CRETE - A Year in Review

Update: I got my statement for last Friday's settlement today. Turns out something got screwed up in the system and they haven't been deducting my fuel from my settlements the last 2 weeks. So, I got a settlement for $2,936 for a week in which I ran 3,047 miles, and the previous week's settlement was $1,661 for 2,884 miles. I figured something was wrong when I saw those settlement amounts, so I made sure not to spend the money. On my way home I went ahead and dropped off a check in Marietta for $2,000 to cover most of my outstanding fuel bill and told them to deduct any further outstanding fuel from my next settlement. There's a big oops for ya

 

Here ya go ET, pics of the shelf I built. It's basically a 2-level deal, bottom level flush with the top of the lip around the bunk tray - that's so the microwave will open freely and the drawers will slide out freely. The top is just a plywood tray, surrounded by a lip made of 2x4's, that's 6'7" x 2' and will hold my guitar, amp, and things I don't access often (coveralls, etc).

The space to the right of the drawers will hold my laundry bag. The space to the left will hold my briefcase of paperwork. I'll be adding a lip in the front of those spaces so that stuff won't slide out. The drawers are food storage, as is some of the space under the bunk left over from the APU installation.

The drawers are screwed to each other and to the platform on which they sit. The microwave has a lip in front of it made from furring strip, and I also used some hole-strap (stuff they use to make pipe hangers and such). It has screws holding the outside on, on the sides, near the bottom, about halfway back. I attached hole-strap using those screws, and screwed the hole-strap to the platform - that microwave ain't goin' nowhere!

I also drilled 1/4" holes in the sides of the frames for the drawers for the bungee cord that holds the drawers shut. The drawers are from Wal-Mart, as is the microwave.

The most expensive part was the plywood. Second most expensive part was the screws and angle brackets. Avoid fine-thread drywall screws. The coarse threaded stuff holds much better in pine.

Oh, that tray is made from 2x2 and plywood...the plywood is attached to the 2x2 with 3" long screws, meaning they bite into the plastic of the bunk by about 1/2" or so. Other than that, it's something that can be done in a company truck without drilling any holes in the truck.

 

That looks great Redbeard! It was nice to meet you in NJ the other day.

 

Nice setup Redbeard. Start calling it the Winnebego, you gonna add some frilly cushions and a small pet, maybe a white poodle? Just kidding, I enjoy your informative posts.

 

I've had about the same experience lately. Same conclusion also.

 

I called him he askem how long ive been with shaffer and took my cell phone number an said i'll call ya back i have ppl in the office.....i think he forgot about me... i wanted et's truck...lol

 

My condolences on your loss(of your APU truck). Are you still a member of the Creaffer club, or did they manage to set you up in a red one this time? I've only been in this blue truck just under 3 years, but if I were to get bumped into a red one at this point...I would wonder the truck stop looking for my blue truck for a few months until I got use to looking for a red one.

 

Well, since I last checked in, things have been busy here...in fact, I had a total of 5 hours available, and had to use 2.5 of those to get my Wednesday morning load delivered. In the 8 days since I left home, I have amassed 3457 mi, plus 100 deadhead towards my next pickup. It started out w/600+ per day the 1st 2 loads, then a 999 2day run, then, I too started getting the same short stuff loads everyone else seems to be getting...just the cycle I guess. The down side, my 1st 2 loads...light...the last few, were in the 79K's. Most of my career here at Crete I've been spared the joy of running up in the northeast, but lately I have been spending entirely too much time up there. And to top it off, the load I am picking up tomorrow out of Grove City, PA is going to Grand Rapids, MI...a place where many of the loads back out, head to Breinigsville.... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Can we cut along the dotted line below PA, around NJ and push it off the coast and let England have it back with our apologies for stiring up such trouble over the original 13, and they can have NJ and PA as an interest payment...please???? We could even sweeten the deal, and include OH too.

I will kick myself for saying this...because it'll jinx me...but other than having to jump through several hoops trying to get through to the permits department for a NJ Alcohol permit for my latest Bud-dumber load out of Newark, I have had very little contact with anyone in high command, other than load, empty, or directions messages...kinda' makes me feel lonely. I mean, I'm starting to feel like I'm not "that" driver anymore...I will have to brainstorm a bit, just to see what kind of new trouble I can stir up...hey, I gota do something...this being quiet stuff is going to ruin my bad reputation...

 

ARRGGGHHHHH!!!

Delivered a load of pet food from Nestle/Purina in Edmond, OK to the Dollar General in Indianola, MS last night. On the load info it clearly states that if the B/L says "Cust Resp=DRVR", then we unload, and if it says "Cust Resp=CUST" then the customer is responsible for unloading.

I show up at 22:45 for a 23:45 appointment, wait until almost 00:15 to get into a door, check in, and the receiver asks me if I'm going to unload, or hire the lumper service. I show them the highlighted "Cust Resp=CUST" on the bills, and their response is "I don't know nuthin' 'bout that, but we don't unload trailers".

Long story short - lumper service got $230 for unloading 49 slipsheets. No breakdown, no hand-stacking, no nothing - just run the slipsheet machine under a stack, pick it up, and place it on a pallet.

One time, just one time, I'd like to see Crete grow a pair and tell the customer that if they want the freight unloaded, they need to comply with what's on the bills or take it up with the shipper.

However, I figure I'll be snow-skiing in Key West in July before that ever happens...

 

We don't have to give it all to them ... everything north of Augusta in Maine is considered Southern Occupied Canada ... seriously. There are even some towns in far northern Maine that only speak French. I say they can have it. -40F or less for the first two months or better of the year ... no thanks ... that why I moved to the south.

Cape Cod, Mass.