Long Day for an Early Drop

DATELINE: HEBRON, OH, 6:50 p.m. EDT

Miles Today: 622

Whew! Another long day of movin' on down the highway. And that's just about all I did, but with a bonus at the end. I got up at 4:30 in West Memphis, AR, hit the road at 4:45, and just drove up here to Columbus, OH. I did stop for about 30 minutes for brunch at a McDonald's around the midway point in southern KY, and 15 minutes for a fuel stop in northern KY, but except for quick rest stops, I just kept 'er rollin'.

The aforementioned bonus was that I could make the delivery today instead of waiting 'til the scheduled time tomorrow morning. About the time I turned north at Nashville, I realized that I'd probably be able to make it all the way within my hours for the day. I've delivered to the company a couple times before (the last time was just a couple weeks ago), so I knew it'd be a drop-and-hook delivery. Therefore, it wouldn't be a big deal to drop off the trailer there whenever I could get there. And I got confirmation from Dispatch, so the die was cast.

I got there with 30 minutes of driving time left, so after dropping the loaded trailer and hooking up an empty, I had just enough time left to zip over here to the Pilot in Hebron, 16 miles east of C-bus. I got myself a free dinner (a Chicken Pizziola sandwich from the Subway outlet here) with my Pilot driver payback points, and shortly after returning to my truck my next assignment came in.

Tomorrow morning I'll be picking up a load in Obetz, OH, just south of C-bus, then heading east with it to York, PA. Pickup's at 9:00, but delivery isn't scheduled 'til Friday morning, even though it's only a 380-mile trip. So either I'll have another free day waiting to make the delivery (the assignment instructions say not to deliver 'til the appointment time) or Dispatch will have me drop the load somewhere after I pick it up. I won't know about that 'til after I make the pickup and get a chance to check with my Fleet Manager after he starts his work day (which should be about the time I'm making the pickup).

Anyway, as I typed up top, it's been a long day and I'm feeling it now. Time to head inside to brush my teeth, then hustle back here to get wrapped up under my covers. (You know, it's COLD up here!) Good thing my truck's heater works pretty well. Thanks for your interest today, and keep on truckin'.