Hebron, IN

DATELINE: HEBRON, IN, 7:30 p.m. CDT

OK, I guess I've put y'all off long enough. Time to catch up.

A popular definition of "insanity" is, "continuing to do the same thing, but expecting different results". Well, what is it when you do get different results from doing the same thing? That's what I'm trying to figure out with my laptop's power configuration. As regular readers know, I have a power inverter so I can plug the laptop's AC plug into my truck's 12-volt power outlets (like car cigarette lighters). It used to work perfectly for over a year, then the original transformer that came with the laptop went bad (the wire broke) and I had to replace that. Since then the whole setup--replacement transformer and various inverters--has been finicky about moving current from the outlet to the laptop. I still haven't figured out a specific set of circumstances--truck engine off or on, laptop battery fully charged or depleted, Mars or Venus rising, moon in the 7th house, whatever--that works consistently. Hence my difficulty in signing on daily to write up a report of my trucking activities for you. But right now the thing's working (engine off, so the air conditioner's not running and it's steamy hot in here with the sun beating down), so I'll take advantage of that to blog away.

When last I wrote, I was on my way to the Charlestown, WV area for a delivery. Friday morning on the way there I took I-68 along the MD panhandle and northeast WV for the first time, and I tell ya' I'd just as soon not go that way anymore if I don't have to, at least while driving a loaded big rig. That route has some long, steep grades, and going westbound the majority of the grades were uphill. That meant long, slow climbs with the engine working hard. Never fun. In a car, though, I'm sure it'd be a terrific, scenic drive.

Anyway, it took me 7 hours to make the drive, and I arrived at my destination right on time. I won't go into the whole story, but the delivery took a couple hours, with some time spent waiting while the facility shuffled some rail cars around, blocking the road we (a couple other trucks arrived about the same time as I did) needed to take to get over to the building where our loads were headed. Once past the choo-choo shuffle, they only had 1 dock, but I got to go first since I had arrived first.

Afterwards, I retreated to a nearby TA (no Popeye's Chicken there) to fuel up and wait for my next assignment. That took about an hour, and the assignment was to make a beer run. That's right, my next pickup was at the Anheuser Busch brewery in Columbus, OH. It was set for a 2:00 a.m. pickup, but I wasn't gonna be able to get there by then, what with the 150-mile distance plus my need for a 10-hour break somewhere along the way. But I provided Dispatch with my ETA and set out up my favorite road, US-35 through WV.

I stopped for the night at a Pilot in Circleville, OH, about 30 miles south of C-bus, just as I finished up my allotted driving hours for the day. 10 hours later I was up and rolling to the brewery. Yada yada, I get there, then they inform me that I need bracing devices for the load (load lock bars or straps), so I had to head to another Pilot across town for those. I waited over an hour on hold with USA to get the purchase approved, never actually got through, then decided I needed to just get 'em and go serve the customer (then submit the receipt for reimbursement). I drove back, made the pickup ('twas a live load, so it took about an hour), and headed to the delivery.

That load was for a distributor in Versailles (down there pronounced, "Ver-SAILS"), OH, and due for delivery that morning. Now, I had to drive 150 miles to get to the pickup, and the drive to the delivery was less than 90 miles. Go figure. Anyway, I got there about 11:45 a.m., and found out that I was lucky for not having stopped en route. They closed at noon on Saturday. Whew! Just in time! That unloading went quickly, though, and I headed back through the back country to I-75.

Once back on 75, I stopped at a rest area to read my next assignment message, which had come in on my trek from the delivery. My next pickup was that afternoon in Marengo, IN. That's in the southern end of the state, 40-ish miles west of Louisville, KY. I had just enough hours to get there and make the pickup and, thankfully, there's a Pilot at the exit off of I-64 that I'd need to take to get to Marengo. So there was a place right there to stop for the night as my work hours expired. That pickup was an easy drop-and-hook, then it was off to the Pilot and a good night's sleep (again, the laptop setup failed to appease me).

This load (yes, I still have it) is due for delivery at 10:00 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Woodridge, IL, on the western side of Chicagoland. So I had about 76 hours to take it 350-ish miles. Hmmm. Not good. I did check with Dispatch, expecting they'd have me drop it at our Blue Island, IL drop yard and get another load to get some more miles over the holiday. But, no, it's my load 'til delivery. Must be because of the holiday. So on Sunday I just got up when I was ready and drove north. I headed for the Flying J here 'cuz it's a nice facility to spend a couple days. There's also a Pilot with a McDonald's across the street, and a Burger King next to that, so I have some culinary choices.

I arrived here early in the afternoon and, lo and behold, my laptop setup provided power! So I've played A LOT of Poker, working on my bankroll experiment. As is usually the case when I have lots of time to devote to that endeavor, and could really make big gains, the cards just won't be my friends, and it's been a struggle just to come out even or a little bit ahead. But that's the joy (right!) of Poker.

So I'm sitting out another 34-hour (plus) break 'til it's time to go delivery this load. Dispatch has confirmed that I have a set delivery appointment, so I can't head over in the morning and get it done with. I have to wait and make the late-night delivery, then who knows what. I don't know how many late-night pickups are available, so I may have a late-night struggle to find a place to park and wait for my next gig. But that's the joy (right!) of this job.

Now, in answer to reader nancy r's queries, "How about when you're carrying a hazardous load? Are there any special precautions you have to take? Are hazardous items loaded any differently? Or do they just pack 'em in and you drive away? I'm glad you get paid extra for carrying these loads, but is there any extra attention paid to safety?"

"And when you have to drive a long distance from a delivery to your next pickup - so you have an empty trailer, or no trailer - do you get paid for that? If so, how much, and who pays?"

With Hazmat loads, we do have some regulations to follow. We have to put placards on each of the 4 sides of the trailer (the shipper provides them) to identify the load as hazardous. We have to verify that the shipping paperwork includes the correct Hazmat classification code and emergency contact info. And we have to stop at RR crossings before proceeding across the tracks. As for how they're loaded, that's up to the shippers, and they know what they're doing with them.

And regarding driving empty miles ("deadheading") to pickups, all those miles are paid. When we get an assignment, we get paid for all of the miles, those to the pickup, no matter the distance, and those with the load. (Of course, we get paid for the miles that Rand McNally says it is from site to site, not the total of miles we actually drive.)

So that's what I've been up to this holiday weekend. I hope yours went a bit better than mine has. At least I did get the day off, too, but since I'm away from home, I'd much rather be driving some paid miles than sitting stock still and NOT getting paid. Thanks for dropping by, and keep on truckin'.