Stevens dedicated - Kraft "Bakers Run" ...in my experience

Just for background, at writing I have been with Stevens for the past year after training through them to get my CDL...

After having FIVE different driver managers in the past year, I haven't really had the stability needed for ANY driver to be successful. While two of them seemed to really understand what I needed as a driver, the DM's at Stevens don't assign loads so the ability to "make me money" will always be out of their hands. While they can be instrumental and persuasive in what you are assigned, it is the planners who actually assign your loads. Because of this separation, and despite showing over and over and over that I can be counted on, I felt that there was something missing in my planning and I felt that my time and efficiency could be better utilized.

I talked to two different drivers that were on dedicated runs and they both told me that they are always busy and nearly every week running out their hours. Just this thought alone was very appealing to me as I can only recall running my hours out maybe 3-4 times in the past year OTR. The other benefit to running on the dedicated is that your DM also assigns your loads. Just the idea of dealing with one person vs. the 10+ you have to deal with OTR was why I wanted to try the dedicated fleet. No longer would I have to BEG for loads, my work load could actually be planned on me based on my ability to work vs the availability of it. BRING IT ON!

There is a waiting list to be on the dedicated lanes and, at the time, I could see why. So after waiting about a month - month and a half, and calling every week to find out if there were any openings on the dedicated, I finally got a call that there was an opening (actually two) on the Kraft "Bakers Run". From how it was explained to me, this fleet was basically a short regional run, probably the smallest area that Stevens runs dedicated as it was just maybe 5 states; Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The main plant that they load out of is in Morris, Il (outside Chicago) but the plant doesn't ship on the weekends so home weekly for 34 is the norm. Pfft, do you really need anything more? Ohh, you can also get as much work as you can handle. Sign me up, I'll try it! lol.

So, I actually got the call while I was on time off in Youngstown Ohio. I was to be worked into the area then would be switch over to the dedicated runs. Two seconds later I got another call from Stevens asking if I could do a repower in Columbus when I get back into the truck to help a driver get home. It was heading in the right direction so it didn't matter to me, lol. Was approved through my new DM as it was putting me into a good place, so lets get running! The load was a Hershey candy load to Edwardsville Il and if you have been lucky enough to get one of these, you know they are drop an hooks on both end and NOOOOO hurry. I can count on one hand how many times operations has told me that these are low low priority loads. Anyways, new DM directed me to deadhead from Edwardsville, Il to Morris, Il, drop my empty there then sit for 34 - I would be worked in the rotation after the weekend. Okay, after just taking 7 days off, the first thing I wanted to do after running 400? miles was sitting for another 34 but hey, I was the one who wanted dedicated...

First week dispatch:

Chicago, Il to Columbus, Oh - paid 365
Columbus, Oh to Morris, Il to Michigan City, In to Aurora, Il - paid 527 (drove 587)
Aurora, Il to Morris, Il to Fort Wayne, In - paid 217 (drove 223)
Fort Wayne, In to Chicago, Il to Groveport, Oh - paid 481 (drove 526)
Groveport, Oh to Wellston, Oh to Willow Springs, Il - paid 451 (drove 490)
Willow Springs, Il to Michigan City, In to Morris, Il - paid 147 (drove 154)

and THAT was my first full week on dedicated, 2188 miles... took me ~53 hours, $~656.40 at $0.30 per mile, I made $~12.38 an hour with no OT. Now just for one more specific of this run, all of my stops this first week were drop and hooks except for one and that was Fort Wayne, In.

Now I like to hustle and I'll move as fast as I can in my transitions but there were a couple days that I hit 14 hours. Those miles are basically what I did each day so you'll see that I stopped on Friday short. This was not by choice mind you. All the work I wanted? If so, why am I being stopped with almost 17 hours left on my 70? Well, my new DM wants to make sure that my recap hours match up with work for next week. Shut down today early so that you can run Saturday and Sunday (34 off on weekends cause they don't ship, remember?) and into next week on recap hours. Well, NOT what you told me and not what I WANT to do, I've been very clear with this to my new DM 3x already to this point. Hey tho, I want to keep rolling anyways so if I'm STILL getting loads, I'm HAPPY!

Couple hours later,
"Change of plans, Kraft needs us to run an emergency load. Shut down for 10 then leave out to run this load to (I don't even remember where it was to deliver)".
"Yeah sure, I'm up for it."
"Cool! Here is the number for the place you're delivering to, call them at 5am with your eta".
"No problem".
So I shut down for 10, TRY to get some rest. I head out at midnight to Aurora, Il to pick up this "emergency" load. I get there and guard says
"Its not loaded. Actually, there is a note on the order that says "No empties to load it on..."".
Well this is pfft. Night crew is no rescue, even worse actually, we are a ghost to the rest of operations. Best I got was the load take off me and my next load sent over. Cool, I can keep rolling! So I head back to Morris, Il to pick up the next load assignment I had. Swear to ya,
"Its not loaded. Actually, we are short empties for (counting up) ....EIGHT of your loads!"
"Hmmm... Okay, I'll be back on Sunday to see if you get any trailers in, maybe I'll have something to do then..." So Sunday the load was ready and I head to Groveport, Oh.

Call DM on Monday just to figure out wtf happened. He says
"No biggie, we run outta empties up here all the time. It happenes in waves tho."
"Hmm, okay but I still lost $$ not moving. What happened with me getting a 34 at home? Ya know I'm taking time off in Youngstown, right?"
"You live in Youngstown? Hmm, ...that's too far. I don't know if i can get you to Youngstown EVERY weekend, .....we will see what we can do."

Call old DM
"I want back OTR, this run isn't going to work for me..."

Think I should also mention that every and I mean every dry van trailer they had up there has some type of mechanical issue that needs fixed on them but these runs are so short and the drivers are dropping them so quick, NO ONE wants to take the time to get them repaired! Broken/out marker lights, flat tires, outside wheels not indexed correctly to check the inside tire's pressure, dead battery on the one reefer that I did pull... For me, this run would have to be closer to where I take time off (Chicago ppl would be PERFECT) and would also have to be hourly as there are way too many 14 hour days where the $ per hour isn't matching up with McDonalds but if that were actually the case, I could at least be getting laid every night.