Night Dispatch: The bane of my existence.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Dr. Venture, Jul 24, 2008.

  1. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I have read this several times and looked for the illegal part?

    I don't get your post.

    He was dispatched already on a load that was illegal. He was not trying to get dispatched when he was illegal. He was trying to get the night guys to do something about the illegal load.
     
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  3. Dr. Venture

    Dr. Venture Medium Load Member

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    It wasn't that I was trying to get dispatched, I was already dispatched. I could have said screw it and left but our company policy is to call in and get direction. Luckily I was at a terminal and could drop equipment, rather than picking up at a drop yard and having to fuel and scale down the road. Then what would I have done? Burned off fuel until I was legal.
     
  4. Dr. Venture

    Dr. Venture Medium Load Member

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    He's referring to where I said, "Well, I told him I could burn off enough fuel to be legal before I reached any scale (yes it's still illegal at first, but you know how that goes)". Which it's true, I would have been running illegal. However I was in a state that allowed 13000 on the steers and while 13180 is still overweight, no argument there, I don't think it would have been much of an issue. It was early morning and there was hardly any traffic on the road. Again, in the end would it have been right? No.
     
  5. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I have worked for companies that have made me pull the illegal load or else park the truck and you are fired.
     
  6. Ken Worth

    Ken Worth Medium Load Member

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    Yes ,you're right. I just jumped in the middle. My nephew had that job for a while and with no trucking experience he just told them what he was told to say. His main duty was just trying to keep drivers moving by lining up loads.
     
  7. Dr. Venture

    Dr. Venture Medium Load Member

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    I almost feel bad for them. Most don't have the slightest clue and are completely overwhelmed. I try and be as patient as I can with the poor guys, but it's definitely frustrating.
     
  8. smlogistics

    smlogistics Bobtail Member

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    i've worked dispatch. you wouldn't believe the dummies that work in dispatch period. there is this one guy i worked with that i'm pretty sure never learned how to dispatch a truck right. his board was always jacked up, drivers always complaining, never knowing what to do. don't know how some of you guys put up with it
     
  9. MGASSEL

    MGASSEL Road Train Member

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    May trucking has night and weekend dispatch but they only plan / dispatch during the day so it is pointless to have night dispatch.

    I hauled a load to the walmart dc in loveland co one night it was suppose to be a drop load so after I dropped the load off then called in and said what it next. They said oh we only plan during the day and you will have to find a place and wait till your dm gets in to get another load.
    I asked well can I go home then I still have enough hours to get the 20 miles to home.
    They said that they are not allowed to tell me yes or no I told the ok then I am going home and they said that I did not have premission to go home I told them well I am not going to a truckstop that is 5-10 miles down the road when I can go and get in my comfortable bed.
    The next day my dm called and started chewing on me I told her well I was not about to sit at a truckstop when my home is not that far away.

    I told her that if she kept chewing on me then find me a load to the terminal and she could have the truck back she stopped chewing on me quick that time.
     
  10. tuckerndfw

    tuckerndfw Light Load Member

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    It is a myth that the weight limit for the steering axle is 12,000 lbs. The limit is 20,000 lbs on interstate highways in all 50 states.

    The manufacturer's rating for the steering axle and tires cannot be exceeded, but so long as those are not exceeded, you can run 20,000 lbs on the steering axle on an interstate and access roads (routes to & from destinations within 1 mile of I'state) in all 50 states.

    (see pages A14 & A15 of the 2008 Rand-McNally Motor Carriers Road Atlas)

    The only states that limit the steering axle to 12,000 lbs on non-STAA highways are Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, & Mississippi. Wisconsin's limit is 13,000. All other states are either not specified, limited to mfg's specs for tires & steering axle, limited to 20,000 lbs or use a variable formula related to tire width.

    (See Pages A16-17 of the 2008 Motor Carriers Road Atlas)

    I seriously doubt you were in violation of weight laws.
     
    jlkklj777, MACK E-6 and panhandlepat Thank this.
  11. tuckerndfw

    tuckerndfw Light Load Member

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    BTW, I used to drive a truck with a fixed fifth wheel and I routinely ran over 13k lbs on my steering axle and ran all of the the lower 48 states and no one ever bothered me about it.
     
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