Wannabe to Watkins Shepard Driver

Made it to Long Island with the new truck. Finding issues with it. Biggest and most annoying is the fact that you can't get it into 1st or 6th gear (same gear, 6th is on the high side) and reverse is a challenge. Second issue is alignment, it pulls hard to the right, so much so that you could never let go of the wheel or you will be off the road. The air leaks down over night, water pump leaking, stumbles on acceleration and the driving lights don't work. I did fix one problem. The head lights were so yellow they looked like turn signals. Took some tooth paste and window clean and polished them, turned out great.
I find it hard to believe these trucks are in such poor condition. This is a lease truck from Penske so they are responsible for the maintenance. The only thing I can come up with is the fact that drivers don't want their truck tied up in the shop so they just keep driving it as is.

 

A Truckers Day

Shippers and receivers like to make "appointments" for drivers. In theory it sounds great. You have an appointment to pick up or deliver something. Wow that's great; they're going to be waiting for me! Oh boy, don't want to be late. They probably have someone standing outside watching out for me. Well reality as usual is nothing like the theory. In reality the shippers and receivers want you available for their convenience, not yours. You show up and say "hey I'm here for the 3:00pm appointment" and without even looking up the shipping/receiving clerk will say "sign in and get in line" But wait, hey, I had an "appointment" you say in your head. And this is the reality of appointments. But also don't forget if you show up late in some places just an hour they will make you reschedule, sometimes for the next day. Show up too early and they won't let you on the property.
So I get a load to Long Island New York from Conover NC. This is about 650 miles, just outside the range for a one day run when you consider NY traffic. It was also early afternoon before I got the assignment because I had to wait on my truck. So first day I decide to take it easy and just drive 5 hours and pull into a truck stop in VA. Second day should be easy. I have a fuel stop in NJ so I plan on driving to the fuel stop and taking a few hours so I don't hit rush hour in NY. Additionally I'll be able to take a shower and feel human before entry into the abyss of NYC. Everything going as planned, pull into the Pilot Truck Stop and fuel. This place is really small for a pilot station. There is not one available spot to park, get fuel and go. So now I'm going into NYC at 5:00pm. Not really all that bad, continue out to the middle of Long Island and find the receiver. They are open 24 hours so go inside and tell them I have a 05:30 appointment for the morning. Ask if they can give me a door to spend the night so I won't have to move the truck in the morning. Nope, "we start appointments at 04:00, you will be in the way". Ok, spend the night in the parking lot, no big deal. I set my watch for 04:30 so I have a half hour to wake up in the morning. Get some sleep , wake up at 04:00 as planned. Take my paper work into the office and announce that I have a 05:30 appointment. Receiving clerk gives me a door, one that has been empty all night! Open the trailer doors, back into the door and wait, and wait, and wait. I didn't get unloaded until 08:30. So much for the 05:30 appointment. And now I wouldn't even think of getting on the Long Island expressway because it's morning rush hour.
So now I have to wait on dispatch to get me a new load assignment. At 10:00 I get a message that I have a load 200 miles away with a 4:00pm appointment. This is a broker load so I call the broker and he directs me to a PA truck stop and wants me to call when I get there. I do as instructed, get the final details and arrive at shipper right on time for my appointment. Sign in, get in line, wait. Ya I getting the hang of this. At 5:30pm I get a call and dock assignment. Open doors, back to dock, wait. 8:30pm I'm finally l loaded. Now on to my next appointment which is 250 miles away and for 08:00 the next morning. So I drive on down and arrive at 12:30am, "oh you'll have to come back in the morning" the guard tells me. So off I go to find a place to park for the night just a couple of blocks away.
To recap this day I only drove 427 miles. That's $106.75 in rookie pay plus $20 for the unload and $5 for the pickup. Grand total $131.75 or $6.75 per hour (05:00 - 12:30am 19.5 hours) That's Truckin'

 

All companies have problems. I'm giving W/S a chance to make good on all issues. Plus my post are 100% honest, not some manufactured BS company recruiters are spewing out their pie holes.