re: Does the "Utica cutoff" actually save any time?

Its definitely quicker in the daytime. There used to be grain hoppers hauling wood chips day and night to that mill outside of Crystal Springs. I haven't seen them in awhile though, maybe that mill closed? But be aware that log trucks and chip haulers are bottom of the barrel truck driving jobs. Most of those guys are making $10-12/hr because preventable accidents and failed drug tests prevent them from taking any of the thousands of openings in good truck driving jobs. Think about that every time you see a log truck.