1 trash truck to Elk Grove Village IL (delivered)

2 RV's to IL, 1 to Rockford, 1 to Huntly

... spending the night at Charles City IA

EASTER

2 RV's to Reno NV

Can't deliver until after 8:30 so we are in no rush.

We are still kicking around a lot of options as to what to do. I call central dispatch on a truck near me. They quote me a price, fuel included. Their answers are short enough that I forget to ask them what it is or anything else about the truck.

Breakfast is bagged. A frozen sandwich, orange, pastry and water.

We are on the same street that my drop is on. Saw one semi on the way that was not paying attention. We got to left turn and he was in the inside lane. He came within a foot (or so) of the signal post with all trailer tires up over the sidewalk. There is a reason semi drivers are supposed to be where they can take the widest swing.

Got to the drop and went inside. I was told my contact was busy, but I could go out and clean out my truck ... so I said I would be waiting by my truck.

Quite a while later, my contact comes out and half way to my truck says that I needed to bring my paperwork inside. I told him what I was told and what I said. Then grabbed my paperwork and went inside.

When I get inside, I can hear my contact telling the receptionist what I had said ... until he saw me, and then he stopped mid-sentence.

... and I was told to sit and wait. So I did. Normally I would have waited outside, but this person wanted things done their way. Less than 15 minutes later he had the paperwork signed and handed to me.

While I was waiting I could see that this location had gotten 10 trucks from my shipper in the last two weeks and another 10 before that. The most resent one being yesterday. I'm guessing that was the one that needed to be here tomorrow.

As soon as we were done, we got off their property and drove to the McDonalds down the street and parked and BB sent in my paperwork while I called in. I'm done with them, now on to ???

We keep watching our load board for something 'good' to show up.

Next stop in the oasis near Belvidere.

At this point, we have decided to head home ... via Forest City IA. It will add a couple of hours to our trip, but we will be closer if something good shows up.

Then we decide to call for a trip so I pull off at the next good spot, a New Holland dealer.

We are going to take two RV's to IL, we will drop one in Rockford IL, then pick up a car in Rockford (one of the few places that has cars) and then drop my RV 45 miles down the road in Huntly.

But first they try to talk us into taking a trip to MT instead. Sorry, we are going to be home on Easter Sunday.

Then I ask about when I can call in for work after Easter. We want two RV's to Gilroy, but they want us to take two RV's to Reno and will pay extra.

I have <> committed to other spring work so I need to make a phone call first. I call, no answer so we head out.

A ways down the road I get a call back, we aren't on a freeway so I pull to the side of the road. I may get one day of spring work in on Saturday but the rest can wait. It will be at least a week if we go west.

... then I also hear that a former in-law is in rough shape. They don't say it, but I put two and two together and the odds are not good. 10 years younger than me. :(

We are trying to get back to Forest City in decent time so I don't take the time now to call dispatch back now.

60 miles of Highway 20 east of Dubuque is only two lane. Makes for slower travel. A lot of that stretch follows the top of the hills and you can see for miles in both directions.

Dubuque Iowa at the Chik fil A for food. At first we can't get in the parking lot and instead drove to Jersey Mikes but we can't find a parking spot there either. So back to Chik fil A. Now we find a spot to park and only one person is inside ???

While we are there, I call dispatch back and accept the two RV's to Reno. I guess when the runs are hot enough that they are paying extra, the 'must pick up in 24 hours' rule doesn't apply.

Somewhere along here, BB gets a phone call, which she doesn't answer. But they leave a message. From BB's face I know it is not good news, but she has to tell me what.

Now Rockford doesn't have any cars ... and we are heading there. She calls the number on the message and that person says they are sold out 'until next week.' But the finally give BB a number to their manager. Those phone calls went into the 'hold mode' so BB called another location in town where the prices were higher.

They do not have any cars either. There little off airport location has 77 cars being picked up tomorrow. But they can have a car for us on Friday, 8 AM ??? BB made the reservation.

Evansdale near Waterloo we stop for fuel at Flying J and the restroom.

Between stops and two lane road we have lost some time, it will now be after 4 when we get to the lot. For a while, BB did not want to pick up today, but that would mean we had an extra nights motel and wouldn't get home until Saturday.

A little after 4 PM we get to the lot, get our paperwork and get our inspections done within 45 minutes. We both have fuel enough to get to the motel so non-stop it is.

Charles City at the Sleep in for the night. Then Kwik Star/Kwik Trip for food.

As of now, our plan is to get BB's RV dropped, then call to see if we can get a rental before Friday. If not, we need to call dispatch and tell them that one RV will not be delivered on time. Either way, we should still be home on Friday. Either in the afternoon or evening.

Load board

US - 547

IA - 214

MN - 9

WI - 11

Alarm in 8 hours.