My first couple months with Shaffer / Crete

I think they are still buying Internationals, though after my experience in one, I can't understand why. One load, 1200 miles, 11 significant problems. Dropped the truck like a hot rock.

 

Unsure. Sorry.

 

I did enough research to know that they have a terminal near my house, run decent trucks, have good miles, and pay a good cpm rate, practical miles.

No company is perfect, but Shaffer, despite some things that irk me, fits me pretty well. I'm averaging more than 1000 take-home every week, and the lack of an APU is bothering me less as I get used to the lurching of the opti-idle engine stops and starts.

 

I've had my first disappointing week at Shaffer. Lots of short loads. Lots of bouncing around and through the Marietta terminal. I will be lucky to drive 3000 miles this week, and I have worked 14 hours a day every day to do that much. Except for the 32 hour break that I took when a repowered load that was already late had to be re-rescheduled.

The entire time all the short runs were happening, I was being told it was important to get to the terminal for some paperwork.

Turns out, they wanted me to do a random drugscreen, but company policy will not allow them to tell me that.

So, on top of the drugscreen mess, I had one shipper that jammed 45200 in the box, which took two reworks and 17 hours to make almost legal. I had to burn about 20 gallons to be legal in the end.

Then I pick up a two-stop load that is already late for the first stop when I collect it from the drop yard.

Was told to get it to receiver #1 ASAP. I bust ### and get it there. Receiver turns me away. There is no onsite parking like I had been told there would be. Then, I get stuck in ATL traffic, and get an HOS violation. Load was rescheduled the next day, at 1100. Mid-day ATL traffic. Yay.

Receiver #1 processed me in and out fast.

Receiver #2 was rescheduled far enough out that I could get in a 34 if I didn't have any problems. So, of course, I had problems. I75 S from ATL was a parking lot for an hour. Then there was a two hour parking lot in I75 in Florida around exit 284, I think. Lost three driving hours.

So my hoped-for 34, was a 32. It was nice to decompress, but that big of a chunk of no-money without resetting my 70 was painful.

Today, I dropped that second half of the load, and went to get a new load.

Flat tire. Three hours idle in a truck stop. I did manage to get to the shipper on time (1 minute to spare.) Got live loaded in about 90 minutes, and was able to roll to the next Loves with a tire shop for a retorque. Shut down at the loves.

Now I have 19 hours on my 70, no recap for 2 days, and 580 to final, with delivery due in 36 hours. It's a live unload. I am at 2200 miles so far in this very unproductive week.

It doesn't matter who you work for, there will be ugly weeks.

 

3000 miles a week is less than my average. Since I started here in March, I have had 4 weeks over 3500 miles. After my truck was adjusted to allow 65 MPH cruise, my weekly goal is now 4000 miles, which is possible, if barely.

If I am under load and have time to drive, I drive. I didn't sign up for OTR driving to sit in truck stops. I understand that most drivers need/want more downtime than me, but my choice it to drive every mile I can, as long as I can do it safely.