Trip Report 13th April 2016 to 28th May 2016
Part I: 13th April to 22nd April

As is often the case I was home longer than intended but I was able to get my taxes done and I got my DoT Physical renewed allowing me to drive commercially for another year. Finally the call I was waiting for came and the company booked me an air ticket to MKE via PHX. I hired a taxi to LGB and checked in and checked my bags which weighed 41 and 42lbs then at security I opted out and was patted down before being cleared.

American Eagle #5710 LGB-PHX CRJ-900 Group 4
Seat 9A Cruising altitude not given Estimated flying time 0:57, actual 0:57
Depart: Gate 3 Scheduled 16h35, actual 16h27 Taxi: 8 minutes
Arrive: Gate B18 Scheduled 17h57, actual 17h38 Taxi: 6 minutes

We boarded outside via ramp and the load was 52/79. It was announced it was 85F at PHX. Pushback was 8 minutes early and takeoff was to the northwest. I saw Atlantic Avenue, Grace Brethren Church, Long Beach Blvd. and downtown Long Beach. I saw the Port of Long Beach as we went overwater at 0:02. Landfall was at 0:06 over Huntington Beach. I saw Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Bolsa Chica, Los Alamitos and Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

At 0:10 we crossed the Santa Ana Mountains and I saw Lake Mathews, Interstate 15, March Air Force Base, Interstate 215, Lake Perris and the Hemet/San Jacinto area at 0:14. At 0:16 I saw Palm Springs, PSP and other Coachella Valley cities. At 0:19 I got cup of soda. At 0:21 I got choice of cookies or pretzels and I chose cookies (Biscoff).

At 0:23 I saw Interstate 10 at Desert Center, CA and at 0:28 we crossed the Colorado River just north of Blythe into Arizona airspace. I saw Interstate 10 and the Arizona Port of Entry. At 0:30 I saw Quartzsite, AZ and felt descent at the same time. Descent was announced at 0:40. At 0:41 we crossed Arizona 85 and I saw Buckeye, AZ. At 0:45 I saw the Phoenix International Raceway and at 0:48 I saw downtown Phoenix. At 0:49 we overflew PHX. At 0:50 I saw the junction of Interstate 10 and US60 then Tempe. We turned north at 0:51 then west at 0:52 over Mesa. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 19 minutes early. We deplaned via jetway. I had early evening rations at Modern Burger before arriving at my connecting gate.

American #548 PHX-MKE A-320 Group 4
Seat 9A Cruising altitude 39,000 feet Estimated flying time 3:02, actual 3:06
Depart: Gate A12 Scheduled 18h45, actual 18h35 Taxi: 10 minutes
Arrive: Gate D56 Scheduled 00h06 +1, actual 23h56 Taxi: 4 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 24 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and it was announced that it was cloudy and 39F at MKE. The plane was not very full and I had entire row to myself though the seats in my row did not recline due to being directly in front of the exit row. Pushback was 10 minutes early and takeoff was to the west. We turned north then northeast. I saw the sunset though the view was partially blocked by the wing. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:11. At 0:19 I got both pretzels and Biscoff. At 0:24 I got can of soda. At 0:25 clouds started to increase as darkness fell.

At 0:53 I got water. Water was also offered at 1:56 and I saw the lights of Lincoln, NE at the same time. At 2:02 I saw the lights of Omaha, NE. I felt descent begin at 2:37 and descent was announced at 2:40. It was announced there were scattered clouds and it was 43F at MKE and an early arrival was expected. Seatbelt sign went on at 2:46. We made turn and landed north to south and arrived at gate 10 minutes early. I got my bags and took hotel shuttle to hotel and spent the night in Milwaukee, WI.

Thursday I hired a taxi to the shipper and picked up the truck and got started on the trip.

Trip: Waukesha, WI to Tappan, NY 910 paid miles
Make: 2016 Kenworth T306
Model: Straight Box Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Wisconsin 164 to Wisconsin 36 to Wisconsin 100 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 294 Tri-State Tollway to Interstate 80 to Interstate 287 to New York 59 to New York 303
Maximum elevation: 2,250 feet Interstate 80 about 10 miles west of Clearfield, PA
Highest diesel price USA: 2.599$ per gallon at Flying J Lamar, PA
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.199$ per gallon at Pilot Burns Harbor, IN

I got started and took on fuel in Oak Creek, WI and had midday rations in Sturtevant, WI. The weather was fair with highs into the low 50'sF. I paid cash at the first tollbooth on the Tri-State Tollway but the next four tollbooths said I-Pass registered even though I taped over the Transponder per company instructions. I spent the night in Portage, IN.

Friday also saw fair weather. I had the same issues with the Transponder on the Indiana Toll Road and Ohio Turnpike. I spent the night in North Ridgeville, OH.

Saturday was a nice day. I ate at Sheetz in Girard, OH and Sapp Brothers in Clearfield, PA. There was quite a bit of construction on the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate 80 near Youngstown, OH as well Interstate 80 in PA. I made it to Danville, PA where I spent the night.

Sunday I got up way too late to go to morning church so I proceeded toward my destination. No church returned my phone calls regarding evening service so I made it to Nyack, NY where I got a room and then I took a walk to downtown Nyack where I took pictures and had evening rations. I spent the night in Nyack, NY.

Monday I got up bright and early and I heard it got up to at least 81F in New York City. I made delivery at 08h00 at Tappan, NY and I had a considerable wait for my ride to take me to the next truck which was in New Brunswick, NJ. Finally the ride did come and I made it to New Brunswick, NJ where I got the next truck.

Trip: New Brunswick, NJ to Winooski, VT 330 paid miles
Make: 2012 International
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: US1 to Interstate 287 to Interstate 87 to New York 149 to New York 22 to US4 to Vermont 22A to US7 to Interstate 189 to Interstate 89 to Vermont 15
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel price USA: 2.139$ per gallon at Pilot Mahwah, NJ

I got started and made it to Mahwah, NJ where there was long queue for fuel. Then I got on the New York Thruway and headed north. I had evening rations at Smokey Bones in Albany, NY and I also spent the night in Albany, NY.

Tuesday it was overcast to begin but it cleared up. I continued onto the Adirondack Northway and I saw some new roads once I exited the Northway in Queensbury, NY. Just outside Ft. Ann, NY an officer motioned for me to pull off at a wide spot in the road. The officer wondered why I taped over the truck licence plate and I explained that was per company instructions as I use the transporter licence plate the company furnished. The officer did a level 3 inspection which was a paperwork inspection including my logbook. I got a clean inspection meaning there were no violations so the safety department was pleased.

I entered Vermont and the weigh scale was open but I did not get pulled in there. I made a brief pit stop then started north on Vermont 22A which merged into US7 to Interstate 189 and Interstate 89 through Burlington and I exited Vermont 15 and headed to the destination in Winooski, VT where I dropped off the truck.

I hired a taxi to BTV Burlington Airport where i got a rental car for LYH Lynchburg, VA. Because it was such a long trip it was a two-day rental. I snuck in some sightseeing in South Burlington, VT and Virgennes, VT then I saw Chimney Point State Park on the Vermont shore of Lake Champlain at sunset before crossing the bridge across Lake Champlain into New York. I cut through the woods to get to the Adirondack Northway thanks to my smartphone. I had evening rations in Queensbury, NY before heading to Albany, NY where I spent the night.

Wednesday I saw six states as I headed south. I stopped in Carlisle, PA to take some pictures at dusk then continued south and crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. I ended up in a smoky New Market, VA where I spent the night.

Thursday I continued and got up to 1850 feet above sea level at Rockfish Gap on US250 between Waynesburg and Charlottesville, VA. I headed to LYH and took the Jerry Falwell Parkway en route. I got fuel and dropped off the rental car and hired a taxi which took me to the shipper where I got the next truck.

Trip: Gretna, VA to Warminster, PA 377 paid miles
Make: 2016 Kenworth
Model: Tank Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: US29 (Jerry Falwell Parkway) to Virginia 6 to US250 to Interstate 64 to Interstate 81 to Interstate 76 Pennsylvania Turnpike to Interstate 276 Pennsylvania Turnpike to Pennsylvania 611 to Pennsylvania 132
Maximum elevation: 1,850 feet at Rockfish Gap US250 between Waynesburg and Charlottesville, VA
Highest diesel price USA: 2.499$ per gallon at Sunoco Wayne, PA
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.199$ per gallon at Flying J Winchester, VA

I got started and stopped at Goldy's in Rustburg, VA for evening rations. Then I continued and once on Interstate 64 I encountered some rain shower activity. I made it to Mt. Jackson, VA where I spent the night.

Thursday it was raining when I started but it quit by the time I made it to the Flying J at the top of Virginia where I took on fuel. I talked to the customer once I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line and entered Pennsylvania. Traffic was jammed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Milepost 328 to 339. I made delivery outside business hours and was taken to a convienence store where I visited with the receiver until the taxi came. I had an fairly expensive taxi ride through Philadelphia and I got a room and spent the night in Essington, PA.