10-12-06 - Thursday - Back in Salinas
I'm back in Salinas, CA waiting for another load of vegies to haul east. This time we are hauling the load to Atlanta, GA.
Since Monday we have made really good time on the west bound run. We left out of Fremont, IN at about 0230 and my trainer went to bed at about 0700. I drove from the western part of IL through to just west of Grand Island, NE on I-80. It was a long, but not too hard day. There was a bit of rain and wind, but nothing too bad. I hit the sleeper and tried my best to sleep. It's an aquired art to try to sleep in a bouncing truck. At 0430 my trainer had had enough and it was my turn to drive again. I drove from Little America, WY through to exit 85 in NV. About 595 miles. The day began in the dark as I ran the "Three Sisters" hills in WY and through Parleys Canyon down into Salt Lake City. We stopped for fuel in West Valley at the CRE yard and again headed west. On the radio, (XM), I listened to the unfolding events in NYC concerning the small plane that hit a building. At least it was something interesting to listen to. At about 1500 my trainer took over the driving and by the early evening we were in the bay area. We hit our delivery at about 0930. We dropped and hooked and got out of there. We stopped for the night at Gilroy, CA. The Garlic Capitol of the World. YES, the entire area smelled like garlic. It was nice to get a full nights sleep without the truck bouncing all over the place. I feel very well rested today.
We got showers this morning at the Pilot in Salinas and now we are waiting a while befor going over to the customer. Our schedualed pickup time is 2130 so we have some time to kill. Last friday when we had that appointment out of here, they didn't load us until 0330 the next morning. OUCH! That sucked!
Also, so good news. I should be off this truck by next wednesday if everything goes well. I have been with my trainer for about 3 weeks and I'm ready for my upgrade certification. For upgrade certification I have to take a driving test, a backing test and two written tests. One on general knowledge and one on trip planning. I found out that I will be going to the CRE facility in Mira Loma, CA for this certification. My car is in West Valley, UT. Grrrrrr. I guess I see my car again in a few weeks after I do my time with the CAT first seat.
I downloaded the pictures from my camera of the blow-out we had a few weeks ago. I tried to upload them, but the internet connection here at the Pilot is acting wierd. Maybe I'll get them posted when I get to another internet connection site. Sorry
Since Monday we have made really good time on the west bound run. We left out of Fremont, IN at about 0230 and my trainer went to bed at about 0700. I drove from the western part of IL through to just west of Grand Island, NE on I-80. It was a long, but not too hard day. There was a bit of rain and wind, but nothing too bad. I hit the sleeper and tried my best to sleep. It's an aquired art to try to sleep in a bouncing truck. At 0430 my trainer had had enough and it was my turn to drive again. I drove from Little America, WY through to exit 85 in NV. About 595 miles. The day began in the dark as I ran the "Three Sisters" hills in WY and through Parleys Canyon down into Salt Lake City. We stopped for fuel in West Valley at the CRE yard and again headed west. On the radio, (XM), I listened to the unfolding events in NYC concerning the small plane that hit a building. At least it was something interesting to listen to. At about 1500 my trainer took over the driving and by the early evening we were in the bay area. We hit our delivery at about 0930. We dropped and hooked and got out of there. We stopped for the night at Gilroy, CA. The Garlic Capitol of the World. YES, the entire area smelled like garlic. It was nice to get a full nights sleep without the truck bouncing all over the place. I feel very well rested today.
We got showers this morning at the Pilot in Salinas and now we are waiting a while befor going over to the customer. Our schedualed pickup time is 2130 so we have some time to kill. Last friday when we had that appointment out of here, they didn't load us until 0330 the next morning. OUCH! That sucked!
Also, so good news. I should be off this truck by next wednesday if everything goes well. I have been with my trainer for about 3 weeks and I'm ready for my upgrade certification. For upgrade certification I have to take a driving test, a backing test and two written tests. One on general knowledge and one on trip planning. I found out that I will be going to the CRE facility in Mira Loma, CA for this certification. My car is in West Valley, UT. Grrrrrr. I guess I see my car again in a few weeks after I do my time with the CAT first seat.
I downloaded the pictures from my camera of the blow-out we had a few weeks ago. I tried to upload them, but the internet connection here at the Pilot is acting wierd. Maybe I'll get them posted when I get to another internet connection site. Sorry
posted by BigJohn at 11:56 AM
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