Good night from...

I recently refused a load to Denver.
I could make the pickup, but because of my hours I could never make the 0700 delivery for the first stop.
And considering the first stop delivery time that I could have made, I would be on a 10 for the final at 2200 that night.
Is that the load you got stuck with?

And, I'm still here waiting for a load.

So I get a message from my DM about my 47% idle time.
Get it down. Company policy is 18.5%... yada.
Or, you could go L/O and idle all you want.

And as I sit here it has been 18-19 degrees all day, and getting down to around 7 tonight. High winds, so the wind chill is much lower.

So I am thinking about 'company policy'.
It also says that when below 20 degrees, idle the truck so the fuel does not gel.

I brought that up to him when we last spoke, because I had several days when the temps were into the low teens and below.
So, of course my idle time is going to be very high - especially if I have to wait a day (or more) between loads in these cold temps.

Seems not to matter.

I think there is some tunnel vision where idle times are involved, because he mentioned using the Webasto more.
(And, you know, I would - if it worked. Hasn't since I got the truck. Had it fixed, and the next day it went out again. Next time in the shop I mentioned it - it was a bad burner. They ordered the part, but it would be 2 weeks in transit. I'll try again when I take home time next week. Hopefully they still have the part for my truck.)

And go L/O so I can idle as I see fit?
Not likely in this lifetime.

 

Might be time to have a word with the Ops Manager or Terminal Manager about this, so you can clarify what's expected. Illustrating, of course, your lack of a functioning Webasto and the low temps you've been running in.

 

I've really stopped worrying about it.
There has not been a month, in the past year with Swift, that I didn't have a high idle time.

I seem to be routed to the hottest or coldest areas, depending on the season.
I always seem to have a high idle time, even though I don't like to idle more than really necessary.

And I usually seem to manage a decent (or above average) miles-per-gallon, and have no service failures.

All they can do is fire me, after all.

Until that happens, all is good.

And until that happens, I will do what I deem necessary to keep me and my truck running well.

 

Not making much more out here on the road either. Last week I got 1200 miles and 500 so far this week, set for hometime, and that's only 400 miles away. I'm gonna go ahead and take a full 7 days off.Might as well sit at home as out here.

I was just talking to a Fontana based 15 year Swifty, he said his DM said there is no freight out right now. Mac 30 says no loads, I will give them 34 hours to find something otherwise I'm bouncing home.

As long as you have no tickets, no accidents (read: good record) you really hold all the keys here. Even if they did fire you for excessive idling, or any other excuse, it would be easy to get another job using the 'I am coming from Swift' excuse lol, most companies would say "Say no more! You're hired!"

 

Out here in Independence, Mo on another load. Yea its only a 250mi run over to Pontoon Beach, Il, but im moving on down the line.

Went over to Edwardsville, Ks terminal earlier to get def fuel and new wipers, had a shower and had to do some doc safety video.

Lots of drivers there looking for loads, few even said... ohh you took that load, yea I declined it. Im like, well, sit here then, ill see ya later. Never understood why drivers turn down loads when its slow, shakes head. Ill take everything tossed my way and keep rolling, rather than sit "by choice". Although after about 2 weeks I like to take a day off to unwind, but still, rather roll out than smoke cigs, drink coffee and eat out of a vending machine.. lol

After this delivery, im around 1600 miles for the week, looking for a longer run afterwards to bump me up over 2000+. Slow season, yea, but for a company driver im getting some decent miles thus far.

 

The only bad thing is a backing accident I had 2 weeks into solo.
I crunched a fender on a pole. No damage to shippers property.

 

Nope ... different. But between the delay due to weather and slow pumps at Flying J, I was going to be somewhere between right on time and an hour late ... t-called in Edwardsville and joined the multitudes - well not exactly, I have all the comforts of home in my truck and no desire to be in a drivers lounge.

 

lL-111 exit 6b Flying J. 1.3 miles from delivery, can't deliver till 0001 - 0630 tomorrow, so close yet so far.
I was sent a PP on my way here to New Jersey, NY, but they took it off me while driving here, saw PP on cell as I drove, can't say im sad on that one, but I was backed up bout 45 mins later with a nice run. Next load is a p/u here in St Louis, IL & few stop between heading west to Colorado Springs, Co, nice 853mi run.

The mile gods are smiling on me lately..

Edit: well obviously im tired. Not an 853mi run, first stop is in Rapid City, SD, 958mi, then few other stops in WY then down in to Colorado Springs. Holy cr@p, this is a sweet run, hope I have enough roll off to cover this baby.

 

Still in Fontana. Freight is slow but picking up. I got a load that picks up in the morning going near Dallas, TX. Will be 48 hour layover here in Fontana by the time I get rolling. Not bad considering I met and heard other on 3-4 day lay overs.

On the positive side the weather here has been nice. SUNNY and mid 70's.

 

Also still here in Fontana. Went inside and talked to the nite crew, and got a lot different story then what the day crew said. They are now starting to work on the PTA's that are set for 1/12. there were some messed up loads comming out today. Beer loads going to El Paso where there are even more trucks sitting and waiting. Night shift did say that O/O are supposed to get some priority, and they took down my truck number and said that they will try and get me a nice long one outta here by morning. One O/O was able to snag a t-called load out of Mira Loma, Sears, going to Columbus, OH. Oh well, I needed a 34 hour.