I wanna smack my dispatcher

[Malaki86]

Again...

Last week, he tried to put a load on me from Philadelphia that would pay me $.21cpm. Today, he managed to do it successfully...

I pick up in Roxbury, MA (which is Boston) going to McKeesport, PA. Total miles (loaded & empty) is 600. Total pay to the truck is $510. Total pay to me is 24.5% of that, or $0.20825cpm...

I didn't find out about it until I was already being loaded. When I asked him about it, he told me that it'll all work out because the load I brought up works out to $0.35cpm (for basically identical miles). He doesn't understand that even when you average the 2 together, it's still sub-par wages, especially for a company that requires 2 years experience before they'll hire you.

I can't wait until I walk away from these people...

[dle]

I know you've said that locally is dead. So how's it looking in your job search?

[Malaki86]

This [sarcasm]WONDERFUL[/sarcasm] got even better, if that's at all possible.

It started when I ran into traffic coming into Boston. That wasn't a problem since I was expecting it. It only took me 90 mins to drive 30 miles.

Where I picked the load up, you had to scale in and out at a recycling yard across the street from them. Those crooks are charging $25 per scaling for a total of $50. Sure, I'll get the money back, but I had a total of $51 in my pocket at the time. Would've been nice to have been told about this beforehand.

I then leave the scale to go and pick up the load. Because of the incredible streets of Boston and car parking, it took me 45mins of trying to get the truck off the street and into their yard. When it's plainly apparent that there's no way that the truck will go in there, they tell me to use their other entrance. Simple directions for that: end of street turn left, 1st intersection turn left, 1st intersection turn left and straight into their yard.

Welllllllllll.,... It *sounded* like a good plan, except, again, the wonderful parking situtation made it impossible to even try to make that 2nd turn. So, I continue to the 2nd street to make a left. No problem there, there's a light and everything. But... from that street, you can't get back to where I need to be in any way shape or form. I spent 45 mins driving around trying to get back to them.

Finally, I parked and called the boss. The first thing I told him was to walk over to the dispatcher who put me on this load and punch him square in the face. I explained the situation and he told me the other dispatcher would be in shortly and to get info on what to do from him.

Another 45 minutes later, and about 10 phone calls between me, my dispatch and the broker and they finally pulled the load off of me. So, I jumped on the Mass Pike and headed west to shut down at the 1st service plaza 20 miles away to wait for another load.

I no sooner than shut the truck down and the broker called me back again. Apparently my dispatch didn't tell the broker I wasn't doing the load. I told them to call my dispatch. A couple minutes later my dispatch calls back and tells me to head back after this BS load again.

The only good part was that when I went back in, I knew exactly where I was going. I'm getting loaded now and can't wait to get the hell out of here. I just wish there was a toll road that ran directly between Boston and Pittsburgh - LOL.

As for the job search, I'm *trying* to wait a couple more months. I've got 2 minor accidents and a ticket that'll go off my record at the end of March/beginning of April. Once they're gone, it'll open up my choices more. I'm sure it'll be a long few months, though...

[Malaki86]

Oh - and I STILL haven't had a cup of coffee today!!!!

[Roadhog]

Oh - and I STILL haven't had a cup of coffee today!!!!

I hope you don't have to stop at Pilot for the cup 'o joe.

[Malaki86]

I hope you don't have to stop at Pilot for the cup 'o joe.

LMFAO!!!!

[jonp]

Jeez, are you serious? What is that, .25 avg for the two loads? What garbage company do you work for? That is unbelievable. Unless you have forced dispatch I would have told them to shove it after I left that place the first time.

[Malaki86]

When it rains, it pours...

I finally got out of that hell-hole. All went fine until I missed the ramp for I-90 off of I-93 in Boston. After going 5 miles or so, I got turned around and heading the right direction.

I then stopped at the T/A in Willington, CT for fuel. Pumped the fuel, jumped in the truck to pull forward and, boom, there goes a maxi... 3 hours later and I'm parked for the night (if you want to call it that)...

And, yes, we're forced dispatch.

[Bigmon]

When it rains, it pours...

I finally got out of that hell-hole. All went fine until I missed the ramp for I-90 off of I-93 in Boston. After going 5 miles or so, I got turned around and heading the right direction..

You must have been near the tunnel.

[gcal]

sorry to say this and I hope you don't follow my advice but I would park that bitch so fast it aint funny and walk away like its stolen. never answer another phone call from them and avoid them like the plague for ever and btw do not tell them you parked it and disconnect the tracking system if you can. screw them and their bs. they are the reason the trucking business is what it is today. garbage!

[freebirdrfd]

unfortunately there is an ass for every seat. if he leaves some other desperate driver will jump right in the truck and start driving.. Sad but true.......

[Malaki86]

Yup - we have people put in applications on a daily basis...

As far as abandoning the truck like that - exactly how good of a reference would they give me for not only quitting under a load, but also leaving there truck somewhere and they have no idea where?

[jd112488]

not a good one. and yes, the trucking industry is in bad shape. and yes there are alot of ****bag companies. but it is also on the drivers. the attitude of the hell with them, leave the truck and the load somewhere is total bull****. drivers that do this **** are the ones that make companies pay so little because of the cost involved in hiring drivers that leave the equipment at some random spot because they are having a bad day, which also cost money to go get said truck. we cannot constantly blame others for our misfortunes. with that attitude your one bad day will turn into years of bad days.

[gcal]

Sorry, but I will disagree. It is not the drivers fault for being treated like a used tampon . It is the truck owners fault for letting this driver get raped like that. As for the reference, who said you need to tell anyone?
And the "people apply everyday": good. They will continue to apply and turn over will be Hugh for this jerk as along as he pays in peanuts. People will be crashing his truck, insurance will be high, and he will get his trucks abused all so he can rape some unsuspecting rookie driver on a load.

Gentlemen I will agree to disagree. This guy is garbage and I would give yourself more of a chance in life then sitting there taking his abuse. Your life is only as good as you make it. If you sit there and do nothing, expect this for a long time. Go look for another job......
No change needed for my two cents. sorry but thats how I felt when I read your story. Would I do it? I don't know till I am hosed that bad. BUt if you have a clean record, some experience, know how to use a razor and bath tub, then you have a better chance then your giving your self credit for.


Good luck!

[jonp]

Who is it you work for? I want to make sure I never go near that company. .21 is stupid money.

[gcal]

Who is it you work for? I want to make sure I never go near that company. .21 is stupid money.

True That Brother!!!!!!
A mother ***en men!

[Malaki86]

Well, as for the reference, it's on my DAC that I work here. I'm pretty damn sure they'd put it in the DAC if I abandoned the load and made the truck near impossible to find. Just how many companies would hire me then?

[gcal]

You know how many companies do not report to those? A LOT! LOL
Either way good luck. Don't take my advice. I was just fireing off rounds in the dark. Don't mind me.

[Malaki86]

You know how many companies do? A LOT. You know how many companies tell other companies to get your info from DAC when you apply with them? A LOT.

[Malaki86]

What a crappy week this has been, to say the least. It's Friday morning, I just finished a load and waiting for my next load. I started Monday morning and have already driven a little over 2,100 miles. Now the bad part: every load except the very first has SUCKED...

Load 1: 548 loaded, 39 empty - paid me $0.35pm
Load 2: 566 loaded, 34 empty - paid me $0.21pm
Load 3: 291 loaded, 23 empty - paid me $0.31pm
Load 4: 303 loaded, 78 empty - paid me $0.24pm
Overall total: 1882 miles (2,102 actual), $0.277pm ($0.248pm actual hub)