UPS Freight Diary:

AH-HA!

But i don't rush around anymore city-or road. Lately, i'm actually an emotional wreck due to going back to night shift temporarily; i think being away for a while, then going back to it really illustrates how grueling night shift really is.

Currently Rueful Rabbit.

 

Latest news is:

1) i've had to work dock doing niteliner bs lately. It IS COLD AF right now in the northeast. But that doesn't actually bother me-----the cold air is actually exhilarating to breathe in----for short periods of time. Also, as i said, the actual dockwork is not difficult-----thurs night i only had 4 bills to unload, then done. i think it's easier than walking.

a) Layers of clothing is where it's at for working in the cold. We may discuss this in another separate thread i'm proposing regarding dockwork?

What DOES bother me totally, is being awake at 3-4am when it feels so natural just to sleep. This is unhealthy, unnatural and likely harmful long-term. Not to mention emotionally devastating to me----if i don't get enough sleep or food i can get grouchy, nervous, jumpy, pissed etc. i'm not a happy camper let's just say...... Now, it's true that when i run the city i get psychotic hatred towards pedestrians, cars, other truck drivers, especially taxi drivers and especially some customers, but this is just temporary; When the situation is done, then the feeling goes away. But with night work, the ramifications can stay with me.

2) i've noticed, regarding city P+D, i think we are the only company (?) that uses, and ONLY USES former road tractors for the city. i think most other LTL carriers have tractors purchased and spec'd specifically for the city. We run the road tractors up to about 500-600K miles (but not always) and put them into the city----and then further run them to over 1 million miles before replacement. We do not buy tractors specifically for the city.

As you know, road tractors aren't smooth for stop-and-go traffic. They are jumpy. Not well suited for the city. This is another, albeit minor, strike against the company.