Loose Cannon

Tour of Duty 20th January 2015 to 29th January 2015

There was no work available most of January. I got word of a trip from National City, CA to Long Beach, CA followed by one from Long Beach, CA to Toledo, OH. However I got word of a truck that needed to be moved from Alberta to Colorado and the company booked me an air ticket to Red Deer, Alberta.

On Tuesday 20th of January, I took Super Shuttle to LAX and checked in and checked my bags and paid the 60$ fee for two bags. I cleared security after a queue and I opted out of the machine and was patted down. Time from beginning of check in to end of security was 1h07min.

Air Canada rouge #1877 LAX-YYC A-319 Zone 4
Seat 20F Cruising altitude not given Estimated flying time 2:56, actual 2:45
Depart: Gate 22 Scheduled 14h25, actual 14h25 Taxi: 11 minutes
Arrive: Gate B40 Scheduled 18h35, actual 18h30 Taxi: 8 minutes

We boarded via jetway and the plane was mostly full. Unlike the last time on rouge the seats next to me were occupied so the flight was not very comfortable with the 29 inch pitch between seats in the back of the airbus. It was announced it was 3C/37F at YYC. It was mostly cloudy at LAX. Pushback was on time and takeoff was to the west and over water. We made landfall by 0:04 but the coast was socked in with cloud cover. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:16.

At 0:22 I saw snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada range. At 0:55 we were over Nevada. At 1:05 there was drink run and I got cup of soda. At 1:35 I got water and at 2:04 the F/A came through with more water. It appeared we crossed Interstate 90 over North Idaho at 2:05. At 2:13 I got Customs Form which I filled out. I felt descent begin at 2:25 somewhere over the Rockies, exact location unknown. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 2:30 and descent was announced at the same time. At 2:40 I saw Alberta 2 Deerfoot Trail and Alberta 201 Stoney Trail. We landed south to north and arrived at gate 5 minutes early.

I cleared Customs and for the first time in a long time after flying into Canada, I was NOT sent to Immigration. I put my checked bags on the belt for connecting flights. It took only 26 minutes for me to clear Customs which made me happy. I had Evening Rations at Swiss Chalet before reclearing security for my connecting flight. While waiting for the connecting flight I first got a message to get a room in Red Deer and inform Dispatch as the customer in Stettler would be bringing the truck to me in Red Deer as I imagine it would cost a small fortune to take a taxi from Red Deer to Stettler. Then I got another message saying the truck was involved in a slight accident and there would need to be some repainting done so the truck would not be brought to Red Deer until Thursday.

Air Canada Express #7204 YYC-YQF Beechcraft 1900 Zone 4
Seat 9A Cruising altitude not given Estimated flying time not given, actual 0:26
Depart: Gate C61 Scheduled 21h30, actual 21h45 Taxi: 13 minutes
Arrive: only gate there is Scheduled 22h10, actual 22h28 Taxi: 3 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 13-14 minutes after arrival

We were bussed out to where the plane was and boarded via stairs. The airplane was a "flying lawnmower." Configuration was 9 rows of 1-1. I was originally assigned 1A but was given permission to move so I moved to the back row. Only 7 of the 18 seats were taken. The pilots gave a quick safety briefing then climbed into the cockpit and fired up the props. Pushback was 15 minutes late. There was no flight attendant, no washroom and no service on this flight. We took off to the north northeast and final approach was announced at 0:15. I felt descent begin at 0:16. I saw the lights of Red Deer before we turned east then south and landed to the south. We arrived at the only gate 18 minutes late. We deplaned via stairs then I reclaimed my checked bags and hired a taxi to hotel.

I caught up on rest for most of Wednesday before walking to get something to eat. The sidewalks and driveways were covered by ice so the walk took a lot longer as I was very careful as I did not want to slip and fall on ice as I did a year ago. I spent two nights in Red Deer, AB.

Thursday a driver, accompanied by a chase vehicle, brought the truck and parked it in front of the hotel. I noticed a yellow warning light flashing on the dashboard and saw a toggle switch depressed that should not have been depressed and I realised what happened. The driver was not at all familiar with the new anti-pollution equipment featured on new diesel trucks. He did not know what a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) was and he did not realise that the toggle switch he depressed inhibited regeneration which meant that the DPF was getting clogged and he was fortunate the engine did not derate to where the maximum speed would have been 5mph or 8km/h.

Trip: Truck originated in Stettler, AB but was picked up in Red Deer, AB. Original delivery was to be in Monument, CO but actual delivery was in Milliken, CO. Actual distance travelled was 1,893km
Make: 2014 Western Star
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: standard 18-speed
Route: Alberta 2 to Alberta 3 to Alberta 4 to Interstate 15 to Montana 3 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 25 to Colorado 60 to Colorado 257
Maximum elevation: 6,388 feet on Interstate 25 south of Cheyenne, WY 4 miles north of the CO/WY state line
Highest diesel price USA: $2.699/gallon at Flying J Cheyenne, WY
Lowest diesel price USA: $2.62/gallon at Pilot Great Falls and Billings, MT
Diesel price Canada: $1.089CAD/litre at Flying J Calgary, AB
Permits required: Alberta overweight permit; MT and WY Trip Permits
Border Crossing: Coutts, AB/Sweetgrass, MT

I had to do a "parked regeneration" before I could proceed but once I did that I was good to go. The temperature was unseasonably mild in Alberta for late January and the temperature may have hit 10C/50F. I crossed the border that evening and was cleared with no problem whatsoever. The weigh scale just before the border was closed so I was not able to get a Montana Trip Permit as I had hoped. I spent the night in Conrad, MT.

Friday was a bit windy but mild for winter in Montana. I took on some fuel in Great Falls and proceeded on the two-lane Montana 3 which ran concurrent with some other highways but always highway 3 to Billings. Just east of Belt, MT the weigh scale was open and I went in to get Trip Permit and the officer scolded me for not getting one earlier. I bought the Trip Permit but the officer also issued me a written warning for not getting a Trip Permit earlier before proceeding as far into the state as that weigh scale was. I was happy not to have gotten a 85$ fine.

I proceeded and it was not long before sunset in the middle of nowhere. I stopped at Eddies Junction where there was a truckstop and had Evening Rations before proceeding through Harlowton, Lavina and on to Billings. I spent the night in Billings, MT.

Saturday it got up to 53F and was windy with gusts of 37mph before rain showers moved in. There was off and on rain into Wyoming where I stopped shy of Sheridan to get Trip Permit. There were some ice pellets and it tried to change over to snow in Buffalo, WY and south of Buffalo on Interstate 25 I saw a sign that said Black Ice. I reduced my speed to 30-40mph for a significant stretch. Finally I increased my speed before stopping in Kaycee, WY where I had Evening Rations at Hole In The Wall Bar which was the only place open at that hour. Don't worry, I did not drink any alcohol but I had a chat with the bartender and found he personally knew the late Chris Le Doux. I proceeded south and spent the night in Casper, WY.

Sunday the weather was much better. When I started the truck there was a glitch and a light warning of impending engine shutdown came on. I shut down the truck and restarted it a couple of times while contacting the customer and that seemed to clear up whatever the glitch was. I stopped in Glenrock, WY and was taken to Glenrock Baptist Church where I caught part of the morning service. I figured the message was on Colossians 2. I was persuaded to stay for Midday Rations then I had to get back to the truck and continue my trip. There were strong winds around Chugwater, WY and I stopped for fuel in Cheyenne before continuing into Colorado. I contacted the customer and when I exited the Interstate he got in front of me and I followed him to delivery point and made delivery then was taken to hotel near DEN. I spent night in Denver, CO.

Monday I awoke and got shuttle to DEN where I checked in and checked bags and paid the 60$ fee for two bags. I cleared security and was patted down after opting out. Time from beginning of check in to end of security was about 34 minutes.

American #1471 DEN-DFW MD-80 Group 2
Seat 12F Cruising altitude 31,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:27, actual 1:20
Depart: Gate A49 Scheduled 10h34, actual 10h40 Taxi: 8 minutes
Arrive: Gate C24 Scheduled 13h30, actual 13h20 Taxi: 10 minutes

We boarded via jetway. The plane was full. Pushback was 6 minutes late. It was announced it was partly cloudy and 55F at DFW. Takeoff was to the south. I saw the Front Range, downtown Denver and Pikes Peak immediately after takeoff before we turned southeast. I felt bumps and it was announced we would route through Dodge City and it was 59F at DFW and we might be early. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:19 and we crossed the Arkansas River at 0:28 and it appeared we were directly above Dodge City, KS. We crossed US54 at 0:34 and I saw Liberal, KS to the distance. At 0:49 we crossed Interstate 40 over western Oklahoma. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 0:51. I saw the Red River to the distance. At 0:55 I saw what may have been Altus, OK. I thought I felt descent at 0:58 and we crossed the Red River at 1:00 and I saw US287 and Electra, TX and we were over Wichita Falls, TX at 1:02. At 1:10 descent was announced and it was 59F at DFW. At 1:12 connecting gate information was announced and at 1:13 I saw DFW to the distance. We crossed Interstate 35W at 1:15 and I saw Ft. Worth to the distance and the Texas Motor Speedway. I saw Grapevine Lake at 1:19 and we landed north to south and arrived at gate 10 minutes early.

American #1333 DEN-MCI MD-80 Group 2
Seat 17F Cruising altitude 33,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:15, actual 1:17
Depart: Gate C33 Scheduled 15h00, actual 14h51 Taxi: 15 minutes
Arrive: Gate 79 Scheduled 16h31, actual 16h35 Taxi: 12 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 13 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and F was full but Y had some empty seats including the middle seat in my row. It was announced it was 57F at MCI. Pushback was 9 minutes early followed by takeoff to the south then turn southwest then right turns to head north by 0:04. I saw Ft. Worth to the distance then Dallas as we headed north. There was a drink run and I got can of Dr. Pepper at 0:17. We crossed Interstate 40 somewhere over eastern Oklahoma at 0:30. At 0:35 I saw the Arkansas River and I also saw what looked to be Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. At 0:37 I saw downtown Tulsa, the Arkansas River and TUL. I thought I felt descent at 0:53. We crossed Interstate 35 at 1:00 and I saw Ottawa, KS. I saw Interstate 70 and downtown Kansas City at 1:12. We crossed the Missouri River at 1:14 and landed south to north and arrived at gate 4 minutes late. When I reclaimed my bags I found out that a side pocket on one of my bags ripped somehow and contents from that were put in another part of the bag. I hired taxi to North Kansas City where I got truck.

Trip: Truck originated in Kansas City, MO but was picked up in North Kansas City, MO. Original delivery was to be Dallas, TX and actual delivery was Dallas, TX but at another address. 555 paid miles.
Make: 2015 International
Model: Tank Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Interstate 35 (including Kansas Turnpike) to Interstate 35E to Interstate 30
Maximum elevation: unknown but Wichita, KS was 1,300 feet
Highest diesel price USA: $2.659/gallon at Flying J Emporia, KS
Lowest diesel price USA: $2.459/gallon at Flying J Edmond, OK
Permits required: none

I got the truck and went to truck stop to take on fuel then got on Interstate 35 and headed south. I stopped in Ottawa, KS where I shopped for a new bag to replace the one that was ripped. I spent the night in Ottawa, KS.

Tuesday I continued south and saw a nice sunset in South Haven, KS. I did not make great time as the truck was governed only to 63 or 64mph. I saw the lowest diesel price in a long time in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond. I spent the night in Ardmore, OK.

Wednesday I was not able to contact the customer but before I left I was able to get directions from computer and that proved valuable later. I stopped in Gainesville and later Denton, TX and still was not able to contact the customer so I went to the address given. Much of Interstate 35E was under construction. I went to the address given and saw it looked abandoned so I turned the corner and parked legally. The door was locked but I saw a phone number so I rang that number and to make a long story short the customer has not moved in to that location just south of downtown so I had to go to another location just west of the Trinity River to drop the truck. En route I saw a low clearance sign 12'9" on the street I was going to continue on so I turned and went through downtown and crossed under another viaduct that had a clearance of 14 feet. My instinct from my experience driving semi is that I need clearance of at least 13'6" or 4.15m. I did not realise it at the time but later I found out I drove on the same street where JFK was assassinated. I made the delivery and hired a taxi to hotel. Later I took the hotel shuttle to the Inwood Station where I caught the DART light rail downtown where I had Evening Rations and looked around some before taking the DART back. I spent the night in Dallas, TX.

Thursday morning I contacted dispatch and found out the next trip was to be Long Beach, CA to Waterflow, NM but it was not going to be available until Monday 2nd February. I checked out and was able to stash my bags while I went downtown to sneak in some sightseeing. I commend Park Inn Radisson for accommodating that request. I walked around Dallas and saw the outside of First Baptist Church and later saw Dealey Plaza and the building that used to be the Texas Schoolbook Depository. I also saw the street where JFK was shot. Then I took DART to Union Station and visited the GeO-Deck at the Reunion Tower. I had some panoramic views of Dallas and took a lot of pictures. Then I headed back to the hotel, got my bags and took shuttle to DAL.

I checked in and checked bags which weighed 44.5 and 48lbs. I cleard security after a short queue and was patted down after I opted out. The time from beginning of check in to end of security was about 25 minutes. Then I had Evening Rations at Dickey's BBQ Pit.

Southwest #1158 DAL-LAX B-737-700 Boarding Pass B11
Seat 22A Cruising altitude 38,000 feet Estimated flying time 3:00, actual 2:57
Depart: Gate 20 Scheduled 18h40, actual 18h56 Taxi: 7 minutes
Arrive: Gate 9 Scheduled 20h05, actual 20h09 Taxi: 7 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 28-29 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and all 143 seats were taken save one middle seat in the last row. It was announced it was 64F at LAX. We pushed back 16 minutes late and takeoff was to the north. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:25. At 0:51 I got Ritz Snack Mix and peanuts. At 1:10 I got cup of soda. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 1:44 and off at 2:14. I felt descent and descent was announced at 2:34. Seatbelt sign went on at same time. I saw Cabazon and the Morongo Indian Casino at 2:40. We went into clouds at 2:46. I saw California 91, 71 and Euclid Avenue at 2:47. We crossed California 57 at 2:49 and crossed Interstate 605 at 2:52. We crossed Interstate 710 at 2:53, Interstate 110 at 2:55 and Interstate 405 at 2:57 before landing east to west and we arrived at gate 4 minutes late. After I reclaimed my checked bags I took a shuttle home to end this tour of duty.

warreng24

Thanks for sharing your report!

Is "regeneration" the re-burn of the diesel particulates in the filter? How long does it take? And how do you know when its complete?


That's kind of unfair as the weight station at the border crossing was closed. So, the expectation is that you should have made a detour to the nearest station? That could have added miles to your route!


Looking forward to hearing about your trip in a future report. Safe travels.

Loose Cannon