Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

I got a rant.

Not sure how many of you guys are familiar with slip seating, but it is a fancy lingo that means sharing a truck. Usually an overnight linehaul truck that comes in gets repurposed by the city drivers , and when they are done with their routes, they give the trucks back to linehaul.

In a ideal world, a P&D driver would finish their route at a reasonable hour so the truck would be all fueled up and waiting for the linehaul guy.

To further set this rant up, a few weeks back I got a bit shafted with a route that had a late start time. First thing I noted was it's the end of March and the truck was missing a current IFTA sticker. It's a $150 fine in SC if you don't have the new green ones by March 15, trust me, I got nailed for that last year so that's how I know. No big deal, I grabbed a new set from dispatch.

Out I went and late back did I come. I actually felt bad about how late I was so I skipped lunch to make it back earlier. I was just gonna take my 30 at the barn. I pull in and despite my best effort, I came in 10 minutes late on when the linehaul guy was supposed to leave. Usually I say honest mistake, but this was just a circumstance that was created by our operations tempo.

I was literally just finishing up my DVIR and starting to pack my phone charger and collect my belongings when I hear the passenger door open. Linehaul guy was there just dumping his crap in before I could retrieve my stuff. Just piled everything over mine.

Ummm, excuse me sir? Mind if I get my stuff out real fast

- " You are late. I was supposed to be gone by now. Who the hell gave you my ######## truck anyway? I am going to raise hell when I get back"

Errrr, sorry? I got hung up in Georgia. I actually skipped lunch so I could get here as soon as I could

- "I don't give a #### if you missed your lunch, I gotta push 500 miles and you getting back so late put me behind."

Well, sorry. Your truck ran just fine by the way. Oh, and I did update your IFTA sticker

-"No you didn't! I updated it yesterday. (He is pointing to the sticker I literally applied 8 hours ago on my pretrip).

Anyway, anyone that knows me knows I am not confrontational. I am very passive and really consider myself a nice guy. I've literally given people my jackets and shirts off of my back. But this guy seemed like he went above and beyond to be a peckerhead to me. Just flat out nasty rude.

Well, guess who's truck I had last night?

I once again had a late start and this day was going to drag out again. I couldn't have thought the stars could align any more perfect until my dispatcher called me with the words "don't rush yourself on the last pickup. They left their pallet outside on the dock with the paperwork on top of it".

I am telling you guys. Usually I am not this petty, but I drove through the woods and over past grandma's house to get to my last stop. I took every back road I could find until my GPS said "#### it, I quit".

After my last stop I went and stopped about 20 minutes away from my terminal to take my lunch break at a Piggly Wiggly. I then wasted more time by calling in some made up electrical issues I was having that I could fix myself but would set me back even further.

I came rolling in, this time over an hour past the linehaul guy's departure time. He was fuming mad and cursing uncontrollably on his phone. This time I had everything packed, the "electrical issues" I had gave me time to pack up and clean up before I rolled in.

What's going on mate? Sorry I got in so late and you missed the fuel truck. You might want to hit the gas station on your way out".

 

I know! That's what I said. Revenge is sweet but also non fattening. I guess the guy told morning dispatch I wasn't allowed to drive it anymore. As if they will remember that.

 

Plenty. But it guess that one was his.