Running with JCT, Part Deux

Yea I helped them out 2 times with swaps in the last few months....no thanks or southern load as promised....####em I ain't doing no more swaps that don't benefit my bank account

 

Here's the deal....if they ask you to swap to help them out and screws your bottom line, say "no."
They can't force you to take a different load if they are the ones needing the help.
Now if you are in trouble on a load and it's your fault, i.e. you accepted the pre-plan and marked yes for on time delivery,.then it's on you. If you are short on hours for that load put no and follow up with a free form message stating that you don't have the hours, you cover your six. JCT wants the load picked up and then they work on swaps to get it there on time.
Keep in mind that just because you swap your 2200 mile load for a 1500 mile load doesn't mean you're getting screwed. Chances are it delivers earlier and you'll get another load before the original load delivers.
Another option is to ask for some money. See if they'll give you a few hundred bucks to do the swap since you're helping them out. They don't throw money at drivers like they used to, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

If they need my help, I NEVER give them an answer immediately. I tell them to give me 10 minutes or so to evaluate EVERYTHING. By that I mean: miles, how much time (miles per day), where it's going (some areas are better than others to be in for pre-plan), the terrain (mountains, flats, etc.), weather conditions (especially winter), WIND DIRECTION (major issue lately), and fuel prices. Remember, more miles does not mean more money. Sometimes you can net 50% more on a shorter or two shorter trips.

Lastly, if a driver is trying to get home, keep in mind that their home-time is just as important to them as yours is to you. You want to be a team player, but not a door mat. Give and take, scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, blah blah blah.

 

Both of the ones I did for them was the drivers didn't have the hours and they told me if I would bail them out I would be given a southern load ....which was bs... I never got the southern load and I ended up getting a un-needed 34 out of it

 

I hope that last post made sense. It sucks typing on a phone. And then posting it and seeing all the grammatical errors you made and editing the post....once, twice, three times. LOL

Make that four..

 

Yeah, that sucks, but JCT was the one needing help. I would have asked for money myself and if they said no, I would have replied no also. I run MY business, not JCT.

 

My latest issue was I was in a hotel for the night because needed night out of the truck. So I check into hotel about 2 pm and at 5 pm get call to swap because other driver had OS&D issues and could not make walmart delivery. I told them was in hotel and they said would take care of bill because was helping them out but when talked to them next day to verify would be on next check they played dumb and said was never authorized. So was in hotel for 3 hrs and had to checkout.

 

That's pretty ###### of them ...

 

I am just glad to be getting out of trucking. If I ever get load back to Sapulpa that is, gave them plenty of notice and planners must of never been told about this because been sitting 15+ hrs with no preplan and who knows when will get one. Maybe they are pissed at me.

 

I am sure they know.but you are now a "last resort" to them....you are not on their important list and they ain't going out of their way to get you there ...

 

Sadly this is true. But don't think the planners knew this morning when I was empty because sent me preplan to WA when my DM knew needed to go east. So communication was lost somewhere and I got kicked to bottom of list.