Stevens Transport A year in review

Aug 2 to Aug 8

Miles ran, 3351

Miles paid 2087

Miles transfloed yet to be paid 1332

This turned into a great week. Started out by flying through the Big apple, as the sun rises over the Hudson. Pulled into my first stop at 7am, was empty at 730 and up to philly...Check in at 815 for my 10 am appt. Sysco, so I am parked on the street, until 10am appt time. Back in, get unloaded, 1 pallet,sorted and stacked, and it takes the receiver an hour to check it in. Normal operating procedure at Sysco. Head down the road to the TA at elkton MD, Burris is just down the road...fit in an 8 hour break, drive over to Burris, check in, get in line and wait, and wait, get a door, and wait and wait, they have 26 pallets of assorted yogurts to sort. 6 hours later, I am out the gate, back to the TA and actual have my choice of 3 parking spots at 3am...

Have a load picking up in wichester Virgina, at 1430. 160 miles away, and I arrive at noon, for a drop and hook...Had to love this load assignment, pickup 08/03 14:30, delivery 08/03 0800 granite city IL...sent in a running late asking for a time machine this time...was told to give an ETA once loaded. ETA 08/04 1500...Stevens sets the appointment for 08/05 0900. This is only a 746 mile run...2 days is too long...so on the 4th, at 1pm I call to see if I can deliver early, or drop the trailer being a kraft to kraft. Live unload, but get my appointment changed to 1700 on the 4th...I let my DM know, and go and make my delivery, totally expecting to be loaded out of edwardsville. Send in my empty call, and head for the Flying J. QC beeps, load assignment, not edwardsville.

Nope heading to Rantoul IL, near Champaign for a 08/04 15:30 appointment...it is now 19:00 on the 4th...180 miles away, I have some time on my log book, so head to effinham IL for the night. Puts me 90 miles away, and I can be to the shipper at 0800. I got rewarded for my early delivery with a Kraft Ontario CA load, 2100 miles, due on 08/09 0800. Walked down the road, and had some great baby back ribs.

The loading went quickly at Rantoul, glad I was there early, as the trucks were backing up, by 10 am when I left. Scaled the 43,000 load, and I was able to run in the 4th hole with full tanks. Made for a nice pleasant run out to California.

Good communication with my DM helps...he keeps me moving with what ever hours I have available.

 

so would I.....no response until the next day with what is your ETA

 

did not think of that response, by then the business side had kicked in, and I said, 3pm tomorrow...they set the delivery appointment for 2 days away at 9 am....

The receiver, took me when I got there.

Today, pulled out of dodge city KS with a heavy load of beef, headed east on US50 as I always do. Kansas set up a random DOT inspection spot about 50 miles away, on one of the passing lanes. I got inspected, a level 2, and NO violations. YEA ME...

all of my habits of pre triping the trailer when I pick it up paid off, and keeping my tractor in order too. The officer also liked that I had everything he asked for in easy reach, and organized....He made the comment that the previous driver was disorganized, and it made is job so much easier that I was organized.

First inspection I have had in 2 years.

 

Naw, that broadcast message comes every friday sometime. It is annoying at best. A tip should be short and helpful. NOT paragraph after paragraph.

I think they got tired of drivers sending back messages when they would state a company policy as if it was DOT, as now the (company policy) added.

Had one phone compliance call, after I had screwed up a split sleeper, and had two days of violations. Ouch, but everything worked out, as when she called, I was almost done with a 34 hour reset.

I dislike overnight runs, but have been working on doing them on occasion, to avoid repowers. Have a great run, 4 drops, (still a great run) final in Maine. Another state off of my list. And yes I was called today, while passing through Indy, to help out, I am the only truck in the area, bull s h i t...My answer was, no. Only get called for a repower when my driver manager is NOT in.

All be safe, as I sit here in the rain in PA