mercer transportation

I really don't like you much right now. (Grin)

 

I may have a chance to go to washington state next week. Is it worth it to buy the tire chains for my maxi single tires which will run $210 an axle plus a set for the trailer if I understand the law. Or should I save my money and wait for spring?

 

Load to WA better pay well above average unless you already have something good booked out of there. At one point last year trucks were overflowing the truck stops waiting for loads, two weeks and even longer people were sitting. And then to get cheap freight. And if you don't have chains, and need them, you have big problems. Last time I was out that way I chained several times in one day.

 

For guys that have been around a while, how do you handle going to off road sites when conditions are beyond what you think you should drive in? Either knowing almost for certain that you will get stuck, or a good possibility you could damage your truck? I'm now sitting, waiting on a shop to get around to putting in a clutch that got torn up trying to get into a site. With the temps they haven't even got me in the shop yet, taking road calls all day an night with trucks that won't start, gelled up and quit, or crashed from not respecting icy conditions and slowing down. I'll be down over a week with this, away from home. Bottom line, I should have refused to go in, but have never refused to make a delivery ever before. I learned my lesson now, and had two days of talks with folks in Louisville and several agents about it. Would really like to hear other peoples experiences with similar situations.

 

Sorry to hear about your truck
Couple times a year, I have to tell customer that I'm not backing or pulling into their drive or dock. If it's an in ground dock and flooded over where I can't see the bottom, I say no and tell them to find another way to unload me. Mercer always backs me up.

And once a year, I pull into a place that I cringe and really wonder if I should've let the customer talk me into it. If it's looks questionable, I tell the customer they are responsible for getting me out including any wrecker fees.
So far I have tore anything up, except taken scratches down the sleeper.

 

Mercers' policy is that we don't go off road

But sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

 

I did a pipe load one time when I show up to deliver I was told they needed to hook a dozer to me and pull me down the pipe line to offload I told the guy....this truck is a 2wd for a reason it's a over the road truck not off-road. I ended up having to return the load and yes I was paid both ways, if the agent would of said anything about going off-road I would had passed on the first place.

Nobody is going to fix or repair your truck you've worked hard to pay for it and if it's broke you don't have a job!!!

 

going onto to jobsites is a given with open deck, but you have to make the call when it looks unsafe or will possibly damage your truck. I have done this several times over the years . the tractor is much easier to damage than the trailer. I have unhooked and let them hook one of theirs to it and drag that one back.

sometimes you just have to say no, or get an agreement signed on the spot they are liable for anything that happens.

best thing is just say no to OFF ROADING, LOT LIZARDS , AND CRACK. unless the crack belongs to victorias secret underwear model, yeah buddy!

 

no, unless you just want to do it to say you have done it. this time of year you may end up sitting for a bit and any advantage you gained will be lost, plus the cost of chains.

it one reason I cut back to the 37 state fleet 2 years ago, to remove any temptation of doing crazy stuff like that

 

Oh well I already bought the chains. I may not go now but at least ill have chains if I need them.