I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

Hee hee hee..."ops monkeys"

 

450 miles to Germantown WI live unload 0300. Thought it was piggybacking on the other two ppns but those were pulled without my knowledge. Okaaayyyyy.... Picking up here in Columbus OH in a couple hours, sleeping at receiver. Mentioned (politely) to dispatcher that maybe the driver could be kept in the loop; I almost left the yard with a load that wasn't mine. Just putting that out there.

Risinger called, they want me. Putting them off long enough to give Gordon one last chance.

Got paid properly, so that's a major plus.

 

I have browsed other threads here; I just really really hate negativity (former sales trainer means part motivational speaker) so I don't spend much time at all on the "I Hate XYZ Company" boards. I do my research by finding and befriending people who are actually out driving for company A, B, or C. From those relationships stem introductions to other people within the system, and over time I get a decent picture. Most of what I see on the "Tattle On A Bad Company" threads is outright BS from someone who went there with unrealistic expectations (same as the majority of dealer horror stories) and are disgruntled because they didn't get their way. There are a few common themes that tie many of those threads together (pun intended--giggity), included but not limited to: Mega Carrier X is making me work for absolutely no pay and has been doing so for six weeks; Dispatch threatened to fire me, sue me, burn down my house, rape my dog and shoot my wife if I don't work a 17 hour day for the thirtieth day straight; I leased from Carrier X and after a whole month I haven't made any money; I leased from Carrier Y and haven't seen a paycheck in three months; I leased from Carrier Z and they make me sit if I turn down any loads...ad infinatum, ad nauseum.

I was making money at Dart. I detailed earlier in this thread exactly why I left them, and it wasn't because they are a lousy company; they aren't. They're actually pretty good. (You'll have to read the thread if you want to know why I left; I don't want to type the whole story again.)

I leased from Celadon year before last and was making money. Not a killing, just a living. Only reason I left was because I got deathly sick and physically couldn't drive. Only reason I left Celadon for Gordon was the pay. That's it. My only beef with the company side. It's a great place for a rookie to learn the ropes. If you're a decade veteran like me you'll go batty trying to make ends meet.

The pay at Gordon is really good. They don't micromanage their drivers. I turned in about 2100 miles last week and earned around $1100. (That included a couple hundred in short haul bonus money for doing like six in a row, plus about four hours detention). I just don't think I'm a good fit. Mind you, the jury is still out on that, but my reasons are beginning to multiply.

I won't bash a company. I'm not that kind of guy. I'll relate a bad experience as well as a good one, and as my life is more or less an open book while I'm sharing my thoughts on this forum people will know when I'm upset. But I refuse to join the madding crowd that constantly bemoans the EEEEVIL big companies only out to rob the poor defenseless little driver. Regardless what people say on the negative dice of this forum, they didn't get to be big companies by nickel and diming their drivers to death. Even the money Celadon got with their fuel rebate chicanery (which, if true, is SO #### WRONG) is a drop in the bucket compared with the revenue from all the freight they move. I'm not saying the big companies are all pure as the driven snow--I'm just saying they didn't get big that way. Happens in most organizations (car dealerships fall victim to this with depressing regularity): build the business to gargantuan levels, lose sight of the values that got you there.

What the #### was I talking about...? I'm rambling because I've been awake for nearly 24 hours (more on that later). I should probably pass out and express my thoughts when I'm not nearly comatose. Main thrust--I am afraid of neither leasing nor Risinger. What I know does not require anybody's approval. And as this is a running narrative of my professional experiences, my own council will I keep on who is to be trained --*okay, quoting Yoda means it's time to sign off. G'nite.

I am Captain Zoom.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

 

Yesterday: Woke up early to run and get wife's medications and do laundry before leaving on the first of two preplans. While waiting for prescription I find out they pulled my preplans and put a service watch load on me that would require driving straight through til 0300 for a live unload. I grumble but okay. Cut laundry short, grab some coffee, and set off on a 480 mile trek through the ice and snow to Germantown WI. Eat on the road and push through in a heroic effort to get to receiver to live unload, planning on collapsing there because I was told explicitly that I could park there overnight. Get to receiver. It's a drop, and they're annoyed because they weren't expecting me so soon and space is limited. They clear a door. Heck no, I can't park there, drop it and scram. I can check after my break for an empty. Find a small truck stop, park with two minutes to spare. Today: I get a preplan that wants me to go all the way to Sam's in Oswego IL for a store delivery in Milwaukee. It shows zero paid empty miles. I'm north of Milwaukee right now. I call in to see what gives; I am told I have two preplans and they are conflicting. They send me to dispatch, I get voice mail. Hang up, fire off QC message asking what in the world they want me to do. It's like getting nibbled to death by ducks.