I need a hat, a chain for my wallet & a can of snuff.

The elevation changes I get to look forward to along my route.

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StandOnIt said:
They catch a lot of rigs like that running 70 in their 55mph for anything pulling a trailer jackpot.
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Our extended cab dually and 32' (37') trailer is over Cali weight ratings for a traditional Class C civilian license. I think we are 2 feet under the federal length regulation. Friend of ours got tagged out there for weight with a dually and 28' trailer and was well within length.

California CDL's are different from, and MUCH LOWER WEIGHT, than federal CDL. Our rig falls under CLASS A because the truck is rated 10,500 and the trailer is rated 18,000 pounds and the total loaded weight is around 14,000 pounds.

CLASS A – Applies only to “combination” vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) more than 26,000 pounds, and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is more than 10,000 pounds. A driver with a Class A CDL (plus any appropriate endorsements) can also operate all vehicles included in Class B, C, and D (below)

CLASS B – Includes single or combination vehicles where the GVWR of the single vehicle is more than 26,000 pounds. The vehicle being pulled must not be more than 10,000 pounds. A driver with an California Class B CDL (plus appropriate endorsements) can also legally operate all vehicles in Class C or D.

CLASS C – Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Group A nor that of Group B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purposes of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and which require the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR part 172, subpart F).

CLASS D – Private passenger, regular operator.
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622 miles the first day; 649 today. Again, I'm governed at 65 mph. It's all I can do most days to get above 620. Today's trip was from Grand Island, NE to Grand Junction, CO. The first part was pretty dull as far as scenery goes. But, man was I rewarded once I got to Denver. That ride on the west side of Denver over to here was pretty awesome. I'm not sure what the gorge was but I drove through but that was really cool.

Tomorrow is going to be just under 500 mi as I don't really need to hurry at this point. I'm actually going to be staying just north of Vegas. That'll leave me with a much shorter ride Tuesday morning. Delivery's not until Wednesday. The place where I'll delivering doesn't have their own scales so I've got to scale in/out at a nearby truck stop. Then, it's back to Kankakee, IL where the mountains should be much easier.
 
If I had time on my run, I would do it in the mountains if I was running thru them where it is a lot cooler. Rule of thumb is that it is around 3 1/2 degrees cooler per 1000 ft of elevation. I was paying for my fuel though so not having to run the A/C would put some bucks in my pocket, but it was a whole lot more comfortable besides.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
622 miles the first day; 649 today. Again, I'm governed at 65 mph. It's all I can do most days to get above 620. Today's trip was from Grand Island, NE to Grand Junction, CO. The first part was pretty dull as far as scenery goes. But, man was I rewarded once I got to Denver. That ride on the west side of Denver over to here was pretty awesome. I'm not sure what the gorge was but I drove through but that was really cool.

Tomorrow is going to be just under 500 mi as I don't really need to hurry at this point. I'm actually going to be staying just north of Vegas. That'll leave me with a much shorter ride Tuesday morning. Delivery's not until Wednesday. The place where I'll delivering doesn't have their own scales so I've got to scale in/out at a nearby truck stop. Then, it's back to Kankakee, IL where the mountains should be much easier.
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Are you going to stay at the Petro just north of Vegas? That is where Brutons NASCAR track and Nhra drag strip is.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I'm going to be staying at the pilot tonight. Flying j. Whatever it is.
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If you are staying at the one on Craig road on the north side of vegas it is pretty small and not much to do there. The Petro is much nicer and you can walk to the track and watch the Petty school cars running around the track on certain days and nights. The South Point casino on the south side of Vegas has truck parking and it has a lot of things to do even a bowling ally and movie theater. Then about 20 miles south of Vegas in Jean NV there is a large casino with plenty of truck parking with trucker hotel rates. There is also a big Pilot truck stop and 3 large casinos with good trucker rates for the hotels at the Nev / CA state line in Primm NV about 30 miles south of Vegas. The truckstop is at the Wiskey Petes casino but there is truck parking at all of them. Some of the casinos have truck parking downtown also. Some things may have changed due to the pandemic though. As soon as you get into California you will start up a mountain and about halfway up you will have to enter a new agricultural / truck weigh station. After that you don't have much until Barstow. I hope your air conditioner is working good.;):)
 
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Nitro Dude said:
If you are staying at the one on Craig road on the north side of vegas it is pretty small and not much to do there. The Petro is much nicer and you can walk to the track and watch the Petty school cars running around the track on certain days and nights. The South Point casino on the south side of Vegas has truck parking and it has a lot of things to do even a bowling ally and movie theater. Then about 20 miles south of Vegas in Jean NV there is a large casino with plenty of truck parking with trucker hotel rates. There is also a big Pilot truck stop and 3 large casinos with good trucker rates for the hotels at the Nev / CA state line in Primm NV about 30 miles south of Vegas. The truckstop is at the Wiskey Petes casino but there is truck parking at all of them. Some of the casinos have truck parking downtown also. Some things may have changed due to the pandemic though. As soon as you get into California you will start up a mountain and about halfway up you will have to enter a new agricultural / truck weigh station. After that you don't have much until Barstow. I hope your air conditioner is working good.;):)
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Thanks for all of the great info.

I had already reserved a spot at the Pilot North of Vegas yesterday afternoon. I tend to stay at then now because of the free showers and free food off of all the points I get from buying fuel. My company pays for the reserved parking wherever I'd like to go.

My goal had been to get to Ontario by 6am to stay at the Petro there tomorrow night. I wouldn't have had much time to do anything in Vegas today. Maybe on my way back through though on Wednesday afternoon.

You see, I get paid by the loaded/unloaded miles but if I sit somewhere, like Ontario tomorrow afternoon and the evening, I start to receive hourly pay. If I sit in one location longer than 14 hours, I get paid hourly for the next 10. My pre-trip planning for this route has me getting 10 hours on each end. The miles plus 20 extra hours of pay will not be bad for the week. There's a lot of money to be made if things go as planned.
 
I know I've probably said this before but man, what a great place we all live in here. The wide variety of geographical features across this country are nothing short of amazing. This time I had a dash cam for recording all the sights that I wanted to take home for my wife to view. Going to send some of them to her today.

This time last week I was heading west from the Boston Massachusetts area. A week later, and a delivery I'm between, with my foot in the floor I crossed over 3000 miles. It gives me a whole new appreciation for those long ago that traversed this country on foot, horseback or wagon. I can't imagine the journey that they had. Heck, my biggest problem was where to stop for fuel.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I know I've probably said this before but man, what a great place we all live in here. The wide variety of geographical features across this country are nothing short of amazing. This time I had a dash cam for recording all the sights that I wanted to take home for my wife to view. Going to send some of them to her today.

This time last week I was heading west from the Boston Massachusetts area. A week later, and a delivery I'm between, with my foot in the floor I crossed over 3000 miles. It gives me a whole new appreciation for those long ago that traversed this country on foot, horseback or wagon. I can't imagine the journey that they had. Heck, my biggest problem was where to stop for fuel.
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I'd like to see too! ;)
 
Nitro Dude said:
If you are staying at the one on Craig road on the north side of vegas it is pretty small and not much to do there. The Petro is much nicer and you can walk to the track and watch the Petty school cars running around the track on certain days and nights. The South Point casino on the south side of Vegas has truck parking and it has a lot of things to do even a bowling ally and movie theater. Then about 20 miles south of Vegas in Jean NV there is a large casino with plenty of truck parking with trucker hotel rates. There is also a big Pilot truck stop and 3 large casinos with good trucker rates for the hotels at the Nev / CA state line in Primm NV about 30 miles south of Vegas. The truckstop is at the Wiskey Petes casino but there is truck parking at all of them. Some of the casinos have truck parking downtown also. Some things may have changed due to the pandemic though. As soon as you get into California you will start up a mountain and about halfway up you will have to enter a new agricultural / truck weigh station. After that you don't have much until Barstow. I hope your air conditioner is working good.;):)
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It's Petro North Vegas tonight. Heading east again tomorrow morning.
 
And the miles keep rolling by..... 10,540 since I was last home. Finished the California trip making it back to Kankakee, IL after a 34 hour reset. That was followed by a load over to Cambridge, OH. A tank wash in South Charleston, WV and then a load to Portage, WI. Then, a tank wash South of Chicago.

Next up..... Idaho! Not sure where yet. Waiting on my official dispatch. All I know is, I'll get in another 34 hour reset giving me a fresh 70 hour clock. I load late tomorrow night and then head northwest. After that I plan on heading homeward where I'll see if my family still remember me.
 
2am load appointment here in Elwood, IL. Probably an hour and a half process. Then up to I-80 to head west. Hope to make it another 640+ mile day. Going to be cutting it close to get to today's destination. Some big ass truck stop in Grand Island, NE. I stayed at the same location when I headed out to California a couple weeks ago only that was a preloaded trailer from this same general location.

If all goes as planned I'll have one more stop after today's before the final run to offload on Monday. On Monday I should be able to offload in Idaho, turn around and get back to where I started the day. That'll put me on schedule to hit the same ones on the way back getting me back to the Chicago area Wednesday evening.

I have them working on getting me back home on Friday. I really want to get home by then. My 28th wedding anniversary is Saturday. Our original plans for the weekend got changed because of this trip but she's a very understanding person. Definitely my better half. Also, on that day, my daughter is moving to South Bend, Indiana to complete her Masters Degree @ Notre Dame. She already started classes online in June. She's now going there for the remaining time to complete her degree by next summer.
 
After a much needed 5 days off it's of to St Louis tomorrow at 3am. Just a dedicated load so I'll be back Sunday evening.

It's tough right now getting out into the system from our terminal. Once I'm there I seem to be able to keep going. The problem is that demand is at an all-time low while many are hunkered down in their basements riding out the pandemic. Probably should have stayed out in the system while I was out.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
After a much needed 5 days off it's of to St Louis tomorrow at 3am. Just a dedicated load so I'll be back Sunday evening.

It's tough right now getting out into the system from our terminal. Once I'm there I seem to be able to keep going. The problem is that demand is at an all-time low while many are hunkered down in their basements riding out the pandemic. Probably should have stayed out in the system while I was out.
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Don't be so hard on yourself.

You had five days with family, no ?
 
Numerous shorter trips since I last posted. While not a long trip, I'm back in the system with a delivery in Montreal on Friday. Going to cross the border early in the AM Friday at the Thousand Island border crossing. Border crossing is normally a breeze these days with all non essential crossings eliminated due to covid-19.

If possible I plan on staying out a couple weeks before taking another two week beach vacation after Labor Day. That's if the future hurricanes don't wash the beach away.
 
Border crossing was a breeze. For the most part, only big rig commercial vehicles. No backups. Gotta say once again, our neighbors to the north hire the best border guards. Nice people, very personable and always seem to be in a good mood. The US on the other hand..... I think their want add starts off with 'Assholes wanted, only assholes need apply...'

Anyhow, after a 34 reset I'll be leaving Sunday morning to load in Boston and then it's off to Texas. A good 1800+ mile load. In the meantime I'm hanging out in Springfield Massachusetts.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Border crossing was a breeze. For the most part, only big rig commercial vehicles. No backups. Gotta say once again, our neighbors to the north hire the best border guards. Nice people, very personable and always seem to be in a good mood. The US on the other hand..... I think their want add starts off with 'Assholes wanted, only assholes need apply...'

Anyhow, after a 34 reset I'll be leaving Sunday morning to load in Boston and then it's off to Texas. A good 1800+ mile load. In the meantime I'm hanging out in Springfield Massachusetts.
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It was that way when I hauled to Toronto every couple of weeks back in the early 80ties.
 
Made it just south of Winchester, VA today with 644 miles in the rearview mirror. Don't know that I'll be able to do that over the next couple days as I'm bound to run into those storms about to hit the Gulf.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Made it just south of Winchester, VA today with 644 miles in the rearview mirror. Don't know that I'll be able to do that over the next couple days as I'm bound to run into those storms about to hit the Gulf.
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If you're delivering back to Pasadena, I'd go ahead and double check that with Dispatch
 
Yes, I'm delivering close to Pasadena Texas. I just called my dispatcher and had him send me a via to go through the Memphis Tennessee area that way I can avoid some of the weather I believe. It's a longer route but I have plenty of time to get to where I'm going. I don't deliver till Thursday morning. I should be parked tomorrow by noon at my last stop before I will deliver.

I haven't been able to keep up with the detailed weather forecast. I just know that the route that I would have been going on would have taken me all on the golf starting from New Orleans west over to the Pasadena Texas area. If I can avoid that I'm all for it.
 
My new route will pretty much bring me in from due north of where I have to deliver in Texas. I don't know what the track of the storms are to be. I assume that they're to kind of hug the coast and then move east
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
My new route will pretty much bring me in from due north of where I have to deliver in Texas. I don't know what the track of the storms are to be. I assume that they're to kind of hug the coast and then move east
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You'll be coming in on 30 into Dallas, then cutting south on 45 to Houston. If you erroneously hit during rush hour (6:30-9; 3:30-6), add 2-3 hours of your commute for traffic starting around Rockwall/Lake Ray Hubbard Bridge and ending somewhere south of Dallas. Coming south on 45 you'll see our favorite track on your left, Xtreme Raceway Park, the concrete palace.

If you are HC, they might route you down Loop 635, but it's not any better on traffic.

Right now, Marco is showing to come in around NOLA (or wherever it may be now) and move west, over Houston. But by then it should be mostly rain. But you'll have Laura's outer bands to contend with as well.
 
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Magnethead said:
You'll be coming in on 30 into Dallas, then cutting south on 45 to Houston. If you erroneously hit during rush hour (6:30-9; 3:30-6), add 2-3 hours of your commute for traffic starting around Rockwall/Lake Ray Hubbard Bridge and ending somewhere south of Dallas. Coming south on 45 you'll see our favorite track on your left, Xtreme Raceway Park, the concrete palace.

If you are HC, they might route you down Loop 635, but it's not any better on traffic.

Right now, Marco is showing to come in around NOLA (or wherever it may be now) and move west, over Houston. But by then it should be mostly rain. But you'll have Laura's outer bands to contend with as well.
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Yeah, coming in on 30. On there now. Rush hour hasn't been a problem anywhere since most are working from home. I'm more than a day early. I hope to get the customer to let me deliver tomorrow instead of Thursday. I may then be able to get a preloaded trailer and head north. The other option is to get in a 34hr reset, ride the storm out and see if they're still taking delivery on Thursday. Seems the timing on that would coincide with the storms landfall. I'd rather get out of Dodge. I should know what's happening later this afternoon.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
The good news is that Marco has fizzled out. No threat there. Laura still looks to make landfall right around Beaumont/Port Arthur.
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I'm parked in Lufkin, TX right now. I'm supposed to deliver in Alvin, TX Thursday morning at 8am. I'm still waiting on word if they will accept the load tomorrow morning instead of Thursday. If they don't, I may just be sitting here until Friday after the storm moves through.
 
Delivery changed to tomorrow @ 8am. Should be able to get there and then head over to the Pasadena Terminal where I'll hunker down while the storm rolls through. Nothing's being dispatched from that terminal until Friday or Saturday.
 
IMO I would have stayed in Lufkin. Or drop the trailer, get out of dodge, then come back for a preload on Fri/Sat. Even an hour inland would be better than getting stranded in the armpit of Pasadena.

@dpkimmel2001 If you need a place to hunker down other than the tractor, I have alot of racing friends down there that I can probably get you into if need be.
 
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Magnethead said:
IMO I would have stayed in Lufkin. Or drop the trailer, get out of dodge, then come back for a preload on Fri/Sat. Even an hour inland would be better than getting stranded in the armpit of Pasadena.

@dpkimmel2001 If you need a place to hunker down other than the tractor, I have alot of racing friends down there that I can probably get you into if need be.
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Thanks much but I should be fine. Our terminal in Pasadena should be stormworthy.

I left this morning with an hour to spare only to be stopped for more than an hour now because of a wreck southbound on US-59. I'm now gonna be late for my rescheduled delivery.

I've got all kinds of food stocked up in my truck. Enough to last a week or more. The forecast I saw this morning shows the path heading further east than yesterday's projections. I hope everyone fares well in its eventual path.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Border crossing was a breeze. For the most part, only big rig commercial vehicles. No backups. Gotta say once again, our neighbors to the north hire the best border guards. Nice people, very personable and always seem to be in a good mood. The US on the other hand..... I think their want add starts off with 'Assholes wanted, only assholes need apply...'
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That has been my experience as well.
 
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