Local Fun

We often talk about why local driving isn't a wise choice for getting our careers underway. I thought I'd share an experience I had today in Rock Island Illinois delivering to a college there. The address for this delivery was 3435 9 1/2 Avenue Rock Island IL 61201. Google maps looked tight but the dang snow piles made it even tighter.

Original plan as I approached from the west (left) on 7th ave was to hook a right onto 34th and get in there. Problem is after I took the entire street to make that turn i noticed on top of the hill tree trimmers had the road blocked. I ended up continuing on 7th and eventually made my way back around and decided to turn down 30th this time and hook a left onto 10th follow it around the curve and get in. Sounds easy enough, right? WRONG!

I ended up needing to readjust a couple times for my tandems to clear a telephone pole on the curve, as the snow banks prevented me from riding against the curb in front of me.

knowing it was going to be real tight i had gotten out prior to getting up on the snowbank to be sure it was soft enough I'd be able to plow through it and there weren't any hidden fire hydrants or other obstructions. i had maybe a foot of room before I'd hit the side of the telephone pole. After a couple stressful moments I'd gotten through that and parked on 34th in front of the school then walked in to confirm I was in the proper place before making my next move, as well as assessing what I was going to do. Yep, right place time for my next turn!

once again I ended up taking out a snowbank after checking for obstructions and getting partially on the sidewalk as much as their snowbank in front of me would allow. I had only 3 pallets on me, so I wasn't concerned about tipping over. If I had more weight or the banks were higher I'm not so sure what I did would be a good idea.

Here's what the dock looked like

warehouse loaded pallets sideways and they only had a hand jack so I had to downstack 140 cases onto a new pallet so the pallet jack could grab them. The receiver told me the only way out is the same way I came in, but drivers usually come in the way that was blocked today. I couldn't hook a right out because of a hydrant and poles on the corner. I had to swing wide and shimmy my way out to avoid taking out signs. Once again I barely cleared that telephone pole and then it was a nice rest of the day. I had a few more pictures of the way out but for some reason its not allowing me to upload more pics. I was too focused to stop and snap pics thats why most are Google maps. The best part was that line all drivers hear at tight locations. "We get trucks in here all the time." I bet you do, it wouldn't happen to be that 28' PUP that just pulled out would it!?!?!?!?

Honorable mention of a Dollar General store i drove past at 2217 Rockingham Rd, Davenport, IA 52802 there was a pepsi truck in the lot when I drove by.

Maybe middle of the night it'd be alright but while they're open? Oh heck no!

Anybody that has to deliver to a college, call ahead. They most likely have a central warehouse that is completely different than the address on the delivery. Though Rob did get screwed on this one :) Nice job!

Thanks guys! I enjoyed the challenge but would be ok with never going back. It was definitely one of those moments that make you keep your cool and think about what needs to be done before you make your next move. Thankfully there wasn't a whole lot of cars moving around during this, but there was street parking on that outer edge of the curve side of the street. Thankfully they were far enough back to not affect my turn. Due to them parking on the street only 1 car can pass through at a time.

Anybody that has to deliver to a college, call ahead. They most likely have a central warehouse that is completely different than the address on the delivery. Though Rob did get screwed on this one :) Nice job!

Thank you for bringing that up! When I chose this route I had actually looked up their website and found for campus deliveries go to the receiving center. I was expecting this

tight but nothing too outrageous. I planned to pull into the parking area from 38th and hit the dock depending on how much activity and cars were there would affect how I set up. Otherwise if I didn't feel confident I'd have the room needed I planned to back in off 38th and setup for a driverside back. Being 930am on a Monday i knew it would be interesting getting around campus.

When I got in to work and got my paperwork it had the address for the dining hall (where most colleges want food delivery) which is where I had to go.

Bet you where missing them 28 foot trailers huh?

Thanks guys! I enjoyed the challenge but would be ok with never going back. It was definitely one of those moments that make you keep your cool and think about what needs to be done before you make your next move. Thankfully there wasn't a whole lot of cars moving around during this, but there was street parking on that outer edge of the curve side of the street. Thankfully they were far enough back to not affect my turn. Due to them parking on the street only 1 car can pass through at a time.

Anybody that has to deliver to a college, call ahead. They most likely have a central warehouse that is completely different than the address on the delivery. Though Rob did get screwed on this one :) Nice job!

Thank you for bringing that up! When I chose this route I had actually looked up their website and found for campus deliveries go to the receiving center. I was expecting this

tight but nothing too outrageous. I planned to pull into the parking area from 38th and hit the dock depending on how much activity and cars were there would affect how I set up. Otherwise if I didn't feel confident I'd have the room needed I planned to back in off 38th and setup for a driverside back. Being 930am on a Monday i knew it would be interesting getting around campus.

When I got in to work and got my paperwork it had the address for the dining hall (where most colleges want food delivery) which is where I had to go.

Yeah, you foodies will have to back into places like that. Hospitals too. Though I've yet to be at a hospital cafeteria dock that I'd want to have a 48' or 53'. Had to deliver to a college dock just the other day. Guy tells me, "Oh ya, just had a 53' in here yesterday!" I get there with my 28' and say, "WTF!"

I have went to Receiver's I have not been to before, so I get my trusty Google Maps out and search the address listed on the BOL. I check on Google maps and think "Oh, this will be easy." Once I get there, they tell me "Oh, these go over to XYZ." Get to XYZ and I am like "sure, this will be easy, If I wasn't hauling a 53' trailer." I love when a receiver tells me "good luck" or "have fun", snickering as they walk away. The worst ones are where you are backing into an enclosed dock early am with no lighting in the docking area with inches to spare on each side of the trailer. Only the glow of the trailer lights to guide you. Thank the Lord this is a rarity. Oh, and BTW, "Thanks IP for not putting the correct addresses for unloading sites"

We often talk about why local driving isn't a wise choice for getting our careers underway. I thought I'd share an experience I had today in Rock Island Illinois delivering to a college there. The address for this delivery was 3435 9 1/2 Avenue Rock Island IL 61201. Google maps looked tight but the dang snow piles made it even tighter.

Original plan as I approached from the west (left) on 7th ave was to hook a right onto 34th and get in there. Problem is after I took the entire street to make that turn i noticed on top of the hill tree trimmers had the road blocked. I ended up continuing on 7th and eventually made my way back around and decided to turn down 30th this time and hook a left onto 10th follow it around the curve and get in. Sounds easy enough, right? WRONG!

I ended up needing to readjust a couple times for my tandems to clear a telephone pole on the curve, as the snow banks prevented me from riding against the curb in front of me.

knowing it was going to be real tight i had gotten out prior to getting up on the snowbank to be sure it was soft enough I'd be able to plow through it and there weren't any hidden fire hydrants or other obstructions. i had maybe a foot of room before I'd hit the side of the telephone pole. After a couple stressful moments I'd gotten through that and parked on 34th in front of the school then walked in to confirm I was in the proper place before making my next move, as well as assessing what I was going to do. Yep, right place time for my next turn!

once again I ended up taking out a snowbank after checking for obstructions and getting partially on the sidewalk as much as their snowbank in front of me would allow. I had only 3 pallets on me, so I wasn't concerned about tipping over. If I had more weight or the banks were higher I'm not so sure what I did would be a good idea.

Here's what the dock looked like

warehouse loaded pallets sideways and they only had a hand jack so I had to downstack 140 cases onto a new pallet so the pallet jack could grab them. The receiver told me the only way out is the same way I came in, but drivers usually come in the way that was blocked today. I couldn't hook a right out because of a hydrant and poles on the corner. I had to swing wide and shimmy my way out to avoid taking out signs. Once again I barely cleared that telephone pole and then it was a nice rest of the day. I had a few more pictures of the way out but for some reason its not allowing me to upload more pics. I was too focused to stop and snap pics thats why most are Google maps. The best part was that line all drivers hear at tight locations. "We get trucks in here all the time." I bet you do, it wouldn't happen to be that 28' PUP that just pulled out would it!?!?!?!?

Honorable mention of a Dollar General store i drove past at 2217 Rockingham Rd, Davenport, IA 52802 there was a pepsi truck in the lot when I drove by.

Maybe middle of the night it'd be alright but while they're open? Oh heck no!

Anybody that has to deliver to a college, call ahead. They most likely have a central warehouse that is completely different than the address on the delivery. Though Rob did get screwed on this one :) Nice job!