On The Road Again or In My Truck v.2.0

mickeyrat

yeah, I expect we'll have a few long low mile nights waiting onfreight out off the upper midwest.

week before last we had dick for freight. 1700 mile week. fucking sucked. right back to normal last week though.

most of our guys will run in weather but not to the point of being stupid about it. well not too stupid about it.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

SPEEDY MCCREADY

And if it were up to me, I would take the Southern route, and take 40 across. But I am pretty sure my company would not be thrilled with all the extra miles.

mickeyrat

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

get your chains and take 70. I see too many pictures of overturned trucks on 80, although they are very good at closing it.

and we only ever hear of the chain up requirements for 70, nothing catastrophic like on 80.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

get your chains and take 70. I see too many pictures of overturned trucks on 80, although they are very good at closing it.

and we only ever hear of the chain up requirements for 70, nothing catastrophic like on 80.

hmmmm….

Im not seeing any high wind advisories for 80, for the entire week, at least not forecasted.  Ill take my chains, and make a decision in Nebraska. How are things with you? I have managed to basically avoid this entire Winter with doing Miami. Though last week I got a taste of it with a run to Ohio. First it was ice, then the following day it was snow. But I survived. Ive had a 2 week break from Miami, and Im told next week it will be back to normal, and sun and fun in Florida.

mickeyrat

waiting on freight volume to normalize.  interested to see just how the first year of tax filings under the new law will effect everything.  with lower tax returns being received, just how much consumer spending will help or hurt with volume.

last year my bid , I didnt see any real decrease in miles. This year same bid but its been very hard to take. impatient for it to pick back up. But being topped at .674cpm , I'm still bringing home better money than Schneider.

Have you taken the 70 routing before? just looks like it might be visually more stimulating. Seeing it from the air flying into Vegas a couple years ago, it looks like a nice drive.

mickeyrat

oh, and my running area means I have been actually working at driving this season.......

mickeyrat

Driver!!!  What was your routing choice?

mickeyrat

Ithink freight has entered back into normal volume , at least it seems to have for us.

Wobbie

hats off to you guys.

I can’t think of much worse than driving.....anything.....everyday.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

get your chains and take 70. I see too many pictures of overturned trucks on 80, although they are very good at closing it.

and we only ever hear of the chain up requirements for 70, nothing catastrophic like on 80.

Take 70 huh?

I would like to thank you for the worst advice ever given to me!! 70 was a disaster!

But I forgive you....hahahahaha

mickeyrat

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

mickeyrat said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

get your chains and take 70. I see too many pictures of overturned trucks on 80, although they are very good at closing it.

and we only ever hear of the chain up requirements for 70, nothing catastrophic like on 80.

Take 70 huh?

I would like to thank you for the worst advice ever given to me!! 70 was a disaster!

But I forgive you....hahahahaha

so what happened?

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

mickeyrat said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Hey mickey? What would you do?

Im taking a load to Mesquite Nevada this week. Leaving tomorrow. Don't deliver until Thursday. Doesn't look like I will be dealing with too much weather(Thank God), but that could obviously change. I did this run 4-5 times last summer and always took 80 across and not 70. 80 only adds 60 or so miles too the trip, and I avoid the Rockies. Im thinking of doing the exact same route this time around. Yet every trucker I ever talked to last summer would tell me that come winter time, I am better off taking 70. They say 80 becomes a nightmare due to the high winds and that 70 is better maintained in the Winter months. What do you think? According to accuweather It doesn't look like I am going to be dealing with any major snow or high winds this week through Wyoming. But again that could change. It looks like The Rockies are getting some major snow through the mountains, but that will be tomorrow. I wouldn't be there until Tuesday.

What do you think?

70 or 80?

get your chains and take 70. I see too many pictures of overturned trucks on 80, although they are very good at closing it.

and we only ever hear of the chain up requirements for 70, nothing catastrophic like on 80.

Take 70 huh?

I would like to thank you for the worst advice ever given to me!! 70 was a disaster!

But I forgive you....hahahahaha

so what happened?

What happened? Millions of years ago, the Colorado Rocky Mountains were formed. Then 100 or so years ago, some engineer decided to build a highway right through those mountains. After blasting through those mountains, he left about 5-7 mountains with  7% grade, for us truckers to maneuver through. Some of those 7% grades lasted 6-8 miles. Along with those 7% grades, he left numerous 5%-6% grades, also lasting for miles. And my DUMBASS drove right through that stretch of highway, for miles and miles, and miles, as snow was falling!!! Ive got some great pictures. PM me your phone number if you want, and Ill text you some great pics from those mountains of pure hell. Hahaha

Vail had a good 10 inches of snow on it, as did the other mountains. Then when I arrived in Utah, 70 turns in to a roller coaster. It was pure hell. At least on 80, I don't have to deal with any of those mountain grades. LIKE AT ALL. You see mountains, but you are not driving directly through them. Just a couple in Western Wyoming, and when you enter Utah.

I will NEVER take 70 again. EVER

But ya live and ya learn. I survived and it was a wild ride.

I was happy to be down in Miami again last week. 90 degrees and sunny.

Things good for you?

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Plus as an added bonus on 70? You come across a sign that say "No services for 70 miles"

Then after you pass through whatever town has that gas station, you soon pass a sign that says "No services for 100 miles"

Really?

My numbers aren't exact, but they are pretty damned close.

mickeyrat

draw a line from Minneapolis down to and through Dallas to Houston, thats been my farthest west.

Was it such a good idea asking someone with 7 yrs exp your routing options?

for future reference I do things the hard way. multiple times......

freight is picking up finally......

SPEEDY MCCREADY

mickeyrat said:

draw a line from Minneapolis down to and through Dallas to Houston, thats been my farthest west.

Was it such a good idea asking someone with 7 yrs exp your routing options?

for future reference I do things the hard way. multiple times......

freight is picking up finally......

About as good an idea as giving advice to someone, when you don't have a clue.

mickeyrat

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

mickeyrat said:

draw a line from Minneapolis down to and through Dallas to Houston, thats been my farthest west.

Was it such a good idea asking someone with 7 yrs exp your routing options?

for future reference I do things the hard way. multiple times......

freight is picking up finally......

About as good an idea as giving advice to someone, when you don't have a clue.

you asked what I thought. I told you. And what was said was true.......

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Its over and done. Lets just let it go.

We have been busier than hell, company is buying 4 more OTR trucks, yet are having trouble finding drivers. I don't get it either. About $85k a year to start, dedicated runs to Texas, Vegas, and Florida, and we cant find drivers? Brand new automatic Volvos, the cream of the crop, and we cant get drivers? Guaranteed 2500 miles a week.

mickeyrat

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Its over and done. Lets just let it go.

We have been busier than hell, company is buying 4 more OTR trucks, yet are having trouble finding drivers. I don't get it either. About $85k a year to start, dedicated runs to Texas, Vegas, and Florida, and we cant find drivers? Brand new automatic Volvos, the cream of the crop, and we cant get drivers? Guaranteed 2500 miles a week.

Strange. are they posting the ad somewhere?

mickeyrat

screen capture of my dash cam early Saturday morning. 01:36 US 23 NB mm36 (approx)

this a 4 lane divided highway , I am in the right northbound lane..........