Getting Ready to Hit the Road with Magnum

Oh yeah.... actually I am at home in NC right now. Been a tough couple days. (did you not check your email?)

Ran a load up to Grand Forks, dropped it, picked up some pallets, and went and got my other load..... Off to Carolinas!

Well, my starter began to act up in Lowell, Indiana. I tried talking nice to Tater, but he wouldn't listen. So I took my Tire Buddy to him (the starter actually), and we were able to temporarily resolve the problem.

Then, as I begin to shoot through the mountains, I start having trouble with the clutch. Was told by the shop to take the truck to the Pete shop in Greensboro, NC. They informed me that one of the inner springs had broken. Advised the shop and was told to try to get it back to Fargo because they were going to have to take the transmission out to fix it.

Next day, on the road at 230am headed to Goldsboro for 5am delivery. Get the load off, run to Wilmington (the beach) to pick up a load to D&H in Greensboro. Got that to g'boro, and had to run to Winston Salem to pick up a HazMat Load. Then meet the driver at the terminal in Greensboro, give him the trailer, then home I go.

Gawd was I tired when I got home.

BUT, I am happy to report that according to the Terminal Manager, I ran 11,390 miles in the month of July. I was really sort of surprised. I had 3 weekends of layover (Sat / Sun) and a 2 day home time in the middle of the month. But hey..... not complaining....

Talked to Max yesterday. Asked him if I was on his list of "Things to Do" for Friday. He told me I was on the top of the list. We'll see. If not, after Tater gets fixed, we may just have to go "4 wheeling". heheheheheh

ARF

 

Yeah, I think it is coming too.

(Hey Buddy - long time no talk. Been looking for ya out on the road)

I AGREE completely. WAY too many ways of it coming back on you. Nice thing about it is that once you go on electronic logs, you no longer have to worry about the dispatchers trying to run you into the ground. They can't. And it makes for a much safer road out there.

Officially, a company wouldn't "allow" it. But they might encourage it.

Good to see you Rob. Been wondering how you were doing. PM me when you get a chance.

WOOF

 

Yeah, I read it. I was too far out of commission to respond. Sounds like it was a tough week for both of us. Gotta make hay when the sun is shining, especially nowadays. Sounds like you are turning good miles and we had a record- breaking month, so times are good. We just need to keep it up through the fall.

Just be careful on the trip back to Fargo. That's a long way to limp a truck that isn't running right. You'd think that Magnum would have a shop in NC, or at least a trusted truck repair service.

 

Well, we actually do have a place we take it to. But we're also looking at a repair that is 10-12 hours, and the labor alone would be rather pricey. The spring is just one of several, and as long as the rest of them don't snap, I should be ok. Personally, I think I can pull it off. The only time it could be an issue is when I am at a full stop and have to put it in 2nd or 3rd to start out. Otherwise, I'll just float the gears and PRAY.... hehehehehehe

Besides, if I can get it there (under a load nonetheless), that would give me bragging rights, right? I live for stress..... hehehehehehehe

 

Hmmm...nothing about the company wide pay cut? Cutting pay due to lack of freight, but still hiring new drivers...go figure.

 

If you have info that you want to see it posted here, then post it. No one is stopping you.

Scooter has been completely honest about Magnum's strong points and weak points as well as his own successes and failures. It's not like he only paints a rosey picture of Magnum.

So save the criticism of a guy who gives a lot if his personal time to let us know how his company works. If you ask him his opinion on these things that you're concerned about, I'm sure that he'll tell you.

 

That's because I have been a little busy and I have not had an opportunity to get online. If I didn't know any better.... well never mind

Yup, it was announced Thursday that we were ALL getting a 5% pay cut. Not good news. But at least no one lost their job that I m aware of. So I guess that's a positive point if there is one.

I was actually supposed to get my evaluation on the 12th, but timing is not going to permit that, and the guy that would be doing the evaluation is out of town and doesn't return until next Monday. The scheduled pay increase would offset the cut, but I am not sure that the increase will happen. Besides, I am not sure that I would feel good about taking a pay increase when all my fellow drivers are taking a cut.

But yeah, we took a hit. There is some more intimate details that were told to me, but I am not sure that they are fact, nor do I think that it is my place to make it public knowledge.

As far as them hiring.... just not true. They had filled all the trucks up a few weeks ago. And if I was to speculate, I would think that was done in an effort to make sure there was an ample number of staffed trucks should others decide to flee.

So what am I going to do? Dunno. Certainly I am weighing my options, and yes, I have spoken to some other companies that have made offers to employ me. But I think until I have a chance to speak to the Fleet Administrator, I am not going to make any decisions. Magnum gave me an opportunity..... I feel it is only fair to reciprocate.

But don't think I was trying not to mention what had happened.... Just not a lot of time in my day lately. And sleep is more important than posting.

Sorry you felt slighted, Swiffer.

 

hehehehe well I guess that pretty much covers that.... thanks bud.

Yeah my other post adresses all that.

In other news, Tater went into surgery today for his clutch, and he is doing just fine. Sitting here, ready to roll. While I was waiting, I took another truck and ran a flatbed load up to Fergus Falls. At least they kept me rolling. It was sort of cool to do something different. Everything went off without a hitch, and when I got back to the yard, Tater was sitting there waiting for me. So tonight, I'll kick back at the TS and head out tomorrow am for a load going back to NC. Then I'll take the weekend off, Linda and I will talk about what we want the future to hold, and then go from there.

I'll be coming through your area tomorrow evening. Park Rapids # 1pm, then east on 94

Holler!

ARF

 

Oh yeah, by the way.....

BobCat just laid off 194 people and paycuts went out. 6% to the admin and 14% to the drivers.

Not justifying what Magnum did. But glad we didn't have that big of a cut.

This info was provided to me by one of their drivers on Friday night. I didn't have the heart to complain about my situation. He was an older gentleman and as nice a fella that you could meet. I wished him well.

 

Did they get Tater all fixed up right? Trucks like to get fixed and then break down right away again, just to show you who's the boss.

Did you scale out ok?