My Day By Day Experience At Eastern Freightways Flatbed Division

Day 30

About 4 hours to get to New Salem and unstrap the slinkies. I've learned that the receiver is on lunch at 12:00 so had to wait a little bit till they came back. But still got unloaded pretty quick once again. Pre-plan has me going to Proctor, WV to pick up a load. Was a good ride there until the GPS sent me down this narrow road that didn't even lead to the shipper. Got turned around and found the correct entrance. Load not ready yet. Find the yard dog and he messaged one of the lead loaders. 4 hours later it was ready. Complete downpour as I started fixing the tarp job. With my time clicking away I keep going. Completely soaked I get changed and head about 45 minutes down the road to a rest area to shut down for the night.

Day 31

This load is heading to Prince of Pursia, PA but I had found out the night before that they wanted it between 3:30 and 5:00. That was never going to happen as it was a good 5-5 1/2 drive. I originally showed up at the shipper at 15:00 so even shutting down at that point, taking a 10 hour and heading out at 1:00 It would still be 6-6:30 by the time I got there. So called dispatch and let them know where we stood.So we're heading to our Pennsauken, NJ terminal to drop it and grab an empty. Was still smelling coolant on the way so stopped into the shop to have them take a look. Cracked reservoir. They went out of their way to get one and replace it to get me on the road. a total of 2 hours of breakdown but I was impressed with them.

Took the empty and headed to Danville, PA to drop n hook. I wasn't really going to make it to far so I decided to shut down at the Penn 80, grab a shower and get an early start the next day.

 

HaHa why do you say that?

 

Day 32

This load is headed to the first place I ever delivered Attleboro, MA. 6 hour drive. As I'm pulling in to the receiver it started raining. I asked them what they would like to do as it was sheetrock and had to be unloaded outside. It had plastic over it so they said pull the tarps and the plastic should be enough to cover it. That was until 1/2 way through untarping the clouds just let go. The plastic was blowing and it was raining sideways. We did what we could and got it unloaded.

Headed to Portsmouth, NH to do a drop and hook. #### early holiday traffic set me back about an hour. 95 and 495N were horrible. Stop n go traffic. Was hoping to shutdown in Reading, MA but had to shutdown in Portsmouth.

 

Yea this week will be a mess! We actually have the 4th off

 

Day 33

Got an early start and headed to East Haddam, CT Had a good ride down. East Haddam has some tight roads and a bridge that causes you to stop at the end to make sure no one is coming before you can proceed.
Arrived at the receiver and another fairly quick unload by 8:00 was hoping to get an early start headed back to the terminal as I know the traffic will be terrible again. Got a plan to drop my trailer and pick up a return going back to Portsmouth, NH Ehhh Up 95-84-495. It was early but it had already started. Crazy drivers, bumper to bumper, stop and go. Lost over an hour getting there. Check in drop the trailer and bobtail back to the terminal. 10 miles away and 93N is just as bad. Finally make it back safely with 2 hours left on my clock. 2500 miles driven for the week and I was ready for a drink or several.

Not sure where I'm going Monday yet as they didn't have a plan for me. Was told to call at 7am from my truck and get a plan.

 

Yes, it's just like the flow of water. They trickle in to fill every available space, everyone searching for the path of least resistance. It's interesting watching the flow of traffic some days. I wish they could see what we do then they would have a better understanding of the struggles

 

Day 34

So my sons car is still broke down. Something to do with the Electronic Throttle Control. They replaced it but can't seem to get it right. I don't know it's at the garage that he had bought it at. Probably time for a dealership to look into it. Anyways, He is still dropping me off and picking me up every week which is requiring a little more planning on my part.

Got to the terminal at 7:00 this morning like I was told. Loaded up the truck and called dispatch to figure out where I was going. "We're still working on that we'll call you back in 10 minutes" Yeaaaaa, I've learned what that means. Start pre-tripping and noticed that one of the hoses to the coolant reservoir was leaking. Assumed it was the clamp so Took it over to the shop and had them tighten it. Luckily that's what it was. Finish up Pre-tripping, fuel up and park off to the side of the terminal. After about an hour passed I called dispatch again. After being put on hold I get a plan. Going to the Scarborough terminal to pick up a loaded trailer and delivering it 8 miles down the road. Hmmmm Someone missed a delivery for some reason.

Get to the terminal, hook to the load and make sure everything is good to go. Drive the 8 miles up the road and get unloaded. Get an E-mail of where I'm headed next instead of the usual pre-plan. Down to Newington, NH. Well come to find out I was still locked into the return that I did on Friday and was unable to be dispatched the correct way. (Helpful information if I had had it sooner. LOL)

Get to Newington which is generally a drop and hook. 30 minutes tops. Nope, not this time. Live load it is. that 30 minutes just turned into 3 hours. Luckily it didn't affect me to much time wise. Planned on shutting down in Meriden, CT anyways since i'm headed to Valley Cottage, NY (just on the other side of the Tappan Z) in the morning to deliver. Parking between Meriden and there usually consists of on the side of the interstate and it was 18:00 when I got here so I assumed everything was going to be full.

Tomorrow will be a race against my clock I believe. 2 hours to Valley Cottage, should be there by 7:30 Get unloaded, drive to Avenel, NJ, Drop and hook, Then 6+ hours back to the Concord terminal so I can be Home for the 4th. I'm already having nightmares of traffic coming up 95...