How often do you leave?

Every business you pass has a help wanted sign. Nobody can find help right now. As a customer you’re tired of hearing it, as a business owner you’re tired of saying it.

 

Ain't nobody got time for that!

 

I am not an O/O but I have reset my 14 sitting at a customer before. By the time they were done I just hit the road with a full 11 hours available to drive. Of course I made sure to get some sleep while waiting.

 

I say I’ve done it more then 10 times. Now if they are loading me up and it’s taking a while and I can clearly see they are trying then I stay.

 

With reefer I would call the broker/customer at an hour, after 2 you want to pay me to sit, or am I leaving, their call

now under a dump trailer a lot of times I load myself, but even in a quarry, 15 minutes for coffee break are about the max

 

2 in. One day hauling produce as a company driver I just called dispatch and told them I can't wait another 34 hours for one pallet. Tell them to cut that part of the load or send one of your other trucks.
I caught a little bit pf heat for it. But my old dispatcher drove for either 25 or 35 years. So he understood. Never left because of the shipper thou, I'm too nice for that.
When I had a Reciever tell me I couldn't leave with a empty trailer on a drop and hook. With 3 of our company trailers sitting there. I did it any way. Lost that job... So that's how my story breaks down.

 

I got a 34 hour reset waiting on Chevron in Richmond, CA (San Fran). I got paid detention for the 34 hours plus I got paid 2 days of layover pay.

 

Only left one time and it was a combo of issues. Got to the receiving office and they said my pick up number was already used. Called broker and had them work on getting me the number. After waiting 2 hours and watching the FCFS area fill up to about 4 hours out I told broker if you don't get me a number in 15 minutes I am off. They did not argue with me and I ended up leaving and getting TONU for it. Wasted 2.5 hours but I was really close to home and didn't care at that point.

 

I would say flatbed is a bit different then other freight. To me it would depend on how much i like working with the broker and how likely i am to get paid detention time... I have left before and would do it again if the situation presented itself. The broker says you are a horrible business man but in my opinion he is the horrible business man if his customers want to keep trucks waiting around and not pay for them to wait. That is horrible business... You are an honorable business man if ur willing to tell them to respect your time or find another truck. If more drivers had that attitude, i think shippers would get their act in gear and load in a timely manner.