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

Should be leaving out tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning. Packing tonight since we were told to check out in the morning. Am told Superbowl Sunday shuts down their Uline account every year, so hopefully won't affect me too much.

 

Not a recent case of a few bad actors but a long tradition of running outlaw catching up with them, as I see it. They're (apparently) trying to turn the corner because they see the negative effects tolerating bad actors for so long is having on their business.

Also 50mph planning (not dispatching like I misspoke earlier; there's a difference) doesn't necessarily mean balls out all the time. Customers actually schedule the loads at a much slower pace but planners want to preplan you based on a 50mph average. If the customer wants the load there by 2100 the company would prefer your eta be by 1800 as they have another load 45 miles away that needs to be off the yard by 1900. Drivers aren't forced to do anything but the ones who work harder obviously get more miles and money. You know--Trucking 101.

One thing that was repeatedly stated to us at orientation is the importance of communication; there are no punitive penalties for refusing a load if you need a break or feel too tired to run. They will either relay the load or put it on someone else but need to know before you are at a stage where it is too late to save the load. On the other hand, refusing a load puts you at the back of the line for another one. If you don't know how to plan 2-3 loads in advance and keep the door shut you won't make it with any lease company that has miles.

Also I don't consider 50mph unrealistic or even that difficult; I have been planned at 45mph and below and it was quite relaxing. I have also been dispatched at 50mph and had no issues. I was at a company (which shall remain nameless) that planned me at 57mph. I was able to keep up but that one was really hard work. I ended up quitting.

Anyhow it seems like there's a lot of armchair quarterbacking going on based on--not a lot of first hand perspective. I came here based on about a dozen (LIVE, REAL LIFE, NOT ON-LINE) conversations with current Risinger drivers before I ever came over and will continue based on my personal experience. I am here to tell a story, for good or evil, and really don't need all the advice. I only say this because things seem to be degenerating into a "You-shouldn't-have-done-this-look-at-how-horrible-these-people-are" fest.

I did refer a guy who was quitting over to Gordon based on where he lives and him wanting to get home more often (he seemed to think he could get home every week or two on a lease). Based on his expectations and work habits, I kind of think he'd be right at home at Gordon on their Midwest Regional fleet and apparently he agrees. Like I said, a seat for every butt.

As I've said several times already, only time will tell if things actually work out. They're talking a good talk right now but there's no way for me to see if they walk a good walk til I actually hit the road. I'm here to work as hard as legally possible, not casually drift in the general direction of my load's destination at a leisurely pace and play at the casinos and watch every football game along the way. The only way to tell if I'll be able to do that will be to actually start driving for them. So far what I've seen tells me they will let me work and won't try to force me to do anything illegal or dangerous. I'm suspending further judgement until I've spent a few weeks on the road. It would be good if some of you would do the same until I've had a chance to at least tell you what it's really like here. Save the "I-told-you-so" for if things actually head south, okay?

Seems kind of backwards that I'm the one who's neck is on the block here (actually taking all the risks) but I'm the only one willing to give them (or apparently anyone) the benefit of the doubt. There's a line between being a person who thinks and a person who outsmarts himself. Or tries to make someone else outsmart himself.

I'm going to bed.

 

$100 for the first one in a quarter, $200 for each subsequent one. Also safety bonus is on a sliding scale based on mileage in the quarter, ranges from $500 for the slackers to $1,000 for the hard runners. But if you get dinged for HOS or unsafe driving violations, you forfeit the bonus (assuming you keep your job--there are numerous infractions in these categories that are now automatic disqualifications which may explain the low number of repeat offenders).

 

Okay, NOW I'm going to bed. But first I have to pack. Oy.