ATS/school

Today was pretty uneventful. After we got the trailers unstuck and the truck under the other. Yea, the trailer I have was stuck, just enough on the nice icy lot not to let me leave without some coaxing. And the other driver had a hard time getting under his RGN on the ice. After that the day was just a nice drive across WI. We're supposed to unload in the morning, but the wind has started and is supposed to get worse as the night goes on. Not good, if the wind is over 25mph they won't be able to use their crane. I'm supposed to be heading home after the unload, but we'll see. Not much you can do if they don't have a really big forklift. Each of these counterweights is 17000lbs.. This winter is really starting to get long, great year to start driving! Take care out there all!

 

Hoppy, so far I cant compain about ATS. To date they have done everything that I was told they would do. My miles seem to be right where they said they would be. My last statement says i've done over 15,000. That is also with two weeks off over Christmas/New Years, and a family emergency that took a week also. The guy that went through school/training with me and is here, has over 20,000. I keep hearing that the FM I currently have gets all the new drivers. He is very good at keeping you running. Things may change when I get a new FM, i'll let you know. However, that other guy is already with a new FM and still running. I have talked to many drivers and almost all have been happy or at least content. To be fair, I met one Lease Operator who was giving his truck back, not happy with his miles. There was also a LO who was happy with the company but not with his FM, he was trying to get a new one. Everyone else was either happy or content enough to stay. I am not trying to paint a rosier picture than necessary or be a com. shill, but so far I have nothing bad to say or report. As long as people are interested I will keep updating so anyone can use this thread to help make their own decision. That is the point of this! Ask your questions, I don't mind trying to answer! Hope this helps Hoppy.

 

Ok, sorry guys/gals, been running to keep delivery times. Left from home, down to Mpls. for a load of shingles to go to northern Wisc.. Can anyone tell me why the h*** shingles need to be tarped?! They are wrapped in plastic and are going to be exposed to the weather every day for years to come! Makes no sense to me. Anyways, ran that load up to Argonne,WI, ran all night to make the am delivery. Deadheaded down to Joliet,IL for a load of insulated steel pipe. That had to go to Lawrence Kansas, the university no less. Too bad the weather was so cold, no scantily clad co-eds suntanning!lol This turned out to be a comedy of errors! Two trucks delivering in the am, 9 total phone calls on the days before, and they were surprised that we were there! What a mess! no place to unload said big trucks, improper equipment to unload, and no place for the second truck to park while waiting. It took them almost 5 hours to unload the first truck! I called my FM and let him know that I was going to be a while, and I lost the load I was going to get. Not that big of a deal, they'll find me another. Had better luck with my unload, only took 3 hours. When leaving, my truck decided to stall, twice. Turns out that even though it was JUST IN for pm( oil change etc.) I was low on coolant. So much for not checking because it was "supposed" to be checked. Another lesson learned about doing things yourself. You'd think i'd have learned enough times already! Well no harm, little ELC coolant and we're good to go!(SO far) Ran back to KC to pick up a grain bin. Another lesson in outdated directions! Supposed to turn left,onto shippers street. Sounds easy right? I was in the air, on a bridge at the time! Well after some interesting residential driving( to those at/from SCTC, think Yvonne, downtown) I found the place. Only took 2 calls to the guard shack. Did a drop/hook, thankfully. There were some guys waiting to be loaded who had been there for hours already and weren't even at the dock. Of course my good luck ended there, had to tarp this stuff. And it took three tarps. At least it was inside. Ran hard and late to be able to make the delivery this am in Portageville,MO. Right now i'm sitting at the J in Matthews, head out in the am for Pine Bluff, Ar, then on to Garner, NC. Paperwork says that I don't have to deliver until Tues, I called the contact and left a messagge. Told them that Monday wouldn't be a problem and call me back if that was ok with them too. Yeah, still waiting. I think i'm going to be there Monday in the am anyway. Jinxed myself with the earlier comment on the truck being good so far. Now a headlight is out. Would you believe that neither the J or Loves have one? #### Volvo's. I'll try T/A tom. morning.Well boys and girls, this cowboy needs sleep. Take care and stay safe!

 

BigDaddy, glad things are moving in the right direction for you! Nothing wrong with getting practice backing etc.! Some days I wish I had gone to Speedy Delivery to push a yard goat around for a while!Right now i'm sitting in a rest stop in SC. I was able to deliver early yesterday, then sat until this morning. Headed to one of the ports in Charleston for some hydrogen coolers, taking them to NE. Deliver to a nuclear plant, and man are there a lot of "extra" requirements. Hope this is a good sign for you know who! At least it pays extra for the hassles. Well, nothing much to report, heading out early tomm. am. Maybe I can deliver this one early too? That would be pretty cool! Stay safe everyone!