Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Yea ABF, UPS, FXF, Saia use that same pad over by 90. Went there the other day to pick up a trailer and was the first time I’ve seen Saia there.

 

I figured that was the drop pad ABF used.

 

I think Saia started training guys to run triples on 90 in that lane in 2020 but it’s rare to see them.

 

I was going to say, Saia doesn’t run triples much. Once in a while during the day, but I don’t see them pulling triples to much at night.

 

Yes. Lots and lots of them from where the Ohio turnpike (which is I-76 at this point) crosses into Pennsylvania to the drop pad in by Chicago. XPO, FedExFreight, FedEx Ground, Buster Brown, Old dominio, R&L, Estes. Also lots of long turnpike doubles van,flat and dry bulk setups. Even see Buster Brown doing Rocky Mountain double setups (long box lead and pup rear.
Some yards like XPO at the 118 even set the tripples up in their yard and drag them a short distance on regular roads to get onto the turnpike. Buster brown has their own direct gate from their facility to the Pike in Toledo

 

Watch for Red 9900i cornbinder pulling a green or black conestoga. County Line is the name on the door. That’ll be me. Blue 9900 pulling a MAC flat with lots of lights down the side will be my boy. We run on 19 or 17

 

Bad news- drivers are, for the first time, being assigned to a truck.

Good news- I was assigned to an International LT with 9,000 miles on the odometer. And it's one that reclines beyond 78 degrees. Sweet!

Bad news- met the daytime guy who's also assigned to it. He's younger than some of my socks, got his CDL in November and is on his third job since then.

 

My Holland terminal called back all the dock people we laid off during November and December, most of them came back so I guess thats a good sign on freight volume projections.

 

Sigh it's funny when I first got hired where I work now I thought I was at the best place I could be at. Almost 8 years later I'm looking forward to when I can give my two weeks notice.

I was talking to one of our drivers at my yard who has been at the company for about 18 years and he had his own hiccup with the company maybe a year or so ago, it wasn't the same kind of hiccup as me, but it was close. Anyhow he said "Yeah this place is not the same company it was 10 years ago."

Anyhow well I'm sure most places aren't as good as they were 10 years ago.