FedEx Freight Diary (ala Russian Rabbit)

4) use electric, rather than propane forklifts if possible?

 

Maybe at Ex things are different, but here in browntown:

1) i'm not sure what a "via" is, but if it's what i think it is, then we don't have many en-route terminal stops before going home type runs.

2) Food and poison going to the same terminal. Rare, if ever, so the adVANtage is nullified by the vast WASTE of time the 99.9% of the time it DOESN'T occur.

3) Headloads etc. Again, too rare for it to be an adVANtage.

4) Safety issues with one trailer. Again, too rare for it to be an adVANtage. If the driver can hookup to the departing 53' trailer upon first arriving at the hub, then safety issue can be taken care of right then and there---should be about 4 hours before it needs to go. OR, we know there is a problem and can pull that trailer out and put another one in it's place before any loading takes place.

It should be clear now, that i DON'T like twin pups for hub work.

 

Whew. That was a lot to read through.

I think I'm more of a fan of drop and hook vs sitting on a lift all night.

 

Very true, I thought about the vias after I posted that. I’m in a similar situation where the hub is local to me, but thankfully it’s just the one. But of course they need us drivers on the dock all night so we hardly ever get vias or kickouts.

SGF hub in Springfield, MO has them. Doesn’t seem like the idea is spreading though, because my local hub has been getting brand new propane lifts recently.

 

Point taken.

 

i understand how you feel (i think?), but i just want to say with ex and browntown and i'm sure most of the other LTL'ers, the freight is mostly, likely 99% on pallets.

So, technically you're still driving all night-----you're just not driving a truck all nite and you're driving in a chaotic, nitemare environment; If you can imagine driving a cab in manhattan-----WITH NO RULES. No signals, no lanes, you can go on the sidewalk etc. It's utter CHAOS.

Another general point i'd like to bring up that contrasts the differences between ex and browntown regarding dock is, with ex(it's been a while since i was there and maybe things have changed) i THINK they have a very strict rule regarding forklift speed----can't go faster than a brisk walking speed?

Whereas here in browntown THERE IS NO FORKLIFT SPEED LIMIT. The lifts are governed, but you can still get some speed with them. Remember, with us it's all about NUMBERS. Safety IS NOT #1.

i think ex is more conscientious, thorough, and concerned with safety.