Ashley Furniture? Good company?

i don't think he has anything to worry about. we have too many suppliers here in nc that are supplying raw materials to arcadia and one that has regular trips to Baraboo several times a week. I think what he may be seeing and worrying about is a change in the type of trips that we're running. just in the 12 weeks I've been here I'm seeing a subtle shift to alot more of the regional runs doing the home store warehouses. any reduction in miles is going to be evened out by more drops and/or customer unload pay. I don't see where increased production and capacity is going to be a bad thing for any of us there.....especially as slowly as we're adding drivers there. as it comes fully online there's just going to be that much more product for us to move......it may just be less on the transfer side of things and more to the actual delivery of finished product regionally and LTL loads to the drop yards. if you look at the regional breakdown map we really shouldn't be going out of a 5-6 state area if they stuck to the letter of that as far as operating area....although I think that is more specific to LTL than us it outlines a pretty narrow operating range for each warehouse.

leesport is both. they don't have the capacity due to size as an arcadia or ecru and soon advance, but all the loads I take up there and backhauls back into there are raw materials.....the one I'm running up Monday is that foam that requires the vented trailers

unless arcadia revamps their entire supplier network I don't see us losing many miles as capacity increases. we run too much stuff from down here up there.....foam, springs, staples and other manufacturing related items

I'd say of all of us you're the best positioned for the long miles just due to location.

I saw 10 brand new trailers on the yard getting prepped for service and another being delivered this week. that's good to see. we sure need them.

 

Although 87/84 is longer, it normally is quicker than the Tappan Zee. If you time it between 11 AM and 3 PM, staying on 84 through Hartford can save 5-10 minutes vs 691/91/84. As for parking....tough in this area after 7 PM. Rest area on 84 just N of 681. TA is close as well but need to get 50 gal of fuel or spend $20 in TA or it will cost you $20 to park for the night and it still fills quickly.

 

Yeah that rest area fills up quickly and the TA isn't a much better choice. I used to run up that way a lot and have some secret spots saved in my GPS but they're all north of holland. Guess I'll be keeping my eye out for some new ones lol

 

I have my "spot" in that Rest Area. Need to parallel park between a sign and a light pole ( about 5' in front and rear). Seems like nobody wants to attempt it. Last few times I got in late, that was one of the only spots left. I try not to depend on that rest area. If you can make it to Holland, just stay at the yard...nice and quiet. Another tip... try not to fuel at the Pilot about 6 miles north. MA law does not allow you to fuel both tanks at once. Need to hold the fuel handle on each tank. Can take 45 min to an hour just to fuel. CRAZY PLACE!!!!

 

Yeah and usually 4-5 deep in every lane too unless it's the middle of the night. Know that place well it used to be a designated fuel stop at my previous company. It's a cluster just about any time you try to get in there. had to scale there once that I had to back into the scale to do it because you couldn't get to it so many were backed up at the pumps. What a nightmare that place is.

 

I usually run later at night so If I leave leesport at 4 or later most traffic has died down by the time I get to major points unless there is construction or accident. there is a rest area on 684 that Ive stayed at quite a bit. not as much truck traffic as 84 or 87 so usually a spot. If I can make one of the ta's I call up and reserve a spot. Ashley pays for it as I send in a receipt. there isn't much for parking from 84 down to 78. yes they do build some furniture at leesport, but mostly all warehouse.

 

Leesport only does upholstery, no case goods. Brewster (684) rest area is not bad although I really try to avoid the TZ bridge and stay on 87 to 84. During the day, best time to leave Leesport for Holland is 7 to 7:30 AM. Just behind NJ rush hour but B4 CT work/mowing crews close down one lane of 84.

 

Well did good this week, but it seems they haven't put in the pay check the safety bonus, which is due, phone call Monday morning to payroll, they also forgot 4 d/h from the last week, but the person that gave it out was on vacation, second phone call to backhual's Supervisor.

Did 3200 and 5 d/h not bad, got in about 1300 today (sat)

Went out of Tampa to Colombia SC, to Macon GA for a load of Diapers for Wal-Mart, then to Ecru MS to Huston TX and Backhaul beer back towards Ecru and deadhead to Ecru, then p/u my home load to FL

 

Well my Leesport week sucked.

Only 1100 by Thursday then woke up at the pilot in Syracuse Friday morning with a major air leak and dead turbo. Had to be towed to the dealer, then didn't get a rental till 1500. What a POS. No bunk heater, won't idle and beat to death. Rattles, shakes, knocks and sounds like every clearance in the engine isn't even close to tolerances. It'll run 73 though as I found out quickly lol can't put your foot to the floor in that one. Unfortunately also means I'll probably be stuck in Leesport again next week until I get my truck back from the dealer in Syracuse.

2200 for the week and since I didn't get in till 1700 today most of it isn't going to make the check.

Oh well. Just try again next week I guess.

And no plan for Monday. No surprise there.

 

I think this is why my truck died lol just couldn't stand the shame of it and couldn't find the will to live anymore

Had to pull this one out of Syracuse Tuesday for the back haul after they gave rotax my nice brand new empty I was already under when he pulled in. Took swift 2hrs to finally decide to come off of it and it was junk. But better than the really junk MS trailer that was my other choice. Nothing like dragging a beat up worn out box that just screams 'inspect me' lol