Running with JCT, Part Deux

Got a weird situation. What's that you say? "AMINAL in something weird? Say it ain't so!" Yup. I know it's a shocker, but I am in a barrel of monkeys. I got a good load. Suits me fine. Just the way I like it on time and miles. Not too tight, I can run it economy and get to Walmart in New Albany MS for the first drop at 06:30 the evening before w/ just enough for a full 10hr break (IF I can't find parking close enough to slide in under the radar) and be there at 05:15, which is just right for making it through the line and to the guard shack at 05:30, given the 06:30 "rush" at WW. Nice run from "Produce Row" on the Gila Ridge (still don't know why they named it "ridge" when all I see right there is flat as a skillet) in Yuma to two WM's, one in New Albany, MS. The other in Shelbyville, TN. Tried a new route. 8-10-20-30 . . . - 40 instead of running up to Flagstaff then across. Found a couple independent fuel stops w/ great price . . . Thirty five miles longer but same time on the software? I'll give it a shot. Loved the route! Fuel was great and Darla kickin' high 8's, no big climbs once you got past the Border Patrol check on 8 and Darla spent a GREAT deal of time in E-Coast (I'll post a note about THAT in her performance folder).

Get a call this afternoon from a DM that isn't mine. "Hi. Wondering if you might be willing to swap. I gotta driver that really needs to get home. He's been out a month (I almost snickered at that - but hey; I stay out longer than most cause of not having kids at home and all) and he really needs to get home. You can drop your load in FTW and p/u his PPL in Garland tomorrow at 10:00 and it goes back to Casa Grande, AZ." OK, the NEXT thing outta my mouth SHOULDA been; "When does it deliver?" well, it wasn't. I'm still new here and I got kinda burned a little helping a sick driver out by getting hooked up to a load that was already late. But AMINAL LEARN FROM MISTAKE. I asked; "It's not late or anything, and you looked at my hours? I can make it OK?" "Yeah, it's not late, it's a p/u and you can take your 10 today and make it no problem and; lemme check your hours again . . . yeah. you got the hours no sweat." I'm drivin. Got my Bluetooth in (love to kid w/ my wife about that: she calls, I answer on speaker and holler: Hold on! I GOTTA PUT MY TEETH IN), kinda runnin' a little mental math on miles and F-U-E-L (did I mention Darla loved this stretch?) and; Sure. "I'll help the driver out. No problem." You know. cause I'm such a nice guy. The fact it kept me in the skillet flats of W. Texas and the desert SW and I had a sweet spot stop at $2.36/G and wouldn't loose it in the foothills of the Appalachians, didn't factor in my decision making paradigm. I was only thinking about my fellow Op trying to get home!

Cool and cool; "I'll shoot it to ya." "Cool. Bye". Chirp, chip, chirp. "I'll read it when I stop for my sweet treat $2.36/g Texas fuel and take my 10 there so I don't have to mess w/ FTW rush hour traffic." Better call MY DM, though and make sure HE's up-to-speed. That sick driver thing threw the system for a loop. Better let him know now in case DM [X] enters stuff funky, like last time. Steve will know what's going on and bird-dog it. I'll be a monkey's Uncle (and possibly Father - Jerry Springer STILL hasn't gotten back to me on that) if I don't stop and read it and the danged thing p/u tomorrow at 10:00 and delivers the next day at 13:00 - 1001 miles away by THEIR mileage!! I can't do THAT! Well, I COULD, but John Mallory would probably have a fit if I did. We aren't allowed to do stuff like that in today's E-World. PLUS my sweet treat fuel spiked almost $0.30/g overnight and is at going rate! Danged!! WTF?

So when I made my evening produce verbal call I asked: "Can a DM that isn't your DM see if you are a team truck or not; you know, like when they are looking for a swap w/ one of their Ops?" "Oh yeah. The AS-400 (software) shows it right up in bright pink. Team or solo. We all have lists too. Teams and whose board they are on. Why?" I tell her (as she's tapping away on her KB). "Oh, [kinda a little chuckle]. I see." " I guess I'm gonna have to have a talk w/ someone about this in the morning. (nightwatch had taken over by then)." "I would if it was me." Thanks, thanks, safe, safe bye, bye. REAL nice lady. I mean that very seriously.

So my pickle is this; Dude put it on me as a PPL, BUT I haven't MAC 3'd it yet. I can still make OTD w/ this one. Little tighter, cause I stopped early to lay up for FTW evening rush hour on my new "plan", but not what I would call tight. Great mileage and time today and yesterday. Still an easy, economy run to my original first drop in MS. I guess what's nagging at me is I feel like I made a commitment to do the swap and I'm sure that DM told his driver he had one and he could swap and get home. Now I get the FULL info (which I should have asked, but he shoulda told) and it's something I CAN do, but would set my E-Log and John's hair (wait, he's like me and his hair abandoned ship - so I guess scalp) on fire if I did, but it WOULD be in on this week's payroll, and I'd have lower fuel expenses. But I feel like I'd be reigning on a promise if I backed out and stuck to what I'm on already. I gotta consider intangibles as well as material in revenue and Goodwill. Would I be biting a hand that feeds me? Sorry, but a month out and you gotta wait a week and I'm not real sympathetic unless it's an emergency. This is a long haul Gig. It's reefer. Produce is starting to sprout, and less coming from Mexico. Leafy green in the field was looking real good comin' cross southern CA. Now's the time to have all the PM's already done, home time in the rear view (mine both are - Darla, my wife and I are ALL ready for vegie time) and start rollin' and strollin'. Not being mean but as I pointed out earlier; I wasn't doing it for the other driver so much. That was just a collateral "feel good". Still . . . so many stills, and BUTs to consider.

See, this is EXACTLY the type of thing that NO amount of preparation for making the transition from Company Driver to Independent can really prepare you for. Fuel, expense control, contracts, time management, maintenance and repair management, tires, escrow management . . . a ton of stuff you can prepare for. Some things? Well you just gotta find out the hard way.

So, What are y'all's thoughts? I'm gonna call my DM in the morning, but he's brand new to JCT AND trucking. He's just gonna be PC. "I think you should do what you think is best for your business." Yeah, that's kinda the question on the table isn't it? With the WHOLE big picture. The other DM will probably try and make me feel bad for backing out or maybe offer to reschedule or . . . SHEEZE; I'm just gonna IDK. SOMETHING!

Aminal says "Meep". Any thoughts?

 

Quick question.

The trailer I picked up from another driver is extremely dirty with road sand/salt from snow covered roads. I know on the washout macro I can request an external wash. Is that covered on the streakin beacon charge account? Or do I have to get an EFS check?

 

It's a charge at BB for exterior washes, just need prior approval for it. Never had one request declined from JCT. Also, I believe it's one exterior wash per trailer every 10 days...but not totally sure it's that long. If the trailer is filthy, odds are it hasn't had a bath in awhile. Much like most truckers...

 

Panic attack over. All is good. They just said "It's cool. Do the best you can. It not gonna be a late hit on you. We got this." Team is on the way. The person that called me said that since they are a team, they are a bit heavy so since my load is heavy, they will hook up, weigh it and if they can scale it, roll w/ it. If not we'll just reschedule for me to deliver it.

WHEW!! I don't wanna be on no "late list" in planning.

 

Got word today from JCT that I'm a finalist for the Oklahoma Trucking Authority Driver of the Year - 2014.

So the wife and I get to attend the banquet in Oklahoma City along with JCT office people and all the other finalists from the state.

Good thing I delivered by the house so I can swing by and pick up some clothes for the banquet at the end of the month. I don't think they want me showing up with sandals and shorts as I have no long pants in the truck.

 

So you are the "model" JCT trucker. I was very worried about my own performance up until realizing this fact. I'm averaging 5.5 mpg and 2200 miles a week. I'm not starving but I'm not in the "take off a month to tour Europe" category either. I still say that this is an excellent lease...based on the very fact that I'm not starving with the miserable mpg and the crap miles. I can only hope to aspire to your level of excellence and I want a new truck. So, I have a question: Did you get a new truck out of the gate? Second question: If I tolerate this mpg nightmare until the warranty goes bye bye, will I be able to request a new truck? Jack told me I can come in to attempt to get an upgrade, based on inventory and availability...which is rather vague. I'm averaging 650 a week with almost zero idle time. I have no apu and summer is coming. I've read your posts from way before I decided to lease with the company, so I watch them with great interest. Thanks again for all of your informative posts.

 

I'm assuming you got a 2012 Freightliner. How many long have you been here? The new batch of trucks coming in starting at the end of the month are supposed to replace the 2012s......unless someone wants to keep theirs.
That's supposed to be the priority. I couldn't even get a new one as a got a new one a while back. I may be able to pull a few strings, but I'm happy with mine.

The 1st truck i had here was the biggest POS JCT EVER saw.'at least that was my opinion. I was in the the shop once a week and barely able to make a profit. We had fixed payments back then and it was killing me cuz I could NEVER complete as ladd because I was always in the shop. I happened to be at the yard on my 90th day, putting my truck back into the shop when the foreman yelled at me to go get a new truck cuz he was tired of seeing me and my truck. Got a new 2010 ProStar and NEVER looked back.

So the morale is....If you get a new truck things will change for the better.

 

Thanks for the reply. I've been here 3 months. I got a 2013 Kenworth. I chose poorly. I've been in the shop 4 times in 3 months and I just had a roadside blowout where the rim and tire needed replacement so my maintenance account is barely above where I started. Yeah, it's rough. I've heard that the people who chose the 2012's are actually getting better mpg with a lower lease cost. So, I think I'm actually getting "kicked in the teeth" worse than the 2012ers. I swapped with a driver the other night who started the week after I did and his 2012 blew up and they replaced it with a 2015. If I hadn't been so focused on an APU when I was choosing a truck, I would have never chosen this truck....one of the only two Kenworths in the entire truck selection. I actually tried to hold out for a truck with an APU instead of choosing on the first day. The next day, the only two trucks they gave me a choice to choose from were the two Kenworths that NOBODY WANTED. Javada told me that if I didn't choose, I could hold out in the hotel at my own expense and if something didn't come through that I wanted, I would have to go home. I chose this truck. So, long story short, bad choice in an odd situation. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

SO what are the chances of someone thats coming onto jct first of march getting a new truck ?

 

Slim. The current drivers with the older trucks get first crack at getting the brand new trucks.