Good Night From II

Well this was a fun day.
When I go to the shipper this morning I got in line behind 6 other trucks for my load of paper. After nearly 2 hours I get a QC message saying that the new pick up time for this load is the 30th, and today is the 28th.
A guy came out to my truck and told me the same thing. The product wasn't ready yet.
I don't know why it wasn't ready as it was scheduled to pick up yesterday.

So that takes away my next pplan from MI to ID as well.

So now I have a Walmart load going to TN that delivers tomorrow, then one going to IN.
Not nearly the miles of the other 2 loads, but at least I'm rolling.
After sitting nearly 2 hours a total of 2 trucks had been loaded, and I still had 4 in front of me.

 

Delivered that petco load early in auburn wa.
Drove back to terminal to see if I can get the b.i.t. service done. Dm said loads are scarce up here lol.
Shop said nope there is too many trucks.
So waiting with the other lossless drivers .

 

So when does your time expire for that bit inspection?
(Inspection - it is not a service like a b-service.)
Them saying no is total BS if you are within days of being put OOS for it.

 

And Swift should really be hiring more people in the shops, since they are increasing the time each service and inspection takes with more stuff to do.
A b-service used to take 2 hours, now it is 4.
Now I have to get an a-service every 25k miles in addition to the 50k b-service, so that puts me (and everyone) in the shop twice in the same period.
Not to mention the 90 day bit inspection, which usually does not coincide with the others. It also takes longer now.

But instead, it seems like many shops have shortened their hours and have less people?!

Is this the Knight 'wisdom' trickling down on us?

 

4 days from today.

 

Sumner terminal.
Sat here after delivering the load. Just got a preplan the picks up here and delivers in Kent wa tomorrow morning at 0700. 15 miles from here
Not even gonna respond to it

 

What is it... Safeway and a live unload that will take a few hours and pay $25 bucks?
Don't they have local guys that can do that garbage?

With only 4 days remaining until you go on hold for that inspection, you should insist on the shop time now.
Or you could try to get one more decent load in and let the time expire. Then they will have no choice but to get you to a TA or somewhere for the inspection - and they would hate that. Something not close to a terminal would be best.
I have let the time expire to force the issue, simply because they would not get me close enough to a terminal when I request it. Planners care nothing for what we need to get done, so I'll just take the loads until I am on hold. Then they have no choice in the matter.

Get with your DM to see if he/she will set you up with something.
Many are too afraid to plan for us, but some will do it. My DM, and sometimes TM, will often do it.

 

I agree 100%. Sitting outside the Columbus shop now. Had my scheduled 10:00 A service this morning but of course they found a list full of things to do at the main shop. There’s about 8 items but they’re all pretty easy, hardest one being replacing a couple drives.

But I never even got in the main shop today. Had all my loads cancelled and I guess they’ll do it sometime tomorrow. The exact same thing happened at my last service. They need more mechanics for sure but it’s always been this way in my opinion.

My last company had about 600 trucks total and the shop was always open 24/7 except on some weekends. There were always mechanics in each bay working on the trucks when you walked in. It’s amazing to me they don’t hire more mechanics so they don’t lose revenue with trucks waiting for repairs. Or at least get an account with Speedco or some other service shop.

Rant over.

 

I know that at least Inver Grove Heights is having a hard time finding mechanics.
The last one that had an interview (just before my last home time, anyway) never showed up. They are short handed but it isn't Swifts fault.

 

Currently getting an A and B service at phoenix .. we shall see how this goes. Im hoping they are quicker than JV.

DM was supposed to schedule it. I get here, and im not in the system. So i get in line.