My Prime TNT Progress Updates

Robert arrived at our Loc 01 shipper at 10:46 EDT.

Dropped our empty trailer.

Our new trailer is only half loaded when I inquired at Shipping office. I gave the nice young lady Robert’s contact info just in case it is ready before she goes off duty at 14:00 EDT (our appointment is for 18:00 EDT). There is a phone number to call to check on trailer status, but we were getting a voice mail. Driver parking lot is a long walk in the rain today to the shipping office. Not supposed to bobtail to the office unless “handicapped” (hmmm, I wonder if I can identify as “emotionally challenged” for the day from 38 days straight of team driving?).

So we bobtailed to a nearby convenience store for some supplies, then back to location to wait from 11:35 EDT. Time to chill out and watch a movie.

Some good news from home today is that my nephew’s wife gave birth this morning at 06:41 MDT to their first child, a son named Niles. So we welcome a new family member. Just a little sad that my sister passed away on Nov 1, 2020 before becoming a grandma. She would have loved having a grandchild.

I just took a bag of trash to a dumpster in this parking lot. A long nightcrawler was on the black top driven out of the soaked ground by the rain.

I use store bought nightcrawlers for fish bait, but I take pity on this wild nightcrawler by putting it back on nearby grass so it has a chance to survive.

We are doing some strategizing about whether or not Robert should drive first when our trailer is ready depending upon his available hours or just sit here until 24:00 CDT for my shift to start.

The sooner we get rolling, the sooner we arrive to Portland. Just maybe can get unloaded early or drop the trailer, then get onto a next load. More revenue for Robert and more miles for me the faster we can move along.

Digging up my old "Jesus was a Capricorn" vinyl as I type this. Actually my dads.

Yea, I’ve rediscovered Kristofferson since driving listening to music. I listen to a collection album of his “essential” songs. He has some really good lyrics about life in general. He was 35 in 1972 when “Jesus is a Capricorn” came out. I’ve seen a video of him talking about the origin of “Why Me”following a profound spiritual event for him at a church service where he “found Jesus”. He is 85 now and retired only 2 years ago! In the video he sings “Why Me” with Willie Nelson and Janie Fricke doing harmony.

Willie Nelson turned 90 this week and is still performing live shows. God Bless him.

The sooner we get rolling, the sooner we arrive to Portland. Just maybe can get unloaded early or drop the trailer, then get onto a next load. More revenue for Robert and more miles for me the faster we can move along.

I would roll while you can. Winter ain't over yet out here, and neither are the weather shutdowns for wrecks, wind, or snow between you and Portland.

To beat the devil is one of my favorites. As well as "Law is for protection of the people" and "best of all possible worlds"

I agree we should roll on soon as we can.

The weather front here in OH is moving on east of us now. I’ve looked ahead at forecast for next 3 days along our route (I-80W to SLC, then I-84 through Idaho and Oregon). The biggest issue appears to be wind in NE and WY. Portland is raining all week.

We hauled a load to SLC for this same shipper from Columbus a week or so back.

I’m going to lay down again to see if I can sleep awhile. Need to be rested for my Midnight shift start.

Another alternative is that I drive first this evening and stop to switch with Robert for him to take the midnight to noon shift. We were trying to make that shift change awhile back, but it kept getting messed up by job demands.

Got our trailer hooked up and ready to roll by 17:15 EDT. I’m driving first shift to our fuel stop in Minooka, IL. About 5-6 hours.

Time to get Big Mama rolling again!

Pack Rat was right again! Ran into wet, slushy blowing snow about Ft Wayne, IN. Has lasted about 2 hours. I see some up ahead as I head towards I-80W.

Drove 211 miles in 4H 12m (50 mph avg) before stopping for my 30 mins break. Still have 150 miles (~3 hours) driving to our driver switch out in Minooka, IL.

Drove through Van Wert, OH. A very pretty smaller town with older Victorian style houses along the highway.

It is coming up on 21:00 CDT. Time to roll on again.