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

Hi Pintlehook, thanks for reading!

I understand your confusion; I may not have been clear.

As you know, what the e-log says doesn't always line up with reality. This is why many companies with those devices ask drivers to provide a PTA (projected time available) for load planning purposes. Drivers are usually asked for a reason if the PTA does not line up when the logs say he will be available (i.e., he empties with six hours left to work but pushes his PTA out til the next day).

In my case, I pushed out my PTA for the same reason I had stopped in Columbus OH. The previous night I had gotten next to zero sleep, after being on a weird night time delivery the preceding night. Net sleep for two nights: less than five hours. I was beyond tired.

A guy named Tze Feng said over 500 years ago that you should never tell an emperor the truth. You present the truth and allow the emperor to discover it for himself. Thus his pride drives him to support you rather than oppose you. That's still true today; I used that principle a lot when I sold cars and used it yesterday when dealing with a planner who had disregarded my PTA.

I did not refuse the load. I told dispatch how little sleep I had gotten and asked if I could do the load the next day as it wasn't really a load but a trailer shag. I also mentioned that if they really needed the trailer there that day I would push and get it there. Removing the load was his idea. He brought up that it wasn't worth risking driving fatigued just to move an empty trailer a couple hundred miles and rather than eat the deadhead miles on something risky (they get graded too) they would find me something productive to do once I was rested.

I even mentioned that I hate turning down loads, and he said that after three weeks of loads less than 300 miles without complaints he realizes that and not to fret as the load in question was a long trailer shag they didn't really want to give me anyway.

Now I've had a good night's sleep and feel like a new man. Time for chow and I need to be ready at 0800, so see you later!

Peace.
Peace on you.

 

New plan...much the same as the old one. Turns out they have some sold trailers here in Columbus that need to be transported to Indianapolis. I've just been asked to grab one and get it to Indy ASAP, maybe I can get there before the shop closes. I'm gonna ask if they'll let me take them all so I can snipe the miles this weekend. Hope hope hope....

Time to roll.

 

Oh well, truck is in shop status and I can't run any more til it's done. Shop closed til Monday meaning we are stuck here. Attitude check--I can bobtail to Wal-Mart, AMC theaters, and numerous restaurants on line 5 (I have permission as long as it isn't more than 25mi per day). I have a shower and WiFi available. There is a truck stop close enough to get to off duty without tripping a grid line. My truck has priority. And I'll start out with a fresh 34 once the truck clears the shop. Also, Gordon is as anxious to prove themselves to me as I am to prove myself to them (I hope). So in the grand scheme of things this little delay is trivial.

A driver hooked his Xbox to the tv and a bunch of us are watching Fast and Furious 6. The Hot Chick proclaimed it a testosterone fest and went to the truck to do chick stuff.

Gonna treat her to a movie tomorrow; I should be able to afford a matinee. Maybe even a double feature.

I am yadda yadda yadda.

 

KREEGAAAAAH!!! ONGAWAAH!!!!! (Tarzan yell)

 

Hi Mindy, thanks for reading!

Good luck in your endeavors; keep us all posted on how you're doing!

Are you training with a company or an independent driving school?

Whatever path you are taking I hope it works out well for you.

Victor-- you are 100% spot on re checking the preplans. I haven't gotten any without enough time on them except the one that I couldn't pick up, and that was mostly my PTA being ignored. From what I've seen so far they give me plenty of time to get the job done. I hate, I hate, I HATE being late and my team knows that.

Hopefully going forward I'll be able to run like I want to. If not I keep an exit strategy open. I just hate to pull out prematurely (giggity).

 

I like the fact that my pseudo African battle cry and Tarzan yell got a "thank you!" I was just feeling a little goofy.