My Prime Upgrade / First Month Solo Experience

I stopped read a message from dispatch and a bio break. My next pre-plan came in, which is good to help me plan when to start my clock tomorrow since my delivery time is flexible.

My next Loc 01 is 94 miles empty to live load meat at California, MO from 08:00-14:00 on 6/1. The Loc 90 is 1,029 miles in Newport News, VA to deliver on 6/3. That’s a nice 1,123 miles over two days. I like those long haul trips. Will be a good start to Week 4.

Dennis;

Happy Anniversary!!! 35, wow! Congrats, good sir!

Your miles are looking GREAT!

I also went over your split S/B diaries/scenarios, and didn't see ANY way to work it out, either.

Was hoping Kearsey, Old School, or PackRat might have chimed in there; I'm definitely no pro; it's been awhile since I did those, w/Tom. I tried to help Stevo Reno with one once, but not knowing his 'prior' days (against his 70 and such) wasn't do able either.

Best always!

~ Anne ~

Where to in Newport News?

6/31/22 wrap

I’m parked for my 10h break at a truck parking area on I-55N near Jackson, MO. I’m 174 miles to my Loc 90, ~3.5h drive.

Thanks Momma Anne for looking at my scribblings. Sorry if they hurt your brain.

I’m satisfied now that I understand the math of the split SB. Got a clarification from my Prime logs advisor. I’ll learn with experience how to apply it to my advantage.

Regarding the appointment schedules not being doable as first assigned, I’m starting to understand how the game is played. My FM knows my availability, it’s all in the computer. His objective is to move loads. Kearsey explained to me how he operates during a typical day to prioritize who gets pre-planned first, etc.

The key to winning at this game is proactive communication from the driver to dispatch. I message dispatch early with a “safe” ETA based on my available hours and how I drive. I usually include 1 or 2 sentences of backup reasoning.

The usual response is “10/4” or “10/4 I’ll contact Sales”.

Some time later I will receive a message that my appointment times have been adjusted to fit my schedule.

No big deal. FM never says anything about it. No “service performance failure”, so everyone is happy.

The worst thing a driver can do is not communicate and then be late. That is a ding against everyone on the team.

The load I’m on is a good example that I’ll share. This is what I messaged my night dispatch last night after I parked at 22:42 on 5/30/22:

“My ETA to 90 is 05:00 CDT 06/01/22. I’m 605 miles out. Need 12 hrs drive time, but only have 8.33 hrs available tomorrow on 70h clock. Estimate 412 miles on 5/31 and 193 miles on 6/1. I should have ~10:30 available on 70h clock for 6/1.”

“I’ve lost my surplus 70h available because only got a 1h 28m recap today”

Response was “10/4”.

Then this morning at 07:18 I get the message that my appointment to D&H has been changed to anytime on 6/1/22 from 5/31/22.

Packrat - I will be going to Interstate Warehousing cold storage on Hardwood Drive in Newport News, VA.

Summary Stats:

5/30/22 Miles = 431 Drive = 8h 33m On Duty = 9h 21m Avg MPH = 50.4 70h avail = 8:34 + 1:28 = 10h 3m

5/31/22 Miles = 437 Drive = 7h 44m On Duty = 7h 54m Avg MPH = 56.5 70h avail = 7:59 + 00:41 = 8h 40m

70h avail for 6/1 = 10:04 + 00:46 = 10h 50m

I’m planning to depart at 02:30 CDT on 6/1. I need 7.5h to complete my 90 delivery and arrive at the Loc 01 at 10:00 CDT.

At this point I expect to have ~3h avail On Duty time remaining. This shipper has overnight parking. So I’m thinking to park after being loaded for a 10h break. Then start my ~21h driving time to Loc 90.

My recaps will be:

6/2 = 8h 37m + 3h(?) from 6/1 6/3 = 10h 59m

At this point there is no specific delivery appointment time on 6/3. That will get set as I progress and update dispatch with a safe ETA.

So, I’m done worrying about this stuff. Time to relax and go with the flow.

Your only good parking options are going to be north of there on I-64. There's a big rest area in New Kent County on the eastbound side, then a Love's further southeast near Providence Forge. That's it in for that part of VA.

Thanks Momma Anne for looking at my scribblings. Sorry if they hurt your brain.

a.) They were so confluent and perfect ! I'm RUSTY.....

b.) It was a great LESSON for 'MY' future brain!! Love it!

c.) Okay, yeah.. .hurt a lil' bit! Yours is the BEST diary rocking right now. I share it otherwhere.

d.) Listen to RatPack, and KEEP ON, man!

~ Anne & Tom ! ~

Your only good parking options are going to be north of there on I-64. There's a big rest area in New Kent County on the eastbound side, then a Love's further southeast near Providence Forge. That's it in for that part of VA.

That’s Pack Rat for the heads up. I find very little parking in the eastern states.

6/1/22 - Day 20 Solo

So far so good today, except for the rain.

Started driving at 02:24 CDT and arrived at my Loc 90 at 05:30 CDT to D&H. Started raining hard just when I had to get outside the truck.

Departed 90 at 06:33 to Cuba, MO about 13 miles to get the trailer washed out and reefer fuel.

Started driving to my new Loc 01 at 07:38 CDT. Arrived in California, MO at 09:41 CDT.

Docked at 10:10 CDT. Sitting here being lived loaded with frozen Turkey meat.

I’ve been frugal with my On Duty time today, plus I was running about 20 min ahead of plan when I arrived here.

Right now I have 5:00h left on my 70h, 6:10 on my 14h and 5:15 on my 11h.

I’ll burn a few minutes getting out of here to park in a nearby gravel lot to take my 10h break before driving tonight.

Just felt the forklift in the trailer at 10:41.

6/1/22 wrap

My trailer was finished loading at 11:01 CDT. I departed the shipper at 11:38 CDT.

This shipper scales on entry and exit. It is an old looking narrow scale. Not easy to get onto.

My weights going out on my steers was way high over 14K! Not possible.

So, I made my way to the Petro at I-70 in Kingdom City, MO to CAT scale. Got the same result on first attempt. My FM asked me about the brakes? I thought the brakes were off, but I would try again.

This time the weights were all fine! I must have pulled the brakes or had my foot on the service brake. How embarrassing!

I’m taking my 10h break here until midnight, then start driving east on I-70.

I saved 3h 53m today from my 70h clock to combine with 8h 37m recap tonight to give me 12h 30m for 6/2. I get 10h 59m recap tomorrow night to combine with any leftovers for 6/3.

I’m sitting 239 miles from my fuel stop in Olney, IL.

Summary Stats:

Miles = 344 Driving = 6h 49m On Duty = 6h 57m Avg MPH = 50.5

6/2/22 - Day 21 Solo

I started driving at midnight 00:00 CDT towards my fuel stop 242 miles (~4.3 hrs) away at Love’s in Olney, IL at junction of US-50 and IL-130. The route was I-70E to Effingham, IL then dropping south on IL-33 and IL-130.

I arrived at 04:28 CDT. Took time for a shower and to eat.

242 miles in 4H 26m = 54.6 mph.

Departed at 05:33 CDT and stopped at 11:00 CDT at Moorehead Rest Area on I-64E mm 141. This stretch was 306 miles, for a total of 548 miles. My goal was 514 miles for the day.

306 miles in 5h 27m = 56.1 mph.

At this point I had 487 miles remaining to 90 customer.

It turns out that the delivery appointment time was 08:00 EDT on 6/3/23. I had 2:26 remaining on my 70h for the day with 10:59 recap coming at midnight.

My 10h break would end at 21:00, but would not drive until 21:45 CDT to overlap with the recap.

It turned out that the earliest I could get to the 90 was 09:00 EDT with no safety cushion.

Dispatch decided to re-power the load to keep it on time. Sales could not change the appointment because I was loaded on time (first I’ve heard of this).

The relay driver arrived and we swapped trailers at 14:15 CDT.

I took over her load which was a D&H in Middlesboro, KY by 23:59 EDT that night going to Louisville, KY for live unload by 10:30 EDT on 6/3.

I gave dispatch an ETA to the 01 of 03:15 EDT. The appointment was changed up to 04:00 EDT.

I started driving at 21:45 CDT which started my 14h & 11h clocks.

21:45 - 00:00 = 2h 14m driving

6/3/22 - Day 22 Solo

00:00 - 01:48 CDT driving. Arrived at 01.

Total 205 miles empty in 4H.

Completed the D&H and departed the 01 at 02:49 CDT.

Arrived at the 90 at 07:11 CDT. Stopped for 8 mins off duty.

226 miles loaded in 4H 16m.

Started a split SB break #1 at 07:24 CDT. Clocks at start of the break were: 14H = 4:21; 11H = 2:41; 70H = 4:46.

Docked at 09:16 CDT (10:16 EDT).

Unloading in progress and wrapping up as I write this. Will have to pay lumper fee before being released.

My minimum 2h split break has been met.

There is parking on site. I will park here to continue break as I find out next trip assignment.