Foodliner, Inc. - Dubuque, Ia.?

Great info...

 

sent pm to you

 

Okay. Honesty you shall receive.

That's 84 hours, and with the correct use of e-logs isn't going to happen. Don't inflate the problem.

Guys, this job is like any other job. It's what you make it.

I do not bend the rules, I log legal and walk the walk. I gross on average $1300 + a week. Legally. How do I do it? I run a sleeper and go where the work is if Albany is slow.I make myself versatile and load off rail-cars if need be, and spend more time working than whining.

The work is always there, and even though the dispatchers have dispatcher moments, they will correct it if you explain it to them. I'm out of Albany and have been there less than a year, but it's my 2nd tour after I lived 7 years in Florida. I came back. And yes, they dinged my DAC when I ran a truck out of fuel back then being a space cadet in the middle of my divorce. So what ?

If you take care of the truck, they take care of the truck. Sometimes, it's a battle to get things not deemed a safety issue, but assertiveness is key. I have never been "denied" getting a DOT violation taken care of - they hop right on it. If they don't, I don't take the truck out. That where you be the professional and not willingly take an unsafe vehicle on the road.

Remember, it's your call and your responsibility.

I go to customers in NYC constantly and all over the Northeast. I also stroll out in the system once in a while at my choice. Customers treat me well, because I present myself as a professional. If you are getting treated like scum, you are probably projecting it. Look in the mirror.

Getting a truck in a tight spot is part of the profession. Man up, don't cry about it and just freakin' drive the truck. Be careful, get someone to spot you if need be. If you honed your skills, I wouldn't have to wait 35 minutes while you flounder to get parked at a Pilot.

I am not a corporate plant - I'm a dyed in the wool veteran driver of 33 years who does his job well, and tries to be better than you. I drive a 2006 truck for the company with close to 600K miles on it, and it is going to Carlisle, PA for the show this August when I get a few more things done to it. I do the work on it except for the maintenance and keep it spotless. And I'm going to push to get it painted.

No problems with DOT ... ever, and the customers love the look of the truck.

There's better companies out there as well as worse. But I completely tire of people whining and blaming the company for everything. Do you think I agree with how everything is run? No. I let them politely know and I stand my ground for something I believe in.

Try it sometime, no matter where you work.

 

How food grade trucking get paid for average $1300 per week. I work on frac sands and I get paid average $3000 per week.

 

Oil field and energy related stuff has always paid huge money. You'll spend a lot of that money down the road getting your health back when you realize all the chemicals you are around aren't too good for you. Enjoy it while it lasts, and brag all you want.

To 95% of us, $1300 isn't bad coin and we aren't raping the planet to earn it.

 

Just curious, do they switch you from liquid to dry bulk? Or do you do one or the other?

 

You can if you want. Some guys have both a blower and a hydrapak on the truck. I stay pretty busy on dry by floating around from area to area where the work is. Right now, they are using liquid guys without a blower on bulk sugar, because one of the accounts is a bottom drop. A few of the Yonkers guys do both on the Domino's account.

Just finishing up a two week stint in the Minnesota area, will more than likely go back and work Albany for a couple of weeks, and then pinch hit in Virginia as that mill is getting busy.

 

Neat, i saw some of your trucks at cargill in dayton oh.

 

I have a boat load of experience in the workplace (not as a driver) and this advice from SmoothShifter is one of the most honest, straightforward, common-sense posts I've seen.

In my opinion, this post should be docked, and every driver should refer to it from time-to-time.

I'm no kool-aid drinker by any means, and I'm definitely not Management, but from what I've seen and heard/read here, if more drivers conducted themselves using SmoothShifter's methods, EVERYONE'S life would be a lot simpler. ALL jobs suck sometimes.

Even when I was an airline pilot, it was dreadful on occasion. If you're going to fight, if you're going to do things the hard way, if you're going to force cooperation and acting like a fully-formed adult to short to ground, at least make sure it's for a legitimate reason. If you're REALLY unhappy where you are (and just like our choices in Women / Beer / Pizza - not everyone's needs and wants are the same!) if you're REALLY unhappy, just pull the ###### plug and walk.

If you're jammed up and can't quit (for whatever reason) just power though the crap, get to the other side and leave when you can. Go work for a company that treats you better, or pays better, or has better equipment...whatever it is you need. The only shame for any of us is working for a shop we can't stand. I've been there, and I've done it (too many times, hoping it would improve). That concept of staying put IS a road to nowhere.

Sorry for the rant, guys (and ladies). It wasn't directed at anyone here.

Let's ALL have a good life whenever possible. Get home as often as you can, or for a moron like me, stay out forever.