My return to LTL... with SAIA

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by McUzi, Jun 25, 2020.

  1. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    This was a 6 day week as I picked up a run on Saturday. 2,912 miles for the pay period. Once a CLC card is requested it doesn't take long, I think mine took a week and a half to come in.
     
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  3. Ronniev1262

    Ronniev1262 Light Load Member

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    Quick question about hooking and dropping sets. How are they paid? Do you have to give the first and last?
    Thanks!
     
  4. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    They are usually automatic and should be on your trip card, you get 15 min of your hourly rate to hook a set of doubles and 15 min to break a set of doubles, as a example my hourly rate is $27.20 an hour so when I hook a set that is $6.80, and when I break a set it's another $6.80, triples trailers if the situation applies are paid at a 30 min of hourly rate to hook, and 30 min to break up.
     
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  5. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    Easy fix, just take the truck to the hotel like I used to.
     
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  6. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    In my experience when I was systems they usually had me set up in EIC before my 10 was even up, I think the longest layover I had was 14 hours, but that was a rare case, most were 10 hour layovers with some 11 to 12 here and there, as far as the hotels, usually you will have good luck with them, make sure you have your driver trainer show you how to navigate the employee information center on your phone, there is a heading for terminal/meet information, in that you will find what hotels to stay at for that particular terminal, if the hotel is sold out, the best thing to do is to call the 1 800 number on the CLC card and a CLC rep will help you locate another hotel in the area that takes CLC even if it's not on Saias hotel list.
     
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  7. Ronniev1262

    Ronniev1262 Light Load Member

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    Thank you for your help. I'm sure the more terminals I go to the better. Training next week. Hopefully on my own the following week.
     
  8. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    The small downside of linehaul that I never missed: the off days where I couldn't fall asleep. Got home at 1000 this morning, didn't have more than 2 hours of sleep by 1900 tonight.

    In the past, being fresh to driving I would have had a machismo of "you're a truck driver, get it done, power through that shi*!", but over my short tenure of driving I've learned that it isn't worth it, and I'm not interested in driving all night yawning and cranking energy drinks trying to keep myself alert.

    The last company I worked for had a poster in the main office that said "No job is so important & no service is so urgent that we cannot take time or make the effort to perform our work safely." I don't think I've ever read a poster in a work environment that ACTUALLY resonated with me as a truck driver as much as this one did.

    So I called the local office and told them I wasn't in the game for the night. No sigh of disdain or any gruff about it, just "no problem, give central a call and let them know so nothing falls through the cracks. Sleep well tonight and I'll see you tomorrow".

    Called central dispatch... "hey man, thanks for the heads up. Get some sleep and be ready to run tomorrow."

    I judge ALL companies by how they handle employees calling off for their shift for legitimate reasons (aside from those who are habitual offenders). I know its such a small thing, but in the long run, it's important.
     
  9. freebeertomorrow

    freebeertomorrow Heavy Load Member

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    i think not calling off often carries a lot of weight within itself. i often wonder how some guys still have a job.
     
  10. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    We have one idiot that called out a half hour before his start time because his car broke down 2 hours from the terminal.

    That would be inexcusable if I were in charge.
     
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  11. USMC 3531

    USMC 3531 Heavy Load Member

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    They are usually pretty flexible with systems drivers when it comes to that, the couple times I needed to call off they were cool about it, however when I got the bid run things changed, I was legitimately sick, and called off early in the day to give them plenty of time, they were cool about and they even put it down as properly reported, but still got charged a attendance point for it, that never happened when I was on systems.
     
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