Will it get better?

Ask them to put you on salary to cover the down time.

 

I have heard from several different sources that shorter runs are going to be more common throughout the trucking industry. Part of this is due to companies utilizing rail(intermodal) to move freight between large cities.
Tapeworm

 

Was in Bakersfield today and saw what should have been called a Swift train. Probably 80 cars long and at least 50 of them had Swift trailers on board. This was heading north alongside hwy 99 through the Central Valley. Prime truck route.

 

You got that right lol

 

You can talk to your DM and tell them you'd be happy to take that load as long as they throw something decent on after that. And as far as delivering early, you gotta be careful with that. Smaller places maybe, but Targets and Walmart, no way. Even if it's a drop in their yard, with Walmart, early is late! You won't believe this, Walmart will fine Schneider $50,000 for a load that's dropped early...yes,I said FIFTY THOUSAND. We had two O/O's do it in one week, I'm glad it wasn't me. I figured if it's a drop load, it wouldn't matter, but it does.

 

Home Depot is the same way. Drop trailer, but within the window. Not early and not late. I am on one now. Twenty four miles from the DC, and can not deliver until 1300 this afternoon. Can not deliver early, and can not be late, even though the window is 2300 tomorrow evening.

 

Many companies with resources are trying to get ALL of their OTR freight to be 200-400 miles. Any more than that they put it on rails. One reason is the obvious fuel savings, another reason is they are trying to attract more drivers by being "regional". The transition is going to be difficult for many of you who want 3500 miles a week but if you can earn the same money and be home (nearly) every nite then get a regional job. Or work for someone who has customers that demand their freight be delivered quickly. Home Depot or Wal-Mart distribution can plan deliveries months in advance so they will order with plenty of time for their shipment to sit on railcars for weeks if they can save a buck.

 

I have no problem with short mile runs, what I don't like is sitting an extra unneeded 34 hours on a 600 mile run.

 

squeak .. you can drop at a Home Depot DC early ... the don't drop early blurb is a generic and applies to loads going to stores ... We can drop early at the Walmart dry DCs, Need permission, but can usally get it from the CSR, for the wet DCs.

 

DC's you can generally drop early. It's just live unloads that you usually can't. Walmart for example will say 00:01 delivery, but you can drop up to 48 hours early. Target not sure on but I've been 12 hours early before to them.

Sports Authority stores call the store manager. I've done a sports authority run and delivered to both stops a whole day early.

Sears stores same thing, call ahead they might/probably take early

Bunch of others too, those are just the ones off the top of my head.