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

I was a sales training manager at a multi make new car dealer and was displaced when the owner died suddenly. Tried and failed to go back to college while supporting a family, which is how I ended up driving. At this point I've been out of the game for so long I'd never find another trainer position without proving myself again on the sales floor, and I'd rather not go through that grind again. Besides, I'm having fun behind the wheel (albeit slowly).

About that "slowly" thing--Gordon trucks are governed at 63(ish). They have a hard corporate speed limit of 65. Period. No exceptions. Some will not work under those conditions, whether because they feel they cannot make enough money in a slow truck or because they get all butt hurt when they get passed or they're concerned about safety or whatever. Their reasons are real enough. My attitude about it is simply that it isn't my truck. They're paying my mileage pay, for the fuel, all maintenance and repairs, my breakdown and hotel room, kicking in for benefits, paying me a safety bonus, giving me a yearly raise and paid vacation, handling all the support work of scheduling loads, etc, etc, etc. If they want that truck to stay below 65mph...fine by me. If I gotta have it all my way, I'm capable of getting my own truck. I'm not saying owner ops are wrong; it obviously works great for some folks. That just isn't for me at this time, and speed limits come with the territory of company driving (usually -- definitely at this particular company).

Just lost a 2300 mile dispatch because I can't make pickup in time (HOS). That sucks, but that's trucking in the New Millennium. Waiting to see what comes next. Meanwhile, The Hot Chick has just finished a casserole, so I'm signing off.

I am Captain Zoom.
I have spoken.

 

The only parts guy who makes a real living is the parts manager.

 

Well, Gordon pays better than Celadon and their benefits are less expensive. So far I've been treated well (respect, courtesy, treated like an adult who knows what I'm doing). The trucks are slugs but nice enough with APUs and 1600W inverters. That said, there is the BS that comes with this business and is inescapable. I've had some over the past two days, some from a shipper, some from a planner. It's at a point that I'm going to speak with a fleet manager (ops manager) tomorrow. There's an obvious disconnect between me and operations and I'm almost positive I'm doing something wrong. A company doesn't get this size by deliberately antagonizing their drivers -- there is a miscommunication somewhere and as I'm not even done with my first week I'm pretty sure I'm the one doing it wrong. I'll keep you posted between my soap box rants. At this point I don't have enough information yet to help you make your decision, except to point out that it's way too early to make judgements about GTI, good or bad.

 

"Oh, is the grass greener over there? I was so busy tending my own lawn I didn't notice."
-- Captain Zoom, to yet another driver telling me why the company I work for sucks.