ESTES Express (5 Year Review)

Ok so here's the scoop on last night. Was on break over 17 hours, finally get dispatched from Draper, VA to Greenville, SC. I get to the terminal, wait about 20 minutes for them to close trailer and I'm rolling. I get down to Greenville, SC and this is where the BS starts.

I have to wait about 30 minutes to get them on the phone. I keep my lead, going to Atlanta, and hook to a rear. I hook everything up and I'm gone in about an hour. I get down to Atlanta, and I've told you guys about this before, and... Shenanigans.

If you ever work here, if you get to Atlanta from like 0330 to about 0500, expect some BS. Central dispatch is either on break or shift changing and THEY REFUSE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. It's ALWAYS been like this so I already knew what time it was. Office people are useless so no point going there.

I get this dude on the phone, he's discombobulated, doesn't know what's going on, but as expected I keep the tail and hook another trailer to it. I'm at this terminal almost another hour. Now, this is where I get upset. Before this guy gets off the phone, I tell him TO PLAN ME BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO CALL HIM BACK IT'LL FURTHER DELAY.

Keep in mind he sends me 5 minutes up the street to the other terminal. We have 2 Atlanta terminals on the same street. I get to The other terminal, go in the office and she gives me the paperwork. Even said my dispatch ID as if she knows what's going on. Ok, I'm supposed to go to Colombia, SC... WHATEVER. I'm ready to get it over with.

Keep in mind my samsara is messing up which is why I have to keep calling them because the trips aren't coming through or recording properly. I drive the yard almost an hour looking for my tail and could not find it. I call the office to let her know and she says... OH WAIT THOSE TRAILERS AREN'T HERE. YOU'RE NOT EVEN PLANNED I GAVE YOU SOMEONE ELSE'S PAPERWORK.

Bro, I almost lost it on that phone. I was so upset because I spent just as much time waiting and calling around on the phone as I did actually working. Bro I was so pissed. I just told her I'm going on break. Ended the day with about 5 hours and an extreme temper. Again, this is WHY I do not like coming to the east coast.

So, here's my day...

Draper, VA - Greenville, SC (220 miles)
Greenville, SC - Atlanta, GA 041 (163 miles)
Atlanta, GA 041 - Atlanta, GA 141 (WHATEVER)

Fun right?

 

Those are the worst because god knows what the other guy has going on. These guys with bad home lives are in no hurry to get to the meet. I had a dude that used to nap on the way up. That's very inconsiderate given you're holding up the other person. I rather just go to a terminal or go straight through with no stops.

We used to be able to do that at will, but people started complaining so they stopped us. Things used to be way more wild at Estes, but I guess they're tightening it up. You could make ALOT of money going through. That forces them to dispatch you back. Not hard to see how you could manipulate that system for endless money.

 

Absolutely bro but most these guys don't see it like that. They rather wait all the way until the last minute. That'll kill your entire day when instead by 8am you could be pretty much done if you turned on the 10. I really don't get the logic of these guys at times.

I have a buddy that used to joke that they're getting away from their 300lb wife at home.

 

My objective is always get to the meet immediately. I don't want to hold anyone else up. After that, it's whatever. If you need rest, pull over. If you're hungry, go eat. I refuse to hold a guy up so I get to the meet immediately.

 

Yet again guys after a bad week they send me to Knoxville. I truly do not understand it. There's no work over this way. I'll try not to be pessimistic but last week on the east coast I BARELY did 2K miles.

I ran over 7K miles the two weeks before that combined!

 

Ok guys so, kinda been on the edge so far but it's not all doom and gloom. Hoping for another lucky day today.

Home - Knoxville, TN (399 miles)
Knoxville, TN - Huntsville, AL (248 miles)
Huntsville, AL - Knoxville, TN (248 miles)
Knoxville, TN - West Indy, IN (368 miles)

Hoping for another day away from the east. Kinda nervous because I know I can go to 055 (West Middlesex, PA) from here. Trust me, you do not wanna go there!