Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Monday-Spent the night at the truck on Sunday night so that my wife did not have to get up early and take me to the truck. Got up at 0300 and Fueled and was rolling by 0400. Made it up to Grand Blanc Processing by 0830. There was only one truck in front of me so I was unloaded very quickly.
Sat for probably only about 15 minutes and had a work order to go to US Steel Great Lakes to pick up a coil to go to Mi Tech in Murfreesboro TN. Got down to Ecorse and the parking lot was jammed packed. There were open spaces but you could not get to them because the trucks in the second row were blocking them. The only place I could park was to pull straight in on the right hand side.
Got in the door and it was packed tight in there. They only have one lady taking care of the incoming and the departing....so it gets jammed up real tight. Got my gate pass right away. Went back out to the truck and it was still chaos. I was able to back out but when I tried to make my turn to cut through the lot, I was blocked by a Maverick truck that was in the middle. Now I had the yard blocked because I could not pull around. So I went over to the Maverick truck, unlocked it, and pulled it up to the front row. This cleared up the whole mess and everyone was happy. (just glad he did not come out while I was moving it...lol)
Got over to C door and waited probably an hour or less and got loaded. Pulled out after throwing on two chains and pulled around back to finish securing and tarping. Got back over to the yard and it was as bad as before. I could only go as far as a partial left turn in the third row so I parked it and headed for the office. As I rounded the corner, I was met by the line of guys waiting to get their paperwork.
The line took an hour to work itself to the window. After about 30 minutes, I went back and was able to move my truck up to the front row so that I could just pull out when finished.
Got my paperwork and was able to make it to Beaverdam before I ran out of time.
Tuesday: Up at 0300 and fueled and rolling by 0400. Made it down to Murfreesboro and got in line with the 5 other trucks. Shortly after I got there about 5 more trucks showed up.
Finally got unloaded and once I had my stuff put away, I headed over to the pilot to get fuel.
As soon as I was finished fueling, I got my next wo. It was to pick up at Sumiden Wire in Dixon Tn. It was only about 64 miles. I did not even look at the destination at that time.
Along the way I started thinking about the last time I had been there, so I decided to listen to the wo.
Turns out I am going back to the jobsite in Down town Chicago on South Wacker....Great I thought....Actually I was not concerned.
Got loaded up right away and made it back up to the flying J not far from there.
My delivery is at Noon so I am going to have to be rolling by 0200 in order to get there on time and allow time for any hold ups.
Wednesday up at 0130 and rolling at 0200
Along the way I called and verified the directions. Asked if I could come early and they told me I could come anytime after 11:15.
As I was coming across Washington(I think that was the street) My Rand McNally did not like me being on that road and even quit giving me directions. I got held up by a draw bridge for a spell and finally made it down to the jobsite. They were blocking traffic for me, but that did not keep a four wheeler from coming right up behind me as I was starting to back into the work area. They finally got her to move and I got in with no problem.
While I was sitting there, I got a preplan to pick up at the East Chicago In. Tin Mill. The pick up was for 1500. I figured there would be a good chance that I would run out of hours before I got out of there.
Got over there and went to check in. The system said that my pick up was for 1600 not 1500....so now I knew for sure that I was going to be over on hours.
It is amazing how relaxed I get when I know that there is no need to rush anymore because you are going to be late anyway.
Finally got loaded and headed for the Gary yard. I sent in a message on the qualcom notifying them that I was out of hours, where I was going, and that I would call extended services when I got there.
Arrived at Gary with no issues. Got a nice hot shower, hot meal, and went to Bed. Going to get up at 0300 and roll at 0400
Thursday: Rolling at 0400. Stopped at the flying J on 280 and got fuel. Made it down to Wheeling Nisshin in Follansbee with no problem. While I am sitting in line, I got a preplan to pick up there and take it to Oklahoma City via the house.
Finally got through the line and as I approached the dock, the other truck pulled out and I was able to bindside back in right away. As soon as I had my securements off the coil, he was pulling it off.
The next driver in line helped me put the rest of my stuff away so I could get out of his way. It was much appreciated and he was a very nice guy.
Checked out, went to the Sheetz and came back in. Had to sit in line for about 45 minutes before I could check in.
I was picking up at Door E5. When I pulled off the scale I got on the radio and asked where the line formed. Another driver told me to come down behind him. As I went down there, I passed a line of trucks that appeared to be waiting for E6. When I got to the end of the line, I looked inside the truck and there was no one there, so I got in behind the truck that told me he was last.
Another driver gets on the radio and asks where the end of the line is, and I tell him behind me. He was a boyd driver.
As the line moves up, I am the next truck in and my nose is in the door.
I got out to get my deck set up and I notice the boyd guy is not behind me, but the blue peterbilt that was on the road. I walk over and ask him if I had cut in front of him. He starts telling me how he has been there for over three hours. I explained that I was told by the other driver and he says that that truck had cut in front of him also. And that the line behind him was waiting for this door as well.
I explain that I looked in his truck when I went by and saw no one and he says that after waiting that long he laid down. I told him that I would get done as quick as I could.
What I wanted to say to him is that when you are next in line, is not the time to go in your rack and take a nap! I don't take naps when I am waiting in line, I pay attention and keep moving whenever I can.
So it worked out good for me, because I got in through the door, got loaded with 5 shotgun coils and had time to make it down to I70W and the first rest area and get shut down with less than an hour to go.
I got up this morning at 0330 and was rolling at 0400 and was home by around 0630.
I will head out tomorrow as soon as my 34 is up....at around 1630 and make it to the Madison Yard probably by 0100.
When I break is up, I will get as close to the receiver as I can for a short jog on Monday Morning.
This run is over 1000 miles to start the week, so I am happy about that.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! See you on the Road!

 

I wanted to add something unrelated to this weeks running.
I was denied detention from when I was at one of the steel plants. The reason for it was because I arrived late. I arrived late because I was dispatched after the arrival time, so there was no way I could make it even though I was less than 10 miles away.
I informed my fm this and told him that I intended to be paid and please let me know if I need to talk to someone else about it.
A couple of weeks went by so I politely inquired about it again. I got back that they are working on it.
This is code, for I forgot, but I will start on it....lol
I also told him that the last time, Graylin's Boss had to get involved. I was then told that if it is legitimate, I would be paid. Well if it was not legitimate, I would never have requested it.
I then get asked the question, "Was I in the sleeper berth while I was waiting"?
I answered him no, I was waiting 5 hours in lines to get loaded and sent in the request as soon as I was finished.
He said ok and less than 30 minutes later, I got the message for authorization for $24 for additional pay.

Last week there were guys at one of the yards complaining that they would not get detention if they requested it. I told them that Maverick would not intentionally cheat them out of it, but that they may have to pursue it. I told them just be polite and keep pushing and go as far up the ladder as you need to, but if it is legit, you will get paid. I could tell by the way they looked at me, they did not believe me.
But twice now I have been denied it because of the same scenario, and after about 3-4 weeks, of being consistent, Professional and polite, I have received it both times.
In a perfect world, should I have to do this, no...but nothing is perfect and I am satisfied that when presented the proper information, Maverick will change their decision and do the right thing. That is more than some companies that I have worked for and they were not involved in trucking.

 

I disagree! It was blocking the entire driveway. If I left mine like that and all it took was for another driver to pull it forward and keep the mill moving, I would thank him. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

Well again, I have to disagree. I did what I had to do. He should have done what I did, had someone save my place in line and go back out and make sure my truck was not blocking the parking lot.

 

The more the merrier!

 

made it to Madison now only 515 more miles to go