Week#1 Heartland (continued)
Today I started moving at 5:30 am from Black River Falls, Wi-- to the drop yard outside Chicago.
Grabbed 100 gallons of liquid gold at Pilot- Marston, wi and tried to scale the Ashley Furnature load-- it was only 19,000 pounds so usually I wouldn't waste my cash-- but since I'm the FNG here at Heartland and I know ahead of time-- I'm dropping this in Chicago- and don't know what kind of candy ass will be picking it up-- best to CYA with at least the original weights. Just in case. But, I'm also pressed for time, and wouldn't you know it-- the ink cartridge in the CAT scale printer was dry-- my ticket wasn't readable-- and no I didn't have time to rescale it--and the clerk couldn't re-print it. So I left-- without it-- not going to pay for something I can't get re-imbursed for.
Then, there I am coming into Chicago on I-90 on the toll way. Now for the first time in 7 years of trucking-- I have NO EZPASS. That's right, here at Heartland only System(OTR) & Carlisle & Chester Regionals get those--
the rest have to fork out of pocket for tolls.
Well, I forgot to ask for an Toll Advance before hand-- then "sticker" shock hit me -- first $5.00 then $8.00 then another $8.00 I saw what little cash I had left(lunch money) and made an hasty exit -- to US20--- $3.00 in change to get off! I figured it would be no big deal-- I'd just call in and get the Toll Advance to put the cash back in my wallet----WRONG. Today, I discovered-- that although the Driver handbook says you can get a advance for "operational" expenses---- the truth is different--
If you're signing on here--- bring enough cash to finance the operation for two weeks. You won't have to worry about Lumpers-- because YOU're gonna be doing the unloading if required-- or you'll be paying cash to the lumper and waiting to get re-imbursed. Heartland will probably issue a comcheck for a truck repair-- if there's no other option... or something else. But, you'll need to cover the misc like tolls & scales, etc. Good luck trying to get blood from a turnip.
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Personal advances: you're allowed 150.00 a week( with a charge of $3.00) other personal advances are charged $20.00 a pop.
A company driver may receive an advance after 7 days of running if he/she as the miles to cover the advance.
Each week the 150.00 is loaded onto the comcheck card-- if, it's not taken-- it will be rolled over to the next week-- there will Never be more than 150.00 available.( This should Make MOMMA back home real happy when she gets the paycheck.)
No advances are issued on Thursday or Friday due to payroll cutoff.
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Dropped that load at the yard. Then shagged a load to get an empty-- then loaded in Waukegan for Tx-- Friday Morning.
1694
49
965+21( pending)
2729- if we go all the way to Tx with it-- 6days 2729 with 1.25 of those 6 days setting. 2729/4.75= 574 per day average
so, figured that way 5days out for 2800 home 2 days-- looks pretty good
or 2729- 477= 2252 that's the actual (Monday-Friday morning miles)
now if I can find the (hometime) diamond to go along with that kind of pay- I may have discovered WHY drivers put up with all the B.S. around here.
All & all-- they haven't been "hassling" me yet.
At first my Fleet Manager seemed to be acting different on the phone than he did face to face-- actually the first couple calls-- he acted like a prick-- then again my #1 call from the road-- was looking for $$$ from the Heartland Cares Kiddy. But maybe now, he's had a chance to see I take my job seriously--professionally. Then again, maybe because I haven't given him a hard time- on these "test" loads--- a no schedule, a 5hours wait, a shag delivery, maybe he thanks I'm a "push over" dumb-ass that will take anything. When really, I'm just trying to be 100% corporative to give him and Heartland no excuses for WHY I didn't get the miles promised.