Who else gets frustrated with the places that won't allow us on the trailer/load?

I got so pissed off at GP in Gladys the other day I almost quit (its not that far from home for me)...I love my job, I enjoy it, and I'm good at it...but I get really agitated when shippers start telling me how to do it...I'm not a quitter and I care about my work history and performance records

GP makes plywood, and they are good at it...I don't tell them how to do their job! I'm a driver...a flat bed driver, been at it a long time, and I'm good at what I do (securing loads, without damage to me or the freight)...and they should not be able to tell me how to do my job...if they don't like the way I do it maybe they should do it themselves, and assume the responsibility for the well being of the load!

I'm not proud of it, but I did (got pissed, didn't quit)...I didn't say anything to any GP employees, that would have been very unprofessional of me and would not have accomplished anything except a bad report on me that would follow me anywhere I may go later.

A flatbed driver needs to be able to get on the trailer and/or the load, its a plain and simple fact.

These tarping contraptions at more and more locations are probably going to be the end of my flatbed driving....unless I could luck into something hauling strictly steel biggrin_25519: I would jump on it in a heartbeat).

I don't mind tarping...I actually enjoy it, when I can do it the way I have always done it.

Shippers should put the tarps up on the load and get the hell out of the drivers way and let them do their job.

I know some of you may disagree with me on this, you are entitled to your opinion...and I won't tear it down.

Safety...thats the supposed reason for these tarping contraptions, or so they say...the real reason is liability. I'd gladly sign a waiver on my way in...if I could tarp the way I prefer. It often seems that every step taken towards safety results in lost time for the driver...now we are lucky in that we get detention pay without question (giving credit where it is due), but detention pay does not make up for lost miles...it would have to be appx. $20/hour to do that (never gonna happen)

Everybody is trying to idiot proof everything...and it cannot be done!

The problem with trying to make something idiot proof is that idiots are so ###### ingenious! They always find a way...in time, somebody will get hurt with the tarping contraptions too! (its inevitable)


Oh well...there is my rant...and it IS NOT a rant against Maverick...its just a rant, so I can blow off some more steam...YES, I'm still pissed about it...thats another fault of mine, quick temper and long memory!

 

Yes...and I understand that.

I'd still rather sign a waiver, and do it my way......the right way.

 

The result of not being able to get on a trailer/load is usually one of these things...I see it quite often!

1- A half ### job just good enough to get down the road a ways so it can be finished up.

2- A half ### job that stays that way all the way to the consignee. (hopefully the tarp stays on the load)...if you've never had tarp fly off a flatbed right in front of you, let me tell you, its no fun! It happened to me last year, the tarp came completely off of a Roehl truck going down the interstate...and it came off all of the sudden like too!

3- A job done right...but lots of time ($$$) lost waiting in line to get IN the tarping contraption.

 

Yep...

Actually I can deal with the harnesses (still don't like them)...with those you can still get up there and do what needs to be done. The harnesses are aggravating, and time consuming, but they just rob us of time...not being able to get on the load robs us of the ability to do our job the way it should be done.

 

Don't sell yourself short...you already know more than anybody at GP!

You understand the concept...they do not!

 

You're gonna do just fine!