Rum's Rants

Some people don't think so, since I'm not a driver.

I don't have a DRG here with me so I can't look it up, and I can't rely on memory because neither of us have ever been there. But based on everything else you have said for this (and thinking back to when DH was new).....If I couldn't find a drop yard, I'd be calling my training DSR or if after hours, deal with night/weekend support.

While in EVO III, I remember him getting lost...He ended up being 15min late for his delivery. The training DSR wanted to know why he was late, and when DH told him, he blew a gasket because DH didn't call in to talk with the DSR about directions. The DSR told him that if ever in that kind of situation again, to call in to whoever he had and they could help him get out of whatever mess he was in.

I'm assuming Kelly is your payroll rep? That seems kind of strange, as usually they have someone else covering. Anyway.....earlier this year, we had some issues with payroll that were happening week after week. After calling in to our DSR, he gave DH the number for payroll and said to try calling them direct. We did, problem was fixed....until next week rolled around. After about 10 weeks of this, DH said something again to his DSR about it...that it was wrong again for the 10th week in a row.....DSR transfered him to the payroll reps boss. Long story short, she had to go back and do a 52 week audit on the paychecks. It did finally get resolved (after repeated phone calls and having to go higher up) and we asked for and got a new payroll rep altogether.

 

I'm starting to get the hang of this chat thing. A year ago I was preaching and teaching as pastor of a little Baptist church plus driving a frameless 40' dump full time. Now I'm adjusting to life on the road again and trying to find where there are drivers I can at least make aquaintence with. I'm used to always seeing the same drivers. We used to chat and just shoot the breeze while waiting in a grain or lime line at ADM, we used to tie up channel 19 going down the road in convoy and we watched each other's back as well as help the new drivers. (By the way if you are passing through Springfield, IL give a shout out to Flower and tell her Preacher says hi.) My handle was given to me by a driver who knew me from back when we both drove school bus. She knew I was the son of a preacher and a preacher myself. Even dispatch knew me more by my handle than by my name. I miss the contact with other drivers. It's kind of nice to have a place where I can at least make some contact with other drivers on a regular basis. I leave Wednesday morning for my next seven out so after tomorrow it will be a week before I'll be back.

 

In that case, based on your times, you still have at least 2 hours to call your DSR and let them know you can't get any directions, so you won't be able to make your 6am appt.

This happens more often than it should.....and makes me think of a rant of my own. If you are relaying a load to another driver after hours or over the weekend, call for the directions/give the 24hr delivery notice before the end of the business day. There is almost nothing worse than showing up at a delivery early am Mon to be told...we didn't get a 24hr notice, can't unload you today.


I know there is a high stress level on a new driver. Believe me..we've been there and done that almost 5 years ago. It took all I had to be able to adjust to DH being gone and I had to deal with everything at home. I did my best to be able to hold it together, without adding the stress of what I was going through to the stress that DH was already dealing with. I'd like to see Roehl deal with the stress student drivers go through when they leave home for the 1st time. If they didn't have that added stress, I think they would be able to keep a few more of the student drivers. I've suggested it...and I'm sure you didn't see any new programs out there.

 

I've posted more in the last few days, than I ever have. I'm going to have to go back to lurking.

Have a good/safe trip!

 

funny thing I asked roehl if I could ride a long with a driver to see how life is out there before I invest $3000,00 in there school. of cause they said no. I know it would be hard to let every person do this. thenI am also sure not many ask. if this was done you would surely lower the drop out rate.
then again I could be wrong.

 

Granted they took the drg back from me rather quickly once I quit but I seem to recall that it did mention the pilot truckstop and it also had the name and phone number of the gateway dropyard. The hairy one for rookies to find was the dayton yd. It was easy to miss back in that old line haul complex.

 

does any one know the trainers. who train people who live in the upstate new york area.

 

They send you the trainer that is available. I live in Ohio. My 2 trainers,one from St. Louis.the other from NY state. Both don't currently train anymore.