What a week

[Malaki86]

I came off of hometime on Tuesday in WV. From home, I was bobtailed 284 miles to pick up an empty trailer, then another 68 miles to pick up my load. The load went to Laredo, TX (total miiles on that load was just over 2,000 miles). As soon as I got to Laredo, I picked up a load going to Vancouver, BC (2,310 miles). Sounds great, right? Almost.

I know my hours (70hr clock) are tight on this, so I've been keeping close tabs on them. When I parked today, I checked again. As of the day that I'm scheduled to deliver (Wednesday morning), I have a total of 24hrs 56mins. My GPS (2 of them) are estimating a driving-only time of 23hrs 26mins. Ok - that's a 1 1/2hr window. Oh, wait, take off 2 more post-trips (pre's are just flagged), 1 more fuelstop and stops at both US & CA customs.

Ughhhh - Guess I'll be calling dispatch first thing tomorrow morning to explain the situation. Hopefully they can extend the delivery one day because I don't want to give up this load whatsoever.

[Orangetxguy]

I came off of hometime on Tuesday in WV. From home, I was bobtailed 284 miles to pick up an empty trailer, then another 68 miles to pick up my load. The load went to Laredo, TX (total miiles on that load was just over 2,000 miles). As soon as I got to Laredo, I picked up a load going to Vancouver, BC (2,310 miles). Sounds great, right? Almost.

I know my hours (70hr clock) are tight on this, so I've been keeping close tabs on them. When I parked today, I checked again. As of the day that I'm scheduled to deliver (Wednesday morning), I have a total of 24hrs 56mins. My GPS (2 of them) are estimating a driving-only time of 23hrs 26mins. Ok - that's a 1 1/2hr window. Oh, wait, take off 2 more post-trips (pre's are just flagged), 1 more fuelstop and stops at both US & CA customs.

Ughhhh - Guess I'll be calling dispatch first thing tomorrow morning to explain the situation. Hopefully they can extend the delivery one day because I don't want to give up this load whatsoever.

Okay.....so right now....WHERE are you at? What route are you taking to get up into the Seattle area? Please don't tell me that you are going across AZ into CA get to I-5!!!

[Malaki86]

I'm in Gallup, NM and will be heading north on US-491 & US-191, working my way to I-70 to I-15 just south of Salt Lake City. From there, I'll pick up I-84 and run that west to I-82, I-90, I-405 & I-5.

I've never ran 491/191 out of Gallup. What am I in store for road-wise?

[Orangetxguy]

I'm in Gallup, NM and will be heading north on US-491 & US-191, working my way to I-70 to I-15 just south of Salt Lake City. From there, I'll pick up I-84 and run that west to I-82, I-90, I-405 & I-5.

I've never ran 491/191 out of Gallup. What am I in store for road-wise?

You would have saved 180 miles and 2 hours if you had just hopped up I-25 at Albuquerque then taken US 550 to Farmington then cut across to Cortez.....but you are on the right route for a 65 mph truck! As far as from Gallup up to Shiprock, once you are north of Gallup and over the ridge, it is a long valley...with lot's of possibilities for adventure. It was not uncommon back in the late 70's and through the 80's for the Indians to drive hobbled cattle and horses out in front of the trucks as they steamed up the valley.

[Orangetxguy]

I'm in Gallup, NM and will be heading north on US-491 & US-191, working my way to I-70 to I-15 just south of Salt Lake City. From there, I'll pick up I-84 and run that west to I-82, I-90, I-405 & I-5.

I've never ran 491/191 out of Gallup. What am I in store for road-wise?

You are planning on taking US 6 north off of I-70....right??

[Malaki86]

Ya - US-6 from I-70 to I-15

[Malaki86]

You would have saved 180 miles and 2 hours if you had just hopped up I-25 at Albuquerque then taken US 550 to Farmington then cut across to Cortez.....but you are on the right route for a 65 mph truck! As far as from Gallup up to Shiprock, once you are north of Gallup and over the ridge, it is a long valley...with lot's of possibilities for adventure. It was not uncommon back in the late 70's and through the 80's for the Indians to drive hobbled cattle and horses out in front of the trucks as they steamed up the valley.

I would've saved a lot of miles if I could've ran the route I wanted instead of the one they told me to. That's one thing that really sucks with set fuel routing - you go where they tell you.

[Orangetxguy]

I would've saved a lot of miles if I could've ran the route I wanted instead of the one they told me to. That's one thing that really sucks with set fuel routing - you go where they tell you.

Well hell.....I always thought there was a way around dumb ideas!! What did they have ya do....drive to Gallup to fuel at Pilot??

You should send them ninnies this route!

I-35 to US-80....US83 to US-277....to US-87....to US-84....to I-40.....to I-25.....to US 550......to US 64 ......to US-491.....to US-191.....to I-70....to US 6......to I-15......to I-84 (Tremonton UT)......to I-82........to I-405.........to I-5.......To CA 99!!!

2430 miles......40 hours driving....plus fueling and post trips.

Of course....you woulda missed seeing Roswell.

[Malaki86]

Actually, it was to the Love's in Gallup for fuel...

[Roadhog]

[Malaki86]

Sitting in Salt Lake City with 916 miles (14hr 36mins) remaining. Total available on the 70 after I pick hours up tomorrow night: 15hrs 50 mins. Still have 2 pretrips, 1 post trip, 1 fuelstop and 2 customs stops. Heh

[Orangetxguy]

Sitting in Salt Lake City with 916 miles (14hr 36mins) remaining. Total available on the 70 after I pick hours up tomorrow night: 15hrs 50 mins. Still have 2 pretrips, 1 post trip, 1 fuelstop and 2 customs stops. Heh

Gee......You didn't get slowed down at all today did ya!! To bad you couldn't have made it to Tremonton.

[Malaki86]

I hit a little bit of snow this morning just as I crossed from CO to UT. Roads were covered until I dropped below 5,500 feet in elevation. Other than that, smooth running.

I could've went a little further, but then that'd just mean that tomorrow I could've only drove something like 5hrs. Would rather split the days to spread out the wealth.

[Malaki86]

Change of plan. Swapping loads out with another driver tomorrow in WA. They'll take my load to the consignee and I'll take theirs to Los Angeles. I really don't want to drive that long in CA, but I'll get to see I-5 between Portland and Bakersfield finally.

[Roadhog]

That should be a nice drive. You going over the grapevine first time?

[golfhobo]

Bakersfield isn't on I-5. Where are you going? Bakersfield or L.A.?

If you've never been down I-5 from Oregon, it WILL be a nice drive. Some beautiful scenery.

[Orangetxguy]

Bakersfield isn't on I-5. Where are you going? Bakersfield or L.A.?

If you've never been down I-5 from Oregon, it WILL be a nice drive. Some beautiful scenery.

You're right.......Bakersfield isn't on I-5.........But......I always found 99 a better drive....lot's smoother than I-5. Of course I haven't been that route in a few years...maybe they smoothed I-5 out.

[Malaki86]

I probably have the name of the town in CA wrong (I was - checked the map - I meant Barstow on I-15). I've only been through there a couple of times. And, yes, 1st trip down the grapevine. Where's that located? I've always heard about it - just never done it. Any other passes through there I should be wary about? I have no idea what kind of weight/freight I'll be dragging along behind me, so I'll expect the 80k top-heavy freight - lol

It's strange - almost 12 years out here and just over the past 4 days and the next 4 more I'll have traveled almost all new areas/roads that I've never experienced.

[ironeagle_2006]

Can not think of the Name but the grade coming South on 5 Between Medford and the CA line is fun. Grapevine Whatever you do DO NOT speed down it or Pass anyone. Also make dang sure you stop and Flag a Brakecheck at the top of it or they will nail you the next time. Lastly on CA on I-5 get ready to watchout for all the IDIOTS just when you think you have sen them all around Sacramento here comes LA.

[Orangetxguy]

I probably have the name of the town in CA wrong (I was - checked the map - I meant Barstow on I-15). I've only been through there a couple of times. And, yes, 1st trip down the grapevine. Where's that located? I've always heard about it - just never done it. Any other passes through there I should be wary about? I have no idea what kind of weight/freight I'll be dragging along behind me, so I'll expect the 80k top-heavy freight - lol

It's strange - almost 12 years out here and just over the past 4 days and the next 4 more I'll have traveled almost all new areas/roads that I've never experienced.

LOL! Barstow is where you are headed??

If so, then once you get down to Sacramento, you definitely want to jump on 99 for the drive south from there. If the meatheads do route you through LA ask them why.

If you are meeting in the Seattle area to do the swap...I feel for you!

The drive south on I-5, your going to have the "Lollipops" in Oregon. After Roseburg OR there are several hard pulls and down grades that will catch you sleeping if you are loaded heavy and not paying attention. They aren't really that long of grades, but they can make you smoke brakes if you don't pay attention. The pull over the Siskiyous is the longest pull you have, and that is a lot like the pull through Flagstaff, so it isn't that bad. You will have to watch yourself dropping down through Lake Shasta. Lot's of speed-ballers tend to lose it down in the corners. If your brakes are hot when you take the exit for the scales at Dunsmir they will pull you into the inspection shed.

If you are going to Barstow, I can't see them routing you through LA....but meatheads do weird things. You should drop down 99 into Bakersfield, then hop 58 south out of Bakersfield to Barstow. The "grapevine" is the pull between Wheeler Ridge and LA. Tehachapi is the pull on 58 between Bakersfield and Mojave.