Pneumatic bulk tankers

Are they still paying you for deadhead? what about time sitting, waiting for washouts?

 

Deadhead time is unpaid, but in their defense, we make enough on the haul itself that driving back empty has never been a problem. If you have a suitable load nearby, then the trailer can be reloaded, and my dispather works pretty hard to find reloads for me. it doesn't always happen, or in some cases, I would have to wait longer than preferred to pick up a reload. Obviously, working on percentage, you desire to keep the trailer loaded as muh as possible, but if a trailer is in service to a specific produt, then it can;t be loaded with anything else and you are limited in your reload options.

If you are having a trailer washed, then you are paid for the time spent. Most of the time, I pick up a trailer that has already been washed, and all I have to do is heck it to make sure that it is dried well. I think I might have done 2- or 3 live washes this past year, so they aren;t all that common of an occurence for me.

As for sitting, most customers get 2 hours of our time before we start charging for detention. I take a realistic attitude towars detention, and don;t charge it as often as I could. I won't charge anyone for something as piddly as 15 minutes, and if a ustomer is having problems that they really couldn't foresee, I'm pretty tolerant about things. It's the customers where i feel like i am being mistreated that are more likely to see a charge for detention from me, or a situation that just demands it.

For example, a few weeks ago I ran to Virginia, and about 10 minutes before I finished unloading, the plant lost all electrical power for about 5 hours. I billed detention for that time. Another plant in KY calls for a 7 am unload, but has no room in the silo until 5 pm. I have no heartburn with filing for detention then either. Last week, one customer called for a 4 am delivery, and when I got there, they couldn't find the keys to the silo to open it up. I smiled and let it pass, because it was a one time things with a steady customer.

However, not once have I ever filed for detention that it has not been paid, so my policy must be working okay.

 

How is the job @Bulkmatic??

 

are you out of willis?

 

No, I took another job instead. I am still dock bumping. Working out of Buffalo N.Y.

 

Burky, have you been to either the Decatur,AL terminal or the transloader location in Huntsville,AL? Curious to know how much you like either place, as I live in Huntsville, currently driving 48' flatbed for the last 6 months. Sucks that my other 8 years driving experience (Class B, NOT a straight truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!(salvage car hauler) doesnt count for anything!!! If it did I would be GOLDEN!! After my year of OTR is up I will be looking to go with a company with a local terminal, so Bulkmatic is on the list!

 

No, I haven't been to either one, but I would assume that both locations are heavily into plastic hauling as opposed to food grade. Several years ago we bought out the company that was there, Butler transport, and they were/are primarily a plastics hauling outfit. So I can;t say with any certainty how much food grade they run, or provide any real information on that location.

Our safety and logbook office is located down there, and all of our paperwork of that type gets sent down there for checking and keeping.

 

Decatur does mostly food grade, cant say about much about the other havent been there. and vernon is where "safety" is located.

 

My bust, you are correct sir and I am wrong. I shall now hang my head in shame for my error, and sentence myself to shoveling the driveway by hand with a teaspoon for the remainder of the winter.

 

As I am looking into Bulkmatic, can i ask why you changed your mind?