Routing Around a Snowstorm: Buckeye State to Land of Lincoln; Near Misconnect
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Routing Around a Snowstorm: Buckeye State to Land of Lincoln; Near Misconnect
Tour of Duty 7th January 2016 to 25th January 2016
Part IV: 22nd January to 25th January
I awoke on Friday and met two other drivers and we drove from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio in a rental car. I was a passenger this time. The other drivers did not have issues with their flights so they were better rested and I knew they would make better time on the trip and deliver Saturday. That was not the case with me. We arrived at the shipper and after a wait were directed to the trucks and I loaded my gear and did the inspection and got signed off after being briefed on how to make sure the drum is turning.
Trip: New Philadelphia, OH to Troy, IL 521 paid miles
Make: 2016 Western Star
Model: Cement Mixer
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Interstate 77 to US30 to Interstate 469 to Interstate 69 to Interstate 465 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 55
Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest diesel price USA: 2.159$per gallon at Pilot in Canton and Upper Sandusky, OH
Lowest diesel price USA: Flying J New Haven, IN
I left the shipper and stopped at Sheetz for midday rations. I talked to a friend in Parkersburg, WV less than 90 miles to the south and he said it was snowing and conditions were bad and I realised that the snowstorm was moving up from the south so instead of heading south on the 77 to Cambridge and west on the 70, I headed north on the 77 to Canton and after taking on fuel there and a nap, I headed west on US30. US30 has been upgraded and is now twinned all the way from Canton, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Indiana. When I started driving truck in 1996 some sections of US30 were still two lane. I had a few snow flurries between Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky, OH but that was not part of the bad snowstorm that caused a lot of problems in the eastern USA. I had evening rations in Upper Sandusky, OH and spent the night there.
Saturday was sunny but cold however not quite as cold. I headed west and took on fuel in New Haven, IN just outside Fort Wayne. I took on more fuel in Indianapolis and Indianapolis fuel was not as cheap. I stopped and spent the night in Cloverdale, IN.
Sunday I continued west and entered Illinois. I had midday rations at the TA in Effingham, IL and then stopped at a rest area near Highland, IL where I contacted the pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, IL and arranged for a ride from my hotel. I got to Troy and checked in and was picked up and taken to First Baptist Church for evening service. The sermon was on 2 Chronicles 32:1-8. Then I was returned to the hotel and got settled in and walked to Cracker Barrel for evening rations. I spent the night in Troy, IL.
Monday morning I had an unpleasant surprise when the handle on my briefcase failed. I did make the delivery and after a considerable wait the taxi came and picked me up and we made an unscheduled stop at the TA where I got some straps to improvise a handle for the briefcase. We got to STL with under an hour before the flight. I checked in and checked bags which weighed 45 and 47.5lbs. I cleared security and I did not opt out due to time constraints. Total time from arriving at airport to clear of security was 32 minutes.
American Eagle #3314 STL-ORD CRJ-700 Group 2
Seat 9A Cruising altitude 29,000 feet Estimated flying time 0:50, actual 0:51
Depart: Gate C16 Scheduled 12h52, actual 13h35 Taxi: 11 minutes
Arrive: Gate G13 Scheduled 14h19, actual 14h50 Taxi: 5 minutes
The plane was late arriving. We boarded via jetway and the plane was full. It was announced it was overcast and 39F at ORD. Pushback was 43 minutes late followed by takeoff to the north. I saw Interstate 270 at 1min53sec and then we crossed the Missouri River at 0:03 and crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois airspace at 0:04. I saw a little of Illinois then we went into clouds at 0:10. Clouds blocked view below. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:14. I thought I felt descent begin, and seatbelt sign went on at 0:19.
We went into upper layer of clouds at 0:22 and descent was announced at 0:24 and it was 35F at ORD. We went into lower layer of clouds at 0:42 and over Lake Michigan at 0:45. An even lower layer of clouds almost totally blocked the view of downtown Chicago. We headed east over the lake then turned north and west and landed east to west. We arrived at gate 31 minutes late and deplaned via jetway. I had to rush from the G concourse to the K concourse and when I made it to the gate boarding for the next flight was well underway.
American #1358 ORD-LAX B-737-800 Group 2
Seat 25A Cruising altitude 38,000 feet Estimated flying time 3:41, actual 3:43
Depart: Gate K18 Scheduled 15h30, actual 15h24 Taxi: 12 minutes
Arrive: Gate 40 Scheduled 18h03, actual 17h30 Taxi: 11 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 18-20 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway. I was not the very last to board. The plane was not totally full and there was an empty middle in my row. Pushback was 6 minutes early. It was announced it was 66F and partly cloudy at LAX. Takeoff was to the west and we went into the clouds at 54sec. We went above the lower level of clouds at 0:03 and above all clouds by 0:14. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:21 upon reaching cruise and it was estimated we would reach LAX 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
At 1:05 I purchased a packet of Goldfish and at 1:07 I got a can of soda. I finally saw breaks in the clouds at 1:32 but the view was blocked again at 1:48. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 1:53 and at 2:05 I saw the Rocky Mountains thru breaks in the clouds. At 2:17 I saw what may have been Grand Junction, CO. I felt bumps, possible descent at 3:15. Descent was announced at 3:17 and we expect to arrive 30 minutes early. It was announced it was 64F at LAX with winds out of the west.
I saw Yucaipa at 3:26, Lake Perris at 3:27 and the California 60/91/Interstate 215 at 3:29. I saw Chino at 3:32 then we crossed California 57 at 3:34, then we crossed Interstate 605 at 3:37. We crossed Interstate 605 at 3:37 then Interstate 710 at 3:38 then Interstate 110 at 3:40 and Interstate 405 at 3:42. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 33 minutes early. We deplaned via jetway and I got my checked bags and got a shuttle home.
Part IV: 22nd January to 25th January
I awoke on Friday and met two other drivers and we drove from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio in a rental car. I was a passenger this time. The other drivers did not have issues with their flights so they were better rested and I knew they would make better time on the trip and deliver Saturday. That was not the case with me. We arrived at the shipper and after a wait were directed to the trucks and I loaded my gear and did the inspection and got signed off after being briefed on how to make sure the drum is turning.
Trip: New Philadelphia, OH to Troy, IL 521 paid miles
Make: 2016 Western Star
Model: Cement Mixer
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Interstate 77 to US30 to Interstate 469 to Interstate 69 to Interstate 465 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 55
Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest diesel price USA: 2.159$per gallon at Pilot in Canton and Upper Sandusky, OH
Lowest diesel price USA: Flying J New Haven, IN
I left the shipper and stopped at Sheetz for midday rations. I talked to a friend in Parkersburg, WV less than 90 miles to the south and he said it was snowing and conditions were bad and I realised that the snowstorm was moving up from the south so instead of heading south on the 77 to Cambridge and west on the 70, I headed north on the 77 to Canton and after taking on fuel there and a nap, I headed west on US30. US30 has been upgraded and is now twinned all the way from Canton, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Indiana. When I started driving truck in 1996 some sections of US30 were still two lane. I had a few snow flurries between Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky, OH but that was not part of the bad snowstorm that caused a lot of problems in the eastern USA. I had evening rations in Upper Sandusky, OH and spent the night there.
Saturday was sunny but cold however not quite as cold. I headed west and took on fuel in New Haven, IN just outside Fort Wayne. I took on more fuel in Indianapolis and Indianapolis fuel was not as cheap. I stopped and spent the night in Cloverdale, IN.
Sunday I continued west and entered Illinois. I had midday rations at the TA in Effingham, IL and then stopped at a rest area near Highland, IL where I contacted the pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, IL and arranged for a ride from my hotel. I got to Troy and checked in and was picked up and taken to First Baptist Church for evening service. The sermon was on 2 Chronicles 32:1-8. Then I was returned to the hotel and got settled in and walked to Cracker Barrel for evening rations. I spent the night in Troy, IL.
Monday morning I had an unpleasant surprise when the handle on my briefcase failed. I did make the delivery and after a considerable wait the taxi came and picked me up and we made an unscheduled stop at the TA where I got some straps to improvise a handle for the briefcase. We got to STL with under an hour before the flight. I checked in and checked bags which weighed 45 and 47.5lbs. I cleared security and I did not opt out due to time constraints. Total time from arriving at airport to clear of security was 32 minutes.
American Eagle #3314 STL-ORD CRJ-700 Group 2
Seat 9A Cruising altitude 29,000 feet Estimated flying time 0:50, actual 0:51
Depart: Gate C16 Scheduled 12h52, actual 13h35 Taxi: 11 minutes
Arrive: Gate G13 Scheduled 14h19, actual 14h50 Taxi: 5 minutes
The plane was late arriving. We boarded via jetway and the plane was full. It was announced it was overcast and 39F at ORD. Pushback was 43 minutes late followed by takeoff to the north. I saw Interstate 270 at 1min53sec and then we crossed the Missouri River at 0:03 and crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois airspace at 0:04. I saw a little of Illinois then we went into clouds at 0:10. Clouds blocked view below. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:14. I thought I felt descent begin, and seatbelt sign went on at 0:19.
We went into upper layer of clouds at 0:22 and descent was announced at 0:24 and it was 35F at ORD. We went into lower layer of clouds at 0:42 and over Lake Michigan at 0:45. An even lower layer of clouds almost totally blocked the view of downtown Chicago. We headed east over the lake then turned north and west and landed east to west. We arrived at gate 31 minutes late and deplaned via jetway. I had to rush from the G concourse to the K concourse and when I made it to the gate boarding for the next flight was well underway.
American #1358 ORD-LAX B-737-800 Group 2
Seat 25A Cruising altitude 38,000 feet Estimated flying time 3:41, actual 3:43
Depart: Gate K18 Scheduled 15h30, actual 15h24 Taxi: 12 minutes
Arrive: Gate 40 Scheduled 18h03, actual 17h30 Taxi: 11 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 18-20 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway. I was not the very last to board. The plane was not totally full and there was an empty middle in my row. Pushback was 6 minutes early. It was announced it was 66F and partly cloudy at LAX. Takeoff was to the west and we went into the clouds at 54sec. We went above the lower level of clouds at 0:03 and above all clouds by 0:14. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:21 upon reaching cruise and it was estimated we would reach LAX 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
At 1:05 I purchased a packet of Goldfish and at 1:07 I got a can of soda. I finally saw breaks in the clouds at 1:32 but the view was blocked again at 1:48. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 1:53 and at 2:05 I saw the Rocky Mountains thru breaks in the clouds. At 2:17 I saw what may have been Grand Junction, CO. I felt bumps, possible descent at 3:15. Descent was announced at 3:17 and we expect to arrive 30 minutes early. It was announced it was 64F at LAX with winds out of the west.
I saw Yucaipa at 3:26, Lake Perris at 3:27 and the California 60/91/Interstate 215 at 3:29. I saw Chino at 3:32 then we crossed California 57 at 3:34, then we crossed Interstate 605 at 3:37. We crossed Interstate 605 at 3:37 then Interstate 710 at 3:38 then Interstate 110 at 3:40 and Interstate 405 at 3:42. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 33 minutes early. We deplaned via jetway and I got my checked bags and got a shuttle home.