Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Looking for some advice. I'm a company driver. Here's my problem. Have had 4 breakdowns in the past two weeks that just keep me late for either p/u or delivery to 99. My DM has told me I can't keep being late. (no $h!+) He treats the breakdowns like they're my fault. I've haven't gotten any service failures. I assume because they reschedule the appointments. I send in my mac6 with a good time to allow for my breaks to be able to get to the next 01 on time. However, my next loads comes with p/u times during my break and have usually had 100-200 miles dh to the 01. My DM will send me a message to mac11. I call him and tell him I can't be there at the appt. time. He says no problem we have a window. He then send me another message to mac11. 2nd request. So, I mac11. Go to the 01, pick up and I'm on my way. But now I'm going to be late to the 99 because I picked up late. Once again, I'm running behind.

Is this normal? Are the mac6's usually ignored. I not putting to much time in, just what I need for a break. On the mac11, he usually starts putting pressure on right away to send it in. I don't even have time to run the numbers to make sure I can make it on time. When I tell him my time concerns he just says I have plenty of time send in you mac11 now. I'm getting the loads, but it just seems like I'm being setup to fail.
In orientation, they said don't kid yourself, you boss is your DM, you can't fire him. I don't necessarily want another DM, I just need help figuring out the right way to get thru the process without service failures.

My trainers had totally different interaction with their DM. They would just tell their DM the way it had to be and that's how it was. I don't see that happening with my DM.

 

Don't let your dm press you into a MAC 11 before you run the numbers. If he tries tell him you are working on he trip plan. Never accept the load if you can't make the 99 unless they tell you to. As for the dm being your view, sorta. Yes you can change. If your having trouble, call the terminal manager. Wvc is Carl. The MAC 6 is not normally ignored. Also be careful about letting your dm tell you if you can or can't make it on time. You know your hours and are the one who knows how to trip plan. Yes they can see your hours but they don't always do that good in trip plans. In all reality, you do have to tell your dm "this is how it has to be". If you can't do it then tell them. Don't worry about there feelings because they will be more upset over a late load or repower than you saying I can't make it on time. Good luck and if you need any more help just ask.

 

I started with Central back in Oct 05. Went to their Fontana school. I think I was in class 3 or something. They were really flying by the seat of their pants back then. I never sat or was without a pre-plan when I worked there. My DM Patrick and I got along great. My trainer, Justin Smith, was excellent too. All things told, I would go back if their experienced driver pay was better. They are a training company and will always pay like one. They didn't push the lease deal quite as much back then either.

 

Yeah Bumper, I was going to say, you must have been one of the first classes. I remember when the training lot was just over flow parking. Someone had told us they were going to start schooling out there and we thought it was funny because it was always so freakin dusty out there! It was the really fine powdery dust too.

I think one major reason Central's pay is a little lower is because they put a lot of money into having nicer equipment. On the whole you will find in the industry that the companies with nicer equipment pay less and the companies with crap equipment pay more.

You are right too though back in the day Central would run the crap outta you! We were constantly running between 6000-7000 miles every single week. The only time we didn't is if we were broke down. I can remember that all of Centrals competent drivers got as many miles as they could handle plus some! You always knew right away if a driver wasn't worth a #### because if they complained about miles you knew it was their doing.

 

I'm was 49 at the time of mine - and 175# 5'9" female - if I can do it, so can you... they do watch your BP and pulse while you do it, but you can pause between tasks... you'll do fine.

 

When Gary (Klingon) started - he was solo while I went to school/training - during that month the same thing was happening to him... pressure to 11 - conflicting times - guilt trips - and sometimes what seemed like out right lies!! The DM that was my trainer's DM took us both on, and things smoothed out and we 'know' each other now - and there is 'trust' - that is a biggy!! I would recommend speaking w/the manager of the terminal you are out of (seeing your home town of Sacramento - I would guess Fontana - so that would be KC)... let him know of your concerns. IF nothing improves - then speak w/Carl @ WVC - he is the 'High Mucky Muck' over the DMs... Also document, document, document!! Who you talked to - what you talked about - date/time - etc. Not sure if you have the old or new QC - but taking a picture of the conversations (on the QC) works too. If its not on the QC - it didn't get said. Don't let it get you down, or too frustrated - it comes with the territory... they (the DMs) have a job to do, and that is to get you to take the loads and run them - their job isn't to make sure you have the hours to run them or if you can make it... just to clean up the mess if you can't. Don't let them bully you into taking loads you can't do - and they will try - that gets it off their desk. Communication and trust is golden - don't wait to long if you can't get things straightened out with your current DM and YES you can change DMs if you try all of this and can't work things out. Sometimes folks just don't work well together... Good luck and keep us posted

 

Thanks Lady K,

I was not too concerned about being able to do it, but knowing you can pause during is good.
Just want to keep BP and pulse in required range. At 47, just want to get through first time.

Mark B

 

Lady and roadrunner -- Thank you. Not only do I have direction as to how to handle this, I sure feel alot better. I'm sure we can work it out now that I know what I can do. Just felt like the trip planning got thrown out the window with this guy. I'm sure he means well, I mean he is getting me some longer loads.

Funny Lady K, everything you said I've been going thru. And by co- incidence I started taking pictures of the qualcomm just to cover my ###.

Well I'm shut down due to HOS. Won't make the appt time but I can get there in the morning. All documented and photographed. My DM is busy trying to repower or reschedule.

Thanks again.

 

About time. The truth is it's customer service who gets antsy about drivers being late. They hammer the DM. All they get to see is the truck is moving or sitting. They know squat about the drivers hours.. Only the DMs and planners get to see your HOS.

Now some DMs will keep Customer Service at bay, some can't if their life depended on it.. If the DM tells them your are working a 10 or 34 than Customer Service usually backs off.

I have been given many a load that was late when I got it assigned to me. Dependng on the load I just roll with it.. If the 99 is a place like Walmart, I tell them they need to reschedule the drop or take me off it. If it's another Kraft facility I make haste to get it there as quickly as possible and if need be tell them when I will get it there.. Couple weeks ago almost every load I got was late for pickup and late for delivery... One actually got rescheduled, but I delivered all of them. Only had one load repowered and that was due to me leaving my wallet home..

I at least don't need to remind my DM or planner what 'I am gonna be late.' means.. Just make sure it's not continuously your fault the loads are late..

 

On the Lockrige Report they has some taking head on from EPA, and he was saying that it was going to apply to any ship that comes into the US Ports.
City of Oakland, CA has been talking about taking over the old Navy Base that was in Alameda, CA. (just across a 400 ft wide channel from Oakland Port) But none of the ship lines will give them a commitment.

There was even a rumors going around that a couple of the smaller companies that contract with Mersk (sp?) Lines in Oakland and Long Beach will not be renewing their agreements after the end of 2012. This may just be posturing for contract renewals but… who knows….

Wasn’t there one of the Ports in (I think it was in SC but not sure) that just had gotten a big Navy contract but had to deepen the channel and port to get the ships into it before they could start the contract?