not having to much fun

First off, take the truck over to the shop and get it fixed.

Second, the DM has nothing to do with preplans or appointment times. That's all on planners. Your DM is your contact with the company at large. He or she can request loads or lean on planners to get you moving, but scheduling is not on them. Your DM was probably nodding and just as frustrated with it as you are.

But get that truck fixed before you get shut down by DOT.

 

Not doing anything is the perfect time to have that truck in the shop. During my off time, my truck #### near lives in our shop.

 

So why is he changing the dates and times?

 

if you run the same area's alot you will get to know the planners and the customer service people...

they are who is causing the frustartion.. and with this being the slow time of year for general freight it helps to know ppl..

 

Alot of times the planners will see a load on the computer. They present it to you. After you commit to it, they commit to it, then they make the appts. The times usually stay the same, but they might change.

Get use to doing all your stuff after the load is dispatched. Don't write down the preplan. Stay on top of truck repairs.

 

Okay, thermostat and seat air won't shut you down at an inspection.

Windshield wipers and dumping 120psi on 20 minutes (more than 3 psi/min on a tractor alone...you're dumping 6) WILL get you shut down. Umm....priorities here?

 

I blew a line on my seat (caught the air line with the seat frame scissors). 6 ppm loss. I stuck a screw in the line, wrapped it with duct tape (now 2 ppm loss) and limped 25 miles to a TS. 50 cents in parts and 5 minutes cured the leak (self repair). Since it cost me a load that night ($80 deadhead vs $150 load), I carried spare parts for internal airlines after that one.

Live and learn.

 

I figure that is what this first year trucking is all about...living it and learning from it. Then some real decisions can be made after that on how to make some loot at this game.