Diary of a Gainey driver

Week 17
11/30-12/06​

This week was slow, but not as slow as I thought it would be. I have a grim feeling next week will be even worse.​

It started out with me running the load bound for New York(Syracuse). Other than the rain and some thick fog/snow mix around Virginias mountains on I81, the trip was eventless. I arrive 12/1 11:00 and find this would be a live unload(what a suprise-have had a TON of L/L and L/UL lately) and it actually went pretty quickly. After MT, I was of course left without a load offer, so I asked the yard dog if I could park on the property to await my load plan. ​

Hours go by and I finally get a beep on the QC. It's a multiple pickup load near Glens Falls, NY off I87, but didn't pick up until 12/2 12:00. However, it did have a 7 hr delivery window, so I guess that was good. To pick up this load would route me right through my mothers home town, so I stopped in for a visit. ​

Once the sun came up, I left moms and headed for the shipper. It was a set appt, but that didn't stop me from arriving 3 hrs early in hopes of getting loaded early. Of course, it did no good as they haven't even started the order yet, so I retreat to the truck and throw in a DVD and play the trucker game. Wait...and wait...and wait...and so on. ​

1/2 hr before the appt, a guy knocked on the sleeper(actually scared me, what'd he use to knock? a sledgehammer?) and said to go ahead and back into a door. Heres the kicker. 30 seconds later, they had the trailer loaded and I was off to my next pickup. Yeah, 30 seconds. See, I just waitied 3 hours for...ONE little box on a pallet(that actually didn't need to be on a pallet, it could have been carried in there). After I learned this, I just sighed and shrugged it off. I wonder what most other drivers would do in this case? ​

My next pickup would be at a different location of the same company. While enroute, I was pulled in by DOT in the little town of Kingsbury. The officer said he wanted to do a level 2, but was pressed for time and did a level 3 instead. About 30 minutes later, I was on my way. I might mention that I passed with no problems. ​

So, I get to the 1st stop(or 2nd stop as Gainey calls it) and find I'll have to finish playing the waiting game. After about an hour, I get my door. There was another Gainey driver there who had been waiting for 1 1/2 days and was going to the same place I was! How can someone screw something up so bad that would cause a driver to have to wait 1.5 days to pick up a load?! Amazing! ​

So, after loaded, I sent my call and am off to Atlanta, GA. This was another high priority load, so I had to let dispatch know every time I stop, where, why, and how long. No problem though, it takes 10 seconds and after all, is part of the job. ​

The trip to Atlanta is again eventless and I find myself arriving as soon as the place opens. It turns out to be a drop and hook(I cant remember my last), so I get it done and head out of there. My truck was about 4K over due for a service(thanks to G.R. not wanting to do it last time I was in the shop-still had about 4K left), so I knew I'd be looking at some downtime. ​

Since I'm MT and headed to the shop for repairs, I dont get a load offer which is normal(and sensable). I head over to our Conley yard(about 30 mins from where I delivered) and I write the truck up at about 10 am and then settle in the drivers lounge with some DVDs. ​

About 7pm, I'm pretty sure the trucks done, so I start looking for it in the sea of Gainey trucks. Since the nice mechanics don't bother to tell you when its done or where they park it, you must play "find the truck" in 40 degree weather. Ok, I'm being dramatic, but come on! Gainey preaches communication, communication, communication...yet, they sometimes are the pot calling the kettle black. ​

Anyway, I find the truck and after a check by ME, I am content and settle off to bed to await my future. ​

Morning rolls around right when my DM starts his day, I get a "ready to roll?" message on the QC. Sometimes he is on the ball and its great when he is, but sometimes, things dont go so smooth. I reply and am asked if I have an MT. I reply "yes, MT#......" Thats the last I hear from him for a few hours. *sigh*​

After waiting in the truck(actually I went back to bed ), I get a load plan thats pretty sad. It's a 1 stop del load in St.Louis with the final up near Chicago. Today is the morning of 12/5 and this load picks up 30 minutes away on 12/6 8am. First stop delivers 12/9 at 8am and final delivers 12/10 at 10am. I'm sure its the best they've got or they'd give me something more productive, right? They're not making anything by the truck sitting still, so I'm sure they're doing their best. Am I a little too optimistic? In my 4 months here, they've thrown so many curveballs at me, I dont know what to think anymore. ​

So, after spending most of the day wasting time in the drivers lounge, it's finally 12/6 and I waste no time getting the load. It was preloaded, so I guess thats good. *shrugs*​

After running out 498 miles so far, I find myself in "Im annoyed"(I mean Illinois) to run as close to St.Louis as possible and then try to talk my DM into letting me T-Call this load somewhere. The problem is, I have to wait until Monday, so tomarrow(Sunday) I get to put in about 90 miles for the day! Im sure I'll be exhausted. ​

Week 17-2491 act miles, 2305 pd miles, 0 OOR miles​

 

Week 18
12/07-12/13​

Week 18 started out to be a terrible week, but I and my DM(I cant take all the credit) pulled a rabbit out of the hat and it kept this week out of the record books(for being the worst week ever).

It started with me arriving in Illinios with a couple days until I could make my first stop. After waiting 1.5 days, I call the reciever and ask if I could deliver early. They werent busy, so I got the go ahead.

After the first stop in St. Louis, I headed up the the final in the Chicago area. I would arrive 1 full day early, so I once again called to see if I could come in a day early. They too werent busy, and said an early delivery would be no problem. Now, why was this load booked with all this wasted time on it if the customers were in favor of early deliveries?

Back to the subject, their dock layout was very tight, yet it was a modern building. After learning a trick(Ill explain), I bumped the dock and was MT in about an hour. I tried getting the trailer around a wall that prevented me from seeing what the trailer was doing, but every time I tried to bring the tractor straight with the trailer, the right front side of the tractor would come extremely close to a little wall. That functionless wall kept me from backing in every time I tried.

Thats when I got the bright idea to leave the tandem bar unlocked so I could slide the tandems as I was manuevering. I started around the wall with the tandems at the 40' mark or there about. Then, once I was almost around the wall, I locked the brakes and slid the tandems as far forward as possible. This allowed me to swing the front of the tractor around missing that dang little wall. After docked, I got a "nice job" from the dock supervisor. He said OTR guys always have a tough time backing in here. Well, maybe its time to knock down that little wall that does absolutely nothing but give truck drivers a hard time. (I didnt say that, but I thought it!)

So...after MT, I was again left without a load, so I headed off to a parking lot to sit and wait. Did I mention it has been cold in IL? All this sitting Im doing is costing money! I hope it doesnt hurt any feelings when they see my idle percentage is above 60% for the week.

After a couple hours, I get a load. It picks up about an hour south and delivers to....Honolulu, HI! I guess Ill get to see if this truck can float. I think sometimes they book a load without knowing what location the customer wants to send it to, because its happened before. Why Hawaii though? IDK.

After getting the updated load info, I find Ill be going right back to the freight wastelands. Atlanta, GA. It seems like every time I empty out there, I end up sitting forever waiting for a load. This time is no different.

The pickup in IL is a drop and hook, so I guess thats a plus. Also, delivery is a drop and hook. Hot ####! My luck is changing! NOT! The trip to GA was eventless other than some snow leaving Chicago, which I dont mind driving in. After MT in Atlanta, I am again left wondering where Ill go next. I emptied out in the morning, so I thought Id have atleast a glimmer of a hope of getting a good load. I find a nice spot next to a Burger King and hope I wont be here too long.

Hours upon hours go by, so I accept reality. I will be sitting here the rest of the day. After about 9 hours, I get a load. It picks up the next morning, just over the SC border and delivers just south of Detroit, MI. Of course, it has too much time on it, but we have a drop yard nearby the consignee, so I try my luck with a T-call.

Usually it takes about a half hour for dispatch to get back with me, but it wasnt 30 seconds later that I got the "drop in Carleton ASAP" message. Nice! Shortly after, I got a preplan for a load that was sitting in the yard. It is going to the Minneapolis area, and had a respectable delivery time.

Ive run about 364 miles so far, and am in the same state that this week started out in. Illinois! Ive seen too much of IL this week!!

Week 18-2330 act miles, 2200 pd miles, approx 30 OOR miles-(bobtail personal use)

**This week would have probally been around 1800-1900 if it werent for getting to drop and repower the Carleton loads**

 

...just a little update. Im still with Gainey and am just waiting for my 1 year to be up and I am out of here. Im looking into a reefer outfit hoping the miles/company/equipment will be better.
My miles have really slumped and Im averaging about 1500 mpw. I am just taking it in stride hoping for better days.
I did get put in another truck. Its a KW T2000 with the NITE system which is a bunk heater and an A/C unit. Funny, if I were in this truck when winter started, Im sure I would have had 15% idle times despite the miles. Oh well.
Sorry for the stopping with the updates. I honestly lost all motivation for keeping up with them.