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

I agree. Traveling to another country is definitely an eye opener. If anything, at a minimum, it allows us to appreciate what we have here in the states while understanding that we don't always need what we think to be happy.

I don't have many regrets in regards to this last trip other than I wish my Spanish was better. It was ok going into Mexico, it improved over the course of a couple of months but it was still far from conversational. And that is what I missed. I could ask directions and understand them, I could order food, find out about hotels, weather, highways, etc. But when it came to actually sitting down in some plaza somewhere and having a real conversation with someone I couldn't. It was the proverbial monkey humping a football. My Spanish was lacking. I could always begin a dialogue when someone would ask me where I'm from and where I'm going but after that the communication would stumble and eventually fall flat on its face. That was my regret.

I did find it interesting between the distorted reality of what is portrayed by the media from both ends. In the U.S., prior and after my trip, the number one question I would be asked is always something about how dangerous Mexico and Central America is. Outside the U.S. they think that in the states we are afraid of everything and we all carry guns everywhere. Or we all live like the Kardashians (however, there might be some truth in that as our standard of living in some cases is much higher, even when we think we are struggling here in the states).

What really struck me was how helpful everyone was to me. Initially I was bashful when it came to asking for help but that reluctance disappeared pretty quick. The first day I was in Mexico I had crossed from Presidio, TX near Big Bend Park. I made into downtown Chihuahua city and found myself completely lost. I no longer saw any signs for the highway to take me out towards the Copper Canyon. I spotted two federal policia sitting in their Dodge Charger on a corner. I started to ask directions and when they realized that there was a communication issue and additionally that the way out of the city was not going to be easy they told me to follow them. They hit their overhead lights and led me out of the city running about 70 mph at times. I thought upon reaching the city limits they would wave me on pointing me down the correct highway. They didn't. They did more than that. When we hit the highway heading west they continued to lead me, lights ablaze. I felt like a diplomat. Muy importante esto gringo. We flew down the highway in the left lane, cars in front parting the way like Moses parting the Red Sea. At times I could barely keep up and at the fastest I saw 104 mph on my speedometer. In my helmet I had a perma-smile and at that moment I said to myself - "I love Mexico!". A long way up the highway they slowed down, pulled to the right, rolled down the driver's side window and waved goodbye to me, pointing me straight ahead. That was my first real experience in Mexico and was indicative of the treatment I would receive for the duration of my trip.

I had picked up a new rear tire in Guadalajara and had found myself down in San Cristobal with no idea where a shop was to get this tire installed. I wanted to get it installed before I got into Guatemala and San Cristobal is probably the last bigger city before I would hit the border. Near the parking lot where I had parked my bike I had seen a motorcycle municipal police officer talking with another officer. I asked if they knew, in my bad Spanish, where I could get my tire installed. The cop said "no problemo". Follow him. He led me to two different motorcycle repair shops but they were unable to do the work that day. While at the second shop I met Julio who was on his BMW GS. He is local and from San Cristobal and he had just met us with his buddy at this second shop. He knew some English so between my limited Spanish and his limited English communication was pretty good. Him and his buddy led me to a third shop not far away. That shop changed my tire. While I was there we chatted about riding, about life there in San Cristobal and the state of Chiapas. I had mentioned that I needed some synthetic oil for my bike. Not only did they stay with me while my tire was changed (super quick tire changing and 50 pesos - about $6.50 U.S. dollars) they both led me to a store that sold synthetic oil and they came inside with me. After the purchase we exchanged emails and bid each other goodbye. The next morning I left to meet up with a Canadian I had met earlier in my trip so we could both cross the border into Guatemala together. I had just left my hotel when I spotted a BMW with a passenger up ahead, only about a block from hotel. I pulled up to say hello to the rider and, not having recognized the bike initially, it was Julio and his wife Janet. They were heading south to do a photo shoot in Comitan, a city south of San Cristobal and north of the Guatemalan border. We laughed at the irony and circumstance. He asked that I ride with them and accompany them down to Comitan on the way down to my meeting with the Canadian. On the way we stopped for breakfast and they would not let me pay. Despite my insistence to pay, I was their guest and they would have none of it. They would pay for this delicious breakfast. We rode down to Comitan, I said goodbyes to both and thanked them for their hospitality. That is Mexico. To this day Julio is a friend of mine and I keep in touch with him via email. And in Spanish.

 

Good luck MF. Did you train with Swift?

 

I'm a day early for my pickup. Not sure how this happened but I think when I got the preplan the other day, the day before Christmas, that I was automatically thinking that since my PTA was set for 12/26 that the load was picking up at 1400 on 12/26. When I got to the terminal this afternoon, ready to get rolling on this pickup, I checked my QC plan and my handwritten notes. Both stated that the p/u and delivery were for 12/27. I kind of did the palm slap to the forehead as I realized that I was a full 27 hours early for the local pickup. So here I am at the Richmond terminal. At least I got the chance to set up my new truck. Only issue is that my XM radio is not powering up. That kind of sucks. Otherwise, life is good and I'm excited to actually get rolling to Amazon tomorrow.

I am not crazy about these loads where we are penalized for being more than 1/2 hour early and penalized for being late. It's more of the being early penalty. I'm going to call Amazon tomorrow and find out if the Amazon I deliver to has on-site or "just off site" parking. Not a big deal but it would be nice. Already hooked up to an empty, truck is all set up and I'm ready to roll.

 

Going on hour 4 at Publix foods in Lakeland, FL. This is only stop 1 of 2

 

Finally finished at the Publix DC and I'm back at the Ocala terminal with my truck parked in the Prequal line.


A/C is non existent and my truck is losing air pressure (50+lbs in about an hour). Not sure what this issue is with Prostars and A/C units but every Prostar I've had has had issues with the A/C. I want to get it addressed now while I'm getting the other air issue checked out.

Publix took a little over 5 hours. Apparently my 2nd stop was there at the same location. I just moved from one door to another. My plan had stated that I was to go to a completely different address. I wasn't, it was all taken care of there. I

'm a little discouraged that I have to put this truck in the shop already. I've said it for almost 2 years now but I want to be Platinum. I'll do whatever it takes. I want that Macro option and I want the bonus. I'm going to talk to my DM (whoever that is - it's all up in the air still) and tell them my ambition to be a platinum driver. I'll give it 2-3 months and if it doesn't happen then drastic changes will be necessary.

So far, since returning, I've had two loads. One from VA to S. Carolina and the second, a repower, from S. Carolina to Florida. It was a holiday weekend and it seems that I've been sitting in a lot of traffic these past few days. It's affecting my mileage and delivery times. I'm hoping the next run or the following will be a good mileage load.

 

Yeah, I agree. It's one thing to require us drivers to obey by strict pickup/delivery policies but it's another thing for the shipper/consignee to not hold themselves to the same high standards. That drives me nuts.

 

Back at the Decatur terminal. I am currently under a 4 stop load. I brought the truck into the shop, they ordered the part I needed, I ran out last night to pick up the load and I hit the first stop this afternoon. I returned to the terminal to get this part installed. Shop here at the Decatur terminal seems to be pretty quick.

I'm not sure if they are going to t-call this current load. It delivers 600 miles away in VA but not until the 5th. There is way too much time on it. Final stop is in NJ with no current delivery date set. I'm going to either find out if I can deliver to stop 3 early or t-call it. The most important thing to do right now is keep those wheels turning.

I was standing around here at the terminal yesterday and started talking to another driver. He drives out of Lewiston. I asked him about mileage and he stated that he always has around 3000 miles per week. He barely has a load under 1000 miles. He is also about to go Canadian dedicated. I guess he said that he would run in Canada for 2 weeks and then come back over the border to do a 34. Then I guess he pops back into Canada. This is interesting. I've never heard of this before. Now that I have my passport this may be something to look into.

Also, if my miles don't jump up quick I'm not wasting any time this time around. I'm switching terminals. I can't switch DM's yet as I don't have one assigned to me. Getting this truck back into the shop in the AM and I'm hoping to be rolling again.