2 trucks to Rock Island IL

... spending the night at home

Breakfast ... didn't start until 7 AM. We were down a little after and the doors were still locked. I knocked and someone opened. It was the usual, eggs, sausage, yogurt ...

We weren't as quick getting going as I thought we might be. Then I had to wait for someone to check IN at 7:30 and they didn't want to pay the extra for an early check in. So it too a bit.

Then we had to wait for a train so it was well after 7:30 when we got to the shipper.

1st stop, the shipper in Galesburg. There was someone to help me right away. I couldn't really tell what was going on there. I only saw one person, heard the voice of one other. A dozen trucks lined up in the back.

I get my paperwork and found the truck, based on the truck number on the keys. We checked it out. Windshield damage, a little body damage ... and very, very dirty inside. I guess three years of spilling stuff and the dirt it collects. (I didn't even dare set my phone down in either truck)

The first trip we took the freeway, it was longer but fewer turns so I didn't have to write anything down. But this did run me through the scale.

2nd stop was the drop. The first person I talked too had to find someone else who had to call someone else. Then the second person did inspect the truck and tell me where to park it. Once I parked it, they did sign for it.

Then I had to call in to get dispatched, should have done that at the shipper. And get a release number once I was delivered. Before we got back to the shipper the second time, I had already been paid.

On the way back with the car, we took the shorter, suggested route. No issues.

3rd stop was the same shipper in Galesburg again. This time I knew the routine so it went faster. They wanted me to take some road atlases so I ended up taking three, they might have had a stack of 20 sitting there and the wanted me to take more.

The second truck was not as dirty from spills, but it was coated with (likely) dog hair. And the passenger seat was laying on it's back on the floor ??? But no mechanical issues on either truck and they both had over a quarter tank of fuel at pick up and delivery so I did not have to purchase any.

This trip we took the shorter route with the truck also, saved time and I didn't have to cross the scale.

4th stop was the same drop. This time I knew where to park and who to look for. I wasn't timing it but it seemed to go faster.

I also found out that the shipping location had gone out of business. So I could have taken more of the road atlases they'll likely throw them away.

There is work, but it would mean arranging for a Saturday delivery. And we are done early enough to make it home tonight if we leave now ...

But we didn't.

BB decided she wanted to eat at a McCallisters Deli so we followed the directions. First we got to a 'swinging (?) bridge.' The kind that spins crossways in the river to let boats pass on one or two sides. This time we were waiting for a barge and this looked like it was also a loch situation.

Interesting bridge, the car deck was 11 feet high and ran under the rail road tracks. And this was all the steel grid type which is open to the water.

One of the drivers got out and walked over to watch the barge pass. We weren't going anywhere, might as well.

Then we got to a place where there was one lane traffic and our lane had the stop sign. But the guy behind me still blew his horn at me, then backed up and went around me onto some cross street that I had left a gap for.

Still the same back route ... someone passes me and another car where the center is supposed to be used for a turn lane. After they passed us, I realized that they had done this ... in a school zone ... with kids around. Zoom, zoom.

5th stop was the McCallisters in Bettendorf. And our food was not fast there either. An hour plus, plus we were still in the Quad Cities instead of an hour down the road.

... oh, and McCallister's didn't have my sandwich today, and I didn't get soup because I was driving :( This may be the first time I was forced to order something else.

6th stop was the Pilot near Cedar Rapids for fuel. It would have been cheaper in the Quad Cities but we were both eating and didn't think about it. Then.

It's five PM and the IA load board ends at 25. That is the first time since the first part of September that there have been that many. Actually there were two days since then where it was over 25, but didn't stay there. In September it had dropped from 150 to that and below.

By now we have been paid for all trips. We made almost as much for a few hours work today as we did for the prior four days. We don't need to work anymore this month and likely won't.

7th stop is the MN rest area on I-35 near IA.

8th and final stop is home.

Load board

US - 186

IA - 25

MN - 3

WI - 2

Full week next week, actually have to write it down. As of now we are free to head out on Thursday afternoon and be gone until Thursday of Thanksgiving. Hopefully there is work, long trips, by then.

Winds are already too high to run through WY so we will have to watch that as we pick a trip.