Have to start somewhere

Thank you Daytona45 very much for your reply. It sounds like you've come to a peaceful place in your new career. I like the idea of o/o eventually as I've been self employed for 30 yrs. Working for someone else is not attractive to me. But it looks like you've made it through the most difficult part. How are they treating you as far as the safety points? It would be more encouraging to see companies give someone credit for conscientious effort, wouldn't it?

As far as the laundry, etc. I've thought about "trying" to do 34 hr resets in a hotel when possible & doing the laundry then. But how often is that even a possibility for you?

It looks like you're in pretty good shape (saw your photo). Just HOW physical is the tarping? Is it something near impossible to do alone or is it just a 'keep at it until you're done' kind of thing?

I could ask you a million questions & don't want to monopolize your time. But I sure thank you again for the advice & information. Really a big help!

Be careful & take care of that shoulder.

gp12

 

Thank you again for your help. Very glad to hear your points have been reduced. Nobody needs more pressure these days.

I was reading a Prime flatbed thread & someone mentioned kevlar tarps. I'm in the boat business now & know a bit about kevlar. It was said the kevlar tarps are half the weight. With a sore shoulder I'd assume that would help. But then I wondered what the lighter tarp would be like on a windy day. You could wind up doing a fair amount of jogging if one really took off!

You'd have to get it approved & probably pay for it yourself, but it's just a thought. One large kevlar tarp could be a big help one day.

I used to have problems from time to time getting companies to pay me. Being self employed it was important to cash flow for me. I finally got smart & started going to the source of the solution instead of talking to the source of the problem. I quit talking to admin staff & went straight to accounting. I would walk in, introduce myself, let them know my problem & usually walk out with the check in my hand same day. Often the ladies in accounting would apologize to me - even though they'd never even SEEN my bill.

You may not have that option where you are - but sometimes a friendly call to accounting is all it takes to grease the wheels. If someone squawked at me for that I'd just remind them that it's MY $ I'm trying to recover. You certainly have the right to do that & I don't see that interpreted by anyone as "rocking the boat". But I'm not in your shoes. I do know how angry I'd get when somebody else was walking around with my $! And that anger builds up until one day a $2 discrepancy pushes you over the edge.

If you don't get anything but excuses, sometimes you have to go to the next level (up OR down) but it is NOT acceptable for any employer to hold your $. I sympathize with you. See if you can call accounting & simply ask if you are doing something wrong. Ask for their help. Sometimes that's all it takes.

Good luck with that. With a years' experience you'll be a highly marketable asset in this business. LOTS of great opportunities out there with other companies. Short list Landstar, Greatwide/Dallas & Mavis, maybe Thyssen Krupp, Kelworth. Some have fleet owners you can work for instead of buying or leasing a truck.

I wish I had all the experience you have already!

gp12

 

I was just thinking about this when I read your last reply, Daytona. You asked to stay out & they do the opposite. You MUST be thinking this is some kind of subtle message they're sending - but I really wonder. The company you run for is a big company. Most large businesses seem understaffed, under-skilled & overworked in terms of infrastructure. Finding someone that goes the extra mile is really a rare thing today. I'm guessing you're suffering from a combination of problems in dispatch - maybe a bit of overhiring of drivers perhaps, etc.

I like the O/O approach for this reason. Landstar for example doesn't HAVE a business without their BCO's - O/O's. Landstar would suffer from not utilizing them efficiently. Your company does too - but...as businesses get larger I think this becomes a problem. As an employee you don't have much to say about it. Have you had any luck with other drivers' advice? I wonder if notarps has an idea. I admit he's a bit of an instigator at times - but a very fun one! Maybe he can give you some advice. And sometimes a word to the right set of ears in a company can be all it takes. Not a complaint - just a word or two. He may know what to say & to whom.

I'm sure it's frustrating. That's the part I'm dreading the most. I hate mediocrity. Especially in others! But when someone else's ineptitude costs me $, I really start to boil! Having said that, you may have just gotten caught with a slow week or something. There may not be any "hidden message". I'm sure you've read evertrucker's posts. I really like the way he handles the "not so great" load offers, etc. Very effective approach. If you haven't read his thread I highly recommend it. You two are really helping me & I appreciate it very much.

Well, keep smiling. I know things will get better & easier for you. And I'll say a prayer tonight for you about keeping those roofing shingles dry. Those things are just useless if they ever get wet!

gp12

 

Glad to hear you were "almost" hit. Doesn't sound like your week was much fun but it could have gotten much worse there. Have a great weekend & relax! Sounds like you've earned it.

 

You forgot to tell them that the fella was a swifty! The high rate of speed will confuse them. Swifty was going down the moutain. That is where the speed came from! Most think they are only dangerous when backing! Hey did you get the shower with the high water pressure there at loves? That is the one that has the shower that will take the tile off the wall! You have to lean into it so you keep yoor footing and don't get slammed into the wall!

 

I hate those! The things are like a 5000 psi pressure washer—the water is cold by the time it hits your body because the water is so finely atomized. Then when you turn the temp up so the mist is warm enough to stand, the water that condenses on your back will scald your nads right off!

I've almost thought maybe I'd start carrying my own shower head and a pair of Channellocks to switch it out with. And while I'm at it... an outlet to switch out for the non-working GFCI's in half the showers you come across. I bring my Waterpik with me and hate it when I plug it in and it doesn't work because the outlet is dead.