Headed for Indianapolis for Orientation August 7th...

davect-

To summarize ...

I always parked my personal vehicle at where my dedicated accounted shipped from. I would have been allowed to do anything I wanted with my pumpkin, including bringing it home and taking it grocery shopping. However, I very rarely brought it home, because with electronic logs, I was not willing to burn an hour or so on each end of my trip home. Everything counts with electronic logs, so you have to play smart and manipulate the process whenever you can.

1. About routing...I can only speak about my experience with SNI. I was given directions of what was probably the shortest route. Outside of that, I was able to route my own way, as long as it did not interfere with my on time delivery. Your bonus at SNI has to due with being 100% on time delivery, and not being out of route more than 5%-10% of your paid miles (depending on your experience level).

2. As far as unloading early....Again I can only speak on my personal experience. I was on a dedicated account. I shipped from the same supplier, and went to alot of the same customers. I could potentially deliver to the same customer several weeks in a row. I was building relationships with the customers, learning how to manipulate the system, and getting things done. I always tried to push ahead as fast as possible. I would try to sneak in late one day early, or first the day of my scheduled delivery, everytime I could. With electronic logs and steady miles, I felt if I could steal a couple hours at every stop, by the end of the week I would have an entire extra day/ shift to run. I very rarely felt like I wasted hours of service, or had excessive down time waiting for a customer to take their product.

Again, those are just for me. I know attitude and personality will have alot to do with how your customers are willing to work with you. I saw guys sitting, waiting, complaining, and after listening to them for a few minutes, I understood exactly why. I also do not know what other companies do about the out of route miles or using truck for personal use.

Raid3r

 

I personally agree 100% that it is perfectly legal to log "line 5" using truck for personal use while not under dispatch (even if you happen to be carrying a trailer). I also tried making the very exact arguement to my dbl. They will allow the mcp to register this ob o/o and i/c trucks with electronic logs, but company drives have it blocked. I am sure the fear is that with so many drivers the abuse would be rampant, and essentially offset the gains they hoped to make by installing them in the first place. It is all a moot point to me at this moment because I am spotting and shuttling locally so I keep paper logs again and work a shift that prevents me from braking HOS.

Raid3r

 

very short update..

Still working n a dedicated account spotting and shuttling, and in the coming weeks I am going to start learning how to dispatch. I know that I have unbelievable luck in all aspects of my career. I have alot of things that just do not happen. I went to school, started right away with SNI, got away with a short training period, have stayed with trucking longer than probably 90% of all students i went to school with, stayed with my first company which is probably more than 90% of new drivers, I am working a local gig that i got after 4 months, etc.

I am not just satisfied, I am actually happy with my job and my company (SNI). I enjoy the facility I work at, which is 11 miles form my house, I enjoy my DBL who I see almost daily, I enjoy my coworkers, I enjoy most everything surrounding my job and employment.

I am sorry for those of you who havent been so lucky, the only advice i can give is to keep a positive attitude and in general I have found in this business that you get out what you put in (attitude, effort). IF you can not find it where you are keep looking.

Good Luck to you all and be safe!

Raid3r

 

(bumping this thread as I have directed some people here in the past few days)

Still working my local dedicated gig and still enjoying. Doing alot more shuttling, which is nice to get out of the parking lot every now and then, although the parking lot does offer alot of safety and comfort. I was off a few weeks with a non work related injury, so my dispatching career has been on hold, although not dead.

Good Luck to all, and Stay Safe.

Raid3r