Tues-Mon, Feb 10-16.... Trucking Glory!

It's been a few days, I know... what a week we've had... trucking at it's best!

Our week:
Tuesday, (2/10) We left LaPlace, LA with our sugar. (The security at the sugar refinery was due to it being considered a "port"... I suppose it falls under Homeland Security... good thing I didn't decide to snap pictures!) This was delivered in Memphis, TN at Kroger late Tuesday night.

We were immediately dispatched to the terminal in West Memphis, AR. Our Tuesday night was spent "rocking and rolling" in West Memphis, AR as the storms that produced tornadoes in OK rolled through the area. I was ready to strap myself in the bunk when it was time to try to go to sleep!

Wednesday (2/11), we were 9 on the board. We were 3 on the board, then we were 4 and then we were 3 again... we were finally dispatched to Bylahia, MS (which is only 39 miles away) and we were to take this load to Joplin, MO so it could be relayed and be delivered in CA by someone else. We were carrying 20,000 lbs of little electrical parts. That's alot of little parts!

We arrived in Joplin, MO late on Wednesday night. When you get to Joplin you have to go through the trailer inspection and drop your trailer. All that being done, Trapper takes the paperwork inside and I decided it was time for me to retire... just as I was turning the bed covers down... (that's right...) BEEP... BEEP... and a series of beeps! Ok, so much for going to bed.

Trapper returns to the truck and I had all the notes made and maps set. We found our empty trailer and at 1:00 am we left Joplin headed towards Napoleon, OH.

Thursday (2/12), we drove all day. Well, Trapper drove... I rode. This was probably the longest day of our lives. Time was clicking off as slow as the odometer. I'd check the gps and it would say 250 miles left on the trip and it seemed like six hours later it would say 225 miles left. We did make it to our Campbell Soup delivery.

Friday 2/13) We were unloaded relatively quick at Campbell Soup and our preplan was to pick up at Silgan Can Company. Luckily, this was at the same location just a different dock. Our pick up wasn't until 3:00 pm so we sat, at the dock, until it was almost 3:00. Eventually, the truck stopped rocking (from being loaded) but the light never turned green. You know... the light that tells you it's ok to pull away from the dock. Anyway, this gentleman walks up to the door... I open the door... and he says, "What are you waiting for?" For the light to turn green, I replied. He says, "You have to pull up first." My thought... what's the purpose of the light then??? The light is the "ok" to pull away, but you need to pull up first????

Nevertheless... we were then on our way to Del Monte in Crystal City, TX. It's late Friday afternoon and it delivers in TX on Monday morning 8:00 am. Absolutely no play time on this trip.

Saturday and Sunday (2/14 & 2/15)... Saturday started on a really good note. A surprise Valentine card from Trapper and my kids called to say "thanks mom" for the little Valentine notes I mailed them. They both were tickled because they were mailed from Missouri!

Saturday we drove our total complete legal hours. Sunday we drove our total complete legal hours. We arrived in Crystal City, TX which is really no more than a dot in the desert in southwestern Texas.

Monday (2/16)... We delivered our can templates at 8:00 am and went back to the truck stop that was a 1/2 mile away. Trapper was having a little trouble with someone at headquarters trying to decide who's dispatch territory we were actually in. Turns out we're under Joplin's jurisdiction.

I decided it would be wise to run across the street and do the laundry. One thing about living out here, if you have a minute to do anything... you better do it!

Just as I was finishing up, in walks Trapper announcing we are on the way to San Antonio to drop the trailer we have and bobtail three miles to pick up an empty trailer from a different location. A little strange....

We are now sitting in San Antonio, TX getting our much needed 34 hour mandatory reset. The last couple of weeks have been non-stop and the break is needed.

Our map for the past few days... trucking at it's best!


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