1 tree truck to Kokomo IN

... spending the night at Kokomo IN

Didn't get the greatest sleep, but the alarm still went off at 6 AM local (5 AM Central.) At some point I realize that I can't call in for my next run until 8 AM so we have an extra half hour this AM.

Nuke breakfast burrito, yogurt and juice are the food.

For the run I am on, I called in early so I thought I would try the same. "I am on vacation, please call central dispatch." OK that was good to know.

We are out of the room and have the truck packed and inspected by 8 AM. I call corp dispatch and get my run. Someone is moving the RV's from the shipper to our company lot in Elk Hart. Makes no difference to me, but for those coming in by plane, bus or train it makes it easier.

Next toll booth I am ready. It doesn't read so I hand it out the window to the toll taker and they have to walk back and wave it for it to read.

Next and final toll booth, I have the I-Pass out the window in hopes that it would read it. Nope. So again the toll taker has to come out of their booth. This guy says that if I 'jump the curb' so that the I-Pass out the window is closer to the center of the lane, it will read it. But I think I will just be paying cash when I am driving tree trucks from now on.

1st stop was Nitro at the Pilot for fuel. Very small place. Only one line of trucks for all pumps. No place to park behind those fueling. Today everyone is in and out. Doesn't take long.

But as I was sitting in line, the semi in front of me starts backing up. I lay on the horn. He keeps coming, I keep blowing ... never thinking of backing up. Froze ??? He stopped, I did back up. No issue.

Next stop ... the road. About five miles from Nitro we exit the freeway onto US-35, the four lane / two lane highway.

Five miles down that road we come to a stop. BB looks for info on the computer. '1 lane closed.' Makes sense. They are almost done making the two lane into a four lane. We see cars coming, some times bigger groups than others.

We 1st stop, I pull to the shoulder, we are just before a cross road and I want to be able to turn if needed. But then we move, slowly, but for only four minutes. So we sat for a half hour to only move four minutes??? Now we are timing it.

We are still on the four lane but the only people in the left lane now are the ones going to the next crossroad to make a U-turn. We wait another half hour but have noticed that only cars are coming and most are turning on the cross street.

BB looks up the road conditions again. CLOSED. It only takes us a couple of minutes to decide to take a different route. It is an extra hour so that is why we didn't take it earlier. As I get in the turn lane to make a U-turn, the guy in the left lane past the cross street gets out and starts motioning / yelling at me. I point that I am turning. He doesn't pay any attention. I didn't realize that he had started backing down the highway. Sorry sir. I'm going forward on the road, you are going backwards. I have the right of way. And I am not even in the same lane. ???

Earlier one or the semi's was going to take the cross street but a truck coming from the cross street stopped him. Stopped him completely blocking the other two lanes of the four lane ??? Not good, but no issue.

We make our U-turn as others are still coming to the end of the line. They still haven't closed the highway to the road closure.

One person didn't have enough patience, or sense. They tried to take a U-turn in the grass median with a small box truck. Never a good idea as you don't know how solid or soft the ground is. But this persons issue was the grade. The two lanes are fairly close together with a deep ditch between. When we went past, their front bumper and back bumper were in the dirt and the tires were 'almost' hanging there. Not sure how they got that far in there.

This AM we left a half hour late so I could make a call. Then we have sat on the road for another hour, and now we are taking a route that will cost another hour. We won't make it to Kokomo before the rental car place closes. BB has to change the reservation to tomorrow AM.

2nd stop is Catlettsburg for food at the Flying J. Shelf food, but it is time to eat. We get chicken sticks.

3rd stop was at a rest area at Georgetown KY.

4th stop was Greensburg at a Petro for fuel. I do the math and I put in what I 'should need' to get to the drop.

5th and final stop.

First it is at McCallisters for food. BB tried twice to order on line and we got there right when we expected. But the order didn't go through so we knew we would have to wait in line and order food. And we did. We were in line and waiting for about 15 minutes. Of course no line once we had ordered.

Then to the motel. Lots of place to park a truck, no one else is here. So once I am parked BB reserves a room. Then ... before we get out of the truck two people walk over to the truck from the Baymont next door. One of them who will sign for the truck tomorrow. He won't be back to the hotel until 9 AM. That works. We pick up the car at 8:30.

Then he says how bad the hotel we are staying at is. But we already have reservations.

Load board

US - 393

IA - 175

MN -0-

WI - 23

Sometime this morning, NC adds to non-CDL trips to Effingham. More money than one CDL, but no way of knowing it was going to happen.

We lost 2-1/2 hours today but should be on time again tomorrow.