1 trash truck to Carol Stream IL

1 tanker to Eagan MN (Tuesday)

... spending the night at Schaumburg IL

I called our main OTR dispatcher early and asked how long I could put a truck on hold ... "15 minutes." Called back later and said I wanted to put the truck on hold now and was talking to a different dispatcher. They never asked how long I wanted to put it on hold, just said they would hold it for me.

))) The rest is written a few days later (((

By now it was after 8 AM so I was expecting my MN dispatcher would answer. They didn't 8:30 they still hadn't answered so I called central dispatch back again. When I said who I was waiting for, they understood. At some point the MN dispatcher did answer but was not at the office yet and said they would call me back. I think it was 9 AM when I finally called the main MN dispatcher and they picked up. Haven't talked to that dispatcher in months, not sure what is going on there.

When I called the OTR dispatcher back, they were surprised I was calling back already ...

By now we were not planning on delivering anymore today so we were not in a rush. And when we did finally get to the office our paperwork was not there and both dispatchers were gone. The office is at someone's house. Interesting folks there. The first one couldn't help me but the 2nd one could so we got my paperwork and were gone.

The lot here in Dodge Center is as empty as I have seen it. We have delivered to this drop before so we knew what color truck we were looking for. And not looking for. Turns out this is painted for a charity so it is a different color but still has the correct name on the door.

No issues.

This shipper ships with the fuel tank full and this carrier does not require us to scale the trucks so ... away we go.

My first stop is near Lewiston MN at a rest area. I have forgotten to tape over the companies DOT number on the side of the truck. I do that and rolling again.

Next stop is also at a rest area, this one between Mauston and New Lisbon. From here I try to call the drop but it is one of those where you have only a few choices to pick from. Commercial customer, residential customer, outhouse pickup or delivery, etc. Nothing close. I tried for a few minutes but no luck so I left.

By the time I get to Madison, I have gone just over half way and am down to 1/4 a tank of fuel. So I fill it. But it takes a while. First someone is backing out from one empty fuel island to go to a different one, then the island I pick ... the pump is not work so I have to get to the end of the line again.

I pull in behind someone who wasn't fueling, thinking they were done. Nope. Hadn't started. But once they did start they stayed on it and moved when they were done. The truck next to them was sitting at the pump when I got there and still at the fuel island when I left a half hour later.

Good news though. My fuel card worked. So it must have just been the Casey's location last trip that was an issue.

I hadn't seen BB since the first rest area but somehow we had decided to get as close to the drop as possible tonight. If we waited until the AM we'd be going with rush hour traffic.

Ahh ... we both stopped at the Janesville rest area and that is when we talked.

We get to the Comfort Inn in Schaumburg and check in. Lots of room for trucks and driveways on both ends so no reason to turn around.

Once checked in, be go for food ... almost 8 PM again. Smash burger is where we eat when we stop here. There is food right next door but we haven't tried them yet. They didn't know how to make my 'Sin City' burger so we had to custom order it. We are missing something because it no longer tastes the same as when it was listed on their menu.

Loadboard (weekend)

US - 153

IA - 3/0

MN - 4

WI - 3

Loadboard - Monday

US - 161

IA - 7/6

MN - 4

WI - 3