Stevens Transport aviary

500? They must have added some.

 

Ok, I am parked and on shutdown... Hope everyone else who is the path of the storm gets safely parked and out of harms way.

 

Hey NascarChuck... my brothers team ended up with 1st place in Ribs and 6th overall at the Jack Daniels world championship!

 

Alliance drivers have EZ Pass and Prepass available to them. They can choose it nor not, and will pay for it if they choose it.
But in my opinion, it was well worth it!

 

Speaking of GPS's....here comes my speach!
I'll bet 25% of calls received on weekends (especially) are from drivers, both new and old, who seem lost without their QC GPS.
No, I can't reload their stops, directions or anything else. But they seem incapable of picking up a map and finding their way.
I hate those QC devices because drivers seem to follow them like the gospel!
Pick up a map and read the thing BEFORE you set out! Know your route! It appears your optistops are guiding your GPS routing, not the other way around.
Here is an example.
A two year driver called yesterday and was perplexed. He had a load from Houston to Laredo. No matter how he figured it, his miles agreed with the QC routing, but it was 18% further than the paid miles. His optistop was San Antonio.
The QC routed him to San Antonio via I-10, then south to Laredo on I-35.
I had him pick up his atlas and showed him US 59, Houston directly into Laredo. Son of a gun! now his miles matched!
Now he's an Alliance driver, so miles REALLY count!
He admitted he'd quit using a map now that he had the QC GPS.

Another driver was routed to Everett WA from the midwest. Again, miles were off.
We went over his route and he was being routed to Salt Lake City via I-80, then north on I-15, and then on to I-84.
Later, he was being routed from I-84 in Stanfield OR to US395, up to I-90 at Ritzville WA, then west to Seattle, etc.
I suggested he pick up I-84 east of Ogden and later take I-82 thru Yakima and join I-90 at Ellensburg.
"But my Qualcom doesn't route me that way!"
People! Pick up a map!
The GPS, no matter which one you use, is a tool to be used in CONJUNCTION with all your other tools!

Another thing to consider, especially in the wintertime, is alternate routes.
This same driver going to Everett will be facing wintertime conditions in the Cascades. Snoqualmie pass on I-90 can be closed to commercial traffic for days at a time (without chains). Storms roll in off Vancouver Island one after another and tend to nestle against the west side of the mountains making lots of snow.
It's only 89 miles further to go down the Columbia river on I-84 to Portland, then north on I-5.
Yes, it more miles, but it beats sitting in Ellensburg for three days waiting for the pass to clear!
(Your DM will ok the extra miles if you ask)

So READ YOUR MAPS! Please!
GPSs are getting better and better, but they are ALL still imperfect.

Speach over (for now!)

 

Next reminder to all drivers.
When a major storm of the kind off the east coast right now hits, it affects ALL of our traffic lanes. But some more than others.
Loads normally planned for the east coast out of Ottawa, for instance, will be lighter. Buyers in the east won't be ordering the same for the next week.
Drivers empyting out in Cheyenne from Cali loads will find themselves sitting in Lexington longer due to the backups.
It affects all drivers eventually. This means plan for the delays and downtime. If you're close to home, it might be a good time to take a couple days off. If you're being routed to a meatplant that services the east coast, expect longer DLDs.
We will likely end up with a shortage of trucks for the west coast because the east coast runs that make those trucks available are being delayed.
This is when having a little money saved for a 'rainy day' counts.
Also, think about your preferences. If you have a chance to repower a load back into California, it might be your best choice this next week.
So keep this in mind when you find yourself waiting longer than usual for a load assignment, and be prepared.

 

On the yard. Came in last night.
Boy is that a sorry sight next to to the drivers lounge!
Know your limits! Don't drive when you're tired!
Stuck my head in the dispatch window last night to say hello to Emul. He was so intent on his work that I don't think he saw me. That place looked wracked last night. Must be the storm.
Going to get my things cleared today, then might take a couple days off here in Dallas. Seems to be the best weather around right now!

 

I have yet to turn the QC GPS on... I use the Truck Routes App I have and look at shortest route, then look at quickest route... then pull out the atlas and compare the two. The check the QC directions to make sure the fuel stops.are.in route and then I send it in and run it.

 

+1 KMac, Any driver that relies on another person or computer to do routing or directions deserves to get lost and look foolish. IMHO.

 

I learned to read a map years ago when I got to Germany. I drove a truck over there and when I first got there my squad lead asked me if I spoke German, I said no so he handed me and said "better learn to read this then"