2 Weeks OTR With David

This is horrible for your paycheck, isn't it? (That is my big question)

This is horrible for your paycheck, isn't it? (That is my big question)

Yes it does play a little havoc on my pay, however I did get compensated for the 2 days. $150 ($75 for both days) Now that doesnt really equal to a full day of driving as I can make around $200/day given the miles. But its still something in the + range since all I did was sit and drink coffee.

1/7

Today was a good and bad days....

I woke up at 0600, got on the Wyoming dot website to check the status of the roads... Good news, no high winds, all restrictions removed.. FINALLY. I get dressed head in side and have some coffee as I wait for day light to come. I dunno about you but I don't care to drive during night time as you never know if there's black ice or anything.

By about 0730 the sun started to peak so I headed back out to the truck, and was presented with a message from one of the CSRs (Customer Service Reps) to my DM to me, "Why hasn't 10723 (my truck) moved yet? roads are open and clear" My DM aslso had a message there "David, what are the roads like there?" I sent a reply back saying "Roads clear, was waiting for sun light so I could see black ice or any other issues on the road, rolling out now" I guess walmart got tired of waiting for their TP.. lol.

Anyways, by 0745 I started my clock and got my pre-trip underway. by 0800 I was ready to roll, and 3 hours later I arrived at Walmart DC in Cheyenne. Didn't have much in the way of issues, some black ice but no wind. I was also given 2 more loads in route.

1St load.......

Pickup @ Lowe's DC in Cheyenne on 1/5 @ 0700 (guess its been sitting for awhile.) Deliver @ Lowe's Store in Helena, MT on 1/9 @ 0400

2nd load.....

Pickup @ General Mills in Great Falls, MT on 1/8 @ 0730-1900 Deliver @ Home Foods in Independence, MO on 1/12 @ 0300

Now if you noticed, my delivery for the 1st is after the pick up of the 2nd.. It happens, though you should always double check with your DM as it may be a typo. If it is correct make sure your DM has it set a service failure, if they ask you too, don't as its not your fault. A service fail is generally a missed appointment. Companies try an pin it on drivers at time. in this case the walmart load was delayed by weather, which isn't my fault, so my DM failed it, and in the case of general mills, he also did that as Id be under a load that doesn't deliver tell after the pick up.

I accepted both loads, and once I was done with walmart, I headed over to Lowe's, got that load and headed towards Helena, MT. I didn't get to far on this load as Night (1830) was coming once I hit Sheridan, WY so I shutdown at a walmart which I knew had truck parking, which helped as I needed a few items.

I did 400mi in 10.25 hrs not a bad run

The bad part of this day, I caught a bug and the whole day my nose was leaking and couldn't get it to stop. I rarely get sick but I think it may be from walking back n forth from truck to cafe' when i was stuck at the TA in Rawlins.

1/7

Today was a good and bad days....

The bad part of this day, I caught a bug and the whole day my nose was leaking and couldn't get it to stop. I rarely get sick but I think it may be from walking back n forth from truck to cafe' when i was stuck at the TA in Rawlins.

Feel better, Buddy! I know driving with a leaky face really sucks!

1/8

Today was a day full of driving, sight seeing and snow/wind

I woke up at 0630, started my pre-trip at 0700 and rolled by 0710. drove the entire 6hrs to my final in Helena, MT. I arrived at 1300. I did run into an issue when I got to my final. I ran into some nasty winds that actually forced my truck to drop in MPG. I normal do well at 7mpg but this dropped me down to 5.6... I managed to make it to my final with 10gals of fuel left.. WOW. This load was super heavy and I had put 40gal in at Casper, WY yesterday before stopping in Sheridan. My calculations should have put me at 1/4 tank giving me enough to get to my next pick up and fuel stop. But I was wrong.

Always make sure you put enough fuel on your truck. Look in your map book for any weigh stations in your route. If you don't have one for a awhile, stick a little extra fuel on. Fuel wieghs 7.15lbs. 100gal = 715lbs

Im not sure how I miss calculated, but it happens. I got fuel once I made it to Helena.

I was also asked if I'd pick up a load at general mills (same location as the one I got planned to go home with) and to stage it or relay for another driver at our drop yard in Great Falls. I accepted this as it gets me in with my boss and he'll remember this for later times.

oh and being sick while driving truck sucks... All i wanted to do today was sleep.... guess I'll get some now =D

1/7

Today was a good and bad days....

The bad part of this day, I caught a bug and the whole day my nose was leaking and couldn't get it to stop. I rarely get sick but I think it may be from walking back n forth from truck to cafe' when i was stuck at the TA in Rawlins.

Feel better, Buddy! I know driving with a leaky face really sucks!

yea I got a little sinus infections. Probably from going in and out of the cold so much. It happens. Got me lots of water and some allergy meds..

Hey. So I think I get relay the load, but what is staging it?

Awesome information!

Thank You.

Hey. So I think I get relay the load, but what is staging it?

both are the same thing. Just different words..

Basically I pick the load up, and drop it off at one of our yards for another driver to take to final. All company's are different with the names.

Hey. So I think I get relay the load, but what is staging it?

both are the same thing. Just different words..

Basically I pick the load up, and drop it off at one of our yards for another driver to take to final. All company's are different with the names.

Have fun at home.