Leonard's Express gamble

Did my length of haul numbers for my time with the O/O at Leonard's.

He was paying me hub miles for everything: going home, deadhead, and loaded. So they'll probably be about 5% less as a company driver.

First 51 loads, before I started running West regularly:
(51 loads);
(71,026 miles);
(50 pickups) (note-1 load cancelled after the deadhead).
(66 drops);
(Average miles per load 1,392.67);
(Average stops per load 2.28).

Last 52 loads, after I started running West regularly:
(52 loads);
(97,562 miles);
(56 pickups);
(65 drops);
(Average miles per load 1,876.19);
(Average stops per load 2.33).

Overall Totals:
(103 loads);
(168,588 miles);
(106 pickups);
(131 drops);
(Average miles per load 1,636.78);
(Average stops per load 2.30).

Based on those numbers, I deal with approximately 4 total shippers and receivers per week. IMO, the fewer the shippers and receivers that I deal with, the better quality of life on the road. Less stress. More efficiency. Works for me.

 

Well Leonard's booked my flight to orientation today, flying out Sunday.

Then Biden Administration revealed that they are going to force all companies, with 100 employees or more, to mandate the vax or require weekly testing. $14,000 fine per violation.

They started the same mandatory vax or weekly testing with other entities and then dropped the weekly testing option. They'll do the same in this situation.

Since Leonard's has greater than 100 employees, I'll have to call them in the morning and ask them what they intend to do. I already told them that I wouldn't take the vax and they said they didn't require it. But that was a few days ago.

Probably have to cancel going to orientation.

 

True story. I was a good student in school. Did well academically and never gave the teachers any trouble.

Then one day, out of the blue, my 4th grade teacher walks by my desk. We picked up our lunch trays in the lunchroom and ate at our desks.

She says "You haven't touched your salad."

I said "I don't eat salad."

She says "Your going to have to eat some of that salad, it's good for you."

I said "No ma'am, my parents don't make me eat salad."

She says "Your going to have to eat some of that salad or your going to the office."

I said "I'm not eating the salad."

She marches me down to the principal's office. Tells him I refused to eat any of my salad.
He asks me why and I said "My parents don't make me eat salad."
He says "Your going to have to eat some of the salad."
I said "I'm not eating the salad."

So I get a paddling in the principal's office for refusing to eat the salad.

When I got home, I told my dad what they did. I didn't experience that coercion again.

That was in 1970.

The only paddling that I got in elementary school.

 

Well I talked to both my old dispatcher and my recruiter. I asked them if they still wanted me to come aboard, with the foreknowledge that I will have to leave Leonard's if and when they implement Biden's vaccine mandate. I told them that I don't want any hard feelings if and when that day comes.

They both said that they wanted me to come on aboard and would have no hard feelings when I have to leave when the Biden mandate is implemented.

So I reckon that I'll still be flying up to orientation Sunday.

It was important to me, for them to understand upfront my position, so that they had the option of canceling my coming aboard.

 

Will do. I'm getting .53cpm base pay plus whatever I can glean from their bonuses. I'll find out about those in orientation and pass that info along.

I know that my dispatcher will run me long like before. So the miles and the pleasant running should still be there.