1 RV to Neenah WI

1 mixer to Dodge Center (Tuesday)

... spending the night at Tomah WI

At 8 AM we both start hitting redial. I get through but it goes quick enough that BB doesn't get through to our 2nd dispatcher before I am off the phone. No one picks up at the 2nd number and after three tries I get a text. So I reply with a text ... and then don't look at my phone again for a few minutes. Dispatch had replied right away. When I see it, I reply again and get the trip (Or so I thought)

Within about 15 minutes we are out of the house. Traffic is very light for a 'rush hour,' almost like a Sunday morning.

I had actually called both the dispatcher and a back up dispatcher. About an hour down the road the backup dispatcher calls me back and says that another driver had 'taken/spoken for' that trip last Friday. I guess that is why the load was still on the load board and hour after the other dispatcher said it was mine.

1st stop is the Wendy's in Owatonna for a breakfast sandwich. Their computer went down because a service was there working on it. So we paid cash ... and they knew how to make change.

Before we got to the shipper, the 'backup dispatcher' called back. First they asked which one of their trips I was on now ... I'm not. I'm moving at RV. Then they asked which truck of theirs I was moving next. None. They don't have any short enough to move before the holiday. They 'hemmed and hawed' before agreeing to give it to me. But we got it.

By now the 'rental dispatcher' has updated their list. Both WI trips are gone, the Bagley trip is gone. But the four Lake Benton trips are still there. Those were our 2nd choice for today.

As we are arriving at the shipper we see they do have another 100 RV's staged, ready to move to the ship lot. We should have more choices after Thanksgiving.

2nd stop was the shipper. By now it was close to 32 degrees and sunny. Almost nice if you don't stand out too long. We are able to be in and out in 30 minutes. Only one other driver picking up.

When I get my paperwork I ask and find out that we can call on Wednesday for trips leaving over the weekend.

I have about a half a tank of fuel. Sounds good.

Starting out on the side roads with a tail wind my mileage starts out at about 18 mpg. Once I get to freeway speeds

I had hoped to get to La Crosse before fueling where fuel was under $3. But with 100 miles to go my low fuel light is on and I end up up driving another 20 miles after the RV stopped showing my range, at 30 miles range.

3rd stop was the Kwik Trip in Stewartville. Not sure what math I used but I only wanted to put in enough fuel to get to La Crosse but instead of my range being 90 miles after fueling, it was 150 miles.

BB had looked at prices earlier, I had not. So before I got back on the freeway I pulled to the shoulder and looked at the price of fuel in West Salem, just past La Crosse. That way I would know if fuel was cheaper before, or in, West Salem.

But none of the stations in La Crosse are visible from the freeway so I kept going. Did see a couple of eagles today. They are starting to gather in this part of the Mississipi now.

4th stop is the Kwik Trip in West Salem. I only put in six gallons so the second stop was not worth the extra time. But it did give me a better idea of how much fuel to add. This time when pulled out I had enough fuel to get to the drop, plus one gallon extra. So I hope I gain a few extra miles.

It is now about 3 PM. It will be 5 PM plus before we get to Oshkosh. Sunset is before 4:30. We would be driving well after dark on rural, two lane roads with lots of active wildlife.

We opted to shut down early in Tomah. The dealer does not open until 9 AM so we have the two hours we need to get there if we leave at 7 AM.

5th and final stop was the Quality Inn in Tomah. Food is from the #1 rated place in town. This time we thought ahead and ordered one order we could agree on ... and split it. I'm still full, with only eating half of it.

Once we checked in the hotel, I got my paperwork for the next truck printed. It says 'front discharge mixer.' Sounds like a center drive to me. If so, it will be my first.

Load board

US - 248

IA - 69/68

MN - 18

WI - 7

Tomorrow - If we get an early start, we should be at or near the drop by 9 AM. We have dropped there before but do not remember if it is a quick check or a detailed check. We should be done there before 10 AM.

From there it is a 30 minute drive to the next shipper. Then we MAY be able to get in and out of the shipper in 30 minutes. Leaving the shipper about 11 AM.

A four hour drive to the drop. Hopefully be to the drop by 3 PM. My contact there leaves at 4 PM. Not sure about after hours drops.

That leaves Wednesday still open to work.