*August 23rd*
Atlanta, GA. A weigh station on I-20. Weight stations are the last to fill up at night. Truck stops and rest areas fill up quickly with trucks shutting down for the night. Weigh stations offer no restrooms, food, ice, or fuel. But...if you're not looking for frills, they're a good place to sleep. I actually targeted this location because I had to intercept another truck and trade with that driver. I had no idea when he'd show up. But I knew that at midnight...the weigh station was top choice. So we traded off no problem. Now my dilemma.....stay and sleep or drive another 5 hours like they want me to. Well considering they kept me waiting all morning and called me last minute before lunch with this "emergency" load and no time to be rested and prepared...I'm shutting it down for the night.
Atlanta, GA. A weigh station on I-20. Weight stations are the last to fill up at night. Truck stops and rest areas fill up quickly with trucks shutting down for the night. Weigh stations offer no restrooms, food, ice, or fuel. But...if you're not looking for frills, they're a good place to sleep. I actually targeted this location because I had to intercept another truck and trade with that driver. I had no idea when he'd show up. But I knew that at midnight...the weigh station was top choice. So we traded off no problem. Now my dilemma.....stay and sleep or drive another 5 hours like they want me to. Well considering they kept me waiting all morning and called me last minute before lunch with this "emergency" load and no time to be rested and prepared...I'm shutting it down for the night.
*August 25*
Houston, TX. Sitting in a loading dock. Hoping these folks get me loaded quickly. See...there is some hot shit HURRICANE about to slam into the Texas Gulf Coast in about 8 or 9 hours. But the rain and wind is already here. I want to put as much distance between me and this storm as possible. These guys in the warehouse are my only obstacle that's keeping me rolling. Hopefully I'll feel the truck rocking soon, which will tell me they are on the move.
Well, after I publish this blog, I won't be doing anymore. The last one. It's been fun. But ever since I jumped in a truck solo I haven't had as much to write about, hence the long gaps between entries. But the main reason, and more exciting one, is that I am no longer going to be driving long haul, over-the-road. I hit my 6 month mark and found a (hopefully) good job where I'm home every night. Like I've said before, all part of my plan . And honestly, this whole scheme has went better than expected. It's time to be home everynight with my lady in our home with our zoo. So in about a week and a half, I'll be driving a flat bed truck 5 days a week. Back to business as usual.
I gave my boss my 2 week notice last week. It wasn't necessarily something I was looking forward to. He's an alright cat who did me a big favor and rolled the dice of me. I like hauling freight for him. He has a couple of nimrod I won't miss. But those were at the last job and will be at the next one. He seemed pretty bummed out but said he understood. 2 days ago he said he was getting 10 brand new trucks and putting his best guys in them. Said I was on his list. I saw one of them parked in the gate. Impressive, but doesn't matter. It was however very flattering that I was considered one of his better guys considering I have the least amount of experience of his 3 or 4 dozen drivers. He did say I had an open door to come back.
Anyway, I feel the truck rocking. Time to check my map to see which way I need to escape back to Carolina.
Houston, TX. Sitting in a loading dock. Hoping these folks get me loaded quickly. See...there is some hot shit HURRICANE about to slam into the Texas Gulf Coast in about 8 or 9 hours. But the rain and wind is already here. I want to put as much distance between me and this storm as possible. These guys in the warehouse are my only obstacle that's keeping me rolling. Hopefully I'll feel the truck rocking soon, which will tell me they are on the move.
Well, after I publish this blog, I won't be doing anymore. The last one. It's been fun. But ever since I jumped in a truck solo I haven't had as much to write about, hence the long gaps between entries. But the main reason, and more exciting one, is that I am no longer going to be driving long haul, over-the-road. I hit my 6 month mark and found a (hopefully) good job where I'm home every night. Like I've said before, all part of my plan . And honestly, this whole scheme has went better than expected. It's time to be home everynight with my lady in our home with our zoo. So in about a week and a half, I'll be driving a flat bed truck 5 days a week. Back to business as usual.
I gave my boss my 2 week notice last week. It wasn't necessarily something I was looking forward to. He's an alright cat who did me a big favor and rolled the dice of me. I like hauling freight for him. He has a couple of nimrod I won't miss. But those were at the last job and will be at the next one. He seemed pretty bummed out but said he understood. 2 days ago he said he was getting 10 brand new trucks and putting his best guys in them. Said I was on his list. I saw one of them parked in the gate. Impressive, but doesn't matter. It was however very flattering that I was considered one of his better guys considering I have the least amount of experience of his 3 or 4 dozen drivers. He did say I had an open door to come back.
Anyway, I feel the truck rocking. Time to check my map to see which way I need to escape back to Carolina.
*Aug. 28th*
Georgia - Florida state line. At a Southbound truck stop on I-95. Enroute to Gainsville Florida. So that hurricane (Harvey) that I had a brush with turns out to be a real big deal. It's 4 days later and it's still a problem. I even hear it's suppose to go back out in the Gulf, restrengthen, and head back to land. I don't know. Either way, I hope the best for the people there. I was never in any real danger. I got in and out before it really came down good. But if I showed up 6 hours later, it may of been a different story.
So this morning I got my assignment to head to Florida. I was eagar to get rolling so I can go ahead and finish my time with this outfit. This is my last trip. Tonight and tomorrow night is my last night sleeping in this cab. My lower back is not gonna miss it.
Georgia - Florida state line. At a Southbound truck stop on I-95. Enroute to Gainsville Florida. So that hurricane (Harvey) that I had a brush with turns out to be a real big deal. It's 4 days later and it's still a problem. I even hear it's suppose to go back out in the Gulf, restrengthen, and head back to land. I don't know. Either way, I hope the best for the people there. I was never in any real danger. I got in and out before it really came down good. But if I showed up 6 hours later, it may of been a different story.
So this morning I got my assignment to head to Florida. I was eagar to get rolling so I can go ahead and finish my time with this outfit. This is my last trip. Tonight and tomorrow night is my last night sleeping in this cab. My lower back is not gonna miss it.
