Why does this always seem to happen?!?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Biscuit75, Sep 26, 2009.

  1. Biscuit75

    Biscuit75 Road Train Member

    You let a company know your going to be leaving and things seem to turn to ####!

    So the last couple weeks I haven't been getting the miles I was. I got a load out to Denver from Chicago to start the week off after a 34 hr. restart. I had to put my truck in the shop when I got there and was laid over 2 days after my truck got out of the shop on a Saturday. Didn't have an available load until Tuesday. That load took me to Atlanta on Friday where I sat for a day and a half and picked up a load to the New Jersey terminal, 750 miles away, for Tuesday morning. Sat until Wednesday morning where they got me a load to pick up and take back to the terminal so I could hook to a 360 mile load for the next morning. Since it was now Thursday, and I was in Ohio, I went home and didn't come back until Monday.
    In review: Week 1; Chicago to Denver 994 miles... then laid over 2 days
    Week 2; Denver to Atlanta 1400 miles... then laid over 1.5 days
    Week 3; Atlanta to New Jersey 750 miles for 3 days... then laid over 1 day. Do local pick up then relay into a 360 mile load home.
    3 Weeks... grand total of 3600 miles.

    On Monday this week I get dispatched from home in Columbus to pick up around Dayton (70 miles D/H) and take the load to Miami (1150 miles) for Wednesday delivery. Well, it took 5 hours to get unloaded (no detention paid...ever) and that ends up being all I do Wednesday. Basically nothing because I arrived the night before. On Thursday about noon they dead head me to Jacksonville, Fl. to pick up a load on Friday. 350 miles. I get the load Friday morning (which is going to Little Rock, Ar.) and get told to take it to the Atlanta terminal and relay it. I get to Atlanta around 3pm Friday and now have to get an empty and wait until the next morning to pick up a load... that delivers 300 miles away on Sunday. I am none happy at this point.

    Now for Saturday. Strap in kids...

    I plan my fuel for 8am due to my early appointment time for pick up. Now fuel has to match your log exactly the time you do it. I then get to the shipper and get told the load won't be ready until after 3pm. Great, already started my 14. But load is only 300 miles, I may still have time. I get loaded at 3:30pm and head on my way. Get 50 miles west of Atlanta and get told I have to go back and get 2 more pallets of product. This starts the argument. After first refusing I decide I am best to go back, but now I won't have the hours to make delivery. I'm playing that card too. I get 5 Qualcomm messages and 3 phone calls (all from different people) asking if I am going back, did I get the pallets, am I on my way to Mississippi, etc... I get the pallets and get to the Atlanta terminal.

    Now at this point I really expect to be fired because of the choice words I had earlier, so I look up flights home from Atlanta. I then call in and this starts a-whole-nother round of me trying to explain why I am so stressed and pissed. I have the load planner for this area tell me there is nothing for me until I talk to whoever on Monday. I tell him if they are going to sit me here until Monday to fire me then I will just go now. Then I try to get the manager on the phone and he won't patch me through. Refuses. Puts me on hold. Then I call back and argue with the idiot that answered the phone (Idiot, "Can I help you?" Me, "I need to talk to Tammy" Idiot, "I can help you" Me, "Good, put Tammy on the phone"). Finally get Tammy and she's just so pleased to be talking to me again. She won't let me say anything, just keeps talking over me, then says I keep trying to interupt her. #!#%%!##%!##%!##!

    I tell her if she's going to let me go, do it now. She insists on having me hook an empty and send an available message. I tell her (after asking her to let me say something without being interupted) that good ole load planner guy says he has nothing...NOTHING, until Monday. Well, Super Tammy says hook a trailer, any trailer, and she will get me going. Yup. 2 hours now. Nothing. I am at my wits end with this.

    I am ready to grab my things and just call it done. The new job doesn't start for a couple more weeks, but I can't take the stress of sitting around and seemingly being jerked around anymore. If I'm going to sit around doing nothing, I want to do it at HOME!:biggrin_25510:
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2009
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  3. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    I've left 2 companies (Maverick and East Tennessee Truck Lines...neither of them treated me that way)

    That said...I know it does happen and I hate that you have to deal with it, but I would not let them win....work out that notice so they cannot burn you on the DAC report.
     
  4. IROCUBabe

    IROCUBabe Road Train Member

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    Somehow my 'failing' the road test seems like less of an bad thing. Though plan b company is apparently worse >.<

    Oh well put up with it for a few months and we will switch to the co we want to work with if they suck right!

    My hubby wanted to give SNI 2 weeks notice, I told him that what happen to you is EXACTLY what would have happened. They don't give YOU two weeks notice. I wouldn't ever do the 2 week notice thing, ever, in trucking.
     
  5. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    With all due respect...you won't get far in this industry. Sad fact...you have to play by their rules, even when it sucks.
     
  6. killroy

    killroy Light Load Member

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    If I was a company driver for one of these big outfits, I would never give them more than a weeks notice. That way they will probably have to start getting you headed toward the house anyway. And they can't give you a bad mark because you did give notice and did not abandon the equipment.
     
  7. MM71

    MM71 Heavy Load Member

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    When I quit a large company, I had saved up quite a bit of off time. They only allowed 2 days off without freeing from the truck. I free'd from the truck for 7 days. They gave me a big schpeel about how it would be difficult to find me another truck, Id probably have to fly to get one, yada yada yada.

    After 2 weeks they called me asking when I wanted to come back .... I said I didnt. My dac says "quit, eligible for rehire" and shows all driving awards. Why treat a company that has not treated you with respect by giving an appropriate notice, when you know how they will reward you.
     
  8. IROCUBabe

    IROCUBabe Road Train Member

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    Their rules? There is no rule for required 2 week notice. Whether I give two weeks or 24 hours, the DAC will say the exact same thing. Quit or resigned.

    The only rules are to get a paper signed saying you turned the truck in (dont abandon the truck) and generally make sure you do it when NOT under a load, or at least finish the load. Either of those two things will cause you major issues, but there is absolutely no reason why I should have to tell them I plan to quit with 2 weeks left to screw me. In most causes they will get your behind far from home and then fire you so you are stuck with a hefty ticket home.
     
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  9. MUSTANGGT

    MUSTANGGT Road Train Member

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    I have never done the two week thing and have done OK for myself. Actually have one of the best jobs I have ever had right now and plan on retiring here.
    In my experience, by the time I get to the point that I can't take it anymore, two more weeks would be unbearable.
    Maybe I have a personality flaw for letting it build up to the breaking point, but it always happens that way.

    On the other side, I have seen employers prefer that you go ahead and clear out if you don't want to be there.
    They may figure your attitude at that point would be detrimental to your performance anyway.

    I notice you haven't indicated how long you have been in the industry.
     
    Bushman Thanks this.
  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I gave two week notice once to a company and they sent me to Georgia. There was a delay for the load getting off and the reload out. I advised them that when the two weeks were up, I would be leaving the company on that day no matter where the truck was.

    It got the point across and the truck was brought to the yard on time.
     
  11. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    While that may be true for the moment in this down economy. It has not in the past, nor will it remain true in the future.

    I have NEVER given a 2 week notice to a dirtbag company. And I will never give notice to a dirtbag company in a right to work state.

    The same rule that allows them to terminate your employment at will, allows you to quit/leave at will for ANY reason. Without reprecussions. IE ding your DAC

    They supply the paperwork, you signed it. That's all that is required of either of you.

    Within the next 2 years, companies and their recruiters will be offering free weekends at the Bunny Ranch, for all new applicants...plus a sign on bonus.
     
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