Truck Driving Jobs

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

The thing that stood out about this last week is just how fine the line can be between an easy day and a royal pain in the ass. I picked up a Conway relay in Wisconsin and hauled it non-stop through Chicago rush hour and on to Toledo, where I passed it off. I was due in Toledo at 1pm and got there at 12:15. The recipient of the relay got there at 1:50. 50 minutes might sound like a small thing, but like I said it's a fne line that we cross. Now, since I got rid of my relay late, I get to my next shipper late. I was within my window, but I was scheduled in at 3:00 and arrived at 3:30. So now there are 5 trucks ahead of me. So I park it. And wait.

On the better side though, I made a call to my dispatcher to let him know that my second pickup at 8pm wasn't going to happen until later. I had been sitting at the shipper for a half hour and there was no sign that things were speeding up. Five minutes after I talked to my dispatcher, the shipper came out and asked me to go to the dock before any other trucks. I was loaded and rolling within five minutes. Nice! Then I got to go through the Columbus area during the evening rush. It was no Chicago, but it was slow and tedious just the same. I got to the second shipper at 10:15pm rather than 8:00pm, but they were excited because they got to leave at 11pm instead of midnight, since I was their last job of the day. If I had waited at the previous shipper for my turn to come up, I would have been a very unpopular man with these guys. I was dead exhausted by that time and they invited me to back next to their building and sleep as long as I wanted to. The place was out in the back woods off some quiet little road and the weather was cool enough to keep the truck turned off, so I slept like a baby that night.

Then up in the morning for more hard running. I won't quite get to 3,000 miles this week, but that's mainly because my hours on my 70 were burned pretty good by the 3,400 last week. I just started to get some hours back the last few days. I have a doctor's appointment on Friday at 8am, so the local dispatcher here in Taylor is going to run me in and out of Canada for the next few days, keeping me close to home. I won't get a ton of miles that way but it's better than either taking four days off when I only need one or getting sent across the country and having to reschedule my appointment for the third time. In addition, I'll save a few other drivers from having to go to Canada. Apparently these guys don't like driving over there. It doesn't bother me.

I spent three and a half weeks with my trainer and now I've been on my own for two. During that time, plenty has been frustrating, but most of it had nothing to do with my new employer. I'm not the complaining type, but I think I have to make this observation. There are probably some dispatchers or other office types who read this board and maybe it will make sense to them. We, as drivers, are aware that we need to arrive at a relay location, have full fuel tanks, full 10 hour breaks, and a fresh clock so we are ready to run. On the other end, everyone needs to know that it is simply rude to dispatch a driver to stage for a relay at a truck stop at 11pm. I dropped a trailer at 4:30pm, got a bite, took a shower, and sat on my ass for six hours before this happened to me. Then, at 11pm I had to make the 90 minute drive to the relay location. Guess how much parking there was at 12:30am. Nada! There were trucks parked every which way, every spot was taken, every non-spot was taken. I had to drive down the street and find somewhere else, then get up at the crack of dawn because the relay was scheduled to go at 6:30am. For you logbook aficionados out there, what's wrong with this picture? I communicated this to my company and was assured that this was a rare thing and they apologized. If any of you reading this are dispatchers, please get your drivers where they need to be as soon as humanly possible. That way they can get a quality break, not sitting and wondering when their OBCS is going to beep at them. They can start the day with a fresh logbook, not wondering how to "creatively" make the hours fit. This was honestly the first time I've run into any kind of dispatching issues with CFI, but it definitely sucked (especially when I got up at 5:45am and the relay didn't arrive until 9:00am). I suppose that once in a month and a half is not a real high ratio for this industry.

Okay, that feels better. :D Now, my next load won't be here until 10:00pm tonight so it looks like I just backed into a day off. Take care until next time.

The Opinionator · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Tulsa, OK

There is a suggestion box over by the local dispatch window in Joplin. You could, and should, drop a note in it about the scheduling of relays. I was under the impression that CFI was putting most, if not all, of the Conway and such loads on teams. I am sure that they listen to the suggestions because they do seem to change things around quite often looking for a better way. Be patient they will get to it. Talk to the other drivers and get them to add suggestions also. There is power in numbers.

As far as Canada is concerned, my first time up there was a snap and I wondered what all of the complaining was about. My second trip back into the USA was insane, yet better than what others were going through. If you have a barcode it is much easier; if you don't it can take hours. Now CFI pays you to come across so it makes it a little better.

Things are never perfect yet they are always evolving.

Keep up your posts, they are a lot of fun to read.

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

The Opinionator wrote: There is a suggestion box over by the local dispatch window in Joplin. You could, and should, drop a note in it about the scheduling of relays. I was under the impression that CFI was putting most, if not all, of the Conway and such loads on teams. I am sure that they listen to the suggestions because they do seem to change things around quite often looking for a better way. Be patient they will get to it. Talk to the other drivers and get them to add suggestions also. There is power in numbers.

I did pass it off to a team, so maybe they are moving in that direction. I don't have a problem with the relays per se. I kind of like the fact that you have to go straight through and only stop when absolutely necessary. It's sort of a built-in discipline thing that keeps your time from getting away from you. My only issue so far has been that I've had two hot relays and both times the other truck was late. Then, of course, the staging at 12:30am. It just seemed to me that somebody somewhere had to know they needed a truck down there before 11pm that night. If I had received the dispatch at 5pm, for example, I would have just gone right to the location and had my shower and dinner there. Then I would have had the full break, a parking space, and an extra half hour or so of sleep in the morning, all to go along nicely with my fresh logbook for the next day.

I will try to remember to put a note in the suggestion box the next time I'm down there. I heard on Herb's message about the voicemail suggestion thing too. Maybe I'll call that. I'm not looking to be a whiner though, and that's what I'm starting to sound like. But anyway, I'll keep the suggestion box in mind.

The Opinionator wrote: As far as Canada is concerned, my first time up there was a snap and I wondered what all of the complaining was about. My second trip back into the USA was insane, yet better than what others were going through. If you have a barcode it is much easier; if you don't it can take hours. Now CFI pays you to come across so it makes it a little better.

Things are never perfect yet they are always evolving.

Keep up your posts, they are a lot of fun to read.

Yeah, I have seen the days when the trucks are backed up for miles over there. I 've always had my paperwork in order so far and have run into no issues at all. The four wheelers around Toronto could use some driving tips, but it's all good. You just have to be on your toes. I guess the first time I'm stuck going from Customs to the broker and back to Customs and so forth, I might change my tune about Canada runs. Of course I have the built-in advantage of usually sleeping at home any time I get one since they all go through Taylor. I have to deliver at 10am tomorrow so I get to do some running around today before I leave overnight.

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

Well, the much-anticipated doctor's appointment has come and gone. My ankle hasn't improved but hasn't gotten any worse, so what can you do? The doc still says it needs a month in a cast and I still say that's not an option. He says I might have long-term pain as a result and I say my legs have hurt since I was a kid. And life goes on...

The dispatchers did a pretty good job of keeping me around Michigan last week so I wouldn't have to re-schedule again. The only negative was that I had to deadhead back from New Paris, OH (about 220 miles). Since I chose not to use the usual home time request and instead tried to keep running right up to the appointment, this was an unpaid deadhead. The four hour drive was no big deal but my fuel mileage will take a little hit. If I had highlighted myself in the system for home time and had to deadhead, I would have been paid my full mileage rate, but I probably would have missed out on my last couple of runs so it was a fair enough trade-off.

The dispatcher in Taylor said he's planning me on a load to Laredo to help get my miles back up since I've had so many short runs over the past week. They seem to be pretty helpful so far in terms of accomodating the drivers as well as possible. There were a ton of trucks at the terminal when I got there this morning, so I'm glad I got on the board after my appointment Friday. When my turn came up I got to pick my load, so I chose one going to Indiana with the next one from Indiana to Laredo. That meant that I got to stay home another day, while not using any home time. It was nice to get out on a date for the first time in quite a while. You start to forget what that's like when you're on the road so much.

I've noticed a few people from US Truck Driving School in Detroit popping up in the CFI discussion, which is interesting. While I was there, you only heard about the companies that had sweetheart recruiting deals with the school. I only came across CFI after doing a lot of reading and calling around. Maybe that's changing or maybe more people are just doing their homework. I don't think CFI is for everyone, but I appreciate the way things have been handled so far. If we, as drivers, treat people with respect and honesty we get treated the same in return. There have also been a couple of instances where shippers have seemed to give me a little bit of preference at the loading dock, even when I was way early for my appointment. I don't know if those times were simply matters of particular freight needing to be moved first or if they were indicative of a better relationship between the shippers and CFI. I just know it was nice not to sit and wait for hours when I get paid by the mile. I like to go!

Speaking of which, it looks like they have a dock ready for me here at Absopure. This will probably be a nice and heavy one. Big fun!

johnday · Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Monroe, Michigan

Vito; I'm one of those guys from US truck driving. At first, I was going with Stevens, but the more I learned about CFI and Stevens, the more I liked what I saw and heard, first hand, about CFI. I've got to call Stevens and let them know I'm cancelling for 9/3, as soon as I get my confirmation from Marsha.
There were a number of guys that fell for TMC, Swift, Stevens, and even CR England. But one other guy and myself went to CFI. He's from Ann Arbor, don't hold it against him though, he's a good guy, and we hope to go to Joplin together. :D :D

ben45750 · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 1759

fkbmlb wrote: Its going good except for the damn conway relays.

Whats so bad with the Conway relays? We allways have a couple CFI trucks and some others there to pick up our long box's. Is it a pain in the ass becasue you have to wait for them to be loaded? Some of the drivers come in after the FAC is done to pick up thier loads.

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

johnday wrote: Vito; I'm one of those guys from US truck driving. At first, I was going with Stevens, but the more I learned about CFI and Stevens, the more I liked what I saw and heard, first hand, about CFI. I've got to call Stevens and let them know I'm cancelling for 9/3, as soon as I get my confirmation from Marsha.
There were a number of guys that fell for TMC, Swift, Stevens, and even CR England. But one other guy and myself went to CFI. He's from Ann Arbor, don't hold it against him though, he's a good guy, and we hope to go to Joplin together. :D :D

That Stevens guy is a slick salesman. I'll give him that much. I'm sure they're a fine company for a lot of people. I just couldn't put a company on my short list when a recruiter is telling driving school students that they'll make $1100+ weekly and be home 6-7 days a month. All that BS about showing your truck for bonus money and lumping loads for bonus money and averaging 3,500 miles a week was just too much to stomach. One of the instructors there in Detroit worked for TMC and he seemed to think they were OK. Swift and England might be fine too. All I know is that they both leave a lot of pissed off former drivers in their wake.

After I got off my finisher's truck, he picked up another guy from US Truck Driving. You guys would make at least four in the last month or so. I guess CFI is getting noticed somehow up there. My office was in Ann Arbor before I decided to go the driving route, so I have plenty of friends out that way. They're friends 51 weeks out of the year anyway. This year I won't be able to partake in the festivities though. I've already made arrangements to see the boys from South Bend take on Penn State. I'll have to go back out for at least another ten days after that so I'll be catching the Michigan game on the boob tube.

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

ben45750 wrote: fkbmlb wrote: Its going good except for the damn conway relays.

Whats so bad with the Conway relays? We allways have a couple CFI trucks and some others there to pick up our long box's. Is it a pain in the ass becasue you have to wait for them to be loaded? Some of the drivers come in after the FAC is done to pick up thier loads.

I've only had one Conway relay, so I can't speak for fkbmlb here, but I can see where the point of view comes from. I didn't have any major issues, but it wasn't fun by any means. I got to Conway and went to sleep so I could start with a fresh clock (I can see how spending the night in their parking lot could be less than ideal). I had a pickup time of 0600, but the yard dog woke me up at 0430 to tell me my load was ready (I can see how being woke up from a dead slumber by someone banging on the side of your sleeper could be less than ideal). I had to slide my tandems after I scaled (I can see how making a 1/2 mile drive around the facility to get back to the scale could be less than ideal). I got to run through Chicago rush hour traffic (I can see how not having the flexibility to plan your trip around rush hour could be less than ideal). The driver who was supposed to be waiting for the relay and, by extension, provide me with an empty trailer was nowhere to be found (I can see how watching your 14 hour clock tick away while you sit at a truck stop could be less than ideal). By the time he showed up and I got a load assigned my ETA's were impossible for the rest of the day.

So, in a nutshell, the Conway relays seem inconvenient if nothing else. You're given just enough time to get from A to B without passing 'Go' and collecting $200. Since I was on the road earlier than scheduled, the Chicago rush hour wasn't enough to make me late. That being said, there was no thought of stopping for lunch or taking a break. I had lunch meat and sodas in my cooler so I didn't have to stop to eat. I did take one quick restroom break. Otherwise it was straight through, non-stop, 400 miles of driving. I beat my ETA by twenty five minutes. Any more traffic or other issues and I would have been right up against it. These relays seem like a good way to force yourself to be disciplined and rack up some miles while still leaving yourself some hours for the day, but they aren't something I would want to deal with on a regular basis.

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

Well it's been a little while since the last post and things are going along pretty well. I just had a little time to reflect on why I like what I'm doing more than my prior careers. Everybody can read post after post about how OTR is a snowjob and Company X sucks worse than Company Y and whoever doesn't work for Company Z is a sucker, but there are really some great things about this job.

The trip I just wrapped up serves as a great example for me. I will be thirty years old in a couple of weeks, and this week I saw the following up close for the first time.

Denver, CO
Rocky Mountains
Glenwood Canyon
A polite police officer who kindly asked me to relocate from a 'no parking' zone (Won't see that in Motown)
San Rafael Valley
Fishlake National Forest
Las Vegas
Plus countless beautiful canyons and mountain passes of which I don't know the names

I also got stuck in my first LA traffic jam this morning when there were two accidents on I-10. That's not exactly a highlight, but it was an experience nonetheless.

I know people get to see this stuff on vacation when they want to, but I probably would not have been out this way any time soon, and certainly wouldn't have gotten paid for it, had I not taken this job. I would have spent the last few days explaining to people that investing $100 a month would not be sufficient to fund college for their kids, three annual vacations, and a lavish retirement. I would have fielded phone calls from clients who heard from a friend of a friend that they should buy shares of XYZ Corporation before the next 'Big Announcement.' I would have had to explain to potential clients that the fee I charged for my services was well worth the results that I produced. I would have gone home at the end of the day thinking the world has lost its collective mind. Now I'll just think the world can't drive, but I already knew that anyway.

Even with all the drawbacks that people are eager to discuss, the fact that I talk to people only if and when I choose to, the fact that I wake up in a new place every day, the fact that I drive a new truck and earn a decent living doing it, and the fact that I am in control of my time and how I use it are all very big positives for me. I spent too many years babysitting employees and clients. The solitude does me some good.

Now we'll get to work on that California 'no idling' thing. :roll:

Skullitor · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 928 Location: Your Sisters Room

8) Keep up the great posts,Vito 8)

yoopr · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 12865

next time you're in LA think of using Highway 60( instead of I-10 for a Alternative Route unless you Have to be on 10.

OverTheRoad · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

And if you need to get on the 15 south from the 10 do not use the 91 interchange. Take the 60 (Beaumont) to the 215 and take a small little highway called Cajalco Hwy/Rd east to the 15. Very smooth sailing compared to the 91.
Did I mention I love California traffic? :roll:

VitoCorleone99 · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Detroit

I came out on 60 and headed east to 10 this afternoon. 60 is a pretty nice ride, even though I was only on it for twenty miles or so. The traffic, well, these people are just savages. I wish I could come up with a better description, but that's about it. They'll go ninety miles an hour for 100 feet and then slam on the brakes just to get one spot ahead of the guy that they cut off. Unfortunately I just learned the 91 lesson the hard way, but at least it's California and my truck gives me a nice look at some of the local... scenery during traffic jams. It was a nice warm day with lots of convertibles.

The run through the traffic wasn't so bad. I jogged over on 405 to 710 up to 91, then across to 215 and down to 60. I imagine that route was probably a sure-fire way to hit a traffic jam, but it was pretty direct and I haven't learned the local freeways yet so I kept it simple. I've had to cross Manhattan in the afternoon in my own car and I would take today's ride over that any time. Just gave 'em plenty of space and took it easy. I'll keep the suggestions under my hat for next time. Thanks.

OverTheRoad · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:04 am Post subject:

VitoCorleone99 wrote: I came out on 60 and headed east to 10 this afternoon. 60 is a pretty nice ride, even though I was only on it for twenty miles or so. The traffic, well, these people are just savages. I wish I could come up with a better description, but that's about it. They'll go ninety miles an hour for 100 feet and then slam on the brakes just to get one spot ahead of the guy that they cut off. Unfortunately I just learned the 91 lesson the hard way, but at least it's California and my truck gives me a nice look at some of the local... scenery during traffic jams. It was a nice warm day with lots of convertibles.

The run through the traffic wasn't so bad. I jogged over on 405 to 710 up to 91, then across to 215 and down to 60. I imagine that route was probably a sure-fire way to hit a traffic jam, but it was pretty direct and I haven't learned the local freeways yet so I kept it simple. I've had to cross Manhattan in the afternoon in my own car and I would take today's ride over that any time. Just gave 'em plenty of space and took it easy. I'll keep the suggestions under my hat for next time. Thanks.

Yup, you pretty much covered most of the southern CA traffic hot spots. Good job. :):)
The 60 is fun though.... did you enjoy the nice two lane curvy road through the foothills? :) That little divider wall gets a bit close sometimes. :D 8)

whorutommy · Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 75

Hello, take that flag and put it down, your in America, where soliders die with red white and blue! Go back 2 your 3rd world!

Watch the Lip on here-Warning

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