Stevens Transport aviary

Thanks for the update... I knew before I went on vacation that we were in trouble with Tyson, too many late loads. Nothing has changed.
Got sent to the meat patch as expected, except it is JBS in Greeley.. Headed to LA 3 drops.. DLD is 0700 in the morning, and deliveries begin on Friday morning, nice easy run, if JBS gets it out by the DLD... Have not had great luck with JBS getting it out by the DLD at other plants..
And to top it off, I am to run I70 west of denver, and file a report of my thoughts.
Naw, Mother is stressed that the computers are not doing what she wants them to do, and are still flagging everything over 58 mph as compression.
Everyone have fun with the Blitz, first day down, and not a single scale house.

 

Why are we late on so many loads? WTF?

 

My DM answers it this way: I have 60 drivers on my fleet. 12-15 I can always count on. I never hear from you unless there's a problem or you want to just bust my b*lls for fun. Another 30 are ok. do mostly good work, require somehand holding, but do their job by in large. I have to keep an eye on them, but don't have to intercede often.
the last 15? They take 90% of my time. They are the reason I take blood pressure medication. They complain about everything, they fail to pick up on time, they fail to deliver on time they fail to drive their available hours. They don't tell me they have a problem until the day of delivery...even tho they knew it three days earlier.

So that being said, it's easy to understand how we have late loads. I'm sure you've seen some of those drivers out there too.
Case in point: I picked up a load in Idaho last week. Delivers in Joplin. Repowered in Des Moines so that driver could go home (Chicago), I took his load to St Paul. Picked up another load in Mason City IA and headed to Cali. Spent the first night in Des Moines where I met a driver who had picked up his load at the same shipper in ID in the dock next to me, same day. He was still on his way to Jolliet. I asked him if he had mechanical problems. He was a grad fleet driver. Was trying to help him out. He said, "no...these loads just don't have enough time!"
At this point he was a day and a half late.
I don't think he'll last long.

 

good grief. yea, ive seen some of those winners out here. and here they go screwing things up for all of us.

I took a couple days at home this weekend and went to the Shell Rotella Super Rigs show in Kenly, NC

Picked up a load monday mornin headed for Cheyenne, WY. Nice 1900 mile run, then gotta get by KW to have the truck looked at. Losing a half gal of antifreeze every day. Cant figure where its going.

Had one roll through at a scale in IN but so far an uneventful DOT crack down (crosses fingers)

 

your oil level isnt getting higher is it?

 

Well tomorrow morning, having finished my 34, I get to go look for a trailer.
Wonder if I'll be a bigger target bobtailing past the scales!
Then pick up a load in Coalinga and head for Texas.
Off and running again!

 

No, and the oil looks normal.

 

When you first start the truck in the morning, see if you are belching white smoke... antifreeze leak in the charge air cooler, is a possibility. Also a hot water leak in the hoses leading to the bunk and or apu... only happens when you are running down the highway... only way to find, is as soon as you stop, check the fittings near the fire wall on the passenger side..

Part of the problem with late loads is the drivers, the few bad apples. Part of the problem too is the lack of planning in Dallas, and schedule of trucks to loads.. and the attitude of we will fix it tomorrow, and the thought of they can always repower the load to save it.. Has not been happening lately. And then part of the problem is the rash of drivers that are refusing loads, and DM's telling them too.

Amazingly JBS had my load ready 2 hours before the DLD, so I got a good nights sleep, and rolled out as the sun came up.

Day 2 of the blitz is over... Was red lighted at the scale on west bound I70 west of denver.. The 2 trucks in front of me, both were waved over into the inspection area, and I rolled across the scale, and had to park and take my paper work in, she checked the registration, Ifta, and license, and sent me on my way. CO/Ut scale green lighted me.

My DM never hears from me, unless I really need some help. Then he knows it often, like as soon as I accept the load, knowing I can't make the delivery due to hours of service.

 

Cracked Head!! My truck was going thru 2 gal per 12 hours with me and my partner running it. It was a cracked head. It was blowing out the exausht. If not that maybe oil cooler or EGR cooler.

 

I hope its not a head, good grief. I dont think it is that though. Talked to the KW Dealer in Cheyenne and they seem to think its the EGR cooler. Seems that has been a recuring problem. Im gonna get it by there tommorow after i MT out. Theyre gonna do some preasure test to find whats up. Ive got a soft appt for 5PM so hopefully theyll get me in and outr quick.