Driving OTR with US Xpress

Hey Sammycat.

I was in Rochester on the 1st. Lexington Ave to be specific. I would have called, but I had a time critical load and couldn't stick around. I headed right back south to Hebron, KY.

And-

As it turned out, it wasn't so time critical. They scheduled me for a 1600 delivery on the 2nd. The receiver decided to re-schedule me for the morning of the 3rd. So that trip won't make it into my settlement sheet for this week.

If I knew that was going to be the case, we could have visited for a while. Too bad, too. I don't get up that way too much. Would have been nice to see you and Dave again.

So this weeks settlement will be a dismal 1,946 miles.


And-

Speaking of blown loads: My next trip was a small hop from Mason, OH to Horse Cave, KY, paid miles 238. I show up at 0745 for my 0800 live load:

"Sorry. That load is gone. It left yesterday."

"You sure?"

"Yep. Call your dispatcher"


Grrrrrrrrrr.


So I go park.

Now, my FM wants to do right by me, so she sends me 2 pre-assignments. First one was another small run from Batavia, OH to Lima, OH (164 mi.) with a live load. The second was a 1,318 mile run, with stops, that picked up in Montpelier, OH at 1900 and final-ed in Denton, TX.

Duh.........If I started my day at 0700, a 1900 live load was really reaching. I grabbed the short run but held off on the big one. She really wanted me to keep that big P/A. I told her it has to be one or the other........not both.

I zipped over to the Batavia shipper and waited to get loaded.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Once I bumped the dock I contacted my FM and told her a 1900 pick up is just not possible. Give that P/A to another truck (I still had not accepted it).


Her response: "Shoot"


Finally, I got loaded and headed up to Lima to the P&G distribution center. Drop and hook. Grab the new mty. PTI..............and wouldn't you know..........Mud flap missing on the left side.


H.O.S remaining: 1:41. Travel time to shipper in Montpelier: 1:47



So much for that.




I send in a message advising dispatch that the mud flap needed replacement, and would have to be handled in the AM. I headed to the Flying J in Beaverdam, OH to park for the night. They had a mud flap in stock so that wasn't going to be an issue.

My night FM and I had a conversation about that big P/A and he agreed that chances of me pulling that off was slim and none. He pointed out that the planners were leaving me on that run.

At 2100 one of the "bosses" asked me for my best ETA on the 4th for arrival in Montpelier, OH. I gave him 0900. That covered getting back hours and repairing the mud flap. It meant an early start this morning but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Finally, at 2230 I contact my night FM and he tells me I'm still on the load, so I said fine, accepted the pre-plan, then hit the sack.


At 2330 a message comes in while I'm in snoozing away:


What time can you make it to Montpelier? They're not open on the 4th, so they're waiting for you.






Naturally I don't see this message until the morning. And because I didn't respond they changed all the appointment times. So now this load picks up on the Sunday the 7th, and finals on the 9th. I asked for another load assignment, but that won't happen today.


And my home time is scheduled for the 10th.


So Sammycat, I'm spending my 4th at the Flying Hook in Beaverdam, OH doing laundry, watching NCIS, and playing on the computer.


Maybe I'll see some local fireworks.........



Yeah, right.

 

Just a quick update.

I'm on home-time until the 16th, and....my son is home which is a great thing. There is a lot of "catching up" to do as there would be when any soldier, who's been away for along time, finally comes home.


So see ya back out on the road.

 

Pleased to meet you, EasyB.


Try to avoid using the phone unless it's an emergency or you have no choice. The system they have in place comes to a grinding halt every time they need to pick up the phone.

When they send the load info on a P-A without answering your questions, it's because you're the only choice they have, for whatever their reasoning. Always make sure you cover your tail about whether you can deliver on time or not. That DT is your proof.

Always let them know your status (when your rolling, eta's, shut down locations, HOS remaining). It helps them out and keeps the Pre-assigns coming in.


Good luck out there.

 

What you could do is start out solo OTR and post a flyer in the terminal(s) that you're looking for a co-driver.

Finding the right team member is like finding a shoe that fits properly. You may have to talk to several candidates before you agree to partner up with someone.