Swift - Starting the New Year training with Swift 1/7/13 - A long read...

Discussion in 'Swift' started by DocWatson, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. A21CAV

    A21CAV Road Train Member

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    I have spent the last several months bouncing back and forth from Laredo to the SE and Midwest trailing in behind the storms to cherry pick freight that piled up after everything shut down due to weather. Thank you huge, Command! I enjoy the NW but don't go to or through OR and have managed to go all winter without getting bothered by the snow and ice. Only shut down was a half day in Ft. Stockton when I-10 iced over between Van Horn and the I-20 split in October. I agree about the 10,000 pound wind this time of the year. I'm only west now because its time to play. I have a pplan through Command picking up Monday morning going to Atlanta.
    Frank
     
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  3. A21CAV

    A21CAV Road Train Member

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    Space Farm was in Branchville and was a pretty cool snake farm. Was Action Park the one at Lake Hopatcong? If so the gypsy there who read my fortune was wrong; I didn't die in a car crash within 10 years but I certainly did divorce that ##### 9 years later.
     
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  4. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    Can not remember where it is, but I remember a customer that I delivered to in NJ, and around the corner was a WAWA. They had truck parking in the back for about 5 or 6 trucks. There are some, just hard to find.
     
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  5. MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    Most of them do have 3-4 truck spaces; usually around the back where they can't be seen from the road.
     
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  6. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    I didnt know that about the WaWa parking. I'll keep that in mind. I'm guessing those spots must fill up quick.

    Action Park was that theme park they closed down a while ago. I think it was Vernon Valley. It was like Six Flags Great Adventure's delinquent older brother - if Six Flags Great Adventure were going to the same party Great Adventure would drive up in a sensible Toyota Camry, seatbelt on, while Action Park came in a '79 Firebird knocking over the mailbox before parking on the front lawn. It was an awesome place. Guessing they closed it down because everyone got hurt. It had that downhill skateboard luge thing, cliff diving, too fast go-carts etc. Fun place honestly. But with lawsuits as they are and an overly litigious society it was bound to happen. Should have had everyone sign waivers, handed out helmets, shin guards, reflective vests and service dogs so we could have enjoyed the place longer. I guess closing was bound to happen either way. A shame.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2014
  7. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    Delivered my load here in Indiana this morning. I almost could have dropped last night but I only had 20 minutes to drop and get off property to find parking. No parking allowed at customer.

    I.was afraid of this happening again. I have hometime scheduled for 4/28 in WA as I have to meet up with the ex on the 29th and i have appointments. Figured putting in the time off request for a day early would be a safe bet. It wasn't obviously as they are now sending me loads that don't pick up until late tonight, the 25th, and don't deliver until 4/28 in N. Dakota live unload. N. Dakota is still 1200 miles from Tacoma so a 2 day drive as I'm on recap hours. The next preplan they send me picks up tonight (wasting the whole day today) and delivering in Denver on 4/29. Denver is 1300+ miles from Tacoma so the earliest I would get home with that plan is on 5/1 at best.

    I am pissed off again. When #### like this happens I get the distinct impression that they just don't care. I apologize but this just makes me cranky as hell. All this talk about MIS doesn't mean anything if they can't get me home on time. I have appointments and I have to meet with the STBEW to cash some checks she owes me totaling $500. She does not have a flexible schedule and it has been diffcult enough to get her to meet to pay me what she owes me. We were supposed to meet on 4/29 and that would be the last time i would ever have to see her. This #### drives me nuts.

    On a positive note the Walmart down the road in Marion, IN has easy access parking.
     
  8. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    Picked up a load in Rensselaer, IN and had barely enough time to shut down at this Walmart.
    Got a load from here to Colorado and then another load from Coors up to Washington. I was pretty heated for a while but I calmed down. I'm not dropping in WA until 5/1 so I'll still be late but I'm dealing with it a little better now.

    It doesn't help that my sleep for the past 2 days has been terrible. Between the power cutting off to my cpap 2 nights ago to this tooth ache last night I've been struggling to get good rest. I'm usually very rested when I drive but I've been feeling it these past few days. I forgot how bad a toothache can be and I have 2 separate teeth on one side causing me pain. Eat something hot. Pain. Eat something cold. Pain. I'm popping Advils like a junkie. Feels like the same pain as when the dentist gives you the needle in the gums but instead he's just poking and digging around in there constantly. I'm a big baby but I would rather have broken bone pain than tooth pain. I gotta make an appointment when I get the chance and see the dentist.

    I called my driver manager and expressed my frustration about not getting home on time. Like I always say, he's a good guy and I know its not his fault. The discussion was similar to the one we had when they got me home late for Christmas. He basically argues that I turn down loads that would get me west and that I'm waiting for the big trip to take me home. I argue that I'm not waiting on a big single trip as I know I won't get it. But my argument is that they are sending me loads that fall short of getting me there on time. For example, if I have a load going from NJ to Illinois but it doesn't drop until 4/28 (when my home time is scheduled 4/28) that is no good even though its got me going west. Because in Illinois I may still have 2000 miles to go to WA - another 3-4 days on recap hours, 2.5 days or so on a full 70. So those types of loads I refused thinking that I'll get another load that will get me there on time or one that will at least get me more west with time to get another load home on time. So I guess the solution is to put a time off request in for 5 days prior to when I actually want to get there and then run local if I get there early. I thanked him for letting me vent and reminded him that my frustration is not directed at him. Told him he does a good job and does right by me.

    I feel a little better knowing that I'm working my way out there.
     
  9. A21CAV

    A21CAV Road Train Member

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    Great Gorge in McAfee. I helped build what was then going to be the Playboy Club and later spent a disproportionate amount of time with women of questionable morals, my favorites, there and at the bar in McAfee.
     
  10. capthook

    capthook Light Load Member

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    NC
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    Wanna/gotta be home on time, get in the region beforehand.
    You have heard it before!
    Probably should have thought ahead, declined NJ.
    Can't count on a rapid fire, just in time, quick trip all the way back across the entire country.
     
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  11. A21CAV

    A21CAV Road Train Member

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    That really is the key to getting close to your hometime request, to get in the region. Actively work with your load offerings and what you accept to get going in the right direction. I know its hard as a company driver but make your DM work the planners for you early on. I know DMs are nothing more than yappy answering machines but with enough pestering they sometimes get things done.
     
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