Danny Herman Trucking ( input)

I can remember exactly one time I delivered at 11pm I never had to drive at night otherwise, unless I wanted to. Also some of the Paccar freight going to Chillicothe, OH can be delivered at night if you want to so as to get another load earlier than if you waited to deliver after sun up.

 

Sometimes you may sit in Laredo or Calexico waiting for a load. But that isn't very often. You also may sometimes be asked not told, but asked if you want to deliver some local freight in Laredo to help them out if they get behind like after a holiday. Which includes Mexican holidays. I've sat in Calexico because no incoming freight due to Mexican holiday. I just took a 34 at the jack in the box and pigged out on tacos. Next load was to SC good miles. Mostly you will be preplanned before arriving in Laredo and Calexico. Trucks go 67 top end. In West Texas in the 80 mph zone that's a pain, but it is what it is. They absolutely DO NOT micromanage you. They give you load info, and let you handle the driving, that is what they pay us for. As long as you're on time you will never hear from them. They pay zip code to zip code. And detention pay is pretty much a fat chance. They don't have the clout of say Crete who absolutely will get their detention pay. That's about all the negative I can think of.

 

Never really told them when I wanted to drive. Let’s say I picked up at about 3pm with still 8 hours left on my clock. I usually just ride over to a truck stop and take my ten. No questions asked. Just as long as the load arrives on time, no problem. Even if you are late, all they ask for is a heads up so they can call the customer and also handle your preplan (if applicable)

Of course each company has things that may bother a few but not others. I have a few such as the base pay is low. Also no detention pay, sat at a shipper today for 3.5 hours 2.5 were spent waiting for one package of steel is Moscow tn. Lastly at times, they practice slip seating but after three years with them I noticed it’s been 6 months since I got a brand new truck and never had anyone try and take it. The one before that rocked with a year. But seems to be a issue with that at the El Paso yard. Hell actually talked to a driver who said he had to move all the way to mountain city from Alamogordo to get away from that

 

How often do you spend more than 2 hours at a shipper/receiver?

Do you ever get "resistance" (that's a nice way of putting it) from the maintenance dept when equipment needs attention? What about for non-dot stuff? E.g. Blown out stereo speakers, windshield leaks when going through truck wash, etc.

Do they always try to route you back to the same terminal for routine maintenance or do they like to get these things done on the go?

 

Funny you mentioned waiting at shipper. Just got a load today the local guy in Laredo was suppose to pick up but didn’t have time. Sat for 6 hours waiting to get into a door while 2 hours to load 4 creates. Sadly Laredo is a mess but a lot of freight comes out of here so there’s another negative. The shippers that know we don’t go after detention tend to put us on the back burner at least until we start complaining. But what can we do at this point. When I came to the company they stated it was 80% drop and hook. 3 years and a few new customers later, seems more on the lines of 40%. Usually my wait times at a shipper range between 30 mins to an hour.

As far as maintenance goes, they seem pressured by safety. So things that are dot issues get fixed ASAP. Recently my CB stopped working, so they felt that was more of a issue to fix during home time. But the apu seems to be a real serious thing to them. Guess they want drivers comfortable or (like all companies) want the engine idle burning fuel. Routine inspections and oil changes and all, they will try to get you to a terminal with a shop (Fontana ca & Lebanon, TN don’t have shops). But anything major they prefer TA or Petro as they have an access account.

Sorry also if anything I said why’s anyone away. Not my ideal day and after driving for wil-trans, I wouldn’t want any fellow driver to have high expectations that get shot down after it’s too late

 

Raises coming this month.
Amount still being discussed.
All new trucks will be T680's
With disc brakes on streer axle!

 

In one of the other threads someone mentioned they were put on a multi-stop load in OH with an excessive amount of stops.

 

That's Chillicothe Paccar load. It ain't that bad the stops are relatively close.

 

Happens all the time.
Kenworth plant.
3 buildings right next to it each other.
Pays $15 each stop.
All 3 stops takes maybe 2 hours to unload.