CRETE - A Year in Review

Happy home time to ya!
I don't think they read the messages anyway. I was just asked the name of the person I talked to at the shipper about the load crete rejected but sent me over anyway. I referred her back to my first message where I had listed it.

 

Sounds like Dana. And if it is, I'm familiar with the problem!

 

No this person's name starts with an "S". It's the same one that left me stranded in SLC for over an hour because she forgot to call. That was another load I was sent to that was not ours.

This just in.... load voided...haha after only 2 hours!

 

I know "S". Never had a problem there. Oh well, go figure.....

 

It's days like this that just make ya wanna go find a desk job.

So after sitting 1.5 hr.s for a response to my first message, then another hour for them to confirm what I was telling them was true, then another 30 minutes for another post-plan to hit the qcom......wait for it.....I get a load offer picking up at the same place going to the same town (different consignee) as the previous load. So now I have no way to file for detention plus I will have to barely squeak by on my 14 to make the delivery. what's the saying...oi vey!

 

This is a picture of many Crete drivers on the weekend ----- :smt093 and . And many would like to do :smt021 or :smt075

 

I actually kinda hope they don't have anything out of western AR for me until tomorrow. I'll do a 34, have 70 hours to run to get home for Christmas, and then I'm still contemplating going on the RDO12 fleet until I get an idea of how much of a return I'm getting on my income taxes this year, then start making concrete plans to start getting on at Poly...I too have had enough of fighting them to answer, fighting them for freight, fighting them for usable quality equipment...If I do leave, it's a win-win for both sides. I move to a company with a better reputation for driver relations, they get to save some money on payroll...I really don't see a down side to jumping ship other than doing without insurance for 120 days.

 

It was the same thing at Schneider. One Saturday, I was in the process of dropping a load at our Westhaven, MI yard to be relayed. I was going to get there around 1300, and I put myself out until Sunday morning because I was going to be involved in a 3-way call with my ex and my son about his future plans and applications and the like. It was a big deal. I needed to keep the afternoon open because I wasn't sure when my ex and son would call.

Well, weekend dispatch decided to put me on a load that delivered Sunday morning somewhere 400+ miles away and didn't leave time for squat. I turned it down, and repeated my reasoning. Well, they got even. Sunday, I ended up doing not one or two, but THREE short shag loads, the last one being 4 miles. I did them, followed by the ripping of a new one to management that Monday. They just couldn't believe that a driver's personal life and responsibilities continue despite them being on the road.

It wasn't that much after this that I left and went to Crete.

 

And if Schneiders Op's management is anything like Crete's has been for me...they get all irate at you and start blaming you for their customer service issues that turning down the load caused. I had that issue back a few months ago when I was almost forced to do the Wally in OK. The 'we have customers to service, we need this done' comments were flying. Until I mentioned 'I have bills to pay and financial commitments to satisfy that are more important than getting screwed over on these Walmart loads'... Then Tim tried to go down that road over Thanksgiving until I reminded him that I do more than my share of short stuff, and that I was offering to t'call the short load that was preplanned, that had 3 days on it, in Indy and do something else, even if it was another short run that delivered earlier...and that Cory wouldn't respond to me either way...and if he doubted that I'm not doing my share, then why is my yearly average going to barely make 120,000 this year. He understood, and said that they would try to find something else, but were way short on freight...I ended up getting a load on that Friday instead.

That and I also went off on Cory telling him that his attitude is exactly why most driver hate to have to deal with him...and I had typed that most wouldn't miss him if he failed to show up for work ever again, and would care why...but I deleted that last part just in case his panties were a bit snug....lord knows we wouldn't want to get his in a bunch.

 

Ok...I am sure the people in weekend dispatch are either freekin nutz, or have no clue as to the geography of the USA. I got empty in Russellville, AR. Told them that if there wasn't anything urgent I could wait until morning...what do they send me...a load that picks up in Conway, AR going to Far West, UT for Wed night midnite. 1507 miles...The carrot of miles dangled before me...decisions decisions