Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by road_runner, Jun 21, 2013.

  1. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    No idea. They only provide their employees a 30 minute unpaid break anyway.
     
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  3. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    It's the largest private fleet in the country (possibly world). Somebody at some point inside the WM organization was inordinately proud of the whole trucking/logistics side of the business and turned it into a special "thing". It might have been the old man himself actually.
     
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  4. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Fleet assets, yes. Actual company drivers is far lower than most of the other private carriers. They do have the most assets for their combined tractor/trailer feet. Most of their stuff gets towed around by Swift. According to last years ranking, WalMart had 6K power units and 57k trailers. They ranked #37 out of all private fleets. Pepsi Co. ranked #2 with 14K power units, 15k trailers, and 47K smaller/straight trucks.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2014
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  5. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Broken Seals?!?!

    Ok, I was gonna open up a new thread somewhere with more traffic, but maybe one of you fine folks can explain this one for me. I run LTL line, and our trailers may go through about 4 or 5 terminals (or more) before they hit wherever they need to go. Our seals are made out of plastic. I usually break two or three per month if my dispatcher wants me to add or remove some freight. Just for kicks and giggles, I keep about 10 or 15 spare seals in my truck.

    The other day I came back from my turnpoint and was getting ready to hand over the trailers to a different driver (presumably new since I've never seen him). I was filling out my log book as he was pretriping the trailers I brought him. I saw him pause as he was checking his rear lights and tyres.

    He came sprinting back, then banging on my door: WHO BROKE THE SEAL?!?!?!

    "Ummm, I dunno? I didn't, its last point was Tacoma or Spokane, so your guess is as good as mine".

    He goes off: Well, I am not leaving this terminal until you tell me who did it!!!

    I had to bite my tongue to keep me from laughing. I reached over into my dash board and handed him about five or six of my spare ones. Of course that didn't help. After further yelling from him, I kinda got annoyed: Listen dude, my name is ______, my truck number is stenciled on the hood, call up dispatch and have them tell you who broke it. Little House on the Prairie comes on in half an hour, and I forgot to set my DVR. Please leave me alone so I can finish my paperwork.

    Why was he acting this way? Guessing he didnt start LTL with us. Is breaking a seal that big of a stink? We break ours all the time. Felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for a minute. I've never seen that before.
     
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  6. Radman

    Radman Road Train Member

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    Guess he got scared he'd get blamed for theft. Probably came from another company that really checked. They make me break a seal when I blow a tire to throw it in the trailer. Sometimes they give me the seal and I forget to put it on then toss it. Lol. I'm not gonna steal anything and lose a 70k yr job. Just like a kingpin drug dealer, your eventually gonna get caught. I mostly use the seal just to know the door will stay shut. Lol.
     
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  7. road_runner

    road_runner Road Train Member

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    Didn't think other carriers were so picky about it. I can't think of a single scenario where I would take something out of a trailer that didn't belong to me. The less I have to deal with the freight inside, the better for me. Sometimes when I lay over somewhere and I know I will pull empties back, I will put seals on each of my doors of my prehooked set for the next morning. That way nobody else will steal my trailers.
     
  8. CenutryClass

    CenutryClass Road Train Member

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    A lot of theft goes on in LTL. at times we move some pretty expensive stuff.

    Iphones, HD TV's.. Now me that stuff doesn't phase me. Plus I don't take crap that belongs to me.

    At con-way seals are mostly a formality. Guards checked them, but you can't close trailers in the handhelds without a seal number. Prevents you from moving freight on a trailer that's en route if you are on the dock or something..unless you are a stupidvisor.
     
  9. Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    A few times the seals on our inbound trailers werent even locked on when they came in, sometimes the bolt seals too
     
  10. Shaggy

    Shaggy Road Train Member

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    For my area @ ABF. We are given a key and padlock everything. That key unlocks every padlock. Screw seals, We aren't fresh into CDL land and need guards and whom ever to nanny sit us with plastic band to make sure that load reaches it destination etc lol. The padlock sometimes helps to keep the roll up door from opening( not from theft ) lol
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2014
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  11. Shaggy

    Shaggy Road Train Member

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    Shocked to see wally world maintains/has a fleet 2014.
    They could easily sub-contract 100% work and save even more money. I could see WM dumping the fleet side in a few years.
     
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