Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

I delivered a long heavy (7-8', 1000+ lbs.) skid of windows to a residence once. I somehow was able to get it on the liftgate diagonally to get it to the ground. Took some work to move it off the liftgate, but made it happen. The homeowners even complimented me, so I guess I fooled them into thinking I knew what I was doing

 

These guys are giving great advice. I always thought there should be some amount of training on good techniques and safe practices using liftgates, but unfortunately it's a learn as you go type of deal. I wish I knew the tricks ahead of time instead of having to "discover" them myself.

When I first started P&D I was given a clean up route with a liftgate trailer and one stop had 2 crates around 12 ft long. It took forever to unload, but basically I had to use the liftgate to slowly tip it to the ground. Luckily they had a pallet jack so we were able to make it happen by using a combination of the 2 pallet jacks, the liftgate, and some scraps of wood. Total pain.

 

I've always thought P&d drivers should get paid more than linehaul, I'm just glad they don't.

I remember a P&d driver telling me about a hot tub delivery. Much respect.

 

I ran line for two years. Then met a girl... Got off of nights to be with her. I now work twice as hard for $12,000 less a year to keep her happy. I miss those extra 500 a paycheck... but she agreed to marry me.

Pick your battles.

 

Best advice that I ever got on TTR (which I use to this day) is zig zagging heavy freight when your arse end of the trailer is pointing up. It makes a huge world of difference when fighting gravity.

I think it is fair to say that everyone on here may have a tid bit of info the other person doesn't know that could make your life easier. It is just up to you people to share it. Most of these threads are deep pools of invaluable information culminating decades of experience. Just my two cents.

 

It's a heck of a lot easier to clean up the mess, when it doesn't have half of your blood mixed in!

What often happens with stuff like this, is that people see whatever it is they want, from a local store that doesn't stock anything more than the display stuff. So when it is ordered, it is drop shipped to the end user, who is stuck with making installation himself, or arranging to have it done.

So his flashlight is broke?

Hmmm, suppose management is giving it to him, hoping he'll screw it up bad enough to get sacked?

These companies usually believe that time spent in training, or even safety meetings, is time wasted. They give only the minimum amount of training required by law. If that.

Yep! And now you have a whole lot more battles to "pick" don't ya?

AMEN

 

Nightime linehaul should pay more. You give up your regular life and work all night and sleep all day. Couple barns out there that have enough freight volume to run a dayshift as well. Those runs are few and far between and require a long tenure and seniority.

P&D on the other hand is a crap shoot. Some days you literally risk your life maneuvering thousands of pounds down a snow covered liftgate.

I said it before. I am done. Been doing this gig for three years. I probably shaved off ten years of my life with these near misses that almost got me killed.

Top off the defective equipment I am required to run, the inconsistent hours, having to stare at my phone from 4 AM till 10 AM waiting to be called in, and then the barrage of racial slurs I am referred to cause I am not fully white have just taken their toll on me.

Trying to go back in active duty. If that doesn't work, it will be a degree with my GI Bill.