Stop & Do the Math

No I was green but was lucky my first gig was local flatbed.

If you look at the Owner Op section we get the same question asked over and over. And on here we get advice nobody asked for.

 

Brings to mind a load of automotive batteries I picked up in yuma az, a delay occurred at the shipper, made it to nowhere Kansas, was running a few hrs behind, with approx 700 miles left on the load the company decided to transfer it to a team.

the team didn't make it in time, so the load was delayed again, they brought a empty that needed repair, the runner to set the tandems were bent which threw the axles out of alignment.

any movement on pavement was eating two tires on the driver side. Called road service they had me take it to ta to have it assessed 100 miles down the road,

i got a call from the company with someone on the other end saying the repair was more than the trailer was worth and asked if i would take it to the closest company shop to turn it in.

the closest shop was about 300 miles away, off I went, I was paid doesnt matter

 

Well new drivers wanna do there best but more times then not it doesn't turn out that way.There's nothing wrong 29th giving advice ppl didn't ask for and most the time it's real good advice.Its unfortunate most don't read it of just don't care.But the more exp you have the less likely you'll read any advice you just do your job and not have to think about your daily schedule.

 

This sounds like a company that puts "certificate" dispatchers behind the phone/computer and they are just getting the driver to do what the computer tells them. With a company that hires dispatchers with driving experience, and competent companies with regards to following the HOS rules and regulations, pushing a driver to take an impossible load just never really happens.

 

Well, no one says you have to read that advice. Seems to me like someone who is offering good information to the rookies should be thanked, rather than slammed.

 

Good advice. You're hired to be the driver, not hired to ask the dispatcher how to drive. If the dispatcher wants to dictate your driving he should get in the seat and drive it for you while you sleep in his bead and wash the back of his wife. Tell the dispatcher what your plan and ETA are and then make that happen. It's tough for newbies to remember they are in charge of that truck while they drive, not a magician trying to make the impossible happen. The dispatcher will just use you up and talk to your replacement when you are gone.

 

I don't work for any company that dispatches, I own trucks that are leased to companies and in some cases this is all the time stuff for my drivers. They have to push back, even with elogs because the logistics chain within the company keeps promising things that can't be legally done and the dispatchers only see what they see.

 

I'm so glad that I don't have to go through that crap it's a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
I can do my load in under 2 minutes with any of the dispatchers at any of the terminals and have the load moving on time to where it's supposed to be if you can't do that you need to rethink what you're doing you don't have any rapport with your people you're going to have problems.
All phone calls are recorded everything by email is saved there would be no exceptions or excuses if a problem pops up while in route I handle it if it's beyond my capabilities at taking care of it I called the dispatcher and tell him what's going on if you can't think for yourself you got no business to be here
Now my 10 is up I'm going back to work!

 

Any chance you know of any spreadsheets that may help with the formulas you spoke of? Thanks