Good Night From II

I recovered a truck this morning in Montucky, and then headed back to Lewiston. At about 1800 tonight I was traveling south on 95 about 20 mi south of Coer d' Alene, when the rain turned to ice. This storm coming in was putting down the rain in sheets, and the spray was freezing from all the cars. The ruts were clear, but the rest of the road was 2" thick ice for about 8 miles. I slowed down, and arrived at a decent hour. I just showered in the terminal and am relaxing before bed. Good day all in all.

I can't wait for summer.

 

I understand how you feel, but look at some of the things I don't have to worry about anymore; no plus one headaches, very few disgruntled shipping or receiving clerks, I always know what I'll be doing tomorrow and when I have to do it, steady miles, no more sleeping in the truck and idle worries, and no surprise road closures (unless there's a wreck enroute).

 

I drove regional for a year. After a while I didn't even need the GPS or atlas much. The roads never always the same and the receivers rarely changed. I felt like a bus driver. Bonkers is right.

 

My weather radio just warned of a "hard freeze" for most of Oklahoma where my grandchildren live through Wednesday. What crazy weather already...it's warmer where I live in Michigan. And Maine got beat up with snow.

 

Doing a 10 at a rest area on I-65N just south of Indianapolis.

Got it to the receiver in Louisville this morning and promptly got the shaft. Took them 4 hrs to get me unloaded. Then drove an hour south to get reloaded to go to Minooka IL near Morris and got reamed again!! Six more hours wasted to load 9K lbs of stuff in not even half the trailer. Had planned on dropping in Minooka on my 14 tonight but didn't even have enough time on my 14 to make Indianapolis.

Since i left Houston Saturday morning Swift, shippers and receivers have wasted over 800 miles of potential drive hours. Very irritating. This week is gonna suck because of it. I seriously doubt any of them could care less about the impact their wasting my time has on my income.

Planners gave me a short Costco load out of Morris up to WI after I drop in the morning stacked with another from WI down to Laredo TX. Not bad but the downside is delivering to a broker Friday morning including going to the terminal to get inspected. Always fun doing that...not. Told my DM to get me hooked up with something to get me outta there Friday. I'm gonna be one pissed off Hombre if I get stuck in that #### hole over the weekend!!

 

Finally made it to Salt Lake City after sitting for a day in Laramie due to the high winds. Cart00nz!!

 

I hate going through there as well, BUT...

Telling your DM to get you out won't do much good if there are no outgoing loads... Your DM does not plan the loads, after all. You might be 12th in line for a load, with other drivers waiting longer than you.
And being a "pissed off Hombre" only serves to stress yourself out - not anyone else.

Get a grip... Brace up... !!!!

I just gotta love the self-important attitude.

 

Been there, done that - several times.

And at the end of the day it all boils down to whether you made the delivery safely.


I've shut it down several times due to wind in that area, only to pass several overturned trucks that didn't.
In the end, they lost a LOT more than I did by waiting.

My thinking is to not be a super trucker, but a safer trucker.

 

Keep in mind that you only have to get your trailer inspected if you are DROPPING it at the broker. If it's a live unload skip the inspection and go straight to the broker.

 

Yes, it's a drop. I've been down there many times. I'll have to try and time my arrival to where I avoid the morning crush in the inspection line.

Moose...my apologies if you think I feel like I'm more important than other drivers. That's not really the case but I do look after myself and try to avoid sitting whenever possible by anticipating situations that could lead to being parked. I tend to be more proactive about going after loads than reactive and waiting to see what might come my way. Laredo has no shortage of drivers sitting around waiting.

My DM and I have a very good relationship and perhaps the term "told" was too strong. It wasn't a demand but a conversation about getting there on a Friday without being prepared. I'm essentially "getting in line" for a load 3-4 days ahead of arriving. I also know that DMs can bypass planners and assign loads themselves if they want. She has access to the same info and can tell me ahead of time what's still available at any given time in an area. She doesn't do that often nor do I ask but insider info on freight levels at a given location is helpful.

Being "pissed off" was too strong as well. Was tired and should've waited to post. More a measure of frustration with some issues in this job lately and you're right as it only increases MY level of stress. I don't run OTR so I can be abused. I got into this line of work by choice, not necessity. For some it's a lifestyle and that's ok but for me it's just a job. I go on the road and do the job 7 days a week to make as much as I can then go home and do it all over again. My frustration comes and goes with the way this industry operates in so far as drivers have to take abuse from all directions simply because that's the "way it is" running general freight. I have a hard time accepting that and feel that it will soon be time to move to more specialized commodities such as chemical tankers. I know there's rarely a perfect job in trucking but I feel the need to explore other options. I've done well with Swift overall and have no serious issues with the Company. Time for a change is on the horizon though.