Life After Roehl

Yesterday I had the last two stops of a four stop delivery and the customer switched the delivery times on me without notifying dispatch. I noticed the new times and that they switched the last stop to first thing in the morning. Anyway, first one was at 0700 and second was supposed to be at 1700. Notice the problem? Luckily, the last stop got me unloaded at 1430 so I could make it down the road before my 14 hr clock ran out.

Cherry on top of that is I get a message today that I'm being paid an additional $75 detention on top of the $300 I was already guaranteed for layover....WOOHOO!

 

Welcome to the After Life.

 

Welcome to the Afterlife Doc..........

as far as fish...we had 3 gold fish at home...that was until my 3 year old thought they needed some Pepsi to drink on top of an entire canister of fish food....needless to say the fish died...and the tank got put away til later.....

 

Well to recap my day. Moved into my truck this morning. It was really low on coolant and the fuel tank was on empty. 190 gallons later I was ready to bobtail 17 miles to my pickup. Picked up a preloaded van (6000lbs) and headed to IL, got there (250 miles) got unloaded quick and was told they didnt have a backhaul for me so head back to where I picked up, get another load for tomorrow to the same place and park at the yard and go home. 519 miles today and home. I guess that's "local". They tell me the flatbed freight will be closer (which is probably why they have daycabs for it). They also said if I wanted to stay out during the week they could easily get me 3000 miles and home weekends and probably 2x during M-F. Thinking about it, but it would be mostly van freight.

 

Backed up to a dock today to get reloaded. Got out and the dock workers were looking at me. I forgot to open the doors. I told them I was a flatbedder. They were forgiving.

 

yeah those boxes have these neat things called doors....you have to open them BEFORE backing in.....(although there are a few exceptions I was just at a DC that you backed to the door and they would open the doors inside...it was kinda cool...

 

Had my first tricky dock back. Another guy from company helped me. I was getting flustered. Is not east to pull up make quick adjustment then kick it back into reverse with an auto shift. Getting loaded on a short run to OH then hopefully back for home.

 

UH-HUH blaming it on the auto shift again huh??? must be rough lol...

 

So today I had a live unload turn into a drop n hook....while I was retrieving my MT trailer at another processing plant in Omaha...I had need of a bathroom....I asked a yard dog where the Bathroom was and he pointed me to the front office......Now bear with me....I generally wear a collared shirt (Polo's or button Up) and keep a generally clean apperance (except I am growing my hair out and a beard now that I am out of the army but I keep it combed)....well I walk in and grab the next door that leads into the offices the secratary looks at me and just buzzes me in....I ask where the bathroom is and she say oh its right here....well longer story short...I went to the wrong bathroom (the one for drivers and help were somewhere else) I got to use the Office bathroom where the execs and office people use....moral of the story...You ARE judged by how your dressed...now imagine if I walked in wearing shorts (yes I have some) flip flops and a 4 day old tshirt with food stains...and no sleeves and a big ol stetson and smell like I havent showered in 4 days...I am pretty sure I would have been directed to the pleebes latrine....not to mention I would not have just been buzzed right into the office area....

 

The "AFTER-LIFE" what a good idea for a post PA! Hope all is well with everyone out there. Been a long while since I posted last. After spending 6mos or so running across the border for Falcon out of Youngstown Ohio I was days away from jumping back in with the power of red. When a good heart to heart conversation with my wife helped me decide to look closer to home. Honestly I was ready to quit driving and find a factory. A week later a local LTL type company called me. I've been trying to get in her for some time. Two weeks later I was on the payroll. Can't say it's the greatest home, but I get paid by the hour and work 9-12 hrs most days. NY/PA/OH are the only states I run. Less then 300 miles a day usually. Getting to sleep at home and making a steady (same most weeks) wage is a BONUS!!!! Off on the weekend and if I need time off it is simply given. Good group... Equipment could be better, but small company small overhead. Right now I'm basically a floater type. I cover every run if it needs it. Which works fine, but will be nice to get a regular area some day. What I really like is the way it is... heres your load and stops I basically decide how to run. Run hard and work hard some days. Overall very happy so far.
Monday is a big day coming up on going in for my 3 mos physical. Got a 3 mos card last time in so time to see if my career needs to change. Keeping my fingers crossed and saying a few prayers! If I'm supposed to keep doing this it will be ok!
Hope everyone stays safe and has a prosperous new beginning! Good luck everyone!!!!