Temple, GA

DATELINE: TEMPLE, GA, 11:00 p.m. EDT

Miles Yesterday: 475
Miles Today: 408

So, my laptop power setup in the truck decided to work tonight (it dodn't last night), so I'd better take advantage of that and write up a report. Other than the computer cooperation, it hasn't been a real happy day. But let's go back to yesterday.

I started out in Kingdom City, MO (a little bit east of Columbia), then had to truck on down to the town of Belle to pick up a load to haul to Searcy, AR. That meant all back roads (US highways for the most part, no interstates) through central MO and northern AR, 300-350 miles of 'em. True, some parts were limited-access and divided, but the majority of the route was 2-lane, twisty, hilly, and stop-and-go through cities and towns. With a heavy load for most of the trip, it called for constant concentration. But I managed it fine.

As you recall from my last report, my Qualcomm box--my tool for communicating with HQ--is on the fritz. So after making my pickup yesterday morning I called in to the Maintenance Department and set up a service appointment at the West Memphis terminal, figuring Dispatch'd let me run over there after making my delivery. Well, after dropping the load at the delivery site, I called in (since I couldn't use Qualcomm) to let Dispatch know the load was complete. Naturally, they had another assignment for me.

I had a pickup to make in Stuttgart, AR, which was 60-ish miles pretty much straight south of where I was in Searcy. From there it'd be a 2-hour jaunt over to West Memphis (which would be on the way since the load is going to the Atlanta, GA area), so I had just enough time to go make the pickup (a drop-and-hook) and get to the terminal. That is, of course, if all went smoothly.

You've been reading this blog for how long now? How often do things go smoothly for me on this job? Of course they didn't on this pickup. I got there easily (well, except for a 6-mile detour because of a road closure on yet another AR back road), then found that the trailer I was supposed to pick up wasn't there for me. I called the company's Shipping Department and found out that the trailer was loaded, it just hadn't been hauled over to the trailer yard yet. She'd get someone to bring it over.

Meanwhile, the clock was ticking. My 14-hour driving window for the day would expire at 8:30, and with the 2-hours needed to trek to West Memphis, I'd need to get rolling by 6:30. I had arrived at 6:00. So, naturally, 6:30 came and went with no target trailer. It didn't show 'til nearly 7:30. I was contemplating fudging my log book entries and just heading to West Memphis. My truck's service appointment was for 6:30 this morning, and if I wanted to be there on time, I'd have to get there illegally one way or another. Otherwise, if I took my required 10-hour break en route, I couldn't get there on time this morning. (The math: 7:30 p.m. + 2-hour drive + 10-hour break > 6:30 a.m.) But I decided to stay legal and hope the shop would still gladly take my truck right in, even though I'd be late. I stopped at a small truck stop about halfway along the trip to WM, right at 8:30.

How long you been reading this blog now? Did you expect the shop to gladly take my truck in late? HAH! I got to WM about 7:45, I checked in and left 'em my key, then went into the terminal building to grab a shower. I gave the shop a couple hours, but they showed no signs of getting near my truck, so I caved to the pressure from Dispatch to stay on the load and retrieved my key. I REALLY don't want to be out here, on the road, without benefit of a functioning Qualcomm box, but I do need the paid miles, especially after the early part of this week. It's going to be a pain having to call in at all deliveries and pickups, especially on the weekend with skeleton crews manning the phones back at the office. But hopefully they'll route me through a terminal soon so I can get my truck issues addressed properly. (Besides the Qualcomm, my truck is WAY overdue for regular service.)

Anyway, that was all very stressful about the service issues. And, of course, my fridge/cooler has decided to stop cooling today, too. So that has added to my joy. But I made it to the Flying J in this town today, 40-ish miles west of Atlanta. I deliver my load at 8:00 tomorrow (Saturday) morning, so I'll get up to shower and shave before hitting the road around 6:30. If you do that math (based on the dateline time up top), you'll see it's time now for me to get to bed. Thanks for taking a peek today, and keep on truckin'.