A&R Transport Inc in Morris, IL

Good luck chainsaw. I got your message and will call u later today. Anyway, slight change of plans for the better. Load wasn't to deliver until the 5th so Ft Worth calls and says drop the trailer at the yard and pick up a preloaded going to MI. I couldn't be happier. Great miles finally and with 84% loaded, my paycheck will be very comfortable.

 

Hey Problem Child, I start Aug 12 in California and after my 90 will be moving to seguin, tx just east of san Antonio. Would ft worth or highlands be better for me, if I like it I will go o/o , what's your opinion ? Chainsaw

 

It's been almost a year since problem child had been on so I don't think you'll get an answer from him. I talked to a Ft. Worth driver yesterday that just ran a load to Montana. Other drivers told me they have good freight from there. Tonight will be my first visit there so I know nothing about it. I will say Highlands terminal is top notch but most loads I've experienced there, which are usually good, requires PPE and sometimes nomex whereas Fort Worth may be different.

 

What is ppe and nomex ??

 

personal pertective equipment
steel toe
hard hat
safety glasses
etc

nomex is a light weight coverall type fire protective suit you see people where in chemical companies.

Ft Worth is more railcar based freight out of rail yards meaning less need for ppe or nomex. Highlands is more plant based which requires them.

 

You can get wverything minus the boots from the company either in your new driver kit or in the case of nomex you recieve it at the Highlands terminal they always carry extra for drivers who dont have any yet.

 

It seems business has picked up for us this month. I had a really good week last week with over 3000 paid miles @ 84% loaded. I hope this trend continues. I unloaded in MI Yesterday and bounced to Morris, arriving with only 10 min left on my 70. They didn't have me planned on anything when I arrived, perhaps they thought I wasn't going to make it till today, so they gave me the best they had. A 350 mile load to KY. However it didn't deliver until Thursday. I was a bit concerned because not only would I have a day and a half tied up in this load but this left me empty in an area that historically hasn't given me good freight. Well that's not the case this go round. I went ahead and loaded the load last night, even though it wasn't scheduled till today, got a good nights rest and hit the road, en route I get a call saying to drop the loaded trailer in Jeffersonville, grab clean and load tomm morn going to Nebraska for a delivery Friday. That puts my paycheck in the good $$$ range again. Hopefully all will go well getting loaded and I can hit the road well before lunch.

 

nice round Shanbone, probably back to Morris from NE huh? Get something tomrun with or drop somewhere? Morris has seemed to be better lately not waiting on rail cars or trailers. I heard last week they started loading more of the dry tainers in the blower house and loading straight trailers at tb2 which freed up vac trailers for drivers to load their own loads. They said they hired 3-4 preloaders and one who works at night. hope the busy season stays going through October or November.

 

What is TB2? Is that where they load the eliminators? More than likely I will go to Morris, however another load to Ft. Worth out of Wisconsin would be nice. Honestly I've never had to wait on a railcar, just always heard the horror stories and also seen a few guys waiting from time to time. Preloaders I think are a great idea especially at night to relieve congestion at the scale, however I can see a problem in that if a preloader pushes the limit on a load and the next truck shows up a few hundred #'s heavier, that can put him over gross and then what? Maybe they already put thought into that and made adjustments to correct it.

I hear Morris is adding a track beside the warehouse where the boneyard used to be, have you heard anything Fueltank? If their adding more volume I hope they add another scale for outbound trucks because the wait sometimes is already rediculous.

 

tb2 = eliminators yes.

Yes they're starting is week to redo the yard and add something like 60 rail spots and 30-40 more loading spots out of that. my source says the scale wont be put in thismyear but sounds like next year. volume will increase slightly ut it ahouldnt be too bad out ofnthere and back eceryone up.

As far as preloaders and weights I think it will be ok I think they have it figured out. they dont push everyone to load 49,000-50,000 as bad as they used to. Im sure they may be issues on the drives from time to time but hopefully not on gross.

have you made it up to the wednesday coroprate lunches? I've been there get to meet some management there. They seem to really be interested in what's going on and helping. Im hearing good things out of it and seeing some change like the Morris yard and other things. Knock on wood i'm excited again.

now for the miles and runs to stay great and deal with the bads ones but deal with them as one offs.