Stevens Transport aviary

why the big mystery?

 

I was assigned to one project and department, but there's internal fighting over me.
I feel SO special!
So I don't want to say anything until I'm back to the yard and everything is settled.
I don't want to upset the applecart before I even get there.
(not that there's politics involved!)

 

Internal fighting, more like fuedel wars among the fifedoms, and manegement seems to incourage it.

Maybe I should have started giving my 2 week notice back in febuary. I have not had this many preplans all year, let alone in a row.

Now had they been this active with me in feb, and march, I would not have started looking else where. But I also know this is only temporary caring, until the nextt fire comes along and attracts their attention.

 

I have to relate this most (wonderful) experience. I know most of us have been there, but it's just too ubiquitous to let go...
Dropped my trailer at Plainview Walmart DC. No empties, but they figure there will be in about 4 hours.
So off to Burger King, then a nap and I returned.
A D&D fleet truck is waiting, so in the course of conversation find out this is their second day out.
Soon the yard dog brings a trailer over, so they hook up and I know their trying to look good to me as they know I'm watching.
Finally got out, gave them some tips on the preflight. All is good, YD drops another trailer and I hook up.
We both set off for Amarillo. I'm in an hurry because I'm nearly at the end of my 14 and there's a repower I'm to meet up there that gets me to Dallas. (Peterbilt load)
Along the way comes the familiar message: Unrecognized Trailer.
I call dispatch and after the longest time, get thru. Now the fun begins.
"Are you SURE you have 12125?"
"Positive."
"Says here it's in Plainview, TX"
"That's where I picked it up from. Walmart DC"
"But you aren't in Plainview. You're in Amarillo."
"But I was in Plainview when I picked it up. I drove to Amarillo afterwards."
"You should have called us before you left Plainview."
"I did. It took you 74 miles to answer."
"But you can't have that trailer. ARE YOU SURE?"
"I'm looking at it in my mirrors. I'm sure."
"Do me a favor and get out and double check."
"I can't. I'm driving."
"Well can you pull over to a safe place and check?"
"No. Besides. there's no point. I have the trailer."
"Well I can't assign it to you because the computer won't let me. It's in Plainview and you're in Amarillo."
"Keep talking and I'll be in Dallas."
He shifted me to a supervisor who makes noises as to why he has to handle this. "They can do it, they're just lazy."
I figure all is done. Arrive at the Petro, hang out a bit with some other Buzzards, then my repower arrives.
They need to ditch the Peterbilt load because his APU is broken and needs to go to TK and get it fixed monday morning.
"...and the Peterbilt load HAS to be there tomorrow."
We swap, send in our 21's and I head inside.
An hour later, he tracks me down. "You have any problems with that trailer?"
"I told your student the clearance light on the right back is out. But the shop here can fix it."
"No, I mean with dispatch. They insist I don't have that trailer."
I roll my eyes. "Tell them you found it in the parking lot with a note that said, "If found, return to Plainview."

So, how was my day this morning? Went into the store for some coffee. No coffee. "Corportate won't allow us to make coffee between 10pm and 6am."
"What? Truckers don't drink coffee overnight? This is a TRUCK STOP! How can you NOT have coffee?"
I gave up after a few more choice words, and went over to Pilot.
Arrived at CEVA to drop PB load in Roanoke.
"Sorry, we're closed today and tomorrow. So is the plant."
So now I'm at the Denton TA playing on the computer until I can deliver. I should have gone with my first impluse and simply gone to the yard and let them all get their panties in a bunch.
Oh well!

 

I actually picked up a loaded trailer at kraft south of atlanta, and got the trailer message. I was still finishing up paper work and got thru, and was told it was fixed. Nothing said for the next 3 days, until I send in my arival at nabisco in arkansas.

Get told by the night crew I have the wrong trailer for that location. Nope. Trailer matches the bol. Nabisco is unloading as we speak. Go figure.

So emu, you get to set on a peterbilt load for 2 days?

I now have 4 preplans to pick up in ogden. They just keep sending them. Wonder if I get to choose?

 

I think that is the most frustrating part of going through a training company to gain experience and it is just not Stevens. They manage everyone as though you are dumb as a brick and can't be trusted with the most minor responsibility. You will always be the guilty party until it is uncovered in the office by pure luck that you are not and don't expect an apology for anything. But it is also worrying that the person putting you through the Monty Python Spanish Inquisition knows less than you do.

(again, not a slam at Stevens by any means, it's the same at CRE, Schneider, US Express etc)

 

One of the problems that many of us have (that hang around this thread) is we assume most drivers think like we do. They are responsible, do their job fairly well and can do a modicom of critical thinking.
But it's not really that way.
In this group of Buzzards I was talking with yesterday, were two drivers that just kept ragging on how Stevens done them wrong.
One was upset because there was a payroll deduction being done for the deductible from an accident that he should not be charged for.
In his words: "I was trying to turn around in this small parking lot. My only other choice was a U turn out on the road. Well there was a drain culvert in front of me and I couldn't turn all the way around. I stopped, checked the culvert, then drove into it and busted up my truck."
(me) "You mean you SAW the culvert. You stopped and checked it out and thought you could make it?"
"No. I knew I couldn't make it. But what was I suppose to do? I couldn't go back and make a U turn. It isn't fair. I didn't make a U turn, but now they're charging me for the accident."

The second was going on how Stevens was cheating him on miles. He wasn't getting paid for all his miles. I asked him if he was being paid for all his DISPATCHED miles and he said yes. But they weren't paying him for all the 'other' miles.
When I asked him what the other miles were, he explained he was taking different routes than the qualcomm because he was tired of seeing the same old roads!

In a training company, hand holding is necessary. But it drives us good drivers crazy.
Everytime I get frustrated I hear my youngest son singing a song from Sunday School many years ago when he was about five:
Have patience, Have patience, there's no need to hurry...

Turns out I can deliver this load tomorrow. They're going to let me just drop the trailer in Denton. Good thing. I only have 4:16 left on my 70 and nothing coming back. I'd hate to run into the yard bobtail, short on hours. Because Lord knows, at this point, I'd head to the yard anyway and just call it personal miles.
Let mother worry about it. After all, what are they going to do? Not let me drive anymore?

 

Good point emu.

I always forget just how many people can not think for themselves and need the hand holding.

But I also hate the condescending attitude, when we need something fixed that we did not cauuse.

In wendover tonight headed for "north" cally. To me it is central cally


No I did not get to pick, got the last preplan sent. This one is better than az, or LA

 

TLea and Emu: best of luck in your new endeavours. Keep in touch here..we all truly enjoy your posts and insight.

 

Oh you won't get rid of me that easily. As a matter of fact, you'll probably end up talking with me on the night and weekend shifts.