Dealing with presets

Discussion in 'Central Refrigerated' started by droflex, Mar 7, 2014.

  1. droflex

    droflex Light Load Member

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    Jan 30, 2013
    Centralia, WA
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    Hey everyone!

    I've been driving for Central (now swift) for a year.

    During my first month, I accepted a load just because it was sent to me. Like I normally did.

    The next day, when I picked up the load, and got on the road I realized that it wasn't going to be possible for me to make it the the 99 because I was going to run out of my 70 hour clock.

    I sent in a message that said I wasn't going to make it on time and received a well deserved chastising about accepting the load if I couldn't complete it.

    Anyway, I talked to them on the phone and explained that I was under the impression that I couldn't refuse a load so that is why I accepted it.

    I was told that I couldn't refuse a load if I just didn't want to do the load but if it had to do with hours then it was OK to not accept it.

    Alright, good enough. Lesson learned. Kinda.

    From then on, I made sure that when I got a load sent to me I would check my hours to see if it was going to work.

    That worked fine until I received my current DM that I've had for about 8 months.

    She decided to change the rules on me.



    The problem has been since she became my DM is this:

    My DM sends me a load. Of course I can't read it right away in many cases and she ends up sending me another message, maybe 3 or 4 within a short period of time saying "Can you do preset need mac".

    OK. When I finally get a chance, I check my hours and send a message back saying something like "Can't make pick-up time 'cause have to take 10 hour break." Or "If that load has to be at the receiver at the time shown, I can't do it 'cause I'm bumping up against my 70.".

    The response I get varies.

    Lately it's been a repeat from her of "Can you do preset need mac". Or some other response that makes it seem to me as tho she can't comprehend what I'm telling her.

    Like a broken record or robot response.

    I'm not a lease operator so I can't refuse a load but I've been given the impression that I also can't accept a load if I can't complete it.

    Is that normal to be badgered about accepting the load when a person has said that they can't take it on?

    Thanks
     
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  3. tmb0507

    tmb0507 Medium Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2012
    Folkston, GA
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    I used to work for swift my first dm out of atlanta was like was annoying as hell the next one i had didnt sent me loads and didnt bother unless i took like an hour to accept which wasnt ever the case proably differs from each one to another
     
  4. Harbinger117

    Harbinger117 Light Load Member

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    Feb 24, 2013
    Ohio
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    It all depends on the DM you get stuck with. Some are great and some are crap. It sounds to me like you got crap. Personally I never have and never will work for a company that forces dispatch. I decide whether or not I want the load I'm given.
     
  5. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Apr 18, 2010
    Tennessee
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    You should be able to look at your recap and figure what you have coming to you. No you can't turn down loads except if you don't have the hours, are sick or broke down.

    Many dispatchers and planners don't always look at your hours which can be on a different computer screen. Sometimes you have to remind them. You should of knew towards the end of the load before. Dang I will only have 4 hours tomorrow, time for reset. Hey dispatcher don't set me up on a preplan I don't have the hours.

    Some of the figuring can get tricky like you only have 8 hours available tomorrow but the next day you'll gain a 11 back so you can still do the run in the time allotted. Don't trap yourself. Look ahead. You should be able to run 3 weeks minimum before having to reset.
     
  6. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    You're on the Swift system now. Every preplan has to be responded to with a MAC 9 ... if you can't do it because of hours, MAC 9 has provisions for you to put in the time you can do the load. If your hours are acceptable to the customer, the preplan will be resent with the hours you said you could do the load. If it's not acceptable the load is to be removed.
     
  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
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    And we have a system called Plus-1.
    It is a computer program designed to 'get you one more load per week'.
    It does that by scheduling you with very, very tight times. It seems to have no concept of a pre-trip or a 30 minute break or time for fueling, etc.

    Fully consider each plan before you accept it.
    That not only includes your available hours, but also pre and post trips, all the break time you will need during the trip, time to fuel and scale, possible heavy traffic and/or slower roads - everything.

    As Mystic mentioned, after you get it figured out, do the Mac 9.
    If the times on the pplan are good for you, just accept it.
    If not, put the times that you can pick up and deliver the load - on your terms.

    Keep in mind that most preloaded and drops have some kind of time window - but the system won't show you the window. It will only show you the times that IT 'thinks' you can do it in.
    Even some live's have windows, especially if you see FCFS somewhere (First Come First Served).

    Don't get stressed about too tight schedules. Simply work the system to your own advantage.
     
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  8. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    buckeye lake, oh
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    Some of ours also has FCFS with appointment times, and yes, they are an appt. Another example of Plus 1, I run a lot of Command broker loads with lots of FCFS. When I get the load assignment, it will always have a appt time in it, when the computer says that I can be there. Even this load that I am on now, one of ours, and the system says 1415 tomorrow, and it will be there around 1500 or so because it is a drop. Like Moose said, learn the system as far as plus 1 and do not let it run you, you run it.
     
    Lady K Thanks this.
  9. droflex

    droflex Light Load Member

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    Jan 30, 2013
    Centralia, WA
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  10. tangerineGT

    tangerineGT Road Train Member

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    Aug 26, 2013
    Red Lion , PA
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    Ok I may need some help on that , I have ran into it a few times this week . I was accepting cause I thought I had to , then bust ### trying to get there when I know I am gonna come up short by a bit ..
    probably shouldn't say this , but I logged out just to make it once . And probably not a good idea to do , but they asked me 3 times if it could be there today and I told them its not looking good because I will run out of time , they asked again , so I told them again NO I will not have enough time ... lol
    and again , so there is no way you can get it there today they really need , yup sure it will be there by 23:30
    And part of the reason I was running late is because the system didn't give me enough time ( 62 mph ) traffic and oh that little thing I like to call reality. ..
     
  11. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    Dec 27, 2009
    buckeye lake, oh
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    When you are sent a pplan, figure out the miles, add 10% and figure out the time. If the times fit and you, YOU, know that you can do it in the time that they say, then say yes. If off, then send MAC 9 with the time that you think that you can legally get it there. If it works, they will re-send pplan. If not, they will take it off you. Normally the system will not even send a pplan if the hours are off. Keep one other thing in mind, if you are close to your 70 and the system sees that you can do the load and have at least 1 hour left on your 70, it will send it. It does not take in account traffic or routing. Only you can.
     
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