Need Help. Averaging 1700-2000 miles

My DM explained that to me the other day. There are 2 different screens. One shows your last home time location and there is another that actually shows your real home terminal.

I am not sure what is up with CH Robinson all of a sudden. We normally use Command.

 

I wonder why my last home time location would be that important to anyone, to be put on a whole separate screen.
And if there is such a screen, shouldn't it list my last 3 or 4 home time locations? After all, I seldom take home time twice in a row in the same place.

 

Polar bear try setting your PTA'S A HALF HR FROM DELIVERY TIME. LOAD DELIVERS 8AM SET YOUR PTA FOR 830. YOU HAVE 11MTHS SO HANG IN THERE AND GET YR YEAR THEN UR IN POSITION TO MOVE ON. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH BIG BOYS SINCE 07 AND THEY ARE ALL SAME YAHOOS. LOOK FOR SMALLER COMPANIES WITH FEWER TRUCKS OR FOR COMPANIES THAT RUN THEIR OWN TRKS. HANG IN THERE AND GET AWAY FROM THE BIG BOYS.
GOOD LUCK

 

Polar bear try setting your PTA'S A HALF HR FROM DELIVERY TIME. LOAD DELIVERS 8AM SET YOUR PTA FOR 830. YOU HAVE 11MTHS SO HANG IN THERE AND GET YR YEAR THEN UR IN POSITION TO MOVE ON. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH BIG BOYS SINCE 07 AND THEY ARE ALL SAME YAHOOS. LOOK FOR SMALLER COMPANIES WITH FEWER TRUCKS OR FOR COMPANIES THAT RUN THEIR OWN TRKS. HANG IN THERE AND GET AWAY FROM THE BIG BOYS.
GOOD LUCK

 

Jonestown is pretty much for local runs out of there or to t-call loads...it is not an otr terminal..instead of quitting you should have gotten in touch with someone in Phoenix and have them change your dm and/or terminal...1700 is not even close to average for a solo...I would have gotten in touch with a higher up in phoenix...they would have taken care of it for you and found you another terminal and dm...Jonestown is like lancaster..they get you in there and try to get you to take their daycab runs....Jonestown, lancaster and manteno are the worst ones to be near...If you have a good dm he will search loads for you and keep you running....

 

A few things to do before you leave. I was with Swift for 16 months and was a trainer. 1. Be on your Dm, he can pull loads for you. 2. See if there is a special fleet to get on you don't have to run that account but the specialized fleet managers know they can plan you. ( I had a back to back loads out of the willows term. The first trailer was way overweight and they knew it. I walked it back in and they pulled that load and the next one off of me. As I walked out the door, I called my dm who had me back on the 2nd loaded trailer dispatched and all before. I turned around. The planner was shocked and miffed that I got the load back when she had to hand me the paper) 3. Always call the customers to see if you can drop early. Most will and the dm's and planners never can get the csr to reschedule. ( I was in Columbus over Memorial day and they tried to give me two loads one was 20 miles for 7 days and the other was 7 for 10 days. I just called in to Phoenix containers (my fleet) and spoke to the dm who answered and asked why this was even being planned. He understood and pulled it) 4. If none of these work, use their own culture against them-they want you to lease a truck, and your dm gets a spiff if you go owner operator for 6 mo. I was training when I told my dm that if he wanted me to go owner operator I needed 5500miles per week. I never had less than 5k team and 3k solo. My best week was 3520 solo. I left a platinum driver and now am an owner operator making money unlike swifts.

 

Good ideas, drivernick.

I'd like to add that now if you use Mac-13 for Directed Message you can type *CSR in the "To" field when you are under dispatch and it will go directly to the Customer Service Representative for that dispatch. I've found this to be a very useful tool, bypassing the need to go through the DM on something that they would have to turn around and ask the CSR.

I've used this feature many times, to get information about pickup or delivery windows or to give feedback from the customer.

 

I think it's been mentioned in this thread that the basic concept is your TIME is your VALUE. Any time you can save on your 70 is to your benefit. Often this will require quick rethinking on trip planning. Today is a good example:

I'm at a shipper in Charlotte, NC area with a live load. My 14 hour clock is clicking down, because I've used up much of my available time today making deliveries on my last load. I'm sitting in the dock, looking at the fuel route as my 14 hour clock goes "live", meaning I no longer am dictated by the 11 or 70 hour clocks. I've about two hours on a Friday afternoon when the light on the dock turns green.

I'm headed to Kansas City. My fuel route has me going through the middle of Charlotte southwest on I-85 to catch a US route to eventually link up with I-40. I've been studying options for available truck stops, Walmarts, or "other" as I'm sitting in the loading dock. There's no really good options heading south along that route. I'm considering going "out of route" north to catch I-40, maybe get one of the truck stops at exit 71 on I-85...

... then as I'm pulling out of the gate at the customer I see several trucks parked on the curb. I run back to the guard shack and ask if it's alright to take a 10 hour break right here. He says, "Sure, just don't block traffic".

Problem solved. I edit my logs to do a Post Trip along with Pick Up and immediately log to Sleeper Berth after parallel parking on the curb.

Now I can get up at 3:00 am and get through Charlotte when there's no traffic on the planned fuel route with the least miles. If I attempted that now, I'd be stuck in rush hour Friday afternoon traffic. Instead I'm going to use my recap hours running at the speed limit or governed speed.

You need to be able to adapt to the circumstances during the day. Be prepared to sleep anywhere and you will maximize miles per available hour. Tonight I'm dining on a fine salad with mackerel, watching bunnies scamper out of the woods into the grass next to where I parked. It should be a nice night to sleep, maybe a truck or ten passing by out of the gate, but the vents are open and the engine is off and I'm looking forward to a nice sleep.