Stuck in Utah... what the heck?

[tbrown]

My SO touched down in Vernal UT on Monday... early for a load that was to be delivered on Tues. Here's the problem:

He delivered on Monday (the cust was delighted to have the load early) and has been stuck ever since! His company put him up at a motel both Monday & Tuesday as there is little to accomodate a truck but he's not making any money like this! Is it normal for some companies to route you to a place with little freight going out nearby? How to avoid such circumstances in the future? :?

[coastie]

Not normal to have a truck sit like that. Looks as someone not doing their job at the company to me.

[Orangetxguy]

What company is "SO" driving for? They may well have him sitting in Vernal for a reason.

[Windwalker]

I've worked for companies that would deadhead a driver nearly 1,000 miles if there were no loads to be had in the area I was in. DH from Eureka, CA to San Diego once, and from Portland, OR to L.A. too, once. Don't know what he's pulling (flat, box, reefer) but there should be something that they can get him to to get him moving again.

[evertruckerr]

How to avoid such circumstances in the future? Confused

Drive for a different company!

[Uturn2001]

Of course it would not surprise me at all if the company has a very high paying load sitting 10 miles down the road that does not pick up for a few days yet and is sitting on that info.

[Fourcats]

Check when/if "layover" pay starts :?: . It might be cheaper to pay that than D/H a great distance. Keep on the dispatcher to get things moving.

[tbrown]

Thanks to all for your responses... he is driving fb - for Arrow (I know, I know ) - and has not been stuck like this since he started out. They do seem to pile up more drivers than loads in areas like TX and CA. They finally deadheaded him to Pueblo, CO - appx 470 miles - so he can quit stressing!

That being said, he is still a relatively new driver (around 6 1/2 months experience) and this is his second company. He knows it would hurt to hop companies again so is resolved to stick this out. It has, however, broken his fantasy regarding flatbeds! :shock:

And yes evertruckerr I do hear you... I'll send a pm later!

Any other valid suggestions for skirting situations like this in the future would be appreciated!

[Orangetxguy]

It's possible they held him at Vernal while they tried shaking a load of steel out of either Geneva Steel in Orem or Nucor Steel up in Brigham City, shorter DH than to Pueblo, and the steel mill there.

[scythe08]

Vernal isn't the only place arrow has trucks sitting. When I stopped at the petro in SLC today there were 3 arrow trucks already there and 2 more were just pulling in and one guy had been sitting since monday. Poor guys. I felt bad for them, the most I've ever sat was 2 days at a food warehouse in springfield, MS when the damn place went on strike. Ungrateful bums couldn't wait until they loaded me. Rotten Buggers! :P

[One]

Good to hear from you guys again! I dont know if theres a way for him to avoid being 'forgotten' in the Serangheti unless he can pick and choose loads. If he gets in good with his dispatcher he might get to run back and forth along a major freight lane and stay away from low volume spots.

One