Loggin on "Line 3" for TMC

Anyone heading to TMC Des Moines IA on June 11th for orientation?

 

What was the advice bro? Don't hold back!

 

Just spent the night at a Walmart in Indiana couple nights ago. Sometimes that's all you have on the back roads. And that guy was right. I have done well the last couple weeks on MY schedule. I'm an early morning person so I start my days at about 4 am and by 6 I'm parked. Make hours you like and they stay that way all week. Good luck!

 

I don't know what kind of space you guys have, I drive a Century...but one thing I do keep in my truck are the 3 liter bottles of water, ozarka, deer park, whatever. Buy them at pilots for 2/$4.00, or get them at walmart for 99 cents. I buy 10 at a time at walmart. There were times last summer I went through 7-8 of them in a week. You can never have too much water.

Jeff, one of the main things you can do is stay hydrated. One key sign of heat exhaustion/stroke to keep an eye out for is if you stop sweating. I have had this happen to me a couple times, even with all the water I drink. If it happens, STOP WORKING for at least a half hour. Take a break, relax, drink water, sit in the A/C (but gradually cool down, don't crank it up at the beginning)...if it makes your load late, WHO CARES? Your load will be even later if you drop dead, right? Just some things to think about.

 

Noggin I appreciate the advice. It was a rookie mistake and was over my head so to speak from the get go. I have learned from this and can assure you that I will take the steps to take care of myself first. It has truly been an embarrassing moment for me. I know there are things I need to do now before I ever put the truck in gear and start to roll. I have read as much as I could find about trip planning and giving me some ideas to at least start with.

 

Indeed, Blind. I don't know how it goes at TMC, but if I am ever not going to make it to a delivery or a pick up on time, all I do is send a little macro on the qualcomm and the appointment gets changed. Worst case, they'll repower the load...Either you have the hours and time frame to make it on time, or you don't. You cant make extra hours appear outta thin air.

I learned a long time ago (not that long actually....it was only about a year and a half ago lol) that you can only do what you can do. You cant make traffic move any faster; you can't make the construction open up until you pass...things happen, and shippers/receivers know that. Especially in the flatbed world; receivers know shippers get backed up and their load might leave an hour or two after it was supposed to. We usually haul the raw material, be it wood, steel, etc...so 9 times outta 10 you don't have to be there right at 7am. Majority of receivers will take you anytime of the day, as long as its not after their business hours lol

 

Great advice guys Thanks! I just need to do the calculation and have some idea before I roll. Everything should be finished up today and hopefully back at it tomorrow! We'll see