ROUTE: Lockport, IL to Maumee, OH: 273 miles (244 miles + 29 deadhead)
The last assignment ended on a Saturday 01/24 and sometimes there are new assignments going out of there but I wasn’t that lucky this time around. There was a storm hitting across the country and I was going to be staying put for the weekend. Fortunately there’s a Petro truck stop across the street from the consignee that has a Charlie’s Cheesesteak franchise in the premises. It also has free WiFi, showers and a driver’s lounge with a 60″ TV. If I had to spend the weekend somewhere this was a good place for it. The two NFL Championship games that I was planning to watch were scheduled for Sunday.
Monday morning I received my assignment. I had requested a trip to Michigan because I needed to go to the dentist. The assignment I received had three different pickups and delivered to Grand Rapids. Michigan is the 11th state in land area and the consignee was 140 miles from our terminal, which really didn’t totally help me. I hate multiple pickup assignments. We get paid $25 extra for each stop but that doesn’t compensate for all the hassles involved. However, I’m just a company driver and had already rejected an assignment that was headed to Kansas in order to get one going to Michigan. Fortunately, due to the storm the area in Grand Rapids, due to its proximity to Lake Michigan, was hit hard by the storm and the assignment got cancelled. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
I received another assignment that was straight forward. The delivery was scheduled for Tuesday at noon but the distance was only 244 miles so it would take me just four hours to get there. The consignee is a 24/7 facility and loads are drop-and-hook so I could deliver it that same Monday. I arrived at 19:30.
The consignee was only 60 miles from the terminal. I was given permission to head back to the terminal so I could go to the dentist on Tuesday. I told my DM (Dispatch Manager) to make me available on Tuesday at noon. I had a dentist appointment at 08:00, but wasn’t sure how long it would take.
BOOK REVIEW: She Didn’t See it Coming by Shari Lapena (2025), FICTION – RATING (****)
Entertaining. The story drags a little past the half point mark but not enough to loose interest. The bigger problem was relating to any of the characters. The victim seemed to be a good mom but not much background information on her to draw a closeness. The husband is a douchebag, so no love for him. The sister is a nut case. The BFF has dubious moral grounds. The detective investigating is the most likable but the character is not described fully. Her boyfriend seems nice but has a minor role. The parents are heartwarming but also a minor role. The villains are despicable, which is a good thing.
A wife is reported missing by her husband. Two days later the body is found and he becomes the prime suspect, as is the norm. New information on the victim brings out other suspects. Some small flaws in the plot but not enough to derail the story.
The title should be a hint of the outcome but I was surprised as it unfolded, so gave it four stars. It leaves enough teasers for a follow-up book.
