2 Pickups to Fresno CA (1 delivered)

... spending the night at Manteca CA

Called, and called, and called dispatch this AM. Sent them a text. Then thinking their phone might not be on, I sent them an email ... the called right back. Actually it was just timing, they had 'things' going on this AM and hadn't started working at 8 AM their time.

This AM we decided to do both the rental trucks instead of just one. We had heard late last night that only one driver got a bus last night so that means the whole crew is still sitting in the hotel.

Hmmm ... we did go down for breakfast but all they had was juice, fruit and a bag of snacks. My guess is the setup was of other breakfast stuff was just for show so they could get approved to be a Choice Hotel. IF I was still in the hotel review mode I'd do a write up on this one. The are missing a few key things to operate like a Comfort Inn, but they do look like one. Looks only go so far.

We did hear that we got the two trips before we headed out but we did not get the paperwork.

Traffic was heavy but not too bad.

Because we were so close, I had to drive past the shipper. Lots of buses but not as many as I had expected. They must have been able to clean house before this latest back-up. We saw a few Milwaukee buses, we didn't see any more Davenport buses. Did see a few other's we knew where they were going. Lot's to move once they get parts or whatever the hold up is.

1st stop was actually before viewing the buses. We stopped at a Chevron in Livermore for fuel. $10 of fuel at $6.29 a gallon. We needed to return our rental at one half tank.

Then we stopped in Livermore to 'return' our rental. Actually just to change the paperwork from a one way to a local. That will save us about $30+ a day by doing that. We kept the same car, they didn't even come out and look at the car. Just had to start a new rental in the computer.

While BB was doing that, I had gotten my paperwork in an email and was able to call the shipper. They are no longer on the jobsite but will meet me there.

2nd stop was the Loves in Lodi to print the paperwork. I didn't ask the shipper if they wanted a copy so I assumed they did and got two copies of everything. $18 because we didn't get the documents printed at the hotel this AM.

3rd stop was the shipper. The guy was waiting with my truck running when I got there. He didn't the paperwork but took it because I had extra. Quick inspection and we are on our way.

Just a mile before the auction house as we are coming off the freeway ramp we can see the homeless encampment below. Trash is knee deep all around the tents. But at a couple of other places, people were out raking 'their' area to keep it looking nice ...

4th stop was the auction house in Fresno. Similar to the one by us but not the same. I'm done and waiting by the time BB gets there. She had stopped for fuel where it was a buck and a half less than this AM.

While I was waiting, I called the bus dispatcher who confirmed that only one bus had left last night ... and that he has 15 drivers in the hotel waiting for work. I told him we were still in town and not looking for work today ... so he said call back tomorrow. He's not writing me off yet.

5th stop was the In-n-Out Burger in Mercer. This time we went in to get our food. Here we were in and out :) in less than 15 minutes. Not sure why, but my food today was not the best I have every had there :(

We pulled off somewhere and called the shipper to say we would make it yet tonight. When we had talked to him this AM we were not sure if we could pick up yet tonight. But he told us he had meetings tomorrow AM so we wanted to get it done tonight. And everything went as much like clockwork as it could have today.

6th stop is the shipper in Acampo. Our contact is not there yet, so we park down the street. He had called and told us he would be late, but so were we, so he thought he would be there before us.

I think he was. He had parked at the house next door and finally walked over to open the gate about 15 minutes after we got there. I'm thinking he got to the house and they started talking. It looks like the crew had rented a corner of this farm for this job and he may have gotten to know them some.

This time I was rushing and forgot to take my pictures and write down mileage at pickup. We pulled out and then stopped a couple of blocks away at the fire house for BB to make a hotel reservation and for me to do some of my paperwork.

Not going to need any fuel on either trip this time so more money for me. Haven't see what I'm getting paid on these but it's always been good.

Got more money for a referral today. Second one now in a couple of months. They equal about two good days of work so it all helps.

Hotel reservations ... BB had looked at lots of hotel reviews and all were mostly bad and most of our hotels were $100+. Finally we decided to stay where we have stayed before, $$$, and the reviews were just as bad as anywhere but here we knew the place was OK.

7th and final stop was the Best Western in Manteca. We could have gotten further tonight but we are ahead of where we had planned on being and have nothing else lined up for tomorrow.

Once we were checked in, we drove to Mr Pickel for to-go food.

Load board

US - 186

IA - 5/4

Tomorrow we have two hours to get to the drop and then nothing else planned yet.

Last I heard the chain laws were still in effect but hadn't expected them to be lifted until sometime over night.