Schneider Intermodal/regional....Charlotte, NC

I've had another productive week with no real issues. I'm presently being live loaded in Kingsport, Tn.. Once loaded I will drop at the rail yard in Charlotte and then be done for the weekend. I had to spend the night in the truck last night. Only the third time in 4 Weeks, I can live with that average. I grabbed a loaded box yesterday morning for a drop and hook at the Dollar General in Jonesville, Sc, dheaded from there back to Charlotte for another loaded box at the rail yard. Upon doing my pre trip on the chassis I saw that the DOT bumper was bent at a 45 degree angle, so I had to get a "chassis flip". This was my first time doing a flip, so I wasn't sure how long it would take. I had the box on a new chassis in under 30 minutes. I delivered that to the DG in South Boston, Va.. There weren't any empties, so I bounced down to Greensboro to grab an empty so I could get loaded here in Tn.

When I get back to the OC today I'm putting my truck in the shop over the weekend. Over the last few days its been losing power when I'm under a load. I don't know if the actuator on the turbo is sticking open or if its something more serious. I might have to get into loaner on Monday. Be safe and have a good weekend.

 

The shop called me Sunday about noon and said my truck wouldn't be finished until Monday afternoon, they are waiting on a part, so I had to call dispatch and get a loaner to use today. After a few minutes they decided to have me use another drivers truck who is off today. I knew it was going to be an early Monday morning now. I had a 0830 appt. in Raleigh, and I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get to the yard, get a key made for the loaner, grab a few things out of my truck, and get hooked to my loaded box. I pulled into the customer at 0820 so it all worked out well.

One thing I take pride in, is keeping the inside of my truck clean....... all I can say is some people are straight up nasty. This truck I'm borrowing is a disgustingly dirty. How some people can work and live in a truck like this is beyond me. I'm just thankful mine will be done this afternoon. Be safe!

 

Well another week in the books. This week started off weird, I was in the loaner truck Monday and after taking my mandatory 30 minute break I only got back 1.25 hours back. I thought for sure that I had gotten my reset in this week, after calling the log department in Green Bay we determined that I didn't get the required 168 hours between my last reset so my reset wasn't valid. So I was going to be recapping all week. It really normally wouldn't be a big deal, but here I was 4 hours from Charlotte in this nasty loaner truck. I wasn't looking forward to having to sleep in someone else's filth. I went in the truck stop and bought a pillow and got a few hours sleep.

Since I was recapping my schedule was all screwed up. I called the shop Monday night and was told my truck was finished. After I dropped my load at the CSX ramp I swung back by the terminal and switched back into my truck. I ended up having to spend Tuesday night in the truck as well. Wednesday I was able to get back onto a more normal routine. On Friday I thought for sure I was going to get stuck out Friday night as well. I left Friday morning from the terminal and went up to Dublin, Va. for a drop and hook. I brought that load back down to the rail yard and expected to get something local, but they gave me a Dollar General in South Boston, Va. that had somehow gotten missed. I headed up there expecting to be about
30 minutes shy of making it back to Charlotte on my e logs. Well when I was about 45 minutes out I stopped and sent dispatch a message asking them what they had lined up for me when I dropped in S. Boston. As I pulled up to the gate I got a message to just bobtail back to Charlotte when empty. Cool, I had exactly 3 hrs and 6 minutes left on my 14. If all went well I just might make it back. The one thing I didn't take into account is that it's race weekend in Charlotte, and traffic was extra thick as I neared Concord. I pulled into the yard with 2 minutes on my clock.

Im still loving the new gig, I'm treated well, left alone to do my Job, and for a 5 day work week I'm bringing home on average $800 after taxes. On average I'm still spending 1 night a week in the truck. One of my fears when coming to work for a mega carrier like Schneider was that I would be micro managed, but again I get sent my loads and as long as u do them as expected your left alone. Be safe and enjoy the weekend.

 

I met 1catfish today at the rail yard in Charlotte. It was a pleasure to meet you today, wish we could have talked more, but the e logs were ticking away. Be safe!

 

You take the physical before you head to orientation. Urine and hair for drug screen and the first day of orientation you will do a physical agility test. You will be tested for sleep apnea if you meet a certain criteria.

 

I had another good solid week last week, and this week is jammin. We are so busy down here in Charlotte this week that they brought a few guys down from Atlanta to help out this week. I don't know if this is the lead up towards Christmas or if its just increased business. I know I have been to a few new customers the last couple of weeks.

I like that they usually have you pre planned on your next load way in advance and right now I have my next 3 loads pre planned. I guess some people get stressed out by being pre planned, but for me it helps me plan my days better. Be safe!