Stevens Transport aviary

Got out of the dock last night at 2315...
I figure 9 hours detention on that one.
The Stevens truck that had the 0800 appt rolled out of there around 2100.
Whatta place!

Three load assignments this morning...guess they couldn't decide which one I should run.
Always the luck when working LA. Where to go when finished?
You have to guess, because it's at least 50 miles north or 50 miles south to the nearest place to stop.
Figuring I'd be picking up at the border as usual, I headed south.
Nope! Pick up in victorville.
c'est la vie!

 

WOWZERS!!!

 

Unfortunately, the trucking companies are so afraid of losing the accounts they won't say anything to try and change it. Sorry but i despise unions, the original reason for the formation of unions was a good one but as is normal greed and power screwed it up. What do you have if you laid all the union leader head to toe? . . . . . . . A good start.

 

I don't know what to say, not that anyone has asked me to. But I can tell you that Both Clay and Angela have bent over backwards and then some to help me out and keep me happy. I do think of Clay as being a numbers guy as well, but I seriously doubt there is effort being put into running the company into the ground. Anytime there is a change in leadership, there is a change in ideas and direction. Although the general plan hasn't changed it is possible the route to the destination has. Its trial and error as Steve had as well. Its a big operation and there are some people in the house that can screw up the simplest of plans, but it's not coming from upstairs...... If you have a problem they will listen but don't come to them half assed. Have your ducks in a row and be sharp as Angela will catch on to ######## really quick. I don't hate the rich and i don't pity the poor. I quit and came back, see...... We all have choices. Just my .02

 

I can never win on this one.
Emptied in Compton. Now where to go? I don't have a preplan, but should be dispatched out of San Diego.
So I head south.
Dispatched out of Victorville.
Just can't win!
(not complaining...it's just the way the buttered bread falls sometimes)

 

But emu, some actual thinking, planning, and staffing on weekends would prevent the wasted miles, fuel, and log book time. Trucking is 24/7 unless you work in planning or dispatch, then it is weekends off.

 

Yeah, if they would preplan drivers on Friday for the weekend they could cut out the weekend crew.... Would just need someone for Tchecks and a safety person because not much else happens. Would be nice and also productive to have an actual 24/7 operation.

 

On friday, I spoke to the planner. He indicated the first load available was 2300 monday evening. No preplan, tho.
My natural thought process is to head south, instead of north.
What the heck...hundred miles here, hundred miles there out of route?
Oy vey!
Trying to figure out if I can pull this next one out of the hat.
Have a pick up tonight at 1700 in Salinas, heading to Ft Worth.
Deliver friday night at 2100, so must be Target DC.
Trying to see if I can route myself via San Diego, see the doctors, then make it to deliver on time.
Getting close to my 90, so it would work out.
Another hundredmiles here or there...what the heck!

 

Definitely the opinion of DMs, dispatchers, planners, etc. Our DM fights us tooth and nail when we have out-of-route miles due to detours, having to return to rework loads etc. His response is usually along the lines of "it only added 25 (30, 40 pick a number) miles to the trip" Do they not realize that 25 miles loaded adds over $30 to the paycheck?? Not sure about everyone else, but $30 is a significant amount to us.

 

I feel the same way as most of you here: the lack of planning the past month has really started to affect me. Sitting for at least 24 hours between loads even with 30+ hours available in my log book. Almost impossible to get nay information from the different departments about appointment times and such. It's quickly getting really old.

I mean there's always been a lack of information but I almost always kept busy without too much sitting around. Lately it's been a different story and I'm starting to see it really affect my business. Trying to remain patient...