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NEW FREIGHTLINER REFER TO KC
USED IH
REFER FROM KC
This will be my first 'road trip' in 18 months, during
that time I have either been doing local/no overnight or taking care of family
issues.
When I told dispatch I needed to go out due to lack of local
work, they started listing off a number of options that might come up. But the
sure thing was a one over night to Springfield, IL.
But the day prior
to the trip, that changed to a Kansas City, KS. Not a huge difference in miles
or money and both were round trips.
Tuesday - 1/29/13
ICE
My driveway was icy, our county road was icy, could only get up to 15
mph driving on the shoulder going up the hill before I'd start spinning out.
Truck lot was icy … it all takes extra time.
Once on the highway
there was no ice, just slower traffic. I had thought about getting going an
hour earlier just to beat the traffic, now it's looking like it would have been
a good idea. I'm not likely to make my estimated 2-3pm delivery. But that is
not a big deal, they are open up to 24 hrs a day.
I have enough fuel
to get out of town, so my first fuel stop is the 'new' Flying J in Northfield,
and I'm relieved to find out that my rewards card still works for starting the
pump which is a huge time saver.
Having done driveaway for almost 10
years now, there isn't much new as far as surprises, but after being off the
road for a while there are a lot of changes in who owns what. The 1st big
change was that the TA truckstop in Albert Lea, MN is now a Petro (Guess that
happened in October, 2012).
In Des Moines, the Red Roof is now a
Comfort Inn and at that same interchange, a ma/pa motel became a Rodeway Inn
and the Country Kitchen became a Montana Mikes on my last trip back in 2011.
Down in Osceola, IA there is now a Pilot, I make this my 2nd fuel
stop. I had mis-read my pay sheet this AM. I thought I was only allowed $200
for fuel, so I had put in $175. Re-reading it, it said $275 which was much
closer to what was needed. For a while the math was looking like I'd only need
to put in another $50 but the bottom ½ of the tank always seems to go
faster than the top so I put in the extra $100. Turns out the $50 would have
gotten me there.
I call the customer from the Pilot to let them know I
am two hours plus from delivery and they tell me "When you stop … "
To which I quickly interrupted them and said "I wouldn't be calling
you if I wasn't stopped …" Can't afford that $2,700 fine.
No
scales open on the way down and this truck is governed at 62 so I'm not
breaking any speed laws.
I've been to this drop a few times, which
helps as it's located in an old warehouse complex and finding it was an issue
the first time. First thing I see is a burnt out truck … Hmmm, I hope that
that wasn't something the customer forgot to tell dispatch. It wasn't, instead
I am getting a 2001 with over a million miles on it. I thought we / they had
replaced all their 2001's when we delivered their 2005's. Guess not.
Found my contact right away and was in and out in less than an hour. Fuel gauge
says full, but on a truck this old I don't trust anything to work. So I check
it, and actually 'they,' are full. Two tanks fuel on board, that'll save me
some time and the boss some money. I felt guilty about leaving the other truck
on ¼ but that is the new contract, the old one was always leave full.
That was easy.
I asked when the last time this truck had been used
(I've picked them up when the answer has been 'years.') Their answer was that
it had just came back from the shop … ))) but when was it actually used ?
((( and it wasn't a good sign that the truck came with it's own can of starting
fluid. Then when I try to pull ahead I crank the steering all the way to the
left and I'm still going straight, for a second I thought this was going to be
a short trip … then I realized that I was in the mud, the steering was
just fine.
Inspection on these old trucks for this customer is easy,
check to make sure it is DOT legal and go. Never had a problem with 'damage,'
unless of course you roll the thing. This bumper was bent on both ends, dings
and fiberglass cracked but it's going back to be sold at an auction.
My delays have cost a little time so now I'm heading out in rush hour traffic,
something I had hoped to avoid. Traffic wasn't all that bad, maybe lost a
½ hour so I'm still doing OK on hours. Two trucks that did 70 mph would
have had me even better on hours. This one will hit 70 on the flat's, but not a
whole lot of that in MO and southern IA.
I originally had planned on
staying in either Bethany, MO or Osceola, IA which are about an hour apart.
Bethany has a motel for under $50 and Toot-toot's to eat at. Osceola had a
Super 8 for $50 with a coupon. But once I got near Bethany the highway started
showing mileage signs for Des Moines and it looked like I could make it there.
The hills did slow me down, but I made it to the north side of Des
Moines with about 5 minutes to spare, and now I've cleared all the scales, none
were open, thank you.
The Motel 6 had been $39 (I thought) earlier
today but now the sign says $49. Even though their info says 'Truck Parking,'
there is not much room to get around in the lot. I've stayed there a few times
before and it is one of the ones with nicer rooms. This time I notice a 'No
trucks over 10,000#' highway sign .Interesting.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Rodeway Inn, Des Moines IA
<<<<<<<<<<<
"I'll be back ..."
Pending review
3 of 5 stars
This motel does meet my basic needs,
clean bed and hot water. It also had a bunch of stuff I don't use ... hair
dryer, fridge, coffee maker, TV and breakfast. It is an old motel, it shows
more in the halls than in the room.
As I write this review, Trip Advisor
now displays some prior reviews next to where I type, my reply to those is ...
This is a 'Rodeway Inn,' even their website says "Rodeway Inn is the perfect
brand when traveling on a budget." 'Budget' is another way for saying this is
not your top end motel. To me, there is a difference between 'dirty' and 'old,'
I did not find anything 'dirty' in my stay at this motel.
... and I found
this motel pretty much in line with their other Rodeway/Ecno line of motels.
Check-in staff was friendly as was the checkout staff.
Tonight this
motel was the same price as the Motel 6 next door and I'm not a fan of the beds
at the '6.
Unless someplace close is $10 plus dollars less, I'll be back.
This was my first night on the road in over a year so I forgot to bring my
camera with, so no photo's on this one.
o 4 of 5 stars Value
o 4
of 5 stars Location
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
o 3 of 5 stars
Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Montana Mike's, Des Moines IA
<<<<<<<<<<<
"Nooooo"
Pending
review
4 of 5 stars
(Before writing this review, I read my prior
review)
Turns out I had the exact same food as I did last time, but all I
could remember when I walked in was that it was gooood. Same as last, this time
I had the French Onion soup and Bacon Swiss burger (no fries)
As I'm
walking up to the place, their sign is flashing 'Now Open,' so I had to ask ...
it was 'just open' last time I was here two years ago. Turns out they had had a
fire and had just re-opened on Monday, I was there on Tuesday.
First thing
I was asked was if I wanted a 22 oz steak, "No" I said, "I don't even want a
half pound burger, but that is all you have."
And that is what the
"Noooooooo" is about, I hate wasting food, but the smallest burger they have is
a 1/2 pound. I think next time I will ask that they cut it in half and put half
in a 'to-go' box before bringing it to the table ... and then tell them to keep
the 'to-go' box. (I'm a driver and have no way to keep leftovers.)
Being
the 2nd night open (and a pending snow storm), the place was quiet. Service was
quick, too bad the closest one is 200 miles from my house.
o 3 of 5
stars Value
o 4 of 5 stars Atmosphere
o 5 of 5 stars Service
o 5 of
5 stars Food
////////////////////////////////
Wednesday -
1/30/13
I ate until I hurt last night so I won't blame my waking up a
few times on the room or the bed, it was also my first night on the road in
over a year.
When I checked in last night the clerk asked if it had
started to snow, 'No.' And I didn't know it was going to but when I wake up
during the night I look outside and it is snowing, lots.
Alarm goes
off at 7a, it was a back-up in case I wasn't already up. I was DOT ready at 6am
but I slept through that. Not in any hurry, I have 11 hours to drive 200 miles
and no work lined up for tomorrow.
Alarm went off again at 7:05 and I
shut it off instead of hitting snooze. No reason to get up … but then I
do. I check the weather on my laptop, not good. A lot of the road advisories
say "Towing services are prohibited." Wasn't sure what it meant but it didn't
sound good. (I emailed the Iowa DOT and found out it means that you can't be
towed out of the ditch until the weather clears)
I check the radar
again an hour later and the storm isn't moving any faster, it doesn't look like
it will move past Des Moines until 3 PM which will mean driving in the dark by
the time I'm home. I wait until 9am for 'rush hour' to clear and head out. 1st
thing I see out my window as I'm about to leave is a DOT commercial enforcement
car …
Roads are ice and/or snow covered. Parking lot is too, but
there was enough wind that it blew a lot of snow away from my truck. I took a
full ½ hour to get going, plenty of time to warm the truck.
35
mph is the starting speed around Des Moines, then up to 45 mph for the first
couple of hours, but again, I am in no hurry. A few cars and a couple of trucks
in the ditch. By the time I get to the northern part of IA, it has stopped
snowing and the roads are better but there is still the occasional whiteout.
Glad I had fallen back on my main motto, 'Maximize my hours every
day.' I could have had a lot more miles driving in this mess had I stayed down
in Bethany last night.
Thought maybe I'd have enough fuel to get to
delivery, but I did have to stop in Owatonna to get a few gallons, so I got to
see where the CNG pumps are in case I need to use them. They are in the first
two fuel islands.
When I walked in they were handing out samples, Kwik
Trip. But by the time I was done in the restroom they were gone 9 I was
supposed to be home by noon today so I didn't want to spend a whole lot on
lunch, love their rib sandwich but I could get their chicken sandwich for a
buck so I did … Yuck.
Did my four hour trip in five and a half
hours so wasn't all that bad
… home again, safe at last. |
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