2 RV's to Davis CA (delivered)
1 boom truck to Carthage NC (Wednesday)
... spending the night at Santa Nella CA
We were awake at 4 AM (local) 6 AM home time. We were up, got ready had breakfast ... and then decided we would wait to leave an hour later.
Last night we were in the Comfort Inn in Fernley NV.
The drop will not take units between 11:30 and 1 PM so we decided to wait and spend our time in the hotel instead of in their parking lot or in the car somewhere waiting for the next trip.
As we sat, we decided to call on a local move but that trip is dispatched from the west coast so it would be a couple of hours. Then, a trip heading to Nebraska showed up. We finally decided to call on it even though it was listed as 'tractor.' Then, before I called another trip showed up going to NC that was not a tractor.
So I called and got a good dispatcher, some others have their bad days and it shows. This dispatcher gave me all the info on the NE tractor and the phone number so I could call and see what it really was.
... then I asked for the NC info, because I was curious. They told me how much it paid ... I looked at BB ... and we said we would take this NC one instead and not call on the NE trip.
The down side is the NC truck is picking up at an auction house. SOMETIMES those can really be junk. But if they are paying me this much to move it, I doubt/hope it is not junk. We also hope that there are two seats and room for all of our luggage. (it was listed as a box truck, not a boom truck which it is)
I called the shipper as soon as I got the paperwork and they just said come on in. Online is says you need to have an appointment but I am guessing that is for days closer to an auction.
We pull out without fueling. We each have enough fuel to get to the drop plus a couple of miles.
Before we get to Reno, a semi with an extra trailer passes me and I notice he is coming over the line ... then I realize he IS coming over. Even with me tapping the breaks he only missed my bumper by about three feet. I wonder if sometimes the drivers forget they are passing TWO RV's and when they clear the first one, BB, they think it is safe to come over.
Coming through Reno there was at least a half dozen cops with people pulled over on the on coming traffic plus the oncoming inspection station was open. We did see to cops on our side, but they were up the ramp. Good thing we only saw them, we kind of forgot that we were on a timetable to get out of town this AM.
First time in a while people were working the fruit inspection stop. I wasn't watching far enough ahead and my lane had a U-haul with a trailer stopped and the doors open. Before I could get out of the lane they were gone.
All they asked me was 'It's wrapped, new unit?' And I/we were gone.
1st stop was the rest area in Gold Run. We were both OK on fuel, but we are still going to stop in Rocklin, not for fuel, but for food.
2nd stop is Marios Early Toast. We drove around the nearby parking lot once before someone left and we could park where we wanted. Marios used to be a Denny's a few years ago, maybe two? Last time we stopped it must have been the weekend and the line was too long. Today it was 11 AM on a week day and we were seated right away.
Very good food, I had a breakfast and BB had a BLT of some kind. I think the 'toast' part of the name comes from them serving alcohol in the AM, with breakfast. Didn't notice anyone having any, but it is an option. This place shares a parking lot with the Comfort Inn we stay at here.
While we were there, I called my bus dispatcher to let him know I would be gone. When I call, I always say who I am ... and before I could say more, he says 'Sorry, it's not going to work this time. Most all the buses are on hold. Try again next time.'
... then I tell him ... 'I'm calling to let you know I have found other work and won't be able to to a bus this time' ... his tone changed and 'Have a safe trip.' One less driver for him to worry about.
33 miles to go and I have a range of 77. Not sure we could have planned it any better on fuel. And yes, we did still make money on the fuel.
We get to our final fuel and BB has to back in as there are only two pumps with diesel. I see her backing and walk over and end up yelling ... STOP. She was watching her camera's but it didn't look to me like she was going to stop in time. She did.
I went over by three cents, she went over by one cent on the final fuel. THAT will come out of our pockets.
At the drop, their offices have moved again. We are early and they are not here. As soon as we get there, BB walks down to get the rental car. She gets to deal with a new person on the staff that has to question everything so a five minute sign in takes a half hour. But we got a car.
When the inspector at the drop does come out, they walk around the RV's, find the extra set of keys and are gone back to the office. We expect that once they are done in the office that they will come out and take the RV's, wash them and then spend another hour inspecting. Nope, new crew. That was there inspection. They come back with the signed paperwork.
And we are off.
By now it is after 2 PM. We can make it to Santa Nella where the hotel is $70. Or we can keep driving after dark and pay $100-$150. We can't deliver until Monday so not in a rush that way.
Not having to count my car hours as driving would have helped but not enough to make a difference.
Neither of us are hungry but we stop at In-n-Out and each get a burger. Later we split one of the Port-O-Subs cookies.
Rough week I guess. We have to send in our driving logs and BB does that via her phone. So she looks at mine, double checking them. Today I had three days where I put the month as 12 instead of 11 and one day where I put 2027 instead of 2023 ... and no, it was not just sloppy writing.
Load board
US - 235
IA - 45/44
MN - 4
WI - 5
Tomorrow ... we have 5-6 hours to get to the shipper. An hour plus at the pickup and dropping the rental car. Then two hours back to Barstow. I'd like to get further but the next town with any hotel is another two hours. We'd have to leave at 5 AM to get past Barstow, we think.