My Day By Day Experience At Eastern Freightways Flatbed Division

Day 16-17

Head out at 6:30 to Staten Island. Traffic wasn't that bad and the first several miles into S.I. were decent. I've got this... Until about 2 miles from the receiver. Cars parked on both sides of the road, traffic coming and going, Tight turns around parked cars.. I just slowed down and took my time. Made it to the receiver, Unstrapped and folded the tarps on the load. Got unloaded and called dispatch. "system is down" They say. but we're sending you back to Baltimore. Set my GPS and head out. 1 1/2 hours into the trip I get a call. "Sorry you're going to Danville, PA not Baltimore. hmmmm Just crossed the Deleware bridge. Stop at a T/A and fill up. Planned on going to Danville then doing my 10 in Montgomerey which has a T/A.. Free Shower!!! I Had 1 hour left on my clock when I got there. Shut down and PC'd it to the T/A. I am headed to Boston MA in the morning.

Now we're up to date to today:

I had google earthed the receiver and walked the streets in street view to get familiar with the area last night.
Not much traffic till around 5:30. Then I believe all the new drivers in 4 wheelers were released from the funny farm... I'm not sure what half these people were thinking but WTF.. I'm surprised no one was killed in a 50 mile stretch. Shortly before hitting 691 I smelled a familiar smell when I applied the brakes. Are you kidding me? Can't be again. I pull over and check the same wheel that I had the problem with 2 weeks ago.. Yup leaking again. 3rd time in 2 weeks.. Meriden, CT here I come. 10 miles to go. Make it here, give the mechanic the story he looks at it and says "Out Of Service" Something else is definitely wrong with it. Call dispatch...

Long story short here- After several calls to and from dispatch, a nap, lunch, a walk & Updating this blog I'm still sitting here 8 hours later. No truck, No Idea where I'm getting one or when. Was off to a good week. Now I'm just frustrated & Disappointed. All I want to do is run and make some $$.

Time can be a mental struggle. I've had several offers over the last month. 1 was driving Dump truck and equipment locally. Home nights, good money but is that what I want to do for the next couple of years then come back out with the wife? Do I want to get my experience out here and when the wife is ready to come out with me we're already set to go? Eastern doesn't have a rider program so something will have to change soon anyways. I hate sitting and thinking.

 

Yea. A moment of mental weakness. I don't want to job hop. My wife wants to come out with me in a couple of years when the kids are out of the house and do the 48. She'd like to come out with me now at least for a week but it's not an option. I'm happy where I'm at just need to get over these breakdowns

 

Update: So I was going to catch a ride Friday morning with another driver who is based out of the Concord terminal to pick up a white 2012 Volvo. Around 10:00 both him and dispatched called about the same time. Dispatch had said that 1 of the students from my class just dropped a truck off 2003 Volvo. I remembered the truck from when we all were assigned trucks as I had checked it out. It was clean but it's an Automatic. Mine was a 10spd. This will be a little different. I checked it over and it was good to go. Transferred all of my stuff over to the new truck and just threw it on my bed. Figured I'd move in tonight when I shut down.

Picked up a load from the Meriden terminal coming from the Baltimore terminal headed to MA on Monday. Drove to the concord terminal, post tripped and took what I needed for the weekend.

I took some time this weekend to reflect. You guys are right. Breakdowns are part of the experience and should be looked at as such. Unless they get out of control then there may be a re-evaluation at that point. LOL. Time, Determination & Goals will help me get through those times. Everything is a learning experience and I should sit back and appreciate that. I know that no single company out there is perfect and I choose EFW's due to what they had to offer me at this time. I'm happy with that decision. New week, new attitude.

 

Day 19

My sons car broke down over the weekend so I told him if he gave me a ride to work at 4:00 he could use mine for the week. Trying to get a 16 year old up a 3:45 is a good time. lol I rolled out at 5:30 this morning heading down 495 to Bellingham, MA. Got to the receiver at 7:45 waited a bit to get unloaded and had my pre-plan ready to go. Back up 495 to Portsmouth, NH for a quick Drop n Hook. This load is a 2 stop in CT. 1st in Torrington then to Washington Depot. 49K lbs of Sheetrock. Back down 495 lol. I've gotta say this little old Automatic does a pretty good job at pulling it. Not having to shift during traffic has been kind of nice as well. Never thought i'd like and auto but......

Decided I was going to stay at the T/A in Milldale, CT as it's only 30 minutes away from my 1st stop. Fuel up and go to park... Well I felt like it was my first day at school again. My set up was off and decided to try it anyways. Did about 10 pull ups before I finally got it straight. Had a guy watching me the whole time. I laughed it off and when I got out I asked if he got it on video because I needed a good laugh. Minus my set up being off the 5th wheel is all the way forward and I used to run my truck all the way back. Would that 1-2 feet really make that much of a difference? I read a few threads on here about it but seems like a personal preference. What do you think?