Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

Hi GoldenFan,

There's a lot of self-delusion by truckers and the carriers want it that way. Once I DEL today, then fuel the truck for the next run and park it'll be over 48 hours and most of it's inside the truck cab. Most of it. As long as a driver cannot just park the truck and walk away, while he/she's tethered to the truck it's no different from any other accrued time that needs included in the 'rate' per hour for the work.

If it requires 48 hours plus some to complete 2 loads, it is what it is. Subtracting out the time for sleep in the truck makes no sense to me. You might argue it shouldn't have the same rate as driving the truck, but as long as they're both required to make the runs, they're part of the run.

Some of the best jobs out there haul mail in straight trucks--but most is at night. I'm not interested in driving from 11 pm to 6 am. Not.

Hey! It's an imperfect world.

I just think we should take the economic blinders off.

Vic

 

Hi Bright One,........(double yellow)

You know, we've taken different shades of this topic since way back and your insights are always welcome. My 'commute' is up to the Yard and when I finish fueling and park the truck, it's home to the critters and whatever issues going on. Between those two, I'm pretty much tethered to 35,700 pounds of plastic, glass, metals, diesel and other fluids, all on wheels and tires.

As you would say, YMMV (your mileage may vary), meaning not one size fits all.

Actually, TQL relisted same load within about 15 minutes to make it 'look' like a 'fresh' new load. Doesn't matter. I think she agreed to near the top of what they'd take tomorrow, took it to her broker and broker said, 'no'. The good thing about it, she didn't waste my time, let me know right away that load wasn't going to fly. (Although I'd already emailed her and to all the emails her rate con goes to so everyone would have been expecting.) I'd rather fast ditch than fished along for a couple hours.

Suppose could check and see if still there...

Vic


//TQL still has Plainfield~Maquoketa listed at 9 pm! Now that's funnee! Next, see if they can't fill it and slide it over to Thursday PU. Either that or they'll try bump the money up tomorrow... and I may not be interested.

 

Home, finally, 10:30 pm...
--Run started Sunday late afternoon, 5:30 pm (Eastern)
--Had about a half hour log & paperwork to catch up on
--Left out about 6pm, easy jog to Decatur, there 8:30-ish, still light out
--6:30 am pulled curtains back on tractor, gates open at PU
--Loaded by 8 am or so, arrived Muscatine about 3 pm (Central)
--Arrived Prairie du Chien around 6 pm (Central), departed 7 pm-ish
--This morning showered & did laundry at Roady's TS in Prairie
--Spent an hour at Maquoketa checking boards, & several stops on way
--Pulled into Indiana customer about 8 pm, quickly unloaded by 8:30 pm
--Parked truck, decided not to fuel (save some time, get home)
--Long yackety-yack with flat rack driver from Michigan with big, friendly dog
--Could it have been done faster?? Sure. Could have driven out to Decatur
--Monday early and still delivered Muscatine?? Yeah. And made Prairie. No.
Anyway, that's 50 plus hours for $479.26 gross. < $10/hour in my book.


//Hi 7-UP! Hi DonM! Hi RERM! Thx for visiting!

 

Where to Find Experienced Trucker Advice Here on TTR...

By the way, members viewing this thread looking for 'Experienced Truckers' Advice', you need look no further than double yellow, one of the very best here on TTR in my opinion. If you click on his blue member name (double yellow) where he has left a msg, thanked or commented, will take you to his profile.

There, at double yellow's profile, you can view his threads and his posted messages on threads. You can follow double yellow from CDL school, to Covenant, to Con-way. As a driver, double yellow has managed to progress steadily from his start at CDL school to now with his own truck and authority and has done so without burning bridges.

I highly recommend double yellow's posts and threads to you.



//Sometimes you might find him sharply critical of me. Take that, of course, with a grain... :0 )

 

Monday Yard Boss wants to run out to Prairie...
--Yard Boss in a truck, me in mine
--Wants to see the Prairie situation for himself
--No outbound load, just straight out and back
--On the way out, we'll run straight out I-74 to Hwy 61 North
--Two 'jogs' on I-74, onto 55N at Bloomington/Normal and 80W before 61
--Cut off to 61 North's just above Davenport, then on to Maquoketa, Dubuque
--Then off 61 through Dickeyville, Lancaster, Bloomington, Patch Grove...
--Many of these are 25-30 mph and Lancaster you double back through downtown 4x before continue on out of town, left, left, right, left
--Takes us to WI 18 that runs east-west from Prairie to Madison
--Encounter a number of short but 5-7% grades
--If time, take 18 from Prairie into IA to Postville, 20 miles away
--A good, long, hard climb out of Prairie but nothing like Guttenberg on Iowa side where above Dubuque you have hard hills, hard on truck

 

On the way back from Prairie to Indiana...
--Both will load Tuesday morning in Prairie, two 26-skid loads
--Will take him straight out WI 18, 55 mph except through towns
--Until round circle other side of Dodgeville, then 65 mph to Madison
--Pick through the Belt Line construction, to WI 14 to I-39 S
--Stop at my favorite Willow Creek Rest Area where gal murdered recently
--Then a hundred miles to Bloomington/Normal and catch I-74 East
--That's the plan; Yard Boss really, really wants to do this
--Monday's not a problem, holiday but risk for him Tuesday
--Should something serious come up 'back at the ranch'
--Yard Boss border collie's 20 trucks and runs almost a full 24/7

 

Various reasons for Yard Boss to do this now...
--Very possible I may move on, we'll see
--Have long delayed trip West, do some things, see 93-year-old Mom
--Run was supposed to be 1x week, will soon 'use up' my $$ can make
--Before SS takes $1 for every $2 this year, better if had been 1x week
--Although Yard Boss has said will make up $$ difference
--That's to keep me running 2-3x week to Prairie
--Not getting enough done on property here north of Spencer
--Driving this much's not conducive to staying in shape, exercise
--Am also looking at 2 older tractors up in WI and a water truck here
--When topic comes up Yard Boss does instant 1 hour lecture
--Yada yada, cost of fuel, break downs, authorities, paper work, yada yada
--Ran batteries down to nothing on both our phones last week, one lecture
--Company wants proposal from me to buy my truck and stay on Prairie run
--I'm thinking more bring in one of WI trucks and run it intrastate
--That is, little shorty runs within or very close Indiana, most pay about $400
--Stay under company umbrella for plates and insurance for now
--Yard Boss very ambivalent about any of this, prefers straight company driver
--Thinks he let me do too much, pull own loads, deal with brokers
--Pick own routes and all, there was much opposition haven't written about
--He spent political capital and went to bat for me; has worked out for him, too
--Well, d-uh-uh!!

 

Right now it's just after 8 am on Wednesday...
--Brokers are at their desks, getting the load boards updated
--Yes, TQL has re-listed the Plainfield~Maquoketa... again!!
--It almost looks like a new, 8-minute-old listing for today, funnee!!
--That's the load they offered $800, came up to $900, I countered $918
--(That's $2.70 loaded mile, we DH [deadhead = empty] to Plainfield)
--Broker's assistant agreed and then called quickly back to cancel
--Hey! Maybe TQL's upset at criticism here of how they abuse the board?
--My big problem today is my homeless guest and his RV on my 4 lots
--Probably run him into Bloomington (Indiana) to Volunteers In Medicine
--Just got done with fresh water, feed and spread seed for the chickens
--Microwaved up a bunch of fresh, but laid while I'm gone eggs
--Chickens and dogs get those when they cool off in the 'fridge
--Still don't have last week's pay sheet made out and am short envelopes
--We just pop our stuff into pre-paid envelopes except
--Outbound runs I get from brokers, signed BOLs (bill of ladings) I send
--Directly to CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and haven't yet
That's trucking, right?

 

Odd mix of loads on the board this morning...
--Most for PU today seem quite urgent
--Example, $1200 to north of LaCrosse, must PU before 11 am Champaign
--Rates okay, too tight, truck yesterday 10 min late refused to load
--CH Robinson hung up on me, offer $550 Farmer City~Cedar Rapids
--I ask $750 (241 loaded miles), says had $750 refused, offers $650
--Tell him might if can PU first thing tomorrow, run straight through.
--Hangs up! Funnee!! Okay, forget it!
--Lafayette~Cottage Grove's more seed, only offered $500, then $550
--Says doesn't like load, always tight on $$, will call back if can get more $
--Some are urgent, some rude, some urgent and rude
--Maybe it's a Wednesday thing
--I see some Savanna and Muscatine but not from Decatur. More seed, though.
--Lots of truck loads of soy and corn seed moving around the Midwest...