Freight Systems Inc, Agent for USX

Figured I'd give them a shot.

They are in North Little Rock, AR. Small company (about 180 trucks between company and O/O). Owner just spent a $14 million loan on new trucks to replace the entire fleet, which are slowly arriving. I have a 2011 Pete 387 auto for the next couple weeks until the new ones come in. I'll probably get a Cascadia. They will not be getting automatic trucks from USX anymore, as they proved to be a huge maintenance nightmare. All of the new trucks will be white for the most part, but they did seat two new drivers (one a former USX driver) into brand new Volvo's, one blue, one white. Also a couple of brand new yellow Volvo's in the new lineup. These folks are pretty personable. Arthur Beech will come out and chat with ya when he gets a minute to breath. We don't go by truck numbers, we go by names. Easy to do with a smaller company.

No APU, but do have bunk-heaters. My truck either smells like a dog or feet. Not sure which. I have found dog hair matted all over the place where the shop dudes didn't bother cleaning.

Showed up in LR on 1/27 for a 1/28 ornamentation. Didn't get a truck (none available) until Wednesday, 2/6. Not complaining, I did get some layover and got to run a bobtail Pete to Olive Branch on Friday 2/1 to turn back in to USX. All of our trucks have numbers that begin with "C" (contractor), and we do use DriverTech and the USX fuel card and cover sheets for load paperwork.

First dispatch on 2/6 from the yard in N Little Rock, deadhead to Pine Bluff, d/h to Raleigh, NC. 899 loaded, 45 emtpy. Had a guy I did ornamentation with ride along (had to team with him because it took forever for the shop to get the truck "done") to pick up his truck north of Greensboro. He picked up a 2012 Cascadia with a 13 speed from a driver that was sick and cannot drive anymore for a few months.

Unloaded in Raleigh on 2/8, ran like a mad-man to Virginia Beach to get a load going to Katy, TX for 2/11. 147 emtpy, 1395 loaded. I'm in Egan, LA right now, 10 is up, but I'm not running to Katy until morning so I can get unloaded and be available for a good Monday morning load around 8:30am.

I'll be turning in about 2500 miles for 6 days, more for 7 days if I can get another load in before Tuesday night. Not bad so far.

 

No sliding scale. This isnt usx, this is Freight Systems. .35/mi if u have 6 months exp in the last three years. Ive not driven in 2.5

80% of their freight is their own, 20% comes from usx. Got a usx fuel card too.

Dropped in Katy, waiting for an empty, then if i have time to pickup, a quick run up to Dallas. 30 miles empty, 242 loaded.

 

So I finally got a trailer bit had to rin down the road to get it. Then had to run up to north Houston to load. I had an hour and 40 minutes on my 14 when I pulled in. I swept out the trailer... and part of the dock area... then politely and with a friendly smile told the loader that I had 1:13 left on the clock bedore I woild no longer be able to move... qnd leave their dock. He loaded me quick. I then beat feet... or super singles... to the flying hook on 45, thankfully only a couple miles away. I pulled the brakes with 6 minutes left.

Got up and ran to Dallas, drop/hook. Was asked to run my new empty up to north Dallas to another driver. I did. Now pretty much already late for pickup I started my long trip down to Tyler.

 

This load goes to North Little rock for tomorrow. 100 empty, 252 loaded. Pre-planned for Stuttgart Ar to Wyoming, Michigan. Pickup on the 13th deliver on the 15th. 809 miles.

 

Ok... can't do that load. Had only 2:01 left, enough to get to Stuttgart from Sysco in LR, but trailer was wet inside, they would reject it no doubt. Plus... for the second time in three days, my air dropped out completely after sitting at a dock. First time, it was the secondary air. Started up and it was drained out. Wouldn't fill up either. Tried a few things to try to get it going. No deal. Went to tell the dock folks there in Houston that I would probably be there overnight. Went back to the truck and the air was charged up.



This time, after delivering BOTH primary and secondary had completely drained out and didn't seem to want to charge. Then... like magic.... they filled. Right into the shop. Not sure what they did, but they didn't bother telling me they were done..... after I explained that I would be upstairs in the "lounge" and made sure they had my phone number. Still didn't replace the air hose with the ripped rubber jacket. I'm guessing the guys in the shop don't actually get to see the repair request. I'm sure they would at least take a look at the hose if they knew about it. (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. Never assume the worst until proven).

Load taken off me. New load is shorter. Take an empty down to Pine Bluff, AR, pickup a preloaded trailer (Paper rolls) and take to Florence, KY. 45 miles deadhead, 602 miles loaded. Due 2/15. I get 5:15 back tomorrow, so I have to be as productive as humanly possible. A little over 8 come back on Friday, so that should give me a much better chance to get a load somewhere before hometime starts on 2/17. I want more miles this week, but I cursed myself by using way too much time last week. Running off recaps added to hometime might hurt. I might just only take one day and go back early.

Couple new faces at the yard today for ornamentation. Both from USX. One driver with over 30 years that claimed he was lied to, told them "no thanks", and was told to call FSI. I can't confirm. Other guy was on the yard in Tunnel Hill and overheard the conversation, decided to come too.

Every Wednesday, there is a driver lunch at a Chinese Buffet near the terminal. Every driver... if caught on the yard.... will be "collected" and told to come get some food. The EVP does a little video/slide show (usually some USX education), then talks about the company. Normally the same thing. And they always hand out a driver survey asking various questions about whether or not FSI is the best company they have ever worked for (and why/why not), and what we would like to see to improve. Good food, good conversation. Good times. If you are in town on Wednesday, you WILL be eating.



So far, so good. Can't wait for the new trucks. Didn't see any new ones on the yard today, but I'm sure they are trickling in.

 

Wow... just realized how horrible my spelling appears when trying to type on an Android phone.

 

Delivered in Florence yesterday. No loads to pickup within the 1:23 left on the clock. So went south to the J for the night and a movie on the laptop. Woke up to a preplan from Grove City OH to mt crawford va. 108 empty, 342 loaded. So I'm here at the wally world DC and that load is already gone. But there is another to the same destination. Just have to wait for dispatch to get it settled and put m
e on it. Gets me closer to home for a couple days hometime. Worth the wait.