Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Operations tempo and requirement dictates what is efficient vs what is practical.

In Montana all LTL carriers run pups. One of the few exceptions is hauling a 40 ft steel beam or something in which case you got a long box.

Our terminal in Three Forks Montana ran different than the Reddaway terminal in Billings just down the road that sat in the middle of the city.

All the areas we supported were 30-50 miles away from the terminal. It made sense to double or triple out since we did a lot of T/L swaps that would use up a pup. Triple to customer 1, drop off your empty back box, then double on to your drop lot and work your last two trailers. Then come back at the end of the day to pick your loaded trailer and head back.

Only time you had a bad day is if all three of your trailers were LTL, in which case you could work faster working a 48 ft liftgate.

Now with Billings, it's a different monkey, different circus. They still run all pups. But because they are all centralised, you would just go back and swap out trailers when you finished one.

Not gonna lie. I kinda miss tripling. It's a unique element of LTL trucking that many people don't get to do. Plus the scenery is something I'll never forget.

 

Walked into dispatch yesterday to get a quick AC break from the heat. What a mistake that was.

Dispatcher: hey ya R/R! Just the man I'm looking for! Any big plans this weekend?

- Going to #52 house and we are going to day drink and then shoot coyotes off of his porch.

HAH! Sounds like fun. So listen, is there any chance you would be interested in working tomorrow (Saturday)

- Err, I can't, I already told #52 that I wa..

TOTALLY understand. But here's the deal. Company XYZ has been killing us with freight. Look at poor Mrs Beth desk! See all that paperwork? That's just from our #1 customer, who happens to be the goose that is laying the golden eggs to pull us out of this recession

- oh yeah... That's alot of paperwo....

So we are totally relying on you to get this load out of there tomorrow

- I really can't g....

And our TM definitely appreciates you stepping up!

- Wait wut?

I already got your package all set up for tomorrow!

*Slides forward paperwork package*

But I already told #52 we are day dri...

You are a champ for stepping up! Feel free to grab whatever truck you want! And to ease the sting, you are getting paid time and a half!

Ok, well that's awesome and all bu...

Have a safe trip tomorrow (does the double hand pistol point at me and simultaneously drops both thumbs while making a clicking sound)

WTF just happened?

Anyway, that was my rant. My dispatcher would make a great used car salesman.