1 chipper truck to Circle Pines MN, delivered

... spending the night at home ...

We are up with the alarm, for those that didn't have an alarm, there were at least three different cars honking their horns this AM in the parking lot. I'm guessing to try and get the attention of those who should have been in the car. I'm guessing it was the work crews. Not very courteous.

A semi driver was checking in to the motel when I was checking out. Then he was waiting for my spot to park when we left.

I did stop at the Petro for fuel, filled it up. Then BB called and reminded me that I had not grabbed my I-Pass so we met up in the parking lot. Then as I was leaving I saw that the truckstop had air at the diesel islands. So I circled back around and filled up the low tire again.

Wasn't very far down the road and the check engine light was on. I had hoped that the cooler AM weather would help in keeping that off.

Because of the metal mess overhang over my truck, I held my I-Pass out the window hoping the scanners would read it. Found out later they did not so now we have an unpaid toll to deal with. IL toll booths are closed. I-Pass or pay by mail only.

I get the by pass at the first WI scale. :) Still lots of road constructions everywhere.

2nd stop for the day was at a rest area just south of Portage. BB was able to get something at McD's and get on the freeway before I filled my tire with air so she was at the rest area when I got there. We chatted a couple of minutes then were on our way.

3rd stop was in Osseo WI at the truck stop. I parked, BB couldn't find me. I didn't realize the truck stop is now a BP, and there is another BP across the street that has been there for years. So we are on the phone and she is saying she is at the BP and I can't see her at the station, because she is at the truck stop.

We find each other and then she needs to use the rest room. Now. Then we drive across the street to the Hardee's. Drive thru only so no rest rooms. Once we get our food, I call the local dispatcher to see what they have for a two day run. No buses so I am handed off to cement mixers. One to some where in western OK. 720 miles. I had said up to 700 miles. But I was basing that on leaving from the office, their 720 is 80 miles down the road. Doing that trip would mean delivering late on a Friday after noon on a holiday weekend ... if everything goes well.

I said no, not now for that one. And by then the 3rd dispatcher had brought the paperwork over and there was another OK run from 580 miles. I said yes. And this run goes right past our van in IA so no need to make a special trip to get the van.

They call back while I am driving to see if I want to do the same run next week. No can do. BB has her first appointment on Wednesday next week, then Monday of the next and then two weeks later. So we will be mostly off after this trip.

Soon after I leave Osseo, I am close to Knapp Hill. My fan kicks on about two miles before so I am pretty sure it will not kick on going up the hill and it didn't until the last 1/4 mile. Luckily the truck behind me was not riding my tail. He was giving me a good few blocks space. Right now there is road construction. The freeway is split there, I took the right lane. One shoot, guard rail on one side and cement median on the other. No place to pull over. I am down to 40 mph trying to keep the temp gauge off the red line. I make it.

It is a long slow trip through WI on the hills with a truck that wants to run hot.

4th stop is at the Pilot in Roberts for fuel. Unplanned stop. When I fueled this AM I thought that was my final fuel, 100 miles to spare. When I got to Osseo I still had 50 miles to spare. When I got to Roberts I was short almost 40 miles. So I did the math and put in 15 more gallons. I ended up dropping it with a range of 110. All we need to leave it with is the low fuel not on, and that came on at 55 mile range.

2nd WI scale was closed when we went past, cop was just backing into place so it could have been opening soon.

And when we get to the MN scale, closed. Due to road construction.

On the top of my stupid things that people do is semi's taking U-turns in the no U-turn crossings on the freeway. When I went past the truck was sitting there waiting for an opening ... when BB went past there was a car sitting there too ... likely a cop car :)

5th and final stop is the drop in Circle Pines. I've looked at a map enough to know I know the area. I should have looked at an areal map. I pull into the drop and am told I need to pull behind the building. I thought the parking lot went all the way around the building. It does not. So I have to back up a half dozen times to be able to make a U-turn in their parking lot.

Then when I get behind the building, they want me to back it into a parking spot. They spot me and I get it where they want it on the first try. They want to know everything about this truck, first one person, then the manager. The other driver dropped earlier today and this location does not want that piece of junk. Mine is the better of the two? Really? I didn't ask.

They sign off and we are on our way home, I stop and pick up my paperwork.

Much later, I am looking at my paperwork and see ...

I told dispatch that I did not want the longer run because it would put me up against the customers Friday close time. Dispatch didn't tell that my drop has a NOON close time this Friday. So we are going to have to push, get up early ... all the stuff I didn't want to have to do.

Load board

US - 257

IA - 110

MN - 12

WI - 6