Just blowing off steam

[Malaki86]

Ok - call it whining, crying, bitching, whatever, but I've got to blow off a little steam...

Yesterday, I was enroute to Laredo, TX with a load. My truck has been using roughly a gallon of coolant per day, so I stopped at our shop in Waxahachie at around 8am to get it checked out. Turns out the EGR cooler was leaking, so it had to be repaired there. The shop foreman said they were a little backed up and it'd be a day before they got it in. No problem with that. They took the load off of me because it had to get to the border. At about 1pm, they got the truck in. They finished it at 6pm.

Well, because I'd been awake since 3:30am, and driving since 4am, my day was over. I sent an updated PTA for 3am today. Seems fair, right? HAHAHAHHA After I sent the new PTA, dispatch responded that it had been updated.

Well, at 8pm, just as I was falling asleep, they sent a preplan. The load picks up at 9pm, 76 miles away. I send in that I can't pick the load up until 4:30am and explained why. I also called dispatch to explain. So, they dispatch me on the load. Huh? WTF?

I called back in and explained AGAIN that I'm not moving the truck until 3am, period. They then undispatch me from the load. Ok, time to lay back down.

At 11pm the QC goes nuts (about 20 messages). Because that damn thing is so annoying, there's no ignoring it, so I started reading the messages. First they reassign that load (with the same 9pm pickup), unassign, reassign (same pickup), do a load change for it to pickup at 2:30am, unassign, reassign with the 2:30am pickup.

I, again, put that I cannot pick up until 4:30am with an explanation and go back to sleep - for about 15 minutes. Then the phone starts ringing. They want to know why I can't move until 3am. I explain to them why, but they just kept up with the "you've had a 10hr break" BS. Now I'm MORE than pissed. I hung up with dispatch and called the night Ops Manager, which, because they're on nights, does about as much good as calling the janitor that's cleaning the crap off the walls in the toilet stall. He, too, looks at all of the messages, and says "You've had a 10hr break." I ended the call with him by saying that at 8am I'll be calling the REAL Ops manager, as well as the safety department.

So, 3am, I get up, grab an empty trailer and head for my pickup. When I checked in, every piece of info they gave me for the load, pu #, destination, customer po#, etc, is wrong. They have no way of finding out what's going on here until the office people get in at 7am.

So, now I sit.

This is definitely one of those "I hate this f*&king job" days...

[Orangetxguy]

Ok - call it whining, crying, bitching, whatever, but I've got to blow off a little steam...

Yesterday, I was enroute to Laredo, TX with a load. My truck has been using roughly a gallon of coolant per day, so I stopped at our shop in Waxahachie at around 8am to get it checked out. Turns out the EGR cooler was leaking, so it had to be repaired there. The shop foreman said they were a little backed up and it'd be a day before they got it in. No problem with that. They took the load off of me because it had to get to the border. At about 1pm, they got the truck in. They finished it at 6pm.

Well, because I'd been awake since 3:30am, and driving since 4am, my day was over. I sent an updated PTA for 3am today. Seems fair, right? HAHAHAHHA After I sent the new PTA, dispatch responded that it had been updated.

Well, at 8pm, just as I was falling asleep, they sent a preplan. The load picks up at 9pm, 76 miles away. I send in that I can't pick the load up until 4:30am and explained why. I also called dispatch to explain. So, they dispatch me on the load. Huh? WTF?

I called back in and explained AGAIN that I'm not moving the truck until 3am, period. They then undispatch me from the load. Ok, time to lay back down.

At 11pm the QC goes nuts (about 20 messages). Because that damn thing is so annoying, there's no ignoring it, so I started reading the messages. First they reassign that load (with the same 9pm pickup), unassign, reassign (same pickup), do a load change for it to pickup at 2:30am, unassign, reassign with the 2:30am pickup.

I, again, put that I cannot pick up until 4:30am with an explanation and go back to sleep - for about 15 minutes. Then the phone starts ringing. They want to know why I can't move until 3am. I explain to them why, but they just kept up with the "you've had a 10hr break" BS. Now I'm MORE than pissed. I hung up with dispatch and called the night Ops Manager, which, because they're on nights, does about as much good as calling the janitor that's cleaning the crap off the walls in the toilet stall. He, too, looks at all of the messages, and says "You've had a 10hr break." I ended the call with him by saying that at 8am I'll be calling the REAL Ops manager, as well as the safety department.

So, 3am, I get up, grab an empty trailer and head for my pickup. When I checked in, every piece of info they gave me for the load, pu #, destination, customer po#, etc, is wrong. They have no way of finding out what's going on here until the office people get in at 7am.

So, now I sit.

This is definitely one of those "I hate this f*&king job" days...

Hey!! I got one of these books in the library at home!! I feel for ya!!

[Malaki86]

Ack...

12:30pm now - still sitting, but at least in the dock now. At 7am they found the correct load. But, I'm getting paid now for detention. And, in another 1.5hrs, I'll have my 10hr break in.

The problem was that someone is a complete idiot, I just don't know who. When they found the load this morning, he said it was scheduled to be picked up at 9pm today, not 9pm yesterday, but when he pulled out the paperwork, it plainly states on it yesterday @ 9pm. Who knows...

To top everything off, this load is supposed to be in Iowa by tomorrow morning by 9am. Hmmm - 763 miles in 18hrs. Ya - something tells me it's gonna be late.

Also, there was another driver of ours getting loaded this morning. His appointment was for 9pm tonight and he was in the dock for over an hour when they put me in the dock. He just pulled out about 15 minutes ago. He's going to the same place to deliver, but his appointment is for 11am on Sunday.

This is just going to be a weekend from hell, plain and simple...

[MichiganDriver]

If you wanted to get the load to Iowa on time and legal you could. But I know you know that. But then bosses are trainable, if you're persistent. Sometimes ya gotta learn em how ta treat ya. Good luck.

[Windwalker]

Well... Let's see.... You drive for Celedon, right? Eleven years ago, it was Celedon that picked up the majority of Burlington's accounts. Think they also took a few of the office staff. you don't have a Lisa Vaughn in dispatch, do you? That sounds just like her. Didn't do Burlington any favors either. She figures you work for her, not the other way around. Bet she'd make a good dominatrix.

Man, does that sound familiar. Good luck.

[Malaki86]

Well, it took a total of 10hrs 45mins to get the damn load out. Idiots...

While sitting, I asked my dispatch what the ACTUAL delivery window is on this load. It has until Sunday night @ midnight. I swear, they're gonna drive me to drinking (again).

As for when it'll be delivered, I haven't decided. Yes, I can have it there tomorrow afternoon (I'm 413 miles away from the consignee now). The question is whether I WANT to have it there.

[freebirdrfd]

Hey Mal, Sleep is overrated

[Malaki86]

The way things have been the last few days, I almost forget what sleep IS. I'm about to try to remember, though.

[Mackman]

Mal just buy your own truck. You been talking about it. Then run under your own numbers and forget about this BS lol.

[Malaki86]

The plan is still in effect to buy a truck. The end of this month, I'll pay off 2 bills, leaving one left that I want out of the way before taking the leap. Even though I make enough now to pay the bills, which I know I can do with my own truck as well, I'd rather not have those debts leaning over me in case something goes wrong. That also gives me the opportunity to set extra money aside for the maintenance fund, especially since I'll more than likely be buying an older truck.

Trust me, the temptation is there to do it RIGHT NOW, but the common sense side of me is still managing to win the argument. If things continue the same as now, I'll be debt free just after the first of the year (other than regular bills). That's when I'll REALLY be fighting myself to hold off for just the right truck.

[GMAN]

I am sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing with your dispatch, Malaki. I am glad to see that you plan on waiting until you get more of your debt paid off before jumping into running your own truck. You are wise in thinking ahead and planning for contingencies in case things do go exactly as planned. I would think that there would be some good buys on trucks when you are ready.

[Malaki86]

You just wait GMan - I'll be picking your brains like a zombie on shore leave when the time comes.

[RostyC]

Mal just buy your own truck. You been talking about it. Then run under your own numbers and forget about this BS lol.

What he said!

Couple weeks ago I got a load. Showed up at 12pm. Broker was suppose to have a truck there at 9am.
Called the shipper, got my directions (they knew what load I was coming to pick up)
Drove 150 miles
When I got there they said the load wasn't going to be ready until 6pm or later.
Called broker. Explained the situation and was told they'd call me back.
Waited fifteen minutes, no call.
I rolled out. My truck, my trailer, my numbers.
Jerk me around, I leave.

[Malaki86]

After they finally got me loaded yesterday and I went into the office for my paperwork, there was 4 or 5 o/o's in the office that were doing the exact same thing - leaving.

I went ahead and delivered the load today. On the way up, I stopped, updated my eta on the QC, then asked what freight was like. Was told it was very slow - hopefully a load by tomorrow.

So, when I sent my empty macro, within 2 minutes I was assigned to my next load. Pick up a preloaded trailer 60 miles away tomorrow anytime after 6am with 850 miles loaded.

That works.

[Mackman]

hey mal. when you do get your truck. Please tell me you are not leaseing on to your company. Their rates for O/O are a joke.

[Mackman]

What he said!

Couple weeks ago I got a load. Showed up at 12pm. Broker was suppose to have a truck there at 9am.
Called the shipper, got my directions (they knew what load I was coming to pick up)
Drove 150 miles
When I got there they said the load wasn't going to be ready until 6pm or later.
Called broker. Explained the situation and was told they'd call me back.
Waited fifteen minutes, no call.
I rolled out. My truck, my trailer, my numbers.
Jerk me around, I leave.

Thats the only way to run a truck. I could never lease my truck on to a carrier. You are nothing more then a company driver with a truck payment. I like calling all the shots and telling people to go get F-ed if need be.

[Malaki86]

Damn it!!!

Just had a stupid drive tire blow out. That's bad enough, but this is what gets me:
I'm on I-44 heading west. Just as I went past the entrance ramp for exit 4 (where the Petro, Loves & Pilot) are, the tire blew. When I say "just past", I mean the tractor itself "might" have went past the ramp - the trailer was still "at the ramp."

So, now I'm sitting in the weigh station waiting for a truck to come from Wingfoot. But, at least it's not a long drive for them.

[MichiganDriver]

Did you see where the tornado crossed the highway at MM 11? When I came through there a couple of weeks ago I noted the milepost but I didn't have time to look around because I was in heavy traffic.

[tbrown]

If you wanted to get the load to Iowa on time and legal you could. But I know you know that. But then bosses are trainable, if you're persistent. Sometimes ya gotta learn em how ta treat ya. Good luck.

And the best way to do that? Sounds intriguing...downright hard to resist...probably shouldn't be a company driver without that kind of insight...

[Malaki86]

For 'training' the bosses, it's simple: put your foot down and don't let them push you around. If they want you to do something illegal, say no and the reason for saying no (on the QC, always on the QC). Same if you're too tired - say no, weather - say no. Eventually they'll learn what you will and won't do. My regular DM knows exactly what I will and won't put up with. I run hard, but I also won't put up with them trying to have me do BS either. The problem, of course, is that there's nights, weekend & weekend night DM's that are changed every shift. Those are the hard ones to train.