CRETE - A Year in Review

I came in from days off this morning at 0700. They promptly gave me a 600 mile load going to Boise, but not delivering until 2100 Tue evening. I immediately asked them to please try and get an earlier appointment as my eta would be 1000. Never heard back from them, so once again I rescheduled the appointment and got a noon time slot. It's weird that they've specifically chastised me before to not reschedule my appointments and to only let the CSR do it. Yet every time I do, it increases the profits for both Crete and me.

 

I snagged a decent load from Albany, OR. heading up to St. Helens (taking wrong turn on the way into and again on the way out of Portland) going to Frisco, TX. A nice li'l 2245 miles but not delivering till Monday because the cons is not open on the weekends. I wished I had the hours to make there by Friday but I don't. At least I will get to have lunch at my favorite mexican food place in Ontario, OR (the one behind the Pilot at the state line). Carne Adobada!

 

I got a load. Once I was empty in K/C, they deadheaded me all the way to Springfield, MO (170 mi) to pick up going to Union City, GA. An 800+ mile run. When I asked about the shortage of freight(not that I was complaining about the miles, but was just curious about the long d/h out of a normally productive area) they said kinda short for 7am Monday morning, but the load needed to be moved on a truck who's driver had the hours for an on-time delivery. So once I get to Union City, I'll have 2000+ miles by Wednesday morning.

 

I'm supposed to call the Marietta shop around mid-day today to check on the progress (or lack thereof) of my unit. Having the bunk AC repaired, and A service, and the driver's seat repaired. Then I get to rent a car back there. This has been a very expensive home time, and I haven't done a dang thing.

 

You're more dedicated than me. Over vacation, they wanted me to drop this truck off at the nearest Navastar dealer which was 65-70 miles from home, and have my wife come pick me up...but since they won't pay my fuel usage for using my personal vehicle to save them paying me breakdown pay...sorry. or as Mr. Obvious says "I'm sorry caller, perhaps you've confused me with someone who gives a *bleep*". I'm not the one who bought these defective POS's, I'm not the one who re-engineered the EGR valve(incorrectly, thus causing more damage and repair cost's to the engine) so why should I spend my dwindling funds on company use of personal equipment just to save them a few days of breakdown pay and motel expenses. Sorry Crete, that's the price of doing business...and the price you pay when you buy cheap junk trying to save a buck on the front end, only to have it bite you in the back end.

 

I agree with you in principle SSB. Fact is I was due for hometime next weekend, so with this AC failure, I just took it a week earlier then planned. Actually, I considered staying in the motel for four days until it was done, but I'm spending so much time on the road between now and mid-September I really didn't want to miss this time at home. When I go back out, I'll be on the road until July 27th, take four days home, then back on the road from the first of August until September 17th. In fact, I have to get with my AM today to see if I'll be able to take 7 or 8 days off with no vacation time in order to attend a family reunion in September. If Crete says no, then my last day will be Friday, Sept. 13th. I'm not missing this event for this or any other company. So, later today, I should know if I'm-a-gonna stay or I'm-a-gonna go.

Update: Spoke with my AM, told him of my need for 7 or 8 days off in September without having any vacation time to use, and offered to work 6 weeks prior and 4 weeks after the trip (which I'll need to do anyway financially). No problem, he said. Very workable. He didn't sound as harried as he normally does, either, so maybe he's getting settled into his position. Also, it's gonna be at least one more day until I can get my truck back. There's a few trucks with failed bunk ACs ahead of me for the Freighliner guy to tackle.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIXLHtg2Btk....sorry i couldn't help myself

 

Ya just HAD to go and do that, didn't ya??

Funny thing is about a month or two back, I went into three different Pilots during the course of one day, once to fuel and the other two for quickie breaks. ALL THREE TIMES at ALL THREE LOCATIONS, that song was playing. I couldn't pee without it!

 

LOL, so much for my plan of increased profits. Was empty in Boise by 1315 and told "no freight, go to truck stop". Bummer, and right now I have almost 60 hrs available on my log.

 

I woke up to an interesting surprise this morning. A preplan, not after I was empty, but 6 hours before....overnight shift sent me a load. Pick up in Stone Mtn, GA going to Grand Prairie, TX for Friday. 855 miles. Now, don't get me wrong, I am happy with both being preplanned and having a decent week, I kinda expected a 3000 mile week when I was sitting empty at 7 am Monday w/1250 miles. The load to TX puts me at 2938 for the week...so, to quote Agent Maxwell Smart "mised it by thhhhat much". All in all, a pretty good week. So I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. I got good miles, had 0 disagreements with anyone in Lincoln, and my truck is still running. So I'll shut up and be happy before Karma pays me a visit.