Saturday morning was bright and clear and I received faxes and Trip Paperwork and I found out the truck was parked in a lot next to the hotel so I located the truck and did the safety inspection.

Trip: Pointe Claire (Montreal), QC to Baltimore, MD 471 paid miles
Make: Freightliner 2008
Model: Road Tractor
Transmission: Automatic, no clutch
Route: Quebec 20 to Quebec 15 to Interstate 87 to Interstate 287 to Interstate 95 New Jersey Turnpike to Interstate 295 back to Interstate 95
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel Canada: $1.369CAD/litre at Ultramar Pointe Claire, QC
Diesel USA: $4.259/gallon at Peterbilt Champlain, NY
Permits Required: none
Border Crossing: Lacolle, QC to Champlain, NY

I got started and used the Pont Champlain to cross the St. Lawrence River and traffic was jammed but I saw signs saying there was lane closure on the Pont Mercier. The border crossing went with no problem. I stopped in Round Lake, NY for a made to order deli sandwich. I continued south and wanted to shut down in the Newburgh area but found that lodging in that area was full up so I shut down and spent the night in Kingston, NY.

Sunday morning I attended service at Faith Baptist Church Montgomery, NY. That evening I just got on the New Jersey Turnpike when the truck conked out. I was able to get to the breakdown lane and I checked the truck out and was able to get it started again. I spent the night in New Castle, DE.

Monday I detected no obvious problem with the truck so I got rolling and got to Elkton, MD where I topped off the coolant. I had no problem after that and I proceeded to the Port of Baltimore only to find out US Customs is closed and many of the terminals are also closed as the Veterans Day holiday was being observed. I got a room and spent the night in Baltimore, MD.

Tuesday I proceeded to the port and checked in and got the bond canceled then went to the terminal and was able to find the correct terminal and after lunch I delivered the truck then hired a taxi to BWI.

The taxi driver saw the lettering on my shirt and asked me where I was from. I said California and she asked me if I knew a person (street preacher) named Reuben. I said yes he lives a short hop, not even a skip and a jump from where I live when I am home. We chatted on the way to the airport and I was told the company would book me a flight to PWM where I am to get a hotel then take Greyhound from Portland, ME to Bangor, ME and get a garbage truck going to St. Nicolas, QC.

After arriving at the airport I rang the company and was told plans were changed as the garbage truck was not yet ready so an air ticket to YUL was booked via YYZ on AC. I hustled from the A concourse to the E concourse and checked in and my bags weighed 47 and 49.5lbs. I cleared security and opted out of the machine for a patdown instead.

Air Canada Jazz #7935 BWI-YYZ Dash 8-100
Seat 9F Cruising altitude 25,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:27, actual 1:24
Depart: Gate E2 Scheduled 18h15, actual 18h12 Taxi: 4 minutes
Arrive: Gate 270 Scheduled 19h57, actual 19h46 Taxi: 5 minutes

We went down the jetway then down stairs and a short walk across the Tarmac and boarded via stairs. The plane was not totally full but the capacity was 37, all coach. The propellers started and departure was 3 minutes early and takeoff was to the south. I saw lights of the Baltimore metro area and it appeared the highways were busy with many moving slowly. We turned east and north.

Seatbelt sign went off at 0:13 and at 0:19 I got can of soda and pretzels. I thought I felt descent at 0:58, seatbelt sign went on at 1:13 and at 1:14 I saw the lights of the GTA partially blocked by clouds. I felt bumps during approach and we made landfall and I saw downtown Toronto at 1:18 then I saw the DVP and 401 and we landed east to west and arrived at gate 11 minutes early. We deplaned via stairs and it was not long before we were in the building but it seemed to be a very long walk to Customs Hall without any moving sidewalks.

Upon arrival at Customs I went to a booth and was sent to Immigration. The queue for Immigration took just over 30 minutes and when I got to the desk I was asked why I was coming to Canada. I explained I was getting a truck in the Montreal area to take to Baltimore. The officer thought I was working for a Canadian company which he said is illegal without a work permit but I tried to explain that the company had a U.S. office and I was asked if taxes were withheld and I said no I am considered an Independent Contractor so I have to do my own taxes. He also did not like the fact that I did not have a work order with me though plans changed at the last minute and there was no way a work order could be faxed to me. I gave the officer the phone number with instructions on how to attempt to get a hold of after hours dispatch and he reached someone and after a short wait I was summoned back and admitted to Canada.

I claimed my bags then exited Customs and went to a help desk and asked if I could get on an earlier flight and was given a boarding pass for an earlier flight.

Air Canada #434 YYZ-YUL Seat 23A
Scheduled departure 23h45 Scheduled arrival 00h54 +1
I DID NOT TAKE THIS FLIGHT

Air Canada #430 YYZ-YUL A-320
Seat 33F Cruising altitude 35,000 feet Estimated flying time 0:51, actual 0:47
Depart: Gate D34 Scheduled 22h30, actual 22h29 Taxi: 13 minutes
Arrive: Gate 2 Scheduled 23h40, actual 23h36 Taxi: 6 minutes
Reclaim bags 21-23 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and the plane was mostly full. It was announced it was -1C at YUL. Pushback was one minute early and takeoff was to the west. We made turn to the south and I saw the lights of the "Golden Horseshoe" then we turned east and went above clouds. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:03. I felt us reach cruise at 0:23 and felt descent begin at 0:28 a little past Brockville, ON. At 0:32 I got cup of soda and pretzels over Cornwall, ON. I saw the lights of the Montreal area and we overflew YUL then turned south and west and landed east to west and arrived at gate 4 minutes early. After claiming bags I went to catch the shuttle to the hotel and met a bootwearer from Winnipeg who is with the same company. I spent the night in Point Claire, QC.

Next day I had to wait to be picked up to be taken to the shipper. The company asked for a quote for a price for a taxi ride and I found it would be at least 126$ or higher if there was traffic and waiting time. As a result I had to wait for a ride so it was late when I got to the truck which was left out. The truck was unlocked but the key was not where the shipper said it would be so there was time burned trying to locate the key.

Trip: St-Jean-Baptiste, QC to Baltimore, MD 572 paid miles
Make: Freightliner 2009
Model: Road Tractor
Transmission: Automatic, no clutch
Route: Quebec 229 to Quebec 20 to Quebec 30 to Quebec 15 to Interstate 87 to New York 7 to Interstate 787 to Interstate 87 to Interstate 287 to Interstate 95 New Jersey Turnpike to Interstate 295 back to Interstate 95
Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest Diesel price USA: $4.359/gallon at Church Oil Plattsburgh, NY
Lowest Diesel price USA: $4.197/gallon at Flying J Elkton, MD
Permits required: none
Border Crossing: Lacolle, QC/Champlain, NY

I was able to do the safety inspection as the driver who took me trained his headlights on the truck. After the keys were found I got rolling and the border crossing went well and since it was late I shut down and spent the night in Plattsburgh, NY.

Thursday I continued south and took on fuel and topped off the coolant. There were times when the "check engine" light came on for no apparent reason. I got a deli sandwich at Round Lake, NY then contined south. In new Jersey there turned out to be major construction going on along with lane closures as three lanes were reduced to one. As a result traffic came to a virtual stop and I got off at the next exit which put me in East Windsor. I phoned several hotels and was told there was no room no doubt to to displaced residents from Hurricane Sandy as well as power crews laying over while working to restore utilities. I made it to the Holiday and shut down 15 minutes prior to reaching the maximum time for the 14 hour workday.

Friday I got rolling and stopped in Elkton to take on a little fuel as I was not sure there was enough for me to make it to Baltimore before running out. I got to the Port and found I missed the 15h00 Friday cutoff for delivery of trucks so I had to wait until Monday to make delivery. Translation: I was stuck in Baltimore for the weekend. I got a room, checked in, ordered pizza for dinner and spent the night in Baltimore, MD.

Saturday I slept in and finally got organised late in the afternoon. I put the "Do not disturb" sign out and props to the housekeeping crew for honouring that sign. I went to downtown Baltimore and went to the observation deck on floor 27 of the 28 storey World Trade Center. I had a panoramic view of Baltimore at night and took a bunch of pictures. After I went down I saw a parade and the Pink Poodle was in the parade and Santa appeared. The mayor made a short speech then I saw a light show and had dinner before heading back to the truckstop and motel and spent the night in Baltimore, MD.

Sunday a new friend came to pick me up and he took me to Washington, DC where we attended morning service at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, just blocks from the national Capitol. Mark Dever is the pastor and he was present to speak and his sermon was entitled "I Am the Messiah" based on John 4. After church my new friend took me around some and I took pictures of some of the monuments. I saw the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King and Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. Then I saw the Korean War and Vietnam War Memorial. As an added bonus I saw some very nice fall colours in Washington, DC.

My friend took me toward Union Station and pointed out where he often does open air street preaching. Then I was dropped off at Union Station where I caught an Amtrak train to Baltimore. The train ride took about 35 minutes and I spent the night in Baltimore, MD.

Monday I went to the Port and got the bond canceled and waited for receiving to open after lunch. I thought I might be refused but I wrote the truck VIN on the dock receipt so it was legible and delivery was accepted. I got signed copy of dock receipt then was taken to a place away from the port before being taken to BWI. I thought the company would book me on WN to LAX via LAS but alas they booked me to LAX via PHX on US so I went over to US Airways counter and checked in and checked bags and the weights were OK. Then I cleared security after a fairly long but fast moving queue. I thought I would have to opt out of the machine and be patted down but just before my turn the metal detector was opened so I went through that and no pat down.

US Airways #80 BWI-PHX A-320 Zone 2
Seat 11F Exit Row Cruising altitude not given. Estimated flying time 4:30, actual 4:22
Depart: Gate D26 Scheduled 17h10, actual 17h24 Taxi:13 minutes
Arrive: Gate A22 Scheduled 20h15, actual 20h05

We boarded via jetway and the plane was almost full with only a handful of middle seats empty. Pushback was 14 minutes late and takeoff was to the southwest. I saw the lights of the Baltimore area after takeoff. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:26. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 0:30. there was a drink run and I got cup of soda. BOB was offered but I declined as I bought a sandwich from Quiznos. Seatbelt sign went off again at 1:06 and at 1:32 I saw the lights of the St. Louis area. At 1:43 I got cup of ice water and at 2:24 we passed south of Kansas City.

At 3:04 seatbelt sign went on and at 3:12 it was announced that drink service was suspended due to turbulence. At 3:33 there was drink run and I got another cup of soda. At 3:54 it was announced we are beginning our descent into PHX. It was announced it was 72F and clear at PHX. I actually felt descent begin at 3:58. I saw the lights of the Phoenix metro area on approach and we landed east to west and arrived at gate 10 minutes early and deplaned via jetway.

US Airways #35 PHX-LAX A-321 Zone 1
Seat 10F Exit Row Cruising altitude not given Estimated flying time 0:56, actual 0:54
Depart: Gate A23 Scheduled 21h00, actual 21h04 Taxi: 12 minutes
Arrive: Gate 8 Scheduled 21h32, actual 21h21 Taxi: 10 minutes
Reclaim bags 22-23 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and it was announced it was 62F with low scattered clouds at LAX. Pushback was 4 minutes late and takeoff was to the west. I saw the lights of the Phoenix metro area on initial climb. At 0:15 there was a drink run and I got cup of soda. We appeared to cross the Colorado River at 0:19. I felt descent begin at 0:31. Descent was announced at 0:32 and at 0:42 it was announced it would be 59F at LAX. I saw lights of different cities on approach. At 0:45 I saw the junction of Interstate 10, California 71 and California 210. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 11 minutes early. I claimed my bags then got a shuttle home. Thus ends this this Trip Report.