2008 Shaffer-Heartland CHRONICLES

[headborg]

Just had an idea for a new Shaffer mascot/ logo.

Since it's actually: Crete pulling a reefer

How about a big picture of a Crete Indian smoking a fat Joint!

[mbadriver]

hahaahahahahahahahahaha thats funny right there i don't care who you are.

Just had an idea for a new Shaffer mascot/ logo.

Since it's actually: Crete pulling a reefer

How about a big picture of a Crete Indian smoking a fat Joint!

[zipy46]

Little fellow in a dark office with a crystal ball. Figures, not much makes sense in this industry.

I was just wondering. I have seen Crete/Shaffer drivers that would not be out of place with Swift on their door.

Same goes with gross obesity and gross hygiene. Ditto for bad behavior. I guess the bar in trucking isn't set too high.

Good luck with your new position at Shaffer.

And from what I have heard from other recruiters doing what I do, it seems to be very easy to get the drivers excited about this job...but a little hard to get them on because Shaffer is pretty picky and only wants the best drivers.

What are the metrics used to determine the "Best Drivers"?

Every company states they want the best drivers. I just don't see it on the highways.

Not trying to be a wiseguy. Just wondering what objective data Shaffer/Crete (or any other company) uses to evaluate a driver. Seems to me hiring drivers is kind of like buying something on eBay. You never really know what your getting until it arrives at your doorstep

Lol....if i knew the answer to that question, I would be a millionaire. Ive been recruiting for a long time and Ive had drivers where I said "man, i cant believe they put that moron on that great job" and ive had drivers who I couldnt find a thing wrong with them, they seemed almost perfect to me, and I couldnt get them on. A lot of times we recruiters never find out why a driver was refused...something about previleged information.

I know during the last few years companies lowered their standards a bit and let a lot of people go through that probably shouldnt have. With the slowdown in the economy lately, especially in the transportation sector, companies are downsizing a bit and now are under the belief that they can be more picky. So its a little harder to get on jobs. Does this mean the "driver shortage" over? :wink:

I never new there was a 'Bar' in trucking....

other than the bottom line .... $$$$$$$$

Most companies come off sounding very important to themselves in thier advertisments and sort of legends in their own minds,but
the world I see out here on the road does not reflect any sort of standard.

....

[zipy46]

Driver Shortage ?

That deserves a thread all its own...

[headborg]

Update: Week 5 In Progress but coming to a close.

Well, were was I -- Ok, now I remember-- setting at Carrier Dealer all night

now late for the "rescheduled" appointment at Wal-Mart, Washington Court House.

ETA- 3 pm

I get rolling at 10am CST toward consignee.

send the following question/message:

Does/will Wal-Mart reschedule a rescheduled appointment? or will the make me a "work-in" this afternoon when I arrive.

Got back the usual vague response:
"have not heard back yet - keep heading that way."

That's the usual dispatcher mentality--- just get to their door step asap.

So I send this message:

pls let me know when you do hear-- I'm now starting my 3 day since a shower( since my plans were shot with this breakdown) and it's 12 miles back to T/A Jeffersonville, Oh if Wal-mart turns me away/around at gate-
that will mean 24 extra miles I'd like to avoid.

20 minutes later I get:

will not take that late today now we are working on new delivery apt


I arrive at T/A- Jeffersonville at 3:30 CST( already stopped and Showered ate lunch at Eaton)

at 3:49CST I get message that my new delivery apt is set for 03:15am EST Just enough time for a 10hr break+ 15 minutes to drive over there.
__________________________________________________ ____________

Thursday:

Make my early AM delivery-
empty by 4:24 AM-- but now I'm dead tired but my 14hr clock has started at 01:45am.
I ask for next ld offer to have a flexible P/U time and possibly a Friday afternoon/evening delivery. Because I'm uncertain of what I can commit to
delivering/picking up safely without any real rest.

So what do I get?

A Load that was scheduled to pick up last night at 21:00( but was missed)
and deliver this morning in Geneva, il at 07:00

45 deadhead miles 345 loaded miles

I roll back over and go to sleep-- that's not a flex load-- it's just one big headache waiting to happen.

At 07:15 i get a message for day dispatch asking "if I had seen the load offer"-- so I go ahead and accept the darn thing, then roll back over and go back to sleep.
There's only 2 kinds of breaks over here at Crete/Shaffer that work on the llog book--- an 8 hr break to Stop the 14hr clock. And a 10hr break--- any other and you're burning $$$$$$.

So, I arrive at the Shipper at the crack of 14:15 CST all ready to be bitched out for being late or worse/better the load has been canceled/ given to another Trucking firm.
No, they are happy to see me----- but, THEY'VE been running behind and cancelling some loads--- and they've pushed this p/u back to 16:00 Friday.
They have 6 other Shaffer loads scheduled to go out tomorrow too-- and some of them might get "pushed back too"----
The economy is in a recession-- freight is getting tighter and tighter.
Waiting now to see what Shaffer is gonna do? Set me here for 25hours or cut me loose to pick up something else.

Total miles for week so far: 2267

Update; voided off that load-- now setting at Columbus Yard waiting to relay a hot load to Front Royal, Va for a driver without enough hours to make it. He's not due in until 21:00 and the load delivers By 14:00
So I have to start yet another break to keep the 14hr legal clock.

Now, today is shot- and tomorrow will finish these week's work.

With 20 DH+ 393 Ld

Will finish out this week#5 with a whopper of 2680 Total miles---(unless they throw something else short at me tomorrow or another "monkey wrench"

[txdrvr]

Oh yeah. You are gonna love Crete and the many different regional dispatchers just fine. All that stuff is normal. Anytime you ask for anything and I guarantee you will get the opposite.

Don't worry about pissing them all off and how long it takes. I found it is a snap. Enjoy it and good luck.

[zipy46]

Update: Week 5 In Progress but coming to a close.

Well, were was I -- Ok, now I remember-- setting at Carrier Dealer all night

now late for the "rescheduled" appointment at Wal-Mart, Washington Court House.

ETA- 3 pm

I get rolling at 10am CST toward consignee.

send the following question/message:

Does/will Wal-Mart reschedule a rescheduled appointment? or will the make me a "work-in" this afternoon when I arrive.

Got back the usual vague response:
"have not heard back yet - keep heading that way."

That's the usual dispatcher mentality--- just get to their door step asap.

So I send this message:

pls let me know when you do hear-- I'm now starting my 3 day since a shower( since my plans were shot with this breakdown) and it's 12 miles back to T/A Jeffersonville, Oh if Wal-mart turns me away/around at gate-
that will mean 24 extra miles I'd like to avoid.

20 minutes later I get:

will not take that late today now we are working on new delivery apt


I arrive at T/A- Jeffersonville at 3:30 CST( already stopped and Showered ate lunch at Eaton)

at 3:49CST I get message that my new delivery apt is set for 03:15am EST Just enough time for a 10hr break+ 15 minutes to drive over there.
__________________________________________________ ____________

Thursday:

Make my early AM delivery-
empty by 4:24 AM-- but now I'm dead tired but my 14hr clock has started at 01:45am.
I ask for next ld offer to have a flexible P/U time and possibly a Friday afternoon/evening delivery. Because I'm uncertain of what I can commit to
delivering/picking up safely without any real rest.

So what do I get?

A Load that was scheduled to pick up last night at 21:00( but was missed)
and deliver this morning in Geneva, il at 07:00

45 deadhead miles 345 loaded miles

I roll back over and go to sleep-- that's not a flex load-- it's just one big headache waiting to happen.

At 07:15 i get a message for day dispatch asking "if I had seen the load offer"-- so I go ahead and accept the darn thing, then roll back over and go back to sleep.
There's only 2 kinds of breaks over here at Crete/Shaffer that work on the llog book--- an 8 hr break to Stop the 14hr clock. And a 10hr break--- any other and you're burning $$$$$$.

So, I arrive at the Shipper at the crack of 14:15 CST all ready to be bitched out for being late or worse/better the load has been canceled/ given to another Trucking firm.
No, they are happy to see me----- but, THEY'VE been running behind and cancelling some loads--- and they've pushed this p/u back to 16:00 Friday.
They have 6 other Shaffer loads scheduled to go out tomorrow too-- and some of them might get "pushed back too"----
The economy is in a recession-- freight is getting tighter and tighter.
Waiting now to see what Shaffer is gonna do? Set me here for 25hours or cut me loose to pick up something else.

Total miles for week so far: 2267

Update; voided off that load-- now setting at Columbus Yard waiting to relay a hot load to Front Royal, Va for a driver without enough hours to make it. He's not due in until 21:00 and the load delivers By 14:00
So I have to start yet another break to keep the 14hr legal clock.

Now, today is shot- and tomorrow will finish these week's work.

With 20 DH+ 393 Ld

Will finish out this week#5 with a whopper of 2680 Total miles---(unless they throw something else short at me tomorrow or another "monkey wrench"

I been following you thread on Schaffer ...

2680 would be exellent ...but those early stops and sleeping at odd hours would do me in quickly.

Where I am now I do good to bust 1600 to 2000 per 7 days..sometimes less

[headborg]

@ Zipy

Yeah, I don't usually make a habit of accepting loads with those kinds of del appointments-- except when they are (1) the only offer, and (2) at the end of
2705 loaded miles from Washington state.

That's one of the good/great things about crete/shaffer-- they OFFER you loads-and you can choose or turn em down-- you're in a little more control of your Fate/ destiny over here.

I see you're also looking at KLLM, yeah I too am looking into them as my #2
backup but so far:
KLLM is only offering me .43 cpm, and their drivers are telling me that the miles are very flux over there-- worse is KLLM's refrigerated Customer Base is crappy.
So far in 3 years over here at Shaffer- I haven't once had to wash out Chicken Guts or Frozen Fish heads out of a trailer( unlike the crap- I'd find at KLLM ) Driver Friendly Frozen Freight is pretty important to me.

Getting home is important too- and I never see KLLM 's around my neck of the woods when I go home-- that tells me Getting Home with them might be a struggle as well.

[Karnajj]

Howdy Headborg. Y'all still get a performance bonus over at Shaffer. They stopped it awhile back at Crete when the raises happened a couple of years ago. When they did have it they did the usual also and found something to disqualify you for it so I just never tried for it after the first year or two.

Never got disqualified one time while they were still paying bonuses. Pretty simple rules to follow. Kinda hard to screw it up.

[headborg]

Oh yeah. You are gonna love Crete and the many different regional dispatchers just fine. All that stuff is normal. Anytime you ask for anything and I guarantee you will get the opposite.

Don't worry about pissing them all off and how long it takes. I found it is a snap. Enjoy it and good luck.

LoL--- well we could try "reverse psychology" on them--- then again I'd hate to cry---Give me New York City loads--downtown Manhatten, Brooklyn, Queens! I love New York! It'd be the one exception.....

[headborg]

Howdy Headborg. Y'all still get a performance bonus over at Shaffer. They stopped it awhile back at Crete when the raises happened a couple of years ago. When they did have it they did the usual also and found something to disqualify you for it so I just never tried for it after the first year or two.

Never got disqualified one time while they were still paying bonuses. Pretty simple rules to follow. Kinda hard to screw it up.

It was pretty easy for me--- 18 safety points for splitting my sleep berth time into a legal 2hr+ 8 hr breaks and making my delivery ON TIME.

I released the breaks right at 8hrs in Beckley, WV drove 4 hours that morning all the way to consignee(Rutherglen)-- arrived JIT for my appointment then went around the corner to Pilot-- and THEN and ONLY THEN ( after I delivered their load for them) was I Shut down by safety--- they had been monitoring me for 4 hours but never said a word/sent any kind of message UNTIL after I got the job done.

Then another 10 safety Points for--- going on home time for 9 days straight(vacation) without transflowing the last 3 days prior-- that put me ON the 13th day -- the day I was scheduled to come back out---- before I could even release the brakes in my driveway-- they were sending messages to "shut the truck down now" and Walk- the Logs to the nearest Fax machine before moving the truck.

I asked them-- what if I was at a rest area somewhere? they actually told me I'd have to call a Taxi and pay for a ride to the nearest FAX machine so they could have their Logs.

I took an extra day off- since i was still in my driveway--- and threatened to MAIL them the Logs US MAIL.

[Karnajj]

Wow. I was out for 14 days back in June and they didn't do that to me. Maybe I got lucky. So what was the breakdown on the 18 pts? Was it all from doing the split sleeper deal?

[Bumper]

gonna take a lot of trailer inspections to get those numbers back down....

[txdrvr]

Howdy Headborg. Y'all still get a performance bonus over at Shaffer. They stopped it awhile back at Crete when the raises happened a couple of years ago. When they did have it they did the usual also and found something to disqualify you for it so I just never tried for it after the first year or two.

Never got disqualified one time while they were still paying bonuses. Pretty simple rules to follow. Kinda hard to screw it up.

Yeah like anything you say is believeable.

[txdrvr]

Oh yeah. You are gonna love Crete and the many different regional dispatchers just fine. All that stuff is normal. Anytime you ask for anything and I guarantee you will get the opposite.

Don't worry about pissing them all off and how long it takes. I found it is a snap. Enjoy it and good luck.

LoL--- well we could try "reverse psychology" on them--- then again I'd hate to cry---Give me New York City loads--downtown Manhatten, Brooklyn, Queens! I love New York! It'd be the one exception.....

Nah. Just get used to it after having a regular dispatch over at Shaffer. We are talking real morons st dispatch. I will put them up against any in the industry for idiocy.

[headborg]

Week#6

Feb. 8th- 15th ( Due home Feb.14th 0800 )

This week is starting out to be a week of "Firsts".

First- I finish up that short relay from Columbus yard to Sysco; Front Royal, Va

My day started today at 03:00 CST- I already had my empty disconnected and ready to pull away. So my combined hooking the loaded trailer, fueling, sending loaded call, safety "visual inspection" --- was all completed in exactly
15minutes-( probably get a safety point for that---but W.T.F.).

Arrived at Sysco for the first time-- that's right first time in 3 years- at 12:19EST and am pleased to find it's always a "drop/hook" for Shaffer here--
I ask-" are you sure, the Computer says Live Unload per XXXXX"

Yep, they always drop/hook Shaffer here---- and to think all those loads I've been dropping in Indy or Columbus basically for fear of a long live unload-- and those miles I've given up. (Because Sysco/Sigma always notoriously Take their Time in the past elsewhere)

12:49EST I fire off-- "it's friday--what next" right after empty call
12:53 I get the following Load offer:

(1) Rocky Mountain, Va
p/u 0208 0700-1500
Fremont, Mi
del 0211 0800
stops=1 miles=983
(2) Rocky Mountain, Va
p/u 0208 0700-1800
Harrisonville, Mo
del 0211 1000
stops=1 miles=974

It's 191 paid deadhead miles from Front Royal to Rocky Mountain, Va
it's also 1pm, and my 14hr clock has been running since 3pm(cst)

I choose #2- I might be able to make that p/u time, because I sure as hell
can't make my truck fly 191miles in 2hrs. and second- I like that 10am delivery much more than a 8am eastern(7am)--- and Michigan is still in this guys Zone/Region ( Ohio Valley) which also includes Va --- and so far,
this guy #1 didn't want to let me drop a load last month in Indy( actually was going to make me set on it all weekend( it delivered in Waukegen, Il on Monday Morning(0200)-- and I just lost all of yesterday IN this guys Zone.....time to relocate to greener pastures.


Now, maybe this was the wrong call----won't know until Monday-
Honestly, I haven't been taking loads into and thus out-of Michigan....Maybe they got some GOOD LOADS OUT BOUND FROM THERE????? Any other Shaffer Drivers read this----pls let me know??
anything good out of Michigan????

I arrive at 16:15 CST and am pleased to find--- it's a dry load.
I ask if it is a Crete account or Shaffer and find it's been a Shaffer Account
last 6-8 months with several loads going out each week. No more Intel can be gained/ they can't tell me "where all" they ship to(that we pickup regularly)....but I do learn that the other load (Michigan) hadn't been picked up....yet.

Loaded by 17:20 (now 20 minutes over 14hr clock)

I send following message: No overnite parking avail here at customer-- moving truck to T/S 3.1 miles away( in town)

And here I set--- Good nite all

[txdrvr]

Week#6

Feb. 8th- 15th ( Due home Feb.14th 0800 )

This week is starting out to be a week of "Firsts".

First- I finish up that short relay from Columbus yard to Sysco; Front Royal, Va

My day started today at 03:00 CST- I already had my empty disconnected and ready to pull away. So my combined hooking the loaded trailer, fueling, sending loaded call, safety "visual inspection" --- was all completed in exactly
15minutes-( probably get a safety point for that---but W.T.F.).

Arrived at Sysco for the first time-- that's right first time in 3 years- at 12:19EST and am pleased to find it's always a "drop/hook" for Shaffer here--
I ask-" are you sure, the Computer says Live Unload per XXXXX"

Yep, they always drop/hook Shaffer here---- and to think all those loads I've been dropping in Indy or Columbus basically for fear of a long live unload-- and those miles I've given up. (Because Sysco/Sigma always notoriously Take their Time in the past elsewhere)

12:49EST I fire off-- "it's friday--what next" right after empty call
12:53 I get the following Load offer:

(1) Rocky Mountain, Va
p/u 0208 0700-1500
Fremont, Mi
del 0211 0800
stops=1 miles=983
(2) Rocky Mountain, Va
p/u 0208 0700-1800
Harrisonville, Mo
del 0211 1000
stops=1 miles=974

It's 191 paid deadhead miles from Front Royal to Rocky Mountain, Va
it's also 1pm, and my 14hr clock has been running since 3pm(cst)

I choose #2- I might be able to make that p/u time, because I sure as hell
can't make my truck fly 191miles in 2hrs. and second- I like that 10am delivery much more than a 8am eastern(7am)--- and Michigan is still in this guys Zone/Region ( Ohio Valley) which also includes Va --- and so far,
this guy #1 didn't want to let me drop a load last month in Indy( actually was going to make me set on it all weekend( it delivered in Waukegen, Il on Monday Morning(0200)-- and I just lost all of yesterday IN this guys Zone.....time to relocate to greener pastures.


Now, maybe this was the wrong call----won't know until Monday-
Honestly, I haven't been taking loads into and thus out-of Michigan....Maybe they got some GOOD LOADS OUT BOUND FROM THERE????? Any other Shaffer Drivers read this----pls let me know??
anything good out of Michigan????

I arrive at 16:15 CST and am pleased to find--- it's a dry load.
I ask if it is a Crete account or Shaffer and find it's been a Shaffer Account
last 6-8 months with several loads going out each week. No more Intel can be gained/ they can't tell me "where all" they ship to(that we pickup regularly)....but I do learn that the other load (Michigan) hadn't been picked up....yet.

Loaded by 17:20 (now 20 minutes over 14hr clock)

I send following message: No overnite parking avail here at customer-- moving truck to T/S 3.1 miles away( in town)

And here I set--- Good nite all

Night Headborg. I just delivered a load from Romeoville, Il drop yard to Dunkirk, Ny and now laoding near Rochester and going to Los Lunas, Nm for Wednesday delivery. Gives me a ool huh?

[Karnajj]

Howdy Headborg. Y'all still get a performance bonus over at Shaffer. They stopped it awhile back at Crete when the raises happened a couple of years ago. When they did have it they did the usual also and found something to disqualify you for it so I just never tried for it after the first year or two.

Never got disqualified one time while they were still paying bonuses. Pretty simple rules to follow. Kinda hard to screw it up.

Yeah like anything you say is believeable.

Just admit it. You're a loser. I've told a number of Crete drivers of your supposed 4 days without a load story and there has been one common theme to their responses. Bull****.

[headborg]

Wow. I was out for 14 days back in June and they didn't do that to me. Maybe I got lucky. So what was the breakdown on the 18 pts? Was it all from doing the split sleeper deal?

No they wanted me to sign a write up-- stating I had violated Federal Hours of Service Rules-- and I refused( after I faxed a copy of the unsigned write up home) and crossed out that part-- and explained that I had ONLY violated
company Policy--- which amounted to Treason--- it meant I KNOWNLY violated the policy instead of "playing dumb" and pretending I hadn't got the memo on not splitting the sleeper. (even after watching their Video 3 times)

I did sign the amended write up--- I just wasn't going to sign a write up stating I had violated any federal regs.

[txdrvr]

Howdy Headborg. Y'all still get a performance bonus over at Shaffer. They stopped it awhile back at Crete when the raises happened a couple of years ago. When they did have it they did the usual also and found something to disqualify you for it so I just never tried for it after the first year or two.

Never got disqualified one time while they were still paying bonuses. Pretty simple rules to follow. Kinda hard to screw it up.

Yeah like anything you say is believeable.

Just admit it. You're a loser. I've told a number of Crete drivers of your supposed 4 days without a load story and there has been one common theme to their responses. Bull****.

So I take it that you didn't go and ask my manager herself in Ottawa as I asked? Wonder why? Oh yeah you are a liar and trying to bamboozle the newbies here in recruiting bonus money.