August 24th, 2009
Monday
I delivered that Kentucky load to a place in Milton, ON; 20 mi away from our yard. They were closed Sat and Sun and Dispatch said I'd have to go there Monday myself. Did that and they ask me - do I want to keep working? They explain they have a load for Chicago that will take me towards the Wilson plant in Moberly, MO but that load leaves only on Wednesday. The load offer they sent me is for 285 miles from Brampton, ON to North Jackson, OH (near Youngstown) and it requires tarping. So, I reply "No. I don't want to keep working. If you have anything westbound earlier than Wednesday, I'll take it. If not, I'll leave on Wednesday." And I also send them a "load declined" macro (message). And ... all hell breaks loose
I show up at our yard and the load planner is upset because he doesn't want me to sit in the yard "whole week" (monday till wednesday) when they have so much work, and that they're helping me out by giving me a trailer and that if I choose to sit they can't guarantee that Wednesday load for Chicago will be given to me. So, basically, they blackmail/bulldoze me into taking the Ohio run.
I've bobtailed to Brampton, picked up our preloaded trailer with aluminum logs, threw one steel tarp over it, and was on my way to Ohio. I'm told I already have another load coming back to Ontario and then I can take off for Chicago and Wilson plant on Wednesday, Aug-26th.
I checked my old pay slips from the flatbed time last year and a similar run (Brampton, ON to Youngstown, OH) in August 2007 paid $675 to MacKinnon and $472.50 (70%) to the truck. The distance is roughly 320 miles incl. deadhead. Fuel surcharge is extra.
Trailers Canada finally confirmed today my step is ready for pickup in MO. The salesman also said he might have another stepdeck (at Iowa plant) that he might ask me to bring to Canada. If I bring 2 trailers instead of one, they said they'd pay me something on top of the US$1,500 fee promised for one trailer. Since each trailer weighs at least 10,000 lbs, I definitely won't do it for free (distance from the MO plant to Canada is 800 miles and they I'd have to drive over to the Iowa plant).
I also talked to a local tarp shop today about load levellers and they cost around 800 bucks for a pair. Need to call them with my credit card number, so that they can order them. They should be ready to be picked up by the time I bring the step to Canada.