Watkins and Shepard trip env. pole

I'm a pretty good way off from having issues like this, but was wondering...
Just what is a Macro 8 on the qualcom? What does it do? Where does it go, etc?
Do you drop the trip envelope in a mailbox or something?
Not qualified to reply to the poll.

Thanks,

Merlin

 

Well, I'm still on my first but I filled out as much as I could before leaving(I hope to do logbook, trip envelope and qualcomm before leaving dock/yard each time) and filled out gas section after I got receipt and pulled forward so next guy could get going which took all of 1 minute if that...

Macro 8 is a daily checkcall where it lets them know if you're available or not, hours and such...

 

When I was OTR, I kept (and still do) a large spiral notebook and I write all info down there from the load assignment, trip #, trailer #, shipper, receiver, times and dates, where EACH fuel stop is, and how much, and then my route thru every state, state by state. I then can write my trip envelope at my leisure in the evening after I stop running. I also keep a steno type notebook with dates, and mileages for things like stopping and starting each day, mileage when I load and unload, mileage when I fuel, and if driving thru the nite, mileage at midnite. I can use all that to figure out all the info for my TE's. When I fuel, I keep the receipt in my clipboard I keep my log and TE attatched to (it's one of those metal ones that opens and closes), and write the fuel info at nite when I stop.

Now that I have the same run every day, I fill them out at the end of each run, and I have 2 trips daily. I also fill out the return one early, and just leave the trip number blank until I get it from dispatch a couple hours later. Works for me..

Hope this helps someone out there...

Oh, and a macro 8 is called the daily checkcall. It's what we send every nite to dispatch to keep them updated on hours available currently, and estimated hours available at empty. It's required to send every day between 6p and 6a. And the trip envelopes are dropped off when you get by a terminal. You can mail them or FexEx them overnite, but if you overnite them, the driver has to pay, so it's better to wait till you get by a term. Any other questions, we'll be more than happy to answer.

 

Remember, at the flying J and Pilot fuel stops you don't have to waste your time to get a receipt. Fuel and go, just remember to write your numbers down. Macro 8 is just a daily check call, lets the dispatcher know when you plan on being MT in their area and the amount of hours you'll have so they can plan you on your next load.

 

While it's not necessary to get the reciept from those places, I get one anyways so I'm always in the habit of getting one and so I don't forget at the places we have to get them...works for me! Hope you're having a great turkey day Mike!!

 

Hope you're having a good one too. And like you said it's not a bad habit to get into when you're starting off.

 

I've forgotten a fuel receipt only twice since I've been driving. Both have been at a Pilot, and they have a neat feature on the driver kiosk that allows you to search fuel receipts for the last 30 days from ANY Pilot on your payback card, then print 1 or 2 copies out. Luckily I haven't forgotten from any other place...

 

im the only one who doesnt hate them that i know so far, probably because i do them as i go. i fill in all the info when i get the load that i can. from there i go the fuel stops as i do them. only issue i ever have is sometimes i drive off without writing the amount and have to guess.
other than that i keep my miles in a notebook, and every night when i send my 8 i get the miles all up to date with what i did that day. and its never a hassle for me. like 5 minutes a day and i never get messed up.

 

Great minds think alike!

I do pretty much the same thing.

I have a note book that I put all of my load info on, Truck #, Trip #, Trailer #, Seal #, start and end date, start and end miles, all fuel stops, end of day miles, scales, routing, state miles, contact info,etc...


Then When I get assingend the load I fill out as much as possible and then at the end I just fill in the blanks from the notebook, takes me about 5 min to do a trip envolope for a trip start to finish.





American Trucker

 

Notebook, 2 actually. Smaller one in a cup holder so I can write the mileage down as I cross state borders and other quick notes. Bigger one on the passenger seat that I have all the trip info written down on i.e. trip #, shipper, receiver, fuel stops w/how much fuel to put on, directions, etc.. End of day I transfer the mileage info from the small pad to the big one. I update the trip envelope at the end of the day, and I get a fuel receipt every time regardless of where I fuel. All about the CYA ya know!