Shutting down for the night: a challenge

Vito,
Although I snipped a portion of your reply, I think your information and suggestions are spot on. However, I'm havin' trouble with one word you've used. The first word, underlined in bold font; "Complain".
I'm sure you're aware, but the OP may not yet realize that a dispatcher can make, or break, a Big truck truck driver. For that reason, especially, it's wise to be sure not to leave a bad taste in a dispatchers mouth that they'll remember you put there. I'm thinkin' if the word "complain" were replaced with the word 'mention', or 'inform', or 'discus'....... (to/with your FM about the situation), ....... the tone of the impending conversation would be more receptive. Complainers tend to be thought of as whiners incapable of thinkin' beyond the lines. Once formed, a reputation like that is difficult to shake free of.

I mention this factoid with the OP in mind, in case he hasn't been made aware of the dreaded
Ship
High
In
Transit list that dispatchers are known to have and keep up to date.
When y'all hear other company Big truck truck drivers "complaining" that, 'nothin' EVER goes right, --- ALL their dispatches are ALWAYS screwed up, and/or that they ALWAYS sit for days waitin' for a load, --- chances are real good that they're on that
Ship
High
In
Transit list, ......... probably somewhere near, or at, the top of said list.
And you're hearin' what got 'em to that position straight from the horses mouth, personally.
A perfect example of how NOT to handle arisen situations.
Be civil.

Anyway, that's my two-cent contribution to the excellent suggestions and advice bein' provided to the OP.
Good on y'all.

Fret not, my dear Aireal, for thou shalt not receive punishment for that to which thee apologize. Be it hereafter known that, among us, there are those who greatly appreciate words in abundance. Like music for the eyes, we drink every last drop of every word, and savor them in memory thereafter. If thee harbors worry concerning excessive taxation for exceeding thy weekly allotment of available words, or a possible lecture on the cost of typewriter ribbon or papyrus upon which to print thy words, be thee advised that no such thoughts have been thunk.
Read,
Type,
and
Be of good cheer.
Your words are welcome here.
ALL of 'em.
It's twue!
It's twue!

Oh yeah?
Well, ......... are you aware that there are some of us who don't think you're doin' a good job?
YuP!
We/I have our/my own opinion(s), to which we/I have a right. Whether y'all like it, or not, I personally, do not subscribe to the notion that your job performance is "good". In MY opinion, the credit you give yourself is waayyy too little. Seemingly never satisfied, always striving to be and do better year after year after year. You're relentless, sir. How many years have gone by here, now? Five? Six? I've lost track. Doesn't matter though; every year, --- year after year after year, it's the same thing. You don't get better.
You get greater.
And greater, ------- and so on and so forth, etc., etc., et al.

Thank you, amigo!
Much appreciated.




*Hey Mack, one last thang before I sign off, -------- about my payment.
It's a Money Order, .... right?
Just like cash?
Good, ..... that's cool.
Any chance you could send 'er out
OverNight?
I know.
I know.
But now I got a sorta situation that came up.
Yeah, you could say suddenly.

Man-0-Man!
I never saw this comin', .... like outta nowhere, it was.
Now I'm a tad strapped for cash, --- spent all my coin, ---
Lemmie tell ya, .... Now THAT was painful. Even cried.
But not much, .... happens now and then --- ever since I finally gave in and got in touch with my feminine self.
Long story ------ not now.
No.
Probably not later either.

About the payment?
MaN -- I'm desperate here, Mack.
I swear! I did not notice a parkin' meter when I parked the Big truck there a couple of months ago.
Four, .......... I think................. Right 'round the first of this year.
It's still 2014, right?
Good, ........ that's cool.

If I stay on schedule, workin' ten-hour shifts, six-and-a-half days a week, I can feed enough quarters into the meter I missed feedin' for four months, --- enough to pay the over-due parkin' bill plus associated late fines and fees, --- plus applicable taxes and surcharges, and barely squeak by on gratuities, .... but the debt would be paid in full sometime 'round the middle of September, ...........
Maybe November, ............. at the latest.
But I gotta get on it right quick, ... before they tow my house away, leavin' me with only the foundation, fireplace and chimney., --- no firewood.

Say what?
No way!
How is that even possible?
So, you're tellin' me I'm still posting, live, --- in real time?
NOoooo.
Folks are readin' all this?!
Seriously?!
OMG!

Well, ......... color my face red.
I'm sure there's an explanation folks.

Go ahead Mack, ......... give 'em the simplified explanation.
I gotta go.

:smt039
Happy Easter
Everybody


​

 

Part of the 'lack of truck parking' issue, is the number of drivers that start shutting down at 3-4PM in the afternoon. There can't be that many drivers that start their day at 1-2 AM. Also, how many rest areas have you passed that are CLOSED? The powers that be mandated a 30 min. break during the day, yet never gave any thought to as where all these trucks were supposed to park for that 30 min. break. Oh well, what ya gonna do?

 

Just starting to get back into driving I never thought about that 30 minute break and the issues that it causes. Good Point.

 

What...What happened here?
Are you into Mack for money?
We could make him disappear for a while...corn field and what not. I'm not saying we kill him, I am merely suggesting a live burial.

 

It does create an issue. Run into traffic trying to get out of the LA basin after picking up in Long Beach and you can be forced to get creative where you park. I run nights on a team and many's the time I need to take a 30 minute break in an already crowded truck stop, and sometimes the only place is in the fuel islands. Very restful keeping an eye on whether anyone needs to pull in for fuel. I feel safer already.

 

I've never had an issue coordinating the 30 min break. I usually will take it when I am at a customer and have had to actually take it by pulling off the road but a handful of times. But I think my circumstances are not typical, I am at a stop of one type or another 2 to 4 times a day.

 

Just to highlight who I am talking about. SNI!

This is a clear violation of Company Policy. It was in the safety policies you signed and it is also in the Highway to Success book you were issued. My advice is to not do it.

Almost every Wal-FART will give you permission to park there regardless of the signs that say no truck parking. I always go inside and find a Manager and ask before I close my curtains.

Find a place in the parking lot that gives you a direct exit route. Try to park all the way to one side of the parking lot near the road that generally wraps around the parking lot and always orient your truck so it is facing that road. 4-wheelers may park near you but by using your size properly you can guarantee that you can get out the next day.

As for truck stops, look for small mom and pop places they generally do not fill up unless you are in a major city. The mega truck stops are always full.


CW

 

I have my little honey holes that I park at. Mostly in the southeast. I'll give away one of them and some may already know it. Adairsville Ga I75 exit 306 at the All American truck stop. There is usually plenty of parking at all hours. Now save me a spot lol

 

I have a honey hole in Laramie, but I'm not telling...

 

To the OP... your situation is a common one with new drivers.. mainy because we have been taught and focused on the basics of driving, paperwork, and stuff and then sent out on our own to learn the ropes...

The thing you need to do is take more control in how you roll.. which means you need to communicate with your dispatcher and get to wnere rolling either early am.. like 7am so with breaks and such you are parking before 9pm.. or, you start later and roll through the night...

The struggle for us newbies we we are trained to just take what dispatch tosses us... but, yoj can and need to be a more active participant in your runs... when I first.started on my own I was in the same boat as you.. but, then I learned to take charge.. I was dispatcned a load at 3pm.. I told them I could not deliver it at the appointed time they had listed.. dispatched called me.. said I had enough hours to do it on their time schedule... I said no I cant, because there is no parking at 1am.. so I need to park no later than 9pm so I lose 4 hours of drive time.. he argued that I didnt have to lose those. 4 hours so I could park at 9pm.. I told him I do, that it is stressfull and unsafe when I am tryj g to park when all the truck stops are full and wojld be pjt in a position of parking illegally at at truck stop or on an off ramp which Safety department frowns on... well, he rescheduled my delivery time and now rolls me during the day..

You have to stand jp for yourself...