Classic example of the domino effect...

Here's a classic example of how what other drivers do, or, don't do affects someone else.

Worked my arse off last week. Most of the week driving until 11:00 pm to midnight to get my miles in and to set myself up at the consignee so as not to have to start my Elogs in the morning until I knew when my next appt. was going to be. Loaded at 11:00 am yesterday in Napa, CA, check in and load time was excellent. I was on my way home, expected ETA was 5:00 pm. I had worked and positioned myself all week long for that.

Then...

Receive message from dispatcher, "you need to take that load to Lathrop drop yard (90 miles the other direction) and hook to an empty and go back to Napa and "save a load for us".

Nice! Just what I wanted to hear! You ask, why did I have to "save" the load for them? Well, let me tell you why. The other "professional truck driver" grabbed the wrong dispatched empty trailer from another yard and went to load. However, they don't load their product on trailers that have fiberglass ceilings! So, he was rejected and sent to load somewhere else. Instead, I'm designated to cover his mistake.

By the time I get back to the shipper, with one minute to spare before the cut-off time, I don't have enough hours left on my 11 to get home anymore. Not only that, the traffic getting back to the place was atrocious and I knew it would be a nightmare to even trudge back into it, so, I went to the end of the cul-de-sac and tried to sleep.

In addition, the opportunity for starting my 34 hour reset is extended now because I got home a day later. I wanted to start driving again on Sunday morning, now I have to wait until Monday, effectively costing me a whole day's wages.

This example is also relevant for the idiots who refuse to pretrip the trailers properly (or just don't care) and leave bad tires, lights, damaged cross beams, tandems that won't slide, no registration, etc., for the next guy to deal with.

 

I don't drive for May. I just post over here because it's a place where I spend time on the forum. Plus, the issues I raised are universal, not exclusive to where I work at Thomas & Sons or May Trucking.

 

I was compensated for my miles and one additional drop. However, if truth be told, my angst goes beyond the monetary side of things, I make good money where I'm at. I covet my weekly home time, when someone effs with that, I get grumpy

 

Good point. I'm sure that can and does happen.