here comes another rant

At Swift, the satellite tracking was broken on about 50% of their trailers. Take one of those to the shop, and they would tell ya to just take it. They never had enough mechanics to fix the stuff that wasn't "important."

 

Glad that's not something I've ever had to mess with. We don't have satellite tracking or any of that crap but someone always seems to know where a few empties are within 20 minutes and it's rare to even have to leave the yard to find one.

 

This is better than watching tv.

 

Here at SNI, we also have "trailer tracking", but it is FAR from foolproof or even dependable.

But I will say this....I seldom have to go to more than one additional location for an empty. And I do get paid for the miles or time....just let my DM know and it's taken care of.

SNI is also adding a number of new trailers. Word is earlier this year, the head honcho (Mr. Lofgren) was besieged by drivers and others remarking about the difficulty of locating trailers in certain areas, and he was not happy. Hence, the investment into additional equipment.

But I've also had a few of those "Yes it is", "No it isn't" back-and-forths with the powers that be....

 

What is really messed up is when there are no empties at a company terminal. Whenever I drop off at SLC I'll BT over to Conway and snag a empty from them.

 

Try doing both!

 

I didn't read the whole thread, but I can tell you one reason a trailer might physically be in one location while the computer places it in an entirely different state.

I picked up an empty at a plant last month. Sent my empty call in with the new trailer number, then started checking it out. Message came back that trailer number and state did not match.

When I went to slide the tandems forward, I realized the spring was missing for one of the pins. Wasn't too hard to get "fixed" enough so I could move them and get rolling. After that I put two and two together.

I told maintenance that I could get the trailer to a yard for repair, and that I was certain that the reason this trailer was showing in a different location is because the last driver who hooked to it sent his empty call with that trailer on it, then realized the tandems would take some effort to move. Rather than reporting the problem, this driver unhooked, grabbed a different empty, and left.

He could have at least reported it.

 

The problem with trailer satillite tracking is the device is powered by a battery that is charged by the trucks electical cord. If the trailer has been sitting for an extended period of time the battery dies and the device quits sending a signal. That is one of the main reasons a larger company will misplace a lot of trailers.

 

We have Skybits its all battary powered (as far as i know since its NO WHERE near the front of the trailer) , and sends our Helena, MT Terminal a message when the battery is running low so we can change it. It only takes 30 seconds to change the battery. They had me deadhead 250 miles with a trailer so that the battery could be changed...



American Trucker