Time management issues

Walmart has improved some lately but has been and probably still is one of those places where you need to go in with a minimum of 4 hours and be close to safe parking for after. But all you can do is move when you can move and get there with as much time on your clocks as possible. Management knows these places often hold over 4+ hours. It's unreasonable to expect all trucks to go in with 4+ hours remaining and everyone knows it. And DO NOT BE LATE OR MISS a Walmart appointment under any circumstances beyond extended road closures.

If you have to go into violation, consider it a Badge of Honor and tell them you will do it again if you're forced into another probable no-win situation

Also. Learn the 8/2 split. It can often help in these cases and getting a 2 hour break at Walmart is a given.

 

If you're elog system will let you creep at 5 miles an hour, use it to your advantage. Park close enough the night before if feasible, and creep in there once your appointment comes. Walmart gives you an hour before and an hour after your appointment to get there. There are two apps you need to have: google maps and trucker path. Trucker path will show you all truck stops, Walmart parking lots, rest areas, etc. You can use that to help you trip plan. With Google maps, you can look up your destination, and put it in satellite mode. Zoom in, and look around the area. Chances are you can find somewhere close by to park. Many Walmart DCs have parking near by. Also, you have to be able to anticipate changes. Its important to keep in contact with your dispatcher. Keep them in the loop about how long it's taking you to get loaded, then they can move your appt or have you swap loads with someone. Communication is key to keep you moving.

 

I would like someone to explain how you can decide how many available hours you will have when you arrive at the appointment? You have your HOS and you are dispatched. Do they let you determine whether you will meet your appointment when it's raining or dry? Do they ask you to determine your appointment times? Are you able to delay an appointment until after a 10/34 hour break?

 

Your logs are YOUR LOGS. They are designed to keep you from being worked to death. Pull into the yard when you get there and put yourself on duty to do your paperwork and then put yourself in the sleeper while they load or unload you. Always log legally. Then stop when you are suppose to.

 

If I would go over 14 hours at the receiver, and they would want to kick me out, I'd use personal conveyance to get to the nearest available parking. That's in theory not right, but I don't care, there is only so much you could do. However, you are working for one of those Communist Mega Carriers, so it is hard to say what they would do to you for that.

 

CAUTION!!!

WM gives you the hour after your appointment to arrive as in they will unload you; HOWEVER, you are still LATE and will get worked in AFTER ALL the other trucks!

 

You trip plan and estimate your eta, time of arrival.

Based on your calculations, you have an idea of how many hours you'll have when you get there.

You give say WM about 4 hours and you'll have an idea as to how many hours you'll have when they're done.

Typically, WM runs you up to the time your company gives them before WM has to pay detention.

So if your company gives customers 3 hours before they're charged detention, WM will run you up to 2 hours and 40 minutes of sitting then practically rock your trailer off its base running forklifts in and out of it getting the freight off before that 3rd hour hits!

LOL

 

A LOT of times I will use personal conveyance to enter or leave a shipper/reciever. It's not legal, but god does it make life so much easier. If they dont have parking at the shipper/reciever I will find parking as close as possible (walmart, lowes, shopping center lot, etc.) Then when my appointment time rolls around I will drive the 5-10 miles into the shipper/reciever on personal conveyance. Same way if I run out of hours at a shipper/reciever that doesnt allow parking, personal conveyance to the nearest parking. This is illegal, but I'm not playing those stupid log games.

Having said that, if the shipper/reciever has parking then I will just make sure my fridge is stocked before I come in and log legally.

 

Those with 5 mph thresholds should not be "creeping" anywhere. ESPECIALLY on public roads and especially beyond a long block or so