Questions-SLC Terminal

No simulator at the central terminal last I heard.

 

I was in the SLC terminal last week for the second time, first time picking up a t-call. Every terminal has their own procedure, but SLC is unique in my experience. For one thing the paperwork isn't at the dispatch window, but the dispatch window is supposed to dispatch you before you send your Mac-1 and Mac-2 (which didn't happen in my case). The paperwork is at the guard shack as you go outbound. Because I didn't get dispatched by the dispatch window it hung us up.

SLC isn't a good terminal if you are planning to take a 30 minute to couple of hour break (as we did prior to picking up our t-call while waiting for a live unload). The inbound inspection can take forever. Second time in while waiting to be able to take a 10 before picking up the t-call it took 50 minutes in line BEFORE we got in for our inspection. Apparently the bobtail in front of us being inspected (we were the ONLY one in line) was getting a full B Service or something in the inspection line.

Coffee? Forget about it. Apparently they never got the memo that truckers need coffee.

 

SLC is a real joke in many ways.

I've been routed through there for fuel, but I've always ignored it.
Much less time consuming to pass it by and go to the next truck stop.
Sorry, but I'm not going to waste an hour or more just to get some fuel.

I'd always considered Phoenix and Laredo to be the worst places, until we moved to the new terminal in Salt Lake.
That place takes the cake, hands down.

 

Yeah, picking up that t-call in SLC my fuel route indicated I had to fill in the terminal. That would have required going out the gate, turning around, then being subjected to ANOTHER inspection after I'd already come through it twice that day. That wasn't going to happen, so we went to the nearby Love's and reopted the fuel plan and filled there.

Most of my career between trucking and getting back into trucking was focused (some said hyper focused) on creating efficiencies in business operations, from sales offices to factories and warehouses. Eliminating bottlenecks is the key. SLC has two huge bottlenecks in their operation, the inbound inspection that is way over the top and having to stop at the gate to get your paperwork before you can send a loaded call. It's a minimum of an hour to get in and out of that terminal, even if you aren't doing anything else.

Until I hear of changes in their procedures I'll be avoiding SLC as much as possible.

 

I think there is a method to the madness.

If enough drivers avoid SLC at all costs the employees there will have a very easy time.
So they keep things there as driver unfriendly as possible.

I don't like the inspection process at certain terminals, but they do tend to keep trailers in better shape. All of us hate to get a trailer that is out of date...
I just suck it up when I end up in Phoenix or Laredo, since it usually only amounts to an extra 20-30 minutes or so.

But SLC has a process where you have to exit the truck at the gate getting in to be cleared, then go through the inspection - which can cost an hour or more of time.
Then you have to unhook from your trailer and go to bobtail parking,
In the middle you have buildings that are seemingly miles away from each other, and it takes a quarter of an hour or more just to find some coffee - from a machine, which is lousy - if it's working. Or you can wait in line at the café - if it is open - in the building that is furthest from your truck.
Going out you also have to exit the truck and go inside, then wait while they do other things, before you can leave.
And no one there is in any hurry to get things done in a timely fashion.

Everything is designed to make us wait, wait, and wait some more.
And they expect us to keep to a tight schedule when going through there???!!!

In any pplan that I'll be in that terminal, I'll add at least 4 hours before I'll accept it!
In spite of... or just to spite.

 

I'm out of SLC terminal. I haven't been there since they switch address. They tried to ge me to fuel there. I just reopted. I wouldn't mind inspection lanes so much if the shops would actually fix things instead of making worse problems. IE, last B service, upon completion, made it 30 miles then had to be towed in. regen not working. Another time, replaced windshield, they messed up electronics putting it in and seal leaks. Last allignment, left main bolt out of leaf spring and wouldn't replace drive tires worn bellow wear limit line.(Phoenix Term). My biggest beaf with Co. is the Shops. Wont listen to drivers, disregard red tag that they have you fill out. The bigger the terminal/shop the worse they are. (PHNX) left main bolt out of leaf spring after allignment. Drive tires below wear limit, would not replace...(Mira Loma) battery problem, wouldn't listen to me. Got as far as Barstow, eng. shut down light while driving. Told drive back to Mira Loma,,,told them no, you wouldn't listen to me, now you are towing me in. Had a Volvo a couple of years back. They had problems with water resevoir electrical harness. was in multiple big shops for that. The smaller shops are better for working off problems/B service.IE,,Sparks, NV,,Manteno, IL.

 

So far the shops that impress me for getting work done and listening to drivers are Troutdale and Columbus, from my experience.

 

I've also had pretty good luck with Inver Grove Heights.
I never hesitate to put my truck in there when on home time. They always have everything done when I get back, and sometimes even do more than I requested.

 

Lol I did the same thing had to pick up a t-call the planner got pissed when I added 2 hours to delivery on macro 9 he sent it to me 3 times then he called me. 1 st in 10 years had a planner call me......

He said you the only truck with hazmat I said it's picking up at the New slc terminal I'll be lucky if I get in and out under 2 hours..he said fine what ever just pick it up and delivery asap you will get no service failure I said cool now put that over Qualcomm and that will be awesome... Strange pp was taken off me and a got a another pp hmmmm I just don't know why!!!! Lol

 

"Put it over the Qualcom" is a very scary thing to planners.
LOL