Be "On Time"

Even the bankers have a longer day at that point.

 

......with a crane waiting downtown. And the contractor has only has a permit to close the street for 4 hours. Moving oversized in the populated areas is like crossing a river hopping from rock to rock......you have to hit your marks.

 

Reading all theses posts make me realize a few things.

I have only been hauling OD loads since the beginning of the year so I'm green as you can be. That being said I have some great mentors around me that I can lean on for support.

Most of the load I have been doing originate in DFW or Tulsa so we have a great group of pilots that we can use for both areas. These loads go to both coasts or Toronto. Nice long runs so we end up like family by the end of the run because they run with us the whole way.

These pilots are prompt, professional, and #### good at what they do. Another benefit of running with the same guys all the time is we all run vhf radios. Better range and crystal clear sound with nobody stepping on you like the CB. This is incredibly important when your 19'6" wide and trying to coradnate 4 pilots.

When we have to venture out of our normal lanes and have to use other pilot cars it's always a crap shoot. We have 3 pages of pilot cars that are already set up with our company. They also let us use any pilot car company we want as long as we set it up beforehand. It's more work for the driver to have to schedule their own cars but it the way it should be. If a company forces drivers to use cars he's not comfortable with, that is an accident waiting to happen.

Also a printer in the truck is an absolute must. Especially when a lot of times you are already rolling and still waiting on permits for the next state.

 

IMO it's ######## that we even have to print them. Should just give the cop the permit number and he can look it up.

 

More states are starting to allow electronic copies now. Hopefully some day they all will.

 

Being on time is a pretty basic requirement for any job I always thought.

Silly question, are there not penalties built into a contract with an escort company for being late?

 

What contract?

 

Again Six, is in the spot. Like the ld I have now. Md says anything over 120 I must have a pilot car.. Ok my mty wght is 56k half full of fuel. Now on the phone I'm told ld wghs 63k.. that's 119k gross.
So I'm thinking order 119500 no escort required. Save me money and no escort
Well I get the dock reciept. Crap, ld is 63k plus. Ok order now for 129. Cushion on wghts as no scale at the port. I have scale on trk. So I order a pilot car.
Ld the ld. Got my car who was on time and ready. Get to a scale. 120560 was my gross wght...
Better safe than sorry.. A game, like Six states.