I Start With Averitt in January 2012

You will like the Cascadia. They ride real nice, and are good trucks. I have a couple issues with them compared to say a ProStar, but they are still good trucks. That's what all of us run out of Gupelo MS on the dedicated account.

 

Glad you like the truck, and are getting some miles again. I had a decent week considering I only drove for 3 days, but I also have some miles from last week added to this week, so it helped some, and layover pay for having to take a 34 hour out in CA. I like being able to move miles around, if I stay out, so I can have 2 good checks, instead of an over taxed check, and then a tiny check.

I haven't driven one of the Pete's, but I would like to get in one and see how well they do, and see if they are set up a little better for storage of stuff.

 

After being here twice this week, I have come to the conclusion that Laredo doesn't suck nearly as much as everybody says it does. Left Houston Monday at 4, got to Laredo and dropped at the drop yard, was given a load that didn't get across the border until Tuesday at 11. Took it to Dallas and dropped at Dallas SC then loaded in Denton to drop at Memphis SC. Picked up one at Memphis SC and came right back to Laredo. Sitting on a little better than 2000 for the week and there's still the 310 back to Houston. Not a bad week at all.

 

Laredo is only bad, when you get down there and their are no loads. That and it's a very dangerous place to be. If you get fuel down there, the Pilot is a PITA to get fuel at. Other than that it isn't that bad. I've always tried to get in and out of there the same day if possible, but if I stay there it is always at a terminal.

I went to Cali last week and made it home Wednesday. Had to make my delivery yesterday, and then came back to the house. Then I have to leave back out and head to Salt Lake City UT thru Hayden ID. Then should come back sometime the week after. I'm liking it here so far. My leader, and the other lady in the office are very nice, and always happy and helpful. Hope they stay that way.

 

Gotta love those Nutro loads in Lebanon. Pulled those for years working for another carrier. Drop and hook, fun, fun, fun wait no!! The load is not ready yet driver you're gonna have to back into door 2 so we can put 5 more pallets on it. It was even worse when the pallets they were putting on, that the actual dog food of those pallets was still in production not even bagged up and palletized.. They were always busy 7-24 and always behind.. That was all supposed to change when they got the warehouse a few years ago - I guess some things never change. I remember taking some taped up torn bags of it home and the dog wouldn't eat it lol. I don't know how many heavy loads of that stuff I hauled up I-81 over the years up into the northeast - some of them multistop loads. Some went to petsmarts one stop. It was too many - I know that much...

 

We could all have it worse. When I worked @ USXpress, they always got you there about 1.5-2 hours before your appointment. Then when you got there, they were like, your appointment isn't for another hour or more. Well they told me to be here in 30 mins. They done it a lot at Amazon, and then Amazon was even slower, because they weren't ready even by the time they had scheduled. It always led to frustration, and was a waste of hours sitting in a parking lot. I've been to a lot of places that will keep you waiting, and could care less.

Was in East Hartford CT last year at Coke. Got there early for my pick-up, and they said it would be a little bit and to sit in the truck by the radio. So about 9 hours later, I ask "When will I be getting loaded?" "In a little while, you aren't far down the list now."
I said, "Well I will need to take a 10 hour break when I get loaded." The guy in the office says, "You can't stay here, we don't have the room. You can pull across the street and park, they don't mind." I said "No I can't, because I have to get on a highway, and that's illegal." Then he was saying,"Oh it's just across the street and it won't start your electronic logs." I said, "I have paper logs, and I ain't breaking the law to benefit you."

So about 2 hours later I get loaded. Close my doors and lay down. Yard dog jockey comes beating on my truck. "You gotta go." I told him the same thing. He says, "but it ain't our fault." I said "BS, I been here for 13 hours, and need the rest." Him:"I'll go get security." Me:"They can't make me leave, it's against the law." Him:"Well I'll call the police." Me:"Good, call a DOT officer and see what they tell you." Him:"This is BS, we'll see about this, you can't stay here for 10 hours."

Then he hops in his yard dog and leaves. I lay back down. IDK if he went and told them in the office and they basically just decided to let me stay there, because it was in their best interest and I was correct.

Personally, on paper logs, if I got there and ran out of time within an hour of being there, then I'd consider that my fault and gladly leave. If I get there 4 hours after I start my day, and you can't at least tell me I will be waiting 8 plus hours(13-14 in this case), and tell me to wait by the radio, I will not be leaving anytime soon. I didn't take 10 hours of sleep, just got about 6, enough for me to be safe to drive and left that morning. But if it comes down to it, I will follow the law, to the letter, if you waste my time.

 

I make it a point to fill up at every SC I hit. My FM has never said anything otherwise. I came very close to running out on my first run trying to get to Dallas SC from Fort Smith and said never again. The only problem I have at Laredo is the dang Mexican drivers stealing the glad hand seals. It is so bad that Luis the TL dispatcher in Laredo gives two new seals out every time he gives you your paperwork.I am learning which S's are nice and which ones are crap. So far, I like Memphis the least. I am buying a pack of toilet paper to bring with me because that cheap crap in the bathrooms sucks. Lysol and a few other household cleaning supplies will be coming along next week as well.

 

24 hour security and an electric fence is never a good sign. Not the best neighborhood to go find something to eat nearby either.

 

Very true. Played dominos across the street from Laredo SC on the picnic table with the Mexican drivers this week. That was interesting.