Stevens Transport Aviary . . cont'

run it thru the dash. then around the corner to the door jam and out onto the mirror. Set the antenna on top of the mirror with some velcro or two sided tape. Two little black zip ties to hold it tight to the mirror post and it's virtually invisible.

 

Anyone in the training dept this weekend?

 

While I truly do appreciate all the miles that are being thrown my way, unless we revert to paper logs, something has to give. I did a reset last Sunday because I was down to 4 for a two day period, I am down to 12 hrs left on my 70 and have 4 1/2 to get to receiver in the morning. I do not get any hours back until Midnight going into Tuesday morning. I just was sent a preplan that picks up in Dodge City in exactly 2 hrs and delivers Tuesday at 7am in Riverside CA.

I can not even pick it up and repower it. Once I get to Dodge, I would be out of hours until.Tuesday.

The current load I on was dispatched and picked up a day late and will be two to three hrs late on delivery. I was told to run it in, so that is what I am doing.

I would love to be in SoCal for New Years Eve, but it just isn't happening.

 

Heres my favorite...Yellow Sign Reads "Left Lane Ends"
My student....."What does that sign mean?"
Me....Face Palm

 

Well now I know what FCFS means on the blasted QC Thanks Emu

 

Because of, um...an earlier "fuel gauge" issue, I have long multiplied the number of gallons I put in last time by 7 and call that the number the miles I have left before I need more fuel. Put in 50 gallons? I have 350 miles. That way, I hope never to run out and to have reserve fuel just in case.

 

So can someone tell me what it takes to get a preplan before I empty out?
Last 3 loads I sent empty, then had to wait anywhere between 3-5 hours to get a preplan or load assignment sent.
sent empty this morning, drove 45 miles to truck stop, now 4 hours later get load assignment that picks up about 3 miles from where I emptied. If I had been given the preplan in advance I probably could have found some place a little closer. Now its 48 miles back, 98 miles round trip, on my dime.

any 1 know the trick to get a preplan early????

 

Call the planner for the area that you are in while you are getting empty and ask for a preplan.

 

In my limited experience my trainer seems to start working the phones atleast a day out from our final for either a repower or preplan

 

I keep saying it over and over and over. Listen carefully:
never, never, never...NEVER!! let your fuel get below a quarter tank!
It is just too easy to get a new optistop. You aren't penalized for asking. No one has a little black grade book that says, "oohhh look! Truck 123456 asked for a new optistop, or whether to use anti gel!"
But we do remember the drivers that are in Kit Carson CO out of fuel!
And this goes for the Contractors as well.
An area I disagree with vehemently in the Alliance training is where they tell you to run your fuel down to the bones before you scan or at the end of each load. While I understand you don't want 150 gallons of fuel in your tanks, neither do you want 25!
Again yesterday, a contractor called me for fuel. He was in Stafford TX, down to the red light. His load dropped in Amarillo, but he miscalculated his fuel. So we had to have him purchase out of network. I'm sure he paid at least 0.40 per gallon more than had he purchased a little more at his last optistop...maybe even more. He bought 30 gallons.
It will take a long time (acutally never) to recover from that.
Every good business person knows you need cash reserves for unexpected costs.
Same goes for fuel. Think of that extra 40 or 50 gallons as a cash reserve. Plan for it, budget for it and just keep that extra $150 in your tank.
It will save you a lot of money and grief.
(steps off soap box)