The LC "promised" that there would be a load from there but that of course meant Lisbon Falls.
Had a bad run with breakdowns. A mis-diagnosis at a Pete dealer was the reason for the second one. It seems that the hose to the fan clutch was leaking. The Pete dealer said it was something else and repaired a silly part that was not the cause. The hose and fitting fell off, trashed my accessory belt, which f'd up the fan bearings, whic, f'd up the main belt. Then...the trailer that I swapped blew an airline on the MA Pike no more than 2 hrs after we got repaired in Portland. I think the truck is still recovering from six weeks of BND abuse. After BND was the gear-jamming, old school E4. Poor truck.

I am gonna have to drop some more names of shippers on the CSR for this area. There are a couple of the larger lumber mills that should have loads going out of the state.

I tipped off the CSR on thursday that the consignee I delivered too was a new company , sort of a building supply distribution center with no ties to a particular carrier, and they are only 8 miles from lisbon falls.

Sad when I have to do the CSR's job for them, isn't it. Maybe she is just overworked in this area.

Re: TMC Survey
 

With Hubby being with the trainer, the at home expectations are slim. Once he is out on his own, from what my fleet manager has told me, about 80% we can expect to get home every 14 days. Depends heavily on our lanes and the loads on our backs. My FM asked me Friday if I wanted to be home next weekend, and he said it should happen.

Okay all, finally able to get in here. Guess this Flying J IP has not been blocked. Tried getting on the TA network, but it has some stupid security protocol that is conflicting with my firewalls. Cannot get their tech people on the phone.

Updated the blog!

Had a great week, for the first full week in the truck. $4625 to the truck with 3198 miles. Had some tarp pay and New York Boroughs pay to add in there. The load on the back now pays a little over $1900 on 1242 miles. My truck is currently averaging about 6.4 mpg (actual), shows 6.7 mpg on the display, and my OOR on one run was 22.8%(this was the one going to the house, which will be adjusted), the next run was 4.4%, and this last run should be under 4%. Keep this up and my first snap shot will look real good.

So far, so good! My fleet manager is on vacation this coming week, but the two guys that are covering his fleet should be as good. At least that is what he told me anyway. He also has me on the board to be home next weekend.

Communication is the key to everything!

Just in case I do not get back in hear for a couple of days, everyone have a good week and be safe.

Louis

who is your fm?

Louis,

Seems like you are doing great. I'll give you a few months to be up to my level, I did $5401.79 to the truck this week. :D All kidding aside, you are doing great. I didn't do anywhere close to that my first few weeks. I can't get my fuel mileage up above 6% Maybe someday we can meet up and you can show me how to improve. Out of route is no problem for me. I keep it really low. Idle time is still below 7%. I would think with an idle time that low my fuel mileage would be higher. I was supposed to be in DM this weekend for TQM, but they couldn't find a load back that way. Personally, I think it is a conspiriacy to keep me from making it to 32%. I've decided I will make it there despite not taking TQM or Road Scholar. I'm on a line haul run over the weekend. I had the pleasure of sitting at a Pilot in Napoleon, OH. On the way here I had four different detours. I have to talk to my FM to get those miles back. I was out of route about 80 miles for a 408 mile run. That will blow my percentage right out of the water. Hopefully, this week I'll get a longer run, although I want to be home this comming weekend.

I wish you could get some freight from up there. We usually get 200 mile bounces to somewhere way south. Knight-Celotex is the only real option that I have been sent to. I am sure that there is a bucket-o-lumber up there.

Okay, I'm noticing more and more TMC trucks out here on I-84 in Oregon. Also, the other day while in Portland, I saw a TMC day-cab. Where are they running these day cabs out of over here? I've scoured the TMC web site and have produced nothing. A year ago the only TMC trucks I had ever seen were on I-95 in VA while visiting my brother, now I see one out here at least once or twice a week. If they're running out here more regular I might just have to sign up!

West_Coaster

My husband has seen Oregon and Washington more than he's seen home. Funny thing is his trainer is supposed to be linehaul. I believe there's a "yard" out there close somewhere, but don't hold me to that, I'm still learning myself.

yellowstone has a terminal in ID. owens corning is in portland also. that may be where the daycabs are at. i have run into portland from houston several times and they have a dedicated account out of white city to fl.