My Prime Upgrade / First Month Solo Experience

05/28/22 - Day 16 Solo

I have truck in the repair bay since 06:11 CDT to get electrical issue resolved.

After that I make another yogurt run to Murfreesboro. Hope the traffic is better today.

Good luck out there! Hammer down.

5/28/22 continues

The shop fixed the electrical problems. The green electrical pigtail was bad and a relay for the lights was bad. All billed directly to Prime Inc.

I made it to my delivery in Murfreesboro with 30 minutes to spare arriving at 11:30 CDT. Completed the D&H.

My current trip was back to the meat plant in Goodsletteville, TN to D&H a load of hamburger going to Opelika, AL for delivery by 02:45 CDT 5/29/22. This is a Walmart DC so plan to arrive at 01:45 CDT.

My loaded trailer was ready about 2 hours early, which allowed me to get away about 16:00 CDT.

I stopped at 17:17 at a Love’s on I-65S near Columbia, TN to start a split SB break. I’ll be here 3 hours planning to depart about 20:17 CDT. I had 4 hrs remaining on my 14h clock when I started the break.

I’m 275 miles from Loc 90 delivery. So about 5.5 hrs. I should arrive within the one hour early window.

I’ll find a place to park after the live unload to take a 10h break with at least 7 consecutive hours in SB.

I know there is interest in driver pay. So I’ll share my gross pay results for my first and second week solo paychecks.

5/28/22 wrap

I clearly have misunderstood the split SB rules. I get it now. What I was planning will not work to reach my 90 tonight.

So, I’m parked at a rest area on I-65S in Alabama north of Birmingham. I’m taking the 7h SB break until 06:00 CDT 5/29/22 to complete the 10h combined break.

When I go back on duty I will have 10:17 available on my 14h clock, 8:58 on my 11h clock and 12:34 on my 70h clock.

My ETA to 90 in Opelika is 10:00 CDT compared to original appointment of 02:45 CDT.

I gave dispatch an option to take a 10h break until 09:00 CDT with full clock hours back and ETA of 13:00 CDT.

Looking back over the day, I think needing to have my truck repaired put me in a hole. I didn’t start driving to Murfreesboro until 07:45 CDT. My 10h break ended at 05:30 CDT. With an earlier start I maybe could have slipped in a split SB first break with sufficient time on my 14h clock to defer to allow me to drive the ~6.5 hrs.

I’d have to study it closer to be sure, need to sleep now. I’ll get some coaching on this from Kearsey.

5/28/22 wrap

I clearly have misunderstood the split SB rules. I get it now. What I was planning will not work to reach my 90 tonight.

So, I’m parked at a rest area on I-65S in Alabama north of Birmingham. I’m taking the 7h SB break until 06:00 CDT 5/29/22 to complete the 10h combined break.

When I go back on duty I will have 10:17 available on my 14h clock, 8:58 on my 11h clock and 12:34 on my 70h clock.

My ETA to 90 in Opelika is 10:00 CDT compared to original appointment of 02:45 CDT.

I gave dispatch an option to take a 10h break until 09:00 CDT with full clock hours back and ETA of 13:00 CDT.

Looking back over the day, I think needing to have my truck repaired put me in a hole. I didn’t start driving to Murfreesboro until 07:45 CDT. My 10h break ended at 05:30 CDT. With an earlier start I maybe could have slipped in a split SB first break with sufficient time on my 14h clock to defer to allow me to drive the ~6.5 hrs.

I’d have to study it closer to be sure, need to sleep now. I’ll get some coaching on this from Kearsey.

Dennis;

Kearsey is 'the best' (as is O/S and G'Town) on the split SB rule. Stevo called me one day, and I thought I really went over it with him clearly, but either I wasn't clear, or he wasn't getting what I was putting down. It's an art and a science combined. Tom used to 'play' those, many moons ago.

I'm just happy you worked it out with dispatch. If putting your truck in for 'service' ... um .. 'put you in a hole' time wise; just be glad it was a 'virtual' hole, and not a physical one, hehehe!!

Many of us read (aka: me!) and don't reply, because, man.. you've really GOT this!

One question. . . .and I'll leave. Do you carry T'bolt (or J'bolt) assemblies?

~ Anne & Tom! ~

05/29/22 - Day 17 Solo

I started driving at 06:01 CDT after 7:02 SB break. My clocks were 11:34 on 14h; 8:57 on 11h; and 12:34 on 70H.

I arrived at Loc 90 at 09:41 CDT.

I stopped once for 13 mins off duty to message FM about a message received while driving that my appointment had been changed to 05:45-06:45 on 5/30. I asked FM if this meant I couldn’t delivery today? He replied “you can try”. This is a Walmart DC, so you can probably guess what happened.

I checked in with the security guy. Explained that my original appointment was at 02:45, but unable to make due to clock hours ran out. This was earliest I could get here. He said that he would check to see if could unload today, but not likely since Walmart very strict.

He came back saying that I will have to return tomorrow at 05:45 CDT, but he pre-checked me in so will go faster tomorrow.

Also told me there was a truck stop about 5 miles away on I-85 where I could park. I said thanks and made my departure.

I’m parked at the Cusseta Travel Center. Been here since 10:07 CDT. Will depart at 05:30 CDT tomorrow after a ~19.5 hrs break. Same thing that happened to me in Ardmore, OK.

At least this place has some decent food.

With all this free time today I’ve worked through the split SB timeline plus 3 scenarios for 5/28 that lead me to conclude that this delivery in Opelika, AL at 01:45-02:45 CDT on 5/29 was not doable with my hours.

Maybe an experienced driver can see something that I don’t.

5/30/22 - Day 18 Solo

Happy Memorial Day and a big salute to our veterans!

I departed the TS at 05:31 CDT.

Arrived at Loc 90 at 05:41 to check in with Security. Sent to door 422 way around on backside of the DC.

Was docked at 06:28. My first attempt setup was wrong, had to abort and start over. Second attempt used an alley dock and got it in fine.

Disconnect from trailer and bobtail to front area to park by Receiving office.

Parked at 06:33 starting an Off Duty split SB break #1 just in case >2 hrs wait. My 14H clock had 12:58 at this point.

Checked in with Receiving at 06:36. Wait for a call that paperwork is ready and can go get my trailer.

My limiting clock now is my 70h with 09:32 remaining available today.

This is my 4th trip for this payroll week putting me at 1,545 miles. Should get at least one more completed trip in before the cutoff at 16:00 CDT on 06/01/22. Kearsey told me that freight is slow now plus the holiday today. Would like to get over 2,000 miles to qualify for the fuel bonus.

I see the Walmart employees started up a grill for a Memorial Day cook out.

The last two days I was a bit agitated about the scheduling for this trip thinking that I did something wrong. I’ve chilled out about it now. Going with the flow “one day at a time, sweet Jesus. Give me the strength, to do everyday, what I’ve got to do.”

In case you come to this Walmart DC in Opelika the “secret” driver’s restroom is through door 512 at top of stairs next to the Receiving office. There are no signs.

5/30/22 wrap

I finished the live unload and departed at about 09:53 CDT.

My new trip assignment is taking me to a DC in Irvington, AL for a D&H, with the load going to a DC in St James, MO to D&H. The total dispatched miles is 903, although the actual driven miles are closer to 995. The delivery window is anytime on 5/31. However, I don’t have the 70h clock hours available to meet that schedule.

I lost my surplus of available On Duty hours today because only got a recap of 1h 28m.

I managed to get to Magee, MS tonight. I still have 605 miles to go that will require ~12 hours. However, my available hours tomorrow will be 8:40.

My plan is to start driving at 06:30 and stop by 15:00 CDT to take a 10h break. I should make about 412 miles, leaving 193 miles for 6/1. I figure to drive four hours from 01:00-05:00 on 6/1. I gave Dispatch an ETA of 05:00 on 6/1 tonight.

Completing this trip on 6/1 will bring my total payable miles for the week to 2,448.

5/31/22 - Day 19 Solo

First thing this morning I wished my wife Happy 35th Anniversary!

Based on my ETA to 90 provided last night my delivery appointment to D&H is now anytime on 6/1/22. Not so rushed now.

Been driving since 06:30. Stopped at 08:58 after 132 miles near Winona, MS for fuel stop and 30 min break. Taking a little extra time.

I have 6h of On Duty time remaining on my clock. Will drive another 5.5 hours, then find parking for a 10h break.

I started the day 608 miles to 90. I’m now at 476 miles to go.

The route is basically I-55N to St Louis to catch I-44 to St James.