equipment. Some are still
using steel wheeled tillers and planters. One is using an old crawler that
looks like it pre-dates the 1940's ones we had.
(… the rest is
written after I've done this much of the same trip a 2nd time)
Still
lots of traffic when I hit the bypass, I do notice that the 'be a hero' signs
are gone from the freeway … "Be a hero … turn in someone using the
HOV lane."
It's further to the border from SEA than I thought, closer
to 100 miles. Not much has changed on that leg since 4-5 years ago.
Dispatch is getting my permit so I'll need to stop at the last station before
the border to have them fax it to me. I do, it all takes time. Then at the
border, they've finished working on the highway so that makes things easier. I
have a map that shows were to park … before the roadwork. I park in the
new truck parking area, walk a couple of blocks to the 'export office.' Someone
asks me as soon as I walk in what I need, they point me in the right direction.
At first the guy assumes we haven't done it correctly but then goes
and finds the paperwork, only takes a couple of minutes and I'm rolling. Two
blocks and then in line for customs. Wrong line, the other one moves faster.
Only the usual three questions and then I need to go to the broker ... I had
been told I'd have to for this unit. I go park but don't see the brokers name
on the building, someone finally points me in the correct direction.
I'm in and out of there in two minutes, then back to customs … the whole
thing took just over an hour. No delay at the scale but I misguessed how far
from the border to the customer. I was at the border at 10 AM, sometime while I
was there I missed the 10:30 bus back to the US. No problem, there is another
one at 12:30.
I have a map and the customer is right where it shows it
is. Opps, the computer fuel gauge showed 40 miles to 'E' when I crossed the
border, now it's showing 'E.' (I find out on the next truck it shows 'E' when
it reaches '30 miles to E.'
I stop at the front of the building, the
receptionist can't find anyone who wants to see me. Again, it all takes time.
Finally they send me 'around back,' but don't say where, turns out there is a
trailer office back there that I need to find. I find someone to sign it but
then they decide they want it somewhere else but that'll be a few minutes.
I hadn't checked on the time for my way out … just as well. They
did bring me to the bus depot, it left 20 minutes ago … so now I've missed
two. Oh, new rules. I need to make a reservation so the depot gives me a number
to call to set it up.
Oh well, it gives me time to grab a hotdog and
chat with the guy running the stand, same guy as 4-5 years ago. Two hours to
wait …
Just before the bus gets there a guy shows up for the bus
and starts asking 'which highway' we were next to. "Not from around here?" I
ask. Nope, just dropped a truck … Works for Horizon, we talked for a bit
but just the basics didn't get into any tall tales.
Bus comes, once we
are on, there is 14 people on the bus … about a mile and we are at the
border, we need to wait for someone to let us in, then it's 'everyone off the
bus, grab all your luggage, form a line inside.' We form two lines, those with
US and Canadian passports in one line, those with all other in another line.
Comes to about ½ and ½. Didn't time it so not sure how long it
took. Do know that the Grayhound was waiting behind us for them to let us in
and they couldn't start until we all re-boaded.
Wow … WiFi on the
bus.
There is up to five stops on this route, but only two today.
Makes it go faster, should have noted how long it took. Should take …
3-1/2 hours.
When I'm finally off the bus I check in at home (Can't
use the cell while driving in WA and BC, then it costs about $4 a minute in
Canada … then I was on the bus …) and then call two motels I have
coupons for. 'America's Best' isn't taking coupons today so it's back to the
SeaTec Inn. Been there before. No fancy paint job on the motel shuttle, just a
magnet with the company name. In the window the '90 from the used car lot is
still painted in the front window.
I ask about food, 'other than
Denny's' and they name a sushi place … nah. So back to Denny's, when I'm
about ½ done eating I see the other driver paying. While I was on the
phone, he must have caught an earlier shuttle to the same motel.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - SeaTec Inn, Seattle WA
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Great deal - for
the price" 3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 23, 2011
When you are paying $39
for a motel (which includes free shuttle/free WiFi) within walking distance
from the airport, you can't expect the Hilton.
That said, this is the 2nd
time I've stayed here in the last year. No problems at checkin/checkout, room
is clean, quiet (didn't hear the planes across the street), water is hot. This
motel is likely one of the two oldest ones in the area and it shows inside and
out.
But if you are looking for the basics, this is it.
Denny's next
door, Sushi next to that and there used to be a good place next to that inside
the Holiday Inn. (not sure if it's still there)
Three blocks from Light
rail/bus stop.
* Stayed June 2011, traveled on business
o 3 of 5
stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6/21/2011 - Tuesday
I never could find a map that showed
where the bus routes went. Did find the time and numbers. One should get me to
my next truck without any transfers in about 30 minutes. I had first put in
that I wanted to arrive at 8 AM so it showed I had to leave at 7 and get there
by 7:30. My contact wouldn't get there until 8 so I didn't want to get there
that early but never looked to see when the next bus ran … until this AM.
The bus only runs once an hour.
Opps … then the bigger 'Opps' I
didn't write down the bus routes and can't find them at the bus stop. And I
also could not figure out which way the bus was going to be going. They only go
North and South on this street and I'm going East.
Instead of just
standing still (but I didn't know which side of the street), I cross the street
and ask the first bus that stops … 'Yeh, I can get you there' … but
two blocks down he gives me a pass … "You'd better get off and catch bus
##." Instead I got off and headed the two blocks back to my bus stop, No buses
come at 8 AM from either direction. So I get on a bus that says 'Kent.' The
driver says they can get me close. Then decide they can't.
I notice
she's talking to someone on the phone and when she's off she says she's checked
with dispatch and here's what I have to do …
That was 'beyond
duty.' :
I'll need to switch busses once, I do but the new driver only
knows their route, not any other side streets. But I watch the buildings and
find where to get off. I've got about a four block walk and it was about a 45
minute ride so not bad. Just I'm an hour later than I thought I'd be.
I call my contact and tell him I'll be there in a few minutes. When I get there
he already has the truck running so I'm rolling in minutes. Even after 9 AM
there is still traffic which costs me about 15 minutes extra to get out of
town. Do have a ½ a tank of fuel so that's a plus … and it's not
governed. 60 mph in WA so not an issue, but once I get to ND :
Money
wise I was going to stop in Missoula, MT and Beach, ND but I couldn't see
shutting down at 6 PM when it's still light and I had hours to run, so I
finally decided I would just stop and eat in Missoula (at 4B's) and keep going
to Butte.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - 4Bs,
Missoula MT <<<<<<<<<<<<<
"MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm 2" 4 of 5 stars Reviewed July 6, 2011 NEW
#2,
as in I just ate at their Miles City location a couple of days ago. To put my
view of their food in perspective ... I drive for a living and only take time
to stop during my shift to eat once every month or two ... or three. (the rest
of the time I eat after the end of my shift) This was one of those times when I
stopped during my shift. I wanted great food but my shift wasn't over.
I
have ordered other items at this location, but tonight again it will be the
French Dip and Tomato soup. In general, I'm not a big fan of tomato soup, not
something I order. But I tried it here once and have been hooked ever since
(but not hooked enough to try it at other chains)
The waitress tried to
offer me a menu when I sat down but I was ready to order. I ordered, I ate and
was rolling down the highway again in 30 minutes. 'Fast Food' :)
Maybe
next time I will order a bowl of soup instead of just a cup ... Oh, at Miles
City I had to ask for crackers for my soup, here they brought a whole basket
without asking.
This restaurant is part of the 'Crossroads Travel Center,'
the signs outside just say '24-Hour Cafe' but the menu is 4B's.
www.crossroadstravelcenter.com
* Visited June 2011
o 3 of 5 stars
Value
o 4 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I get to Butte and … FULL??? One room left for $64 … instead
of $41. Motel 6? $69 so I go into town to the Super 8 … WHAT? $89 is the
'discount rate? I've got hours and keep rolling. But I finally have to stop for
fuel … after I pass the truckstop the low fuel light comes on so I make a
U-turn at the next exit and head back through town.
They have an old
prison right in town, and a railroad spike with two old train engines, I'll
have to look that one up.
Rodeway in? $50 … still too steep, and
a 4B's next door … hmmmm. I keep rolling.
Whitehall, MT … I
don't have a choice, I'm out of hours. Super 8 $71.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Super 8, Whitehall MT
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"This motel was
not built as a Super 8 - IMO"
4 of 5 stars Reviewed June 23, 2011
The layout of the lobby and rooms at this motel do not match any other Super 8
I've seen. Not sure how to best describe it so go the Super 8 website for more
pics (I didn't get pics of the outside or lobby)
This motel is more than I
like to pay, but so were the other four places I checked before getting this
far. But, IMO, the price matches the motel (I'm just cheap :) )
No issues
at check-in, they do have large vehicle parking but it is not easy to get to
??? Clean, quiet.
I think they are at the top end of the Super 8's I've
stayed at, but I'd have been less likely to even try them if they had one of
the pricier names.
Only the basics for breakfast, one type of juice,
bread, muffins, pastries.
* Stayed June 2011, traveled on business
o 4 of 5 stars Value
o 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
o 4 of 5 stars
Cleanliness
o 4 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6/22/2011 - Thursday
Run late, start late.
Thursdays a blurr …
I can make it to Jamestown but then I find
out that both the Days Inn and Super 8 and others are all full because of the
flood in Minot. I end up at the Jamestown Inn
I'd eaten at Subway when
I stopped for fuel a few hours ago so that wasn't an issue.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Jamestown Inn, Jamestown ND
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"It wasn't the
flood victim first choice ... so there was room for me :)"
3 of 5 stars
Reviewed June 30, 2011 NEW
This motel was not my first choice … I
didn't know it was here. But with 10,000 people evacuated from Minot today the
places I knew of were full.
The posted price for this motel was $39, with
the other motels full at a cost of twice that (or more) it is a fair price for
the area it's in. No complaints, it fills my basics. Clean, warm, quiet, hot
water. If you usually stay in the Holiday Inn, this is not it. The only thing
close to the Holiday Inn was the towels. Nice and thick, not the 'see through'
you get at some budget motels.
This motel was likely built in the 40-50's.
I have only seen one light fixture like the one over the sink, it is in my
folk's house from when it got electricity in '48. There actually were AC
outlets that I could get at without moving furniture or unplugging things,
another plus.
Down side for me, no large vehicle parking, only room for
1-2 on the street. And the only food within walking distance was the DQ across
the street.
* Stayed June 2011, traveled on business
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6/23/2011 - Friday
Five hours to go … No issue at
the scale, but it was open. Two fuel stops, last one will be about 70 miles
from our lot. For this customer, we are supposed to leave them (almost) full,
this will leave it at ¾.
Dispatch calls to see where I am, a
driver needs a ride. I'm a ways ahead of the other driver but decide to use the
truck to pick him up instead of dropping the truck and getting a shuttle car. I
don't want to spend that extra hour in traffic.
Turned out to be a
good thing, I decided to do my paperwork for these last two trips and couldn't
find one receipt. Turns out it had blown onto the floor and gotten under the
triangles when I pushed them back under the seat. If I had waited to do my
paperwork at the office it would have just been 'lost.'
Still make it
back to our lot with hours to spare. |
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