Where is everyone #5

Spring restrictions just kicked in in Manitoba this week. I was running 71,000 lbs gross with a tandem pneumatic yesterday. Hit a 90% highway going up to the mine, 1 minute later, I've got a truck cop at my back door lighting me up.

He comes to see me with a big grin on his face like he's hit it big. Takes my license, I explain where the load is going, and that it was loaded underweight because of the restrictions. He asks for paperwork then goes back to his pickup to make me sweat it out for five minutes. Comes back, hands me my stuff and says "have a nice day". Luck sure is on my side these days... I was 11,400 on the steers (600 over) and 31,800 on the drives (3,030 over). Trailer was good, but gross was 2,600 over (highway is rated for 76,000 gross, but 90% restriction brings that down to 68,400).

He didn't pull out the portables, paperwork confirmed gross weight of the driver who picked it up, and he just let me go. Granted, it was the only route into the mine, but I didn't ask why he let me go (didn't think it was a good idea to let him know I knew I was overweight). I thought my goose was cooked when I saw him behind me.

 

Got her doing another manual regen... so this is like... my fourth one in six days. Totally normal

Hoping to make it to Toms Brook, VA. Might have to call it at Whites if the truck starts acting funny again... then somehow else can screw with the northeast come Monday

Edit: I'm done. Truck needs service again. So that's that I guess.

 

Man that sucks. It seems that you have been pretty patient with the situation.....maybe they will swap you into another truck now.

How on earth do these big companies manage an efficient operation with such unreliable equipment? I'm not slamming your company, or any other, it just seems that it would be near impossible to provide consistent timely service when the equipment goes down that much.

 

You'd think...

I'm under a JIT load. Absolutely HAS to get there. I asked them to repower it... and they seemingly can't. I have no intentions of getting out of the dealership tomorrow and riding -- if I'm going to the dealership for the ninth time since January their popping the bolts and digging into the motor. I have my oil consumption sheet filled out -- if they don't I'm renting a car and going home.

The thing that irks me is I've been more than clear about the issues with this truck. I've brought it to our major terminals on more than one occasion and asked to be swapped into something else so they can fix the issue. Nothing has been done. I've been sent out time and time again with a truck that I know will go down within a short period. This time I clogged within 2000 miles from having the DPF cleaned by a Cummins dealer.

Such a time waster. I should've denied this load in Laredo -- even if we are a forced dispatch company. But I figured I'd get to finish it and then the issues would start in the northeast. They'll put any bonehead from their 4 day orientation into a nice new 680... or even a condo... not me. They got an A+ game driver in a F- truck wondering why I'm pissed off... I gotta jump through loop holes to get into something else it seems. Figures.

Grabbing lunch and then hoping to the MHC...

 

That’s absolutely unacceptable.

Not to be nosey and you don’t have to answer this, but do you make more per mile than the new recruits? Is that why they’re doing you this way? Tryin to squeeze you out maybe cuz they can get the freight hauled cheaper by a new driver?

I know some companies do that crap but I thought your company was a little above that.

 

If they were trying to squeeze me they wouldn't be dropping 2200 mile runs in my lap. No, I don't think that's the case. All the guys at Melton that I know want miles, get miles. The guys who don't have a slew of issues normally with their attitude, HOS, and just general driving abilities. Although we're a large company and can pad the stats, have trucks repower and save what could be late loads -- if you're generally the sore thumb sticking out they ain't giving you those long gravy runs.

I'm an A game driver when the truck is there. When it isn't... well, I'm average.

 

Gotcha. I just can’t figure out why they won’t give you another truck. Since you’ve been on here you’ve shown us that you’re a runner. The kind that will produce if given the chance. I just can’t figure out why Melton isn’t taking advantage of that.

They’ve got new trucks sitting but yet they keep you in one that won’t run a couple thousand miles in a row without going to the shop. Makes no sense.

 

We need a driver in SA like asap?

 

When you're not supposed to be on the couch, but invoke the "blanket was there, so I'm not technically on the couch" clause.

 

Scored these today, probably never use them but I like older things.