Millis OTR journal

Yes every time I deliver an insulation load.

 

I thought I was going to get stuck like that today. Between backing up to the dock and then the 12 point turn to get turned around in the drop lot followed by squeezing through the parked vehicles in the lot the whole place could have used 10 more feet every time I went to turn.

 

I picked up one in Trenton on Tuesday that went to Effingham. There was a couple other Millis trucks there when I was.

 

They were right about watching for bad drivers this time of year. I've been stopped in long lines of traffic due to accidents the past few days, and had a couple of 4 wheelers cut right in front of me before braking hard too.

 

75 north from Albany to Cartersville was a nightmare yesterday. Took 7 hours.

 

All the things you guys are mentioning from crappy customer situations to traffic and accident backups are the reason I decided to quit near the end of January. It wasn't about Millis, it was about trucking in general. I had hesitated to post anything because I do not want to be overly negative and rain on anyone else's parade. Not to mention I hadn't posted in awhile and figured no one missed me anyway. The recent posts prompted me to go ahead and post.

I had grown tired of places we frequent such as Memphis taking an entire day to do a simple unload & reload that should take no more than an hour most days. Putting you behind screwing up the next several days to a week of your time. Not to mention nowhere near enough sleep because of places like that screwing up your schedule forcing you to run harder and longer to get things delivered on time. No one pays the price except the drivers.

I had done one of those Kanuf insulation loads. Picked up from one of their locations in Alabama. Their loading dock area was tight but I was lucky enough to get a drop and hook where they wanted the empty in a lower lot that was roomy enough. I had to pick up the loaded trailer near the docks but pulling out was fine. It looked like a different story for those that had to bump a dock to get loaded.

I was also tired of safety bonus jeopardizing docks that have no business expecting OTR sleeper trucks w/53ft trailers to maneuver and deliver on their property.

The only thing about Millis I took issue with was closing the Weedsport terminal since that is where I parked and had service done while I was on hometime. That really wasn't Millis, it was Heartland's doing. I know there is currently still parking there but that will end at some point because from my understanding the location is for sale or lease.

I realize a lot of you do not live near a terminal and have to find hometime parking and get service done while you are on the road instead of while you are home sitting on your couch. I did not want to do that and having a terminal nearby was one of the reasons I came to Millis in the first place.

The final straw for me was all of the reckless car and fellow truck drivers on the road. It seems worse than ever. In mid January I was in Iowa and the road became very icy from wind blowing across the open fields and the highway. I had stopped early the night before to avoid a winter storm and this was the following morning after the storm had passed.

I was going around 35-40 mph and 3 separate times the truck just started sliding off the road. I was able to recover each time. Each time I slowed down even further and there was no where safe to pull off. I was trying to find one. I have driven in winter weather my entire life and know how to handle it. As I am puttering along at 20 mph now I had truck after truck blowing by me at 60 mph. I was wondering when they were going to crash and suck me into their idiocy. There were other trucks and cars off the road every mile or so and yet these morons just kept speeding along. I eventually found a safe haven and stopped. When I got started again the ice had cleared and I came upon additional trucks and cars that had gone off the road, including a bad one involving multiple trucks that had the other side of the highway closed.

This was on top of earlier in the winter when I got caught up in snow squalls near Erie, PA and came upon a slow down because 2 tractor trailers had wrecked. I had cars and other tractor trailers crashing behind me because they were all going way too fast. A FedEx doubles truck jack knifed and nearly ran into the back of me. Luckily no one hit me.

I decided I didn't want to die out on the road because there are so many idiots on the road with us. Particularly a lot of idiot truck drivers driving like reckless morons. I had thought about asking Millis if I could take a leave of absence every winter or resign in the fall and get rehired in the spring. I just assumed they would not go for that and never asked. Particularly now that below the surface they are Heartland.

Trucking was my second career and I have a pension. Since I left I have been living off that and actually started doing Doordash for a little extra cash while I figure out my next move. At times I missing driving until I read some of the posts and am reminded what I grew tired of.

There are plenty of LTL and other local jobs near me but I've done local before. You're home everyday but they work you into the ground nearly everyday so you still do not end up with a life. You still have ridiculous docks/situations but a day cab and 48ft trailer makes them a bit easier. Part time driving would be best for me but that doesn't seem to exist. You either have no life or don't work. It's all or nothing. Maybe I'll find that needle in a haystack.

Stay safe everyone. Should be a bit easier now that winter has mostly come to an end.

 

Training has been really enjoyable. I’m on my 6th student. 4 of them I can call friends. 4 very different people from very different walks of life. All 4 of them I talk too, at a minimum a few times a week. They call me asking about shippers, receivers or just to see how I’m doing. I do the same to them. Sometimes they just have a question about procedures and are seeking reassurance.
One thing I disliked about getting into my own truck was it seemed like I was on a deserted island. Trainer put me in my truck and off he went never to be heard from again at least when it came to trucking.
5th student got into his truck never heard from him once, he thought he knew everything and has already been on the accident report.
6th student. Brings me to my point. Every student I have had goes through some sort of transformation after they pass their CDL test. The four I’m good friends with it took a few weeks.
At some point they think they know more than I do. At first it was irritating but I started seeing it as a sign of progress. I want them to be confident in their abilities.
My 6th student passed his CDL test on Monday. Today we were at a drop lot, it was a little tight but student was backing into a spot that had 3 open spots. I never allow my students to back into a middle space they need to back into a spot next to someone or a trailer. (Can’t stand someone who backs into the center spot)
Anyway student didn’t have a lot of space in front of the spot and kept coming in on an angle. I’m just standing out there making sure he doesn’t hit anything. Better he figures it out on his own. Which is the way he wants it.
So after 5 attempts of him pulling forward and backing up trying to get the angle out of the trailer and ending up in the same exact position time after time. I walk up to the cab, he jumps out. I try telling him how to correct it, he cuts me off, I try telling him again, again he cuts me off, so for a third time i try telling him how to correct it and again he cuts me off.
At that point i tell him he is acting like a #### and he needs to get the trailer in the spot. Wasn’t my best training moment but he did get it in the spot his very next back up.

 

Sitting here at the Pilot in Bath NY and it’s obvious that someone nearby is smoking the ganja. Not the first time I’ve smelled it while being parked but can’t fathom how someone would risk their job over it.

 

Some people are just stupid.

 

I hate truckers just like you. Used to hate the 4 wheelers when I first started driving but realized that truckers are the worst. @3 years later and my view hasn't changed. Wish you the best in your next adventure. 10 more years for me.