Yesterday I made it to where I needed to go to pick up my trailer. The place is a government installation out in the middle of nowhere in Idaho. The security there is very high and I had to check in, sign in, ID check, and be escorted to the place where my trailer was sitting. It was 8 miles from the gate to the actual location, where I went through the entire security process again as well as having my truck inspected, before I was allowed into that compound to get the trailer.

For obvious reasons I can't go into details about what I saw or what they are doing there, but suffice it to say that it involves energy research. It was a very interesting place and all the security was heavily armed.

I inspected the trailer and found a large crate in the front of the trailer which contained some assorted odds and ends going back to the shipper in WI. I made sure everything was secure for normal transport, closed up the trailer, and pulled out of the place, having to stop and sign out twice along the way.

Once I cleared the final check point I called in to see what dispatch had for me. At that point he was still looking so I made my way to the nearest city, Idaho Falls, some 40+ miles away. He called while I was eating breakfast at thee truck stop.

He wanted me to drive to MT to pick up a load of seed potatoes going to WI. He explained how they load and unload the things. They put the trailer on a big ramp, tilt it so the back is up in the air, and just drop them in. At the other end they do it in reverse, tipping it vertically so they fall out the back.

The only issue with this is the crate. Can't have it falling out when they tip the thing to unload. I'd have to find a way to secure it in place so that it can't fall out. It weighs about 1,500 lbs. I'll have to get creative.

I called the broker to get the details on the load, address, directions, and all that jazz. I got his voice mail, left a message, and waited. He called me right away. He had been on the phone with the shipper who told him they now couldn't load until Wednesday. Oh great.

I checked into the little hotel to take it easy while dispatch tries to find a different load. Failing that I'll just have to head on up there and wait until tomorrow.

Hurry up and wait. Typical.

I really hope they find something different as the potato thing sounds like a real pain in the ass.