1 trash truck to Sauk Rapids MN (delivered)

1 trash truck to South Sioux Center IA (returned)

... spending the night at Rochester MN

We didn't want to leave out too early this AM as we were not sure how well the roads were going to be. And then when we were ready, we weren't ready so we finally got going at 7:45. On a clear day we would have been ready to go before 7 AM, we were just sitting around waiting for the sun to come up.

Freeway's were clear, traffic not bad for a rush hour.

When we got down to where we usually exit the free/expressway, we decided to stay on the four lane. Then when we got to 2nd option, we decided to go the back roads. I don't think it gained us anything. We could have stayed on the four lane and got there just as fast. It 'says' it would take about 20 minutes longer on the four lane, but there we would have been going the speed limit. So it took us about an extra 45 minutes today to get 90 miles.

1st stop is the shipper in Dodge Center. Our company shuttle van is already there and the trucks are lined up to leave. Don't know why, but they also left at 7:30 today. They usually leave the office at 6 AM and would have been long gone.

No issues with my truck today but it still takes 45 minutes for an inspection. I do talk the the shuttle driver quickly a couple of times. It's someone I used to spend hours with in the shuttle van when I still rode it.

Someone else is having issues today but they pull out before I do.

2nd stop is the Kwik Trip in Kasson for the scale. No fuel today as there is more than enough already to get to the drop. I'm good to go. I did call dispatch to see if we were still scaling, I don't have to cross any scales today.

The driver that left before me had taken a different route and was waiting to get on the four lane when I went past. BB was a ways behind me so the driver had pulled out in front of her. First the person lost a big pile of snow, then BB saw more white coming at her. BB didn't realize until too late it was the drivers placards. Opps ... now they have one. I had seen that they all had them on the outside of their trucks. That is where they are supposed to be, but if I can find a spot, I put mine inside of a window.

3rd stop is 3 hours later at the drop in Sauk Rapids. I've been here before so I know where to park and who to look for. Offices are empty. When I do find someone, they go upstairs and get everyone off their break :)

Today the guy doesn't want to look at my truck, he fills out a clean inspection for me while standing at a desk on the opposite of the building.

4th stop is only a couple of miles away, but in another town. Arby's in St Cloud.

By now there are lots of midwest trips on the rental board. I want to call, which is rare being outside of my 'six hour window.' But BB says now. We are not even to our next truck yet. The bus out of IA is gone as are the trucks out of Sheldon, both the ones from yesterday and the ones from today. Sheldon is <> 30 miles from my drop and it's rare to match trips that close. But there are plenty of others. As of now.

5th stop is the Kwik Trip in Owattona for fuel. We have gone our 400+ miles today so we need a re-fill.

We hadn't been sure how well today would go so we were not sure when or where we would be getting a hotel. It would have only cost us an hour to head home and stay the night if we had been running later. But we are early enough that we 'should' get to the shipper, get inspected and down the road an hour before we shut down.

6th stop is the shipper (again) in Dodge Center. IF we don't have to scale this truck, we could be to the hotel before last light.

No inspection issues with either truck today ... but ...

BB notices the front tires look low. So we have to call dispatch so THEY can call the shipper. Most people are gone for the day but someone picks up and heads over to see me. Everything is shut off here so they send me to a nearby shop that does a major amount of work for this shipper.

The 1st tire had 90 psi and was supposed to have 120 psi. So it was low and they filled it. He's out there at below freezing for 20 minutes filling the tires and I have three shirts plus three jackets on and I go inside to stand out of the wind. ???

(BB calls and asks if this person and check my load, but that isn't the proper procedure and I have never had an issue)

It is now dark, past last light. BB want's to make a reservation for a hotel but waits.

7th stop is the scale ... I am overweight. First time for me. I call the after hours dispatcher who says I can go back to the shop and see if they can fix the issue or ...

I choose the or. Or I can park it at the shipper and pick it up again in the AM after they have moved the weight.

8th stop is back at the shipper.

9th stop is Rochester. First at 5 West for two cups of wild rice soup and then the Sleep Inn for the night. The Sleep Inn here is $30 less than the lower class hotels in Owatonna. Both are about 30 minutes from the shipper.

Load board

US - 164

IA - 24/21

MN - 7

WI - 2

Doesn't look like we are going anywhere. It would be nice if we could line up weekend work for the rental trucks but that isn't easy. Now there is snow in the North East so another place we are not going.