Top route, now what?

It happens to us all at one some point

 

That's trucking. Anybody there you can ask for route advice ?

That which does not not kill you only makes you stronger. I think you have learned that.

 

Hey Ryan, first off, how come you only come around when ya want sumptin? Sounds like my kids. . .

OK now, getting serious. Here is where you screwed the pooch: "I went to the operations manager and put in my notice. The next day, he offered me the biggest, highest paying route the company has to offer, so I decided to stay."

When you are a short timer with a company, which you certainly are with just 10 months with them, it is generally speaking a big mistake to let them sweet talk you out of leaving. These outfits are NOT in business to help you out, and believe me, they could care less about you on a personal basis.

Have you burned your bridges with the oilfield outfit? I'm betting you have, if you accepted a job, then backed out of it. But if you still have a "speaking" relationship with them, it would be a good idea to recontact them.

Now as far as your current job is concerned, it is not at all unusual to have to work some extra hours when you are learning your way around. Since you are doing groceries, I'm betting that your routes are pretty much the same from week to week. In this case, it won't take you too long to learn the routes. I'm betting that somebody in your company has some type of information as to the normal routes are, too and from your stops. A trucker's atlas might help you with some areas. A GPS could help you, just don't depend on it completely. Keep your eyes open and your mind active.

As far as the physical work is concerned, only you can know if this is for you or not. If you are doing supermarket work, where your stops are docks, and you are unloading pallets, it is a piece of cake. If you don't have docks, but you use rollers, it is a bit tougher. But even then, fingerprinting most everything that goes into a grocery store is not moving much weight at a time. Shoot, the sections of rollers weigh more than most of the freight you will handle.

OTOH, if you are servicing mom and pops, where you have to tailgate, then unload, then hand truck the freight inside, THAT is a lot of work. Particularly if stairs are involved.

But do you really want to stay with an outfit that has "terrible equipment." OTOH, what may be terrible equipment to you, might just be a "good old truck" to an experienced driver. But if they really do have you driving dangerous junk, then you need to get out, before it screws with your CDL.

I didn't know there were any "small privately owned" companies left in the grocery distribution business!

 

i am sure you already know you can cut a couple hours a day off the route once you get it down
every job will have its drawbacks
in the 80's i had only one boss that I couldn't stand and I was self employed company of one

 

I personally think you are on the right way. Its hard but you have to be patient and give it a chance. We all had those moments in our job that we wanted to quit and leave, but what makes you professional is to face the daily challenges that the job gives you. Eventually you will work it out in your own way. You just gotta plan better your day stops, get the atlas, google map traffic, check the facilities on google earth and plan the route, give the delivery place a call and ask them for direction or advice. Once you learn the way to read the maps and plan better the trips you will be fine. No matter what you do stay calm and use your brain.
In regarding of changing jobs I cannot tell which one will work out better for you, its a decision that you have to make. Good luck!!!

 

Obviously you are the only one who can decide what is right for you. I'm not trying to talk you into one way or the other. But I will say, with only ten months in this job, you might be better off to stay there for another several months. Give yourself some time to learn your routes, and it will also give you better experience for your resume.

I did not realize that oil field work was seasonal. Might be a real bad idea, after all.

Oh and about you not having wisdom to offer, everyone, I mean EVERYONE has something to offer. A lot of newbies get called out when they put forth an opinion, but it isn't what they say, as much as the way they say it. Even if they are 100% correct with their basic idea, if they put down drivers who have been doing this for a long time, it won't be welcome.

I don't believe you will have that problem though.

 

Should have taken the tanker job.
If you have the endorsements, start applying for local tanker work or LTL work since you don't want OTR. Companies are bending their own hiring rules now due to the shortage of "high quality" applicants. Old Dominion is a good example; they now hire new CDL grads at some terminals. Do some online applications; go knock on some doors with your CDL, MVR, DOT medical card.

 

Hey,
First thing, relax. Routes take some time to get used to and the more you do it the better you'll get. You will start to build repertoire with your repeat customers and things get easier and faster, if they like you, and you do a good job. Also, you most likely have the same repeat customers every week. You should save your route list if you have one, or write down the address of all your stops one day and use Google maps or Microsoft Streets & Trips, and build a route list to see what customers are closer/further and such to see where you should go first, second, etc.. I'm sure your truck is loaded in the route fashion if this is like typical route positions. If you do have a route list, is your route list ordered in the same way as your trailer is loaded and in the same way the route should be ran?

Also,

You do, do a proper pre-trip everyday right, driver? I don't mean to be a pain but if your steer tires were about to blow at any point, why didn't you notice this? If you aren't doing your pre-trip everyday in the exact same way start doing it! Do a pre-trip on your 2-wheeler as well. Make sure the tires are pumped up and the wheels are in good condition, etc.. Also, if you plan to continue doing this position into the winter(not sure the weather in AR in winter) make sure you get some ice-melt or salt to put down in case you get your rig stuck or go into a crap parking lot and need some traction to move the 2-wheeler. I don't mean to be a tell all, etc, but make sure you also load your 2-wheeler correctly. Heavy on the bottom, and make nice stacks keeping the heavy weight on the bottom and close to you. I say this type stuff as I use to 2-wheel beverages daily taking 500-600lbs at times on my dolly(2-wheeler).