The BS level of this career is unbelievable!

That is a good thing, cuz chances are he will be getting to try something new. lol

 

I'm gonna chime in for the first time ever on this forum and see if maybe I can shed some light.

First let's start with the phone call. Myself, I never turn my phone off while out on the road. Not while, driving sleeping or for anything. Only because I never know when an emergency back home may or not occur. This is the majority of the reason. Next, we at times have to assume that not everyone is going to utilize communication devices effectively. So that's a minor reason to leave the phone on.

Sure dispatchers at times don't use common sense, though a few do. Many dont look at logs and many more may not have access to logs. That at times is more so safety. But each co has their own systems in place. So in a way, this could be viewed as a fault on all parties involved

Next, the driver knocking on door. When your the driver that has to knock on someone's truck door, for myself. I don't like doing it. I don't like doing it because I know you may be sleeping. I understand when a driver is tired and wants to sleep, letting the driver sleep is more important than anything. However, il try to obtain the drivers phone number because I'd rather call if possible and arrange it in this manner. But sometimes another driver may not have their phone on.

So il knock on the bunk instead of really really need be. If after 10 min this doesn't wake the driver, so be it. I did my part. Though on the other foot, if I'm inside my trucking and someone is knocking on it. Il peek through the curtains to see what's up. Because you never know if there's an emergency like for example your truck is smoking because maybe your about to catch fire or maybe another truck is smoking and about to catch fire. These are essential reasons why anyone should at least peek out the curtains unnoticed.

If no emergency, il just yell, what ya want! Maybe I get a response of "here to swap loads" maybe get some crap I don't wanna hear.

If something I don't want to hear well after 20 min of that, letting the dog out or calling the cops is a viable option. But if about a swap, i would just call in and get a confirmation along with a phone number. I would call the individual to confirm that is really the person. Face to face anyone can say anything.

Restarting of hours, and all the extras. Trucking is its own beast in many rights of being so. After time these things numb you, cause you to shake your head and dwell less on the nonsense every trucker deals with day in and day out. Where many fail is that we assume to much responsibility on others even though we know much better than to do so. Yet we still have hope that common sense would over come many that are not drivers. There are good, bad and ugly carriers. So the best we can do is ensure our own safety ensure we don't allow others to force us into any unsafe or illegal act or motion. Which you have done perfectly, I can't say anything other than good job, seriously. Because there are many new drivers that would of gave in and did as was being pushed onto them. The only thing I'm going to say is that 2 hours of sleep, your risking a lot of different things that could of ended way worse than planned. Maybe try not to do that again.

Lastly, as for going home via rental, it happens. Ive flown home, rented vehicles, taken a train etc. Nobody can tell anyone when they can or not go home. But at the same time (not saying you did this just pointing it out for new drivers) make sure to communicate your plan so that you don't obtain abandonment of cmv on your record.

Hope this helps in some way.

 

Agree times 10,000.

 

Funny thing is, doing #### like this when your owner op is normal. No one will admit it, but it’s normal BS day for owner ops.

 

O/O does not swap trailer, unless working for mega carrier.

 

No we dont, but we do work off the clock. Trust me you offer a owner op $500 for a 10 mile trip, hell find a way to get around the HOS rules.

 

Elog quit working. I swear!

 

The OM would have Dave out of bed at the second knock. The OM doesn't play.

6 months into driving I was at a TA on I90 in PA. I ignored the first two sets of knocking. At the third I went to the window and a guy outside yelled. "FIIIRRE".

I figured he wanted me to get out od the truck so he could rob me, and started pulling the curtain closed, and he yelled "FIIIRRRREE!!!!" . Then the tires on the truck next to me but one blew. I slammed my dwet in my boots, hopped out in my boxers, checked the kingping and hauled ###. By the time I had gotten out of my spot the the truck next to mine was buring nicely.

Answering the door doesn't put you at any more risk if you don't open the door or the window.

The GenXer in my truck right now makes the OP look down right reasonable.

 

16 hour big day. Freaking traffic.....can't get back to the terminal in time lol

 

Op probably hiding right now,,,to a seasoned driver, this does seem a bit unusual, but as mentioned, it was a communication error, and in this day and age, there's no excuse for that. With all you hear today, it could have been a bad situation. I had a similar situation once, my union bread job,, I would drag a loaded trailer from Wis. to Indiana, another company driver from Ohio met me, we'd swap wagons, and head back ( gravy job, btw) Well, there were also outside carriers that would bring me my wagon from Ohio, and one night, nobody told me an outside carrier was coming, I saw the truck, but figured, better wait for the company truck, I laid down (strangely, we had sleeper trucks) after about 3 hours, this outside carrier driver, who was also sleeping, comes over, bangs on the door, nobody told him either. Great thing, I got paid for that,