HOS question

My point is not about doing an 8 split time, it's the fact a shipper/consignee/broker is not held accountable.

I can show up with the rate confirmation WITH load/unload times and it rarely matches what is on the dock workers schedule. How is THAT my problem?

Someone else is doing that scheduling and screwing it up, dock workers blame the truck for being late. And the trucker is made to suffer the consequences.

 

He said that he has been driving for 6 months. He is still "paying his dues" and probably driving for a training company. Sadly, the shippers arent going to care about those drivers.

I have been in and out in less than an hour on a live load and have been as long as 13 hours (because I got the load assignment at the time I was due at the shipper and they "punished" me for being late).

Sucks how the shipper/receiver and make or break your load.

 

Well, as long as we deal with people, there will be screw ups. Irregardless whomever is at fault, I get delayed and someone pays. They get two hours to get their act together and just get the job done. After that, they get dinged for my time. Want to really give me a hard time? No problem also. I will take it back to the shipper and still bill shipper for consignee refusing load. They can then bill the consignee accordingly. Most times, obviously, it doesn't go that far as we will find a compromise. But it has happened where I took the load all the way back to the shipper. Only one time did I actually eat it. It wasn't that far (less than 500 miles) so, for me, it was worth it to make a point. On the other side of the equation, if a shipper wants to play games, again, no problem. It is extremely easy to start the truck and leave! I have even told a shipper to get the pallets off the trailer that they have loaded. Each person has to figure out what their comfort level is in doing something similar, but if it is really causing your shorts to ride up dealing with these issues, you can always leave customer property with or with the load in the box. Count the cost and see if it is worth it or not. I don't advocate anyone take any action lightly. I am just at the stage in my life where I will not tolerate childish nonsense. We can be adults, act like it, find a way to do things right, or we go our separate ways. Life is always about choices. If the job is too important to walk away from, then one is going to have to just deal with this stuff. But each person has to figure out where the line in the sand is. Mine is very clear nowadays.

As far as the getting punished for being late by a shipper or receiver. Not an issue either. If I am late, it is only because I took the load at a time that would not have made getting there when they want doable. Or, there was weather, traffic, or other situation out of my control that delayed me. To get punished for that? Not a chance. I will turn the truck around an leave. Either empty, or take the load I have on back to the shipper.

There is no need to argue and getting into a contest with shipper, receiver, dispatch, or anyone. One can try to be reasonable, and if that is getting nowhere, then determine your next course of action.... sit and deal with it, or not. No one correct answer here, so this is not a test. Each person has to figure it out for themselves. That is the main reason that I prefer to keep all my work within a 500-600 mile radius of my home. Great freight area and no one can intimidate me at a shipper or receiver. It would be a lot harder to take a load back to California from S. Carolina in this situation. Not so hard to take a load back to Nebraska from Indiana. And it is never hard to go home empty.

 

All too well aware of that.

Just had it happen end of March to me. Checked in on a Thursday with the rate con showing a 7 AM delivery. Consignee said there was no appointment, they might be able to work me in that day. They were going to be closed on Friday for Easter too. After 4 hours, I called and told the broker I was leaving. I was NOT going to sit there hostage for the weekend and was going home. They can get their product AFTER they pay me for the load from cold storage.

I politely informed them that I had been sitting there since 10:30 the night before, I was hungry and was going to get something to eat. Either they figure it out or I was leaving.

I was unloaded within the hour.

 

I was told that I could stay by the shipping boss inside.

But then after I was in the bunk for an hour the security guard came pounding.

I told him that the guy inside said I could stay, and I already took a cold pill. I am not safe to drive!

He thought about it and told me to go park on the far side of the lot.

Mikeeee

 

Now that's a trucker solution!

 

Just like a country boy will survive. A real trucker will survive. We are not going to let the government run us off from the job we love. We also don't have to do things super illegal to make a buck. I can't drive if I'm locked up in San Quinton. The laws don't tell you when to sleep. They tell you when you can't drive. I do agree the rules suck and they are doing it to please special interest groups. It would be nice to have No trucks move on that day the new hours begin in protest. If they see we could stand together at that. Then if we threaten to sit longer they would get some things changed. We can all say we are on our 34-48 hr reset.

 

Monday, July 1st, they kick in. Everyone go fishing. I am.

 

Pass it around lets get this thing viral. They will only keep pushing more laws if we the drivers won't do anything. The companies are trying to stop it as well, but No drivers No trucks move. Now for the fuel tankers they can be exempt, but we need to take a stand folks.

 

Well, even if I didn't go fishing, I have 1/8th mile of fence that needs replaced, a large new deck I am presently working on I can finish up, and a host of other little projects. Or I can paste a mural of the FMCSA logo on a target frame and blow holes in it with various shootin arns. Yep, everyone needs to book the first week of July as their annual vacation time. Not a single OTR truck rolling. Man, that would be so cool.

I would really like a to have a Qualcomm unit that is lying around and put in on the rifle range! Hit that thing with a large caliber firearm!

And all those new drivers... don't start your new truck job until the following Monday!