New Trucker Screw Up

To be honest with everyone here in this thread I think this whole business is nothing more than someone just playing games. OP became a member today, this is his first post and he has not replied to any responses to his foolishness. Also, if the OP had been driving for "less than six months", why did he choose to call himself "Not a Trucker Yet" when he signed up as a member of this forum. This clown is just trying to yank other members chains because he has nothing better to do.

 

I just witnessed it happen yesterday on Ryan Road south of Milwaukee at the Pilot. My trainer and I had just gotten the truck washed at the Blue Beacon and had parked at the Pilot. We was getting our stuff to go in and get showers when a red freightliner from a mega carrier comes in and both drivers got out stood around and argued for about 3 minutes, then walked up to my trainer and offered him $10 to back their truck in. He laughed at them and told them to do it themselves or get the #### out of the truck for good. We come out about 40minutes later and noticed the truck had been parked, but they parked it against the fenceline partially sticking out into the driving lanes.


So yes it does happen.

 

That is not a real post. Someone just typed in something to see what would follow.

 

That's just plain sad.

 

Please post your truck identity and every route you plan to drive daily....

This will help the rest of us stay the hell out of your way !!!!!!

 

Sad but true. Seems like every week or so I'll run across a new driver that's having a heck of a time trying to dock a trailer, slide tandems, put in load locks, fuel, or any number of things that are supposed to be taught during training. While I do my best to help them out if time on my clock allows, I'm just flabbergasted at the lack of professionalism of some trainers out there. There's no way a trainee with lack of fundamental skills would ever be signed off of my truck.

Regarding the OP:

I think many have nailed the issues and I hope you respond. Time management has been raised several times in this thread to which I will add COMMUNICATION. As SOON as you know you aren't going to make a delivery on time it is your RESPONSIBILITY to COMMUNICATE with your dispatch with the time you WILL be making delivery. That way your dispatcher can talk to the planner and customer service representative, who in turn will communicate with the customer so the customer can adjust their schedule. Communicating is the key to making sure the customer is happy. If you show up late without prior notification that's a huge problem for many customers. They may have a second shift scheduled for the parts you are delivering to keep their factory floor running and meet their customer schedule. If you show up late without letting them know you will be late then they have an entire shift on the clock with nothing to do.

This is a job with a lot of responsibility. Take it seriously.

Regarding the accidents, unless we know more particulars about each accident then we can't really help you. In general I think most accidents on the road involve tailgating. LEAVE MORE SPACE AROUND YOU, ESPECIALLY IN FRONT OF YOU. There's no reason why any trucker needs to be tailgating as a habit.

If your accidents are in tight quarters situations, like hitting a light pole on a right turn in a city, or clipping another truck in a yard, then you need to really start paying attention to SLOWING DOWN and learning that you are driving a TRAILER, not a truck. Drive the trailer tandems through tight quarters. Try taping a push broom to your backside and walk around your house and try not to get hung up in the doorways. Same principle.

 

Youre probably correct. But ther are a bunch of rookies that screw up who will probably never post here. So let's pretend OP is legit.

Is poor trip planning the cause of late deliveries? A few, sure. But what if a driver is late 50% of the time?

Met a couple drivers in Newark,NJ. We were loaded the same, going to the same delivery point. We all decided to run together to Wyoming. We hammered out of NJ, and stopped for the night on the PA/Ohio border. Both of them asked, "Six, what time you heading out in the AM?" I told them 0300.
I go in to the truckstop, get a shower and food. I see one of the drivers sitting in the seat, talking on the phone, lining him up some strange. At 0250, I notice that the other driver is sitting in his drivers seat doing paperwork. I knock on the ladies man sleeper, and he comes to the window groggy. I turn and walk away. 0300, the other driver and I gear up and drive. A few months down the line, another hand tells me that this guy is calling Six an a/hole because Six ran off and left him.

Hey guys, I like the ladies too, but thing is, you have to keep your hobbies in check. Turn that TV, play station and that phone off.

They will call your company and your company will contact you via Qualcomm. When it's time to sleep, you need to sleep. Business BEFORE pleasure. Late deliveries and accidents? Someone has a sleep deficit.

 

Amen, Six.

Sleep is a RESPONSIBILITY. Catting around or playing zombie and guns on the Playstation don't qualify as sleep. A 10 hour break is a sleep break, maybe get that shower or laundry MAYBE... but sleep is the priority.

I like to play poker every chance I get, BUT I never play on a 10 hour break. That's insane. I'll play poker on a 34 or other extended break, when I have a chance to be fresh as a daisy at the table to play my best and then get some sleep and be fresh as a daisy when I drive professionally.

 

Yep, I've had simliar expierences. As you said 3 trucks loading and delivering the same place. We had a long way to go and a short time to get there and dispatch warned us before we took the load. I back to the dock and get in sleeper, get 3 hrs rest. They stand on the dock bs-ing. We get 100 miles down the road and their crying we need sleep I truck on. I delivered 35 mins ahead of time, they delivered 4 hours late. smh
I get in that sleeper every chance I get, while loading/unloading, even in the staging area, I give them my cell # they call when I have a dock. Every bit of sleep you can get is good (for me). I can lay in a dark sleeper and just relax and it helps alot. OP, Keep your eyes open, pay attention, managment your time wisely, communicate with dispatch & GOAL!! You're #### lucky to still have you're job imo. I agree I smell a troll.

 

I agree.Being late is a good way to get on your dispatchers #### list in a hurry.