Schneider Intermodal/regional....Charlotte, NC

It's been an odd week..... I have been running the night shift since Tuesday. Our preplans can either be generated manually or by the computer system. I delivered Monday and was going to be about 30 miles shy of making it back to the yard, so I stopped and took my 10 hr break in Salisbury, NC. When I woke up I had a pre assignment that didn't show loading until 2215 that night in SC. WTH? I just came off a 10 hr break, I figured the computer had generated the assignment, so I called night dispatch. I don't know what it is, but everywhere I have ever worked night and weekend dispatch are pretty much useless. He says nope that's what the planner wants you to do. So I'll be ###### if I'm going to sit a truck stop all day after coming off my 10. I drive the 30 miles to the yard and head to the house for another break. It's not all bad because I had a great workout at the gym and managed to get a few hours sleep before heading back to the yard.

The next morning I call in to get some bills faxed to me, and that load planner who supposedly assigned that load to me answers, after some questioning he says that load was computer generated and night dispatch should have changed it and put me on something else instead of screwing my week up. So I have been running nights this week and trying to sleep during the day. I haven't seen the house since Tuesday. Hey like Forrest Gump said "it" happens sometimes. So I'm waiting for my computer to tell me I'm ready to start driving again. I will drop this chassis in Charlotte, grab a load from the rail yard and drop it at the Target DC in Newton, NC, grab an empty from there and live load in Johnson City, Tn.. I should make it home by Friday night before midnight. Have a god weekend and be safe.

 

I was offered a local position instead of the regional position today on the intermodal side......there was one major draw back, it was a night position. I politely declined. I don't want to be on the night shift and after talking to some of the local guys the money appears to be more consistent on the regional side. They offer any local position to the regional guys before posting the opening online.

 

The new Norfolk Southern yard that just opened in Charlotte will be automated like those in Chicago. We don't go there much down here unless a load is coming from or headed to Mexico.

 

Getting live loaded at Ikea in Danville, Va. I will drag this down to the rail yard, grab my loaded box for tomorrow and head to the house. Working tomorrow and off on Christmas and back to work Thursday. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas with friends and family. Be safe!

 

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I just had an interesting encounter at the sink in the men's restroom here at the Petro in Glade Springs, Va.. Let me preface this by saying that I take pride in my appearance and try and put forth a professional image by wearing a long sleeve, button up uniform shirt that was provided to me at no cost by the intermodal division. As I'm at the sink washing my hands I feel this guy staring at me. I say "can I help you?" Now this guy is the A-typical truck driver.... Obese, unshaven, sweat pant wearing POS. He says " do they make you wear that or are you just proud to be driving for Schneider" as he chuckles. I say " no you fat POS, it's called taking pride in your appearance and your profession, which you obviously have no desire to do." I go on to explain to him that I drive for Schneider because I want to. I work a 5 day work week, get home most nights, and probably make more money in 5 days then he does in 7. I will be honest, I had the same pre conceived ideas about Schneider before I came here, but I'm not ashamed to wear a company logo shirt and try and put forth a professional image. I love this job and wish I would have found it years ago. Be safe!