Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

WOW! 20 minutes and $29 later ... Crystal clear and like new again! Beats the heck out of replacing a near $500 pair of glasses.

 

Welp, my drink will be delayed....again.

Made the 7/7 12 am delivery that was scheduled for 6am, was made at 10:30am thanks to a bad brake chamber, was refused for being late because receiving was never notified of the delay. Now, I sit at a Love's with a loaded trailer and nowhere to go when I'm supposed to be headed home.

This is darn close to strike 3.

 

I'm confused. Was it for 12am or 6am? Did you call the receiver to tell them of the break down delay? Just curious for future reference.

 

I am confused, too. This was not a broker load that I'm aware of. Are we supposed to be our own dispatchers, too? I got this load from a team early this morning. Last 2 broker loads I had I couldn't get a hold of anyone.

I was never told that I'd have to call customers myself. Brokers, yes. Customers aside from Hill Phoenix, no. What do we have dispatchers for if they can't/won't support the drivers?

 

There is nothing like a good driving day to make things right in my world again. 689 miles with 24 mins left on my 11.

After the day I had yesterday I really needed it too.

Turns out the QC appt time was closer to the truth than the BOL as the crew unloading me didn't show up until 7:45. I knew I was off to a bad start when I got a "we will be there when we get there" over the phone.

I was delivering to a construction site and the only way in was a blind side back off the street with a gate a tree and a guard house to avoid.

3 of the crew were helpful enough in blocking traffic and guiding me in but as they only spoke spanish (and I don't) they relied on whistles and hand waving neither of which made any sense to me.

Anyway got in without hitting anything and was unloaded in less than an hour. Asked about my next move on QC as I couldn't hang around there. Didn't expect a reply so didn't wait for one and headed for nearest truck stop in direction of Richmond (I was in Norfolk). Of course 50 mins later I get load info with a pickup in other direction.

It was a multistop picking up in Windsor. Easy enough place to get to...if load info had the correct address. Sent a customer info request and reply also had incorrect address but directions were good enough.

I was in a pretty foul mood and my broom took the brunt of it when sweeping out the trailer. I snapped the stick at the head so I had to resort to holding it with both hands while doubled over to finish. Foul turned to fuming which then turned rage when I went to hook to trailer and it was about 5inches higher than 5th wheel. I swear the yard jockeys do it on purpose as he was hovering nearby watching me lose it.

By this time I only had a couple hours left so stopped just inside NC border on I95. My 10 was up at 11pm so I was all set for an overnighter but wasn't expecting much in the way of progress because, well, it's I95.

Well I was pleasantly surprised. I set the cruise and didn't switch it off until st marys GA when i needed to take my 30 and top off the tanks before hitting FL.

Even FL played nice this morning. 295, 10, 301and 75 and flowing well enough.

I shutdown for the day/night 160 miles from my first drop due at 6am tomorrow. Should be easy enough at that time (other 2 are 8am and 11am), but I still don't trust FL so not allowing myself to get too complacent after the good run so far.

 

The paperwork said 12am. The run sheet that I never saw said 6am.

I was broke down for almost 3hrs. I could have 'just' made the 6am time had I not broken down.

 

@Redtwin you were a mile from my house. Cost Plus World Market right? As long as you are on time for the first drop, you're good. They should notify the next store of your eta. And if it is cpwm, it's all floor loaded and takes a minute to unload.

 

Sorry for the delayed reply. Internet crap out ... lol

I was only curious. Had it been me, I'd have tried to make sure everyone in the loop was on the same page. Many times that allowed me to reschedule so I wouldn't get stuck babysitting a load. I was always keenly aware that dispatchers and load planners are normally pretty busy and I'm not the only driver waiting on a correction or something. Not that I was trying to do an "end run" around them but just trying to help it all work out. Most times, I was shown appreciation for the effort by the company and or shipper/receiver even it didn't work out that I could pick up or deliver.

Never hurts to try and help out. Especially when it's me I'm trying help too ....

 

Ok, Now I'm officially jealous! LOL