Running with JCT, Part Deux

Thanks everyone for the replies. I kinda want to be a live load. I like the trailer I've had for the past two weeks. Brand new.

 

Make sure if you plan on doing live load, your trailer is pre cooled to 35° or they will turn you around.

 

JCT is not haz-mat so no soda for us. The soda syrup is both flammable and corrosive and requires placards. Finished product is corrosive. Use to do a dedicated coca cola out of Atlanta and Florida years ago.......I DO NOT MISS THAT CRAP. Heavy heavy loads.

 

I'm not sure what it's coming to be yet. But I always pre cool unless I know 100% it's a D/H.

Another driver here at the Arcadia Wal-Mart tried to agrue that he wasn't late. Appt. for 1730, checks in at the just ahead of me at 1800. No other trucks in line. He is at the clerk's so window at 1830 trying to convince them he ain't late. Told them there other trucks in line in front of him. But I busted that one when I told the clerk i got to the gate the same time he did and there were no other trucks. Even the other drivers were trying to tell him he has late from the time he got to the gate. So, now, he is a work in.

 

What a day! Picked up a trailer on a drop at a customer in Philly last week. Loads of issues, none of which were D.O.T violations. Pulp door hanging, psi air hoses missing, blah blah blah. Had an air leak but not major. It took a 10 hour break to drain the tanks.
Managed to get trailer to Sapulpa. Wrote it up and specifically emphasized the air leak (couldn't find it). The shop put the trailer in within 30 minutes of writing it up. Kudos for that.
Spoke to mechanic about air leak. Told me he fixed it.
Left next day, all was fine until I parked for the night. Yep, still had air leak.
Still couldn't find it. Delivery was tight so opted to get it fixed when i mt'd this a.m.. Pull into customer and noticed the white light came on as I made the right turn. (It's located too far in middle to see while driving.) Figured little air leak became major air leak within last hour of driving as there was no light when I did 30 minute break and did a quick walk around.
Fast fwd to this a.m. Call and advise. Went to TA to get fixed. TA has hard time finding leak but eventually does.

One of plugs on axle is leaking. TA cannot weld axles. They call JCT and inform them. I get released. I wait....wait....wait.....for phone call or q com msg to advise me on plan of action. It never comes. I call breakdown. They act oblivious to the issue. Finally tell me to drop at a trailer repair shop and Bob tail to pickup.
Check in at shop. Managed comes out and inform me they can't weld on axles, but will get with Hendricks as it is their system. Call breakdown to let them know trailer is dropped and I'm going down the road to next pick up. They tell me, naw, just turn off psi system and they'll address it when it gets to Sapulpa. I refused!

This is why the psi air hoses on trailer wheels were missing to begin with. Sometime in the past, same problem, wanted same fix. It's not s fix.
Called Johnny in Sapulpa and asked some questions about computer system flagging trailers that still need repairs. It's supposed to as long as someone puts it in. He asked for the trailer number and looks it up. He flips his lid.

Trailer was in Sapulpa 4 days earlier, written up and not fixed properly. Breakdown someone in the past addressed issue but never noted it or made anyone aware that problem wasn't fixed.
Now, ANOTHER driver is dealing with an issue that should have been addressed previously. "This reflects on my shop and I'm pissed" is what he tells me. He's not happy with some of his guys.

Like I told him, "JCT paid money for a trailer with a psi system. There's an issue with the psi system so the solution is to disable the system and carry on. Not try to see if it's covered under warranty, not try to actually repair a system that JCT paid for to begin with, but ignore it and move on."
He agreed and promised to follow thru. Told him the ball was in his court and to be sure to aim for the head.

 

This Prime L/O down here just told me that just the truck payment is $933 a week for three years. Then if he wants to keep the truck at the end it's a $70k ballon payment. That's just over $200k for a 2016 Cascadia that don't costs anymore than ours. I said your nuts. The total fixed costs is around $1300 a week. He told me what he takes home each week. I said I can that every week myself and I'm not paying $200k for my truck. There's no way you can convince me that they are not making money on the truck payments. If every penny of that $933 went to the payment, that truck would be paid off in three years.

He then said (not sure if I believe it or not, but wouldn't surprise me) that the owner of Prime also owns the local Freighliner dealer. He sells the truck from the dealer to Prime then to the drivers. He told me about some other nickel and some BS also. His reasoning for accepting his screw job was that he was new to trucking. I said that that's like you sitting in a house burning down around you and you are sitting at the table drinking coffee saying everything's fine.

In the end, I gave him a JCT card and told him if he ever gets tried of being screwed over, to give a call.

 

Oh, and 11 hours after the 1st call to breakdown, I finally arrive at my pick up. Think I'm gonna sleep here. Lol

 

Have fun.

 

Problem is, most drivers either like being screwed and like to B1tch about it, out they have NO clue they're being screwed.

 

Yep. This guy knows it and is fine with it. Blows my mind.