You are beamed instructions from space
They need to be translated to the best of your ability. You look for clues based on your translation in hope to find your load. Wow! Joy and I have been using Google Map to cross reference information from the QUALCOMM. We are also using Rand McNally for the basics on getting around America. Trip planning is of the utmost importance, it can make or break your time line. On this last load we are running as a team with the truck only shut down for about 4 hours. We managed to run from Reno to Nashville in under 50 hours. That was a rough run, we feel about as ragged as the roads in Tennessee. We still have allot to learn. The hardest part is sleeping in the truck while on those crappy ass roads.
Here is a recap of the last 15 days. We ran a run from Pacific WA to Tobyhanna PA to Syracuse NY to Webster NY to Bloomfield NY to Bath NY. Over to Columbus OH, than up to Sheboygan WI, from Sheboygan WI to Mt. Crawford VA, from Mt. Crawford VA to Greenbay WI to Neelys Landing MO from Neelys Landing to Granit City IL, from Granit City IL to Reno NV, from Reno NV to Nashville TN, from Nashville TN to Memphis TN from Memphis to Coldwater MI, from Coldwater to Columbus OH, From Columbus OH we are finally going to land back in the Pacific Northwest on December 1st for a well deserved 4 days off.
Experiences that we though would never happen
We had to drop are empty trailer in a mud pit that dam near swallowed the front steer excel. Joy did a tier check and we had a flat on are trailer, and damaged freight that no one knew what to do with. Things that happened that we were told by the recruiter would almost never happen. Un-loading 1600 cases of cereal by hand, more power loads than drop and hooks and hooks, lots of detention, and thank the trucking gods that we get paid for deadhead miles
Crazy weather
When we left Seattle it was raining like mad, and forecasted a serious snow storm that was coming. We out ran that, but never the less had to pull over in Montana because of high wind gusts. Than we drove through the rest of Montana and North Dakota in a blizzard. Once on the East coast, we found ourselves in a monsoon that claimed the lives on 9. Tornado warnings and more sideways rain that Joy and I have ever witnessed. Next we found ourselves in the south with sunny skies and a very balmy 75 degrees. We have not had to chain up yet, but after looking at what has been going on at are home base, we have added time to are schedule for that.
Driving around that USA for that last fifteen days has been a challenge. If any one else is considering this, I would strongly recommend a GPS unit. All the maps, and instructions, even Google, can not tell you when you need to turn left. Allot of the road on the east coast are very confusing. We are definitely looking at a few different GPS options.
In short, we are having a blast. Are bank account is starting to reflect the 13,000 miles that we have put on. Are spirits are high, and we are truly reveling in this experience.
Happy Holidays…
