Dang nab it! Today was one of those days where I had no clue where I was going or what I was doing! I picked up an empty trailer after my drop yesterday that was to be loaded first thing in the morning. Guess what......oh come on now and guess! That is right, BAD TIRES! Off to that wonderful TA that was so kind to fill my cooler with steak and fixings, which they did again and got me out of the shop on the strike of my 14! I was up and on the road at 6 AM!
We were just 5 blocks from our pick up when I was notified that my 7 AM (it was 8:30 now) was cancelled but I had another load waiting from the same location. I parked the truck in the turning lane of this little town so I could call the client to only find out...........there was already two trucks there! Within minutes of the phone call, another message came through telling me that that order was cancelled and I was to head to east an additional 88 miles to pick up a live load that was suppose to be done at 7 AM! Dang nab it!
I was excited to see that it was heading to Texas but I got message stating it was going to Memphis and then a few minutes later, it was going to Nashville! I was so flustered that I did not finish reading the rest of the trip info as I had to circle my way out of town to my new destination.
I picked up the load in Portland, IN......and was loaded at 12:30! Gads again! Off I run, no breakfast break, a nice lunch break while waiting on this load (got my bangs cut too), and we are running south as this load is due at 4 AM tomorrow....ain't gonna happen.
I was about 4 hours from Nashville when I received a message stating my due time was......right now! I am like.......TRIPLE GADS! I called my dispatcher to find out all is good and continue. We stopped at 4:30 for dinner and I responded I could not be at the drop at 4 PM as I am four hours away.
Next message: Did you pick up that SECOND LOAD?
WHAT???????? What second load???? A load at FedEx, and they are waiting for me!
When I was getting attacked with all those messages, I didn't realize that there was more to this trip and that second load was 90 miles behind me. I am running out of GADS here! I turned that truck around, arrived at 7:00, was loaded at 7:15, and parked at the truck stop at 8:00......the end of my 14. Deep breath.....eyes burn, head hurts, and I will be five hours late to drop this load but the client and dispatch is happy. Me.......so damn glad to call it a day! Good night!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Nice walk produced my favorite morning drink!
And if you know me, you know what that lil drink is!
Gonja and I had a nice evening and got caught up on most of my favorite shows. Woke this morning at 7 AM with a very busy truck stop/gas station. This Pilot has only been here a couple of years and is right behind a prison so this place is safe and secure, I can't say that about the other truck stops in this town. Gonja and I went for our morning walk, stopped at a local fire station and offered to cook breakfast for the crew if I could use their laundry facility (haven't heard back, but hey, you gotta ask!); and returned to the truck with pre-assigned load! NOT!
Dispatched asked me why NOT! I stated......hmmmm, 3 hours on the clock, we have pre check, drive to load, load time, pre trip planning, fuel......and I could end up where in???? By golly, they agreed to my 34 hour restart.......AMAZING!
I cleaned the truck yesterday so I will watch a few shows before our mid morning walk. There is really nothing to see here as it is mainly an industrial park with fuel stations for large tankers, no mall, no grocery, no nothing but hey, I have a job and I have you all! And.......I woke up breathing! My spirit sure did pick up since traveling with my lab.......they are good therapy!
Gonja and I had a nice evening and got caught up on most of my favorite shows. Woke this morning at 7 AM with a very busy truck stop/gas station. This Pilot has only been here a couple of years and is right behind a prison so this place is safe and secure, I can't say that about the other truck stops in this town. Gonja and I went for our morning walk, stopped at a local fire station and offered to cook breakfast for the crew if I could use their laundry facility (haven't heard back, but hey, you gotta ask!); and returned to the truck with pre-assigned load! NOT!
Dispatched asked me why NOT! I stated......hmmmm, 3 hours on the clock, we have pre check, drive to load, load time, pre trip planning, fuel......and I could end up where in???? By golly, they agreed to my 34 hour restart.......AMAZING!
I cleaned the truck yesterday so I will watch a few shows before our mid morning walk. There is really nothing to see here as it is mainly an industrial park with fuel stations for large tankers, no mall, no grocery, no nothing but hey, I have a job and I have you all! And.......I woke up breathing! My spirit sure did pick up since traveling with my lab.......they are good therapy!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Leaving comments........
And by the way, good evening from Nashville!
We ended our day dropping a load that dispatch knew I couldn't deliver as I will have only 3 hours at midnight! Not only that, they expected me to wait on a swap in a dirt lot with no lighting above a very crowed and dirty Loves Truck Stop with only 45 minutes on my clock! I dropped that load like fire and headed 10 miles out of town to a Pilot that is small and safe.....and insisted on taking my 34 hour restart after I arrived. I will only gain 7.5 hours at midnight tomorrow so I might as well wake up on the 27th with a full 80 hours to work with. I haven't heard a word since!
I did some research on comments as I was having my own issues. Try making comments, you should get a POP UP window to do so. Let me know if it works as I so would love to hear from ALL of my VIRTUAL TRUCKERS!
Since I am here for a bit, time to catch up on some shows! Later guys.,........ :)
We ended our day dropping a load that dispatch knew I couldn't deliver as I will have only 3 hours at midnight! Not only that, they expected me to wait on a swap in a dirt lot with no lighting above a very crowed and dirty Loves Truck Stop with only 45 minutes on my clock! I dropped that load like fire and headed 10 miles out of town to a Pilot that is small and safe.....and insisted on taking my 34 hour restart after I arrived. I will only gain 7.5 hours at midnight tomorrow so I might as well wake up on the 27th with a full 80 hours to work with. I haven't heard a word since!
I did some research on comments as I was having my own issues. Try making comments, you should get a POP UP window to do so. Let me know if it works as I so would love to hear from ALL of my VIRTUAL TRUCKERS!
Since I am here for a bit, time to catch up on some shows! Later guys.,........ :)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Email from a Check Ride Student ;)
Good evening from Russellville, AR! I am pooped! There was no time to run or enjoy our little breaks as once we dropped that load in Springfield, they had me run to Joplin to pick up a load off dog food to take to Memphis, TN. So I spent our breaks, loading, unloading, pre tripping and pre planning. This load is due tomorrow at 9:45 and we are only 3 hours away..........so I might sleep in until 5 AM!
I was tickled pink to get an email from a current student driver from Check Ride! Hello to all the gang down there in Woodinville! It appears that our class and myself have been brought up quite a few times with new students and this particular student read my blog from START to FINISH! The only thing I can think of is that he was being punished by Vern for running over cones ;)
He is a 50+ displaced worker as I was and decided to follow the same path as me (poor soul). I thought I would share his questions and my answers for everyone to read and giggle.......here we go!
Waves to Dan!
My responses to your questions!
1. What made you and your classmates choose "your company" to start your driving careers? I choose my company because they courted me real hard with half truths and a salesman's smile. Brian felt the same and really didn't check out any other companies and Jim......he went with Schneider (?) as the training period was shorter.
2. Does it really matter which one the Big 3 you get your training from. (if they are all the same, why not go with the one that pays the best)? Sadly, they all pay the same to start.
3. When you go solo, what can a driver do (or has to do) to make sure you get good loads where your making money? You know, if I knew this answer, I wouldn't be working for this company! It is the luck of the draw my friend. As for making money, not until your year is up and you are hired by another firm.
4. What suggestions or recommendations would you give for speeding up the training processes or making sure you get your hours behind the wheel? Do you really want to speed up the training process? If you have never been behind the wheel of a big truck, you dang nab it better get as much training as you need before you go solo. Driving the lot is not the same as driving the freeway! And.....some of my trainee paychecks were bigger than my current paychecks!
5. Does having a terminal (as opposed to a drop yard) closer to Seattle make a difference in getting back home more often? We have a drop yard in Pacific and it doesn't make a difference unless your dispatcher makes sure that planning knows it is your home time.......you will make it home, either on time or a day or two late........just extend your home time if this happens.
6. Is the best way to insure loads and consistent paychecks team driving? OMG! I am dying in laughter, oh it hurts, oh my, where is the tissue as I can't see from the tears pouring down my lovely face!!!! On that note, become an owner operator, that is the only way that is going to happen!
7. If you had to do it over again, what would you do different? Sell off everything I have and move to New Zealand!
I hope that answers your questions! The first year sucks, you don't make a dime if you are lucky enough to come out even......even better! Last that first year and a door or two might open up for you. Best of luck!
I was tickled pink to get an email from a current student driver from Check Ride! Hello to all the gang down there in Woodinville! It appears that our class and myself have been brought up quite a few times with new students and this particular student read my blog from START to FINISH! The only thing I can think of is that he was being punished by Vern for running over cones ;)
He is a 50+ displaced worker as I was and decided to follow the same path as me (poor soul). I thought I would share his questions and my answers for everyone to read and giggle.......here we go!
Waves to Dan!
My responses to your questions!
1. What made you and your classmates choose "your company" to start your driving careers? I choose my company because they courted me real hard with half truths and a salesman's smile. Brian felt the same and really didn't check out any other companies and Jim......he went with Schneider (?) as the training period was shorter.
2. Does it really matter which one the Big 3 you get your training from. (if they are all the same, why not go with the one that pays the best)? Sadly, they all pay the same to start.
3. When you go solo, what can a driver do (or has to do) to make sure you get good loads where your making money? You know, if I knew this answer, I wouldn't be working for this company! It is the luck of the draw my friend. As for making money, not until your year is up and you are hired by another firm.
4. What suggestions or recommendations would you give for speeding up the training processes or making sure you get your hours behind the wheel? Do you really want to speed up the training process? If you have never been behind the wheel of a big truck, you dang nab it better get as much training as you need before you go solo. Driving the lot is not the same as driving the freeway! And.....some of my trainee paychecks were bigger than my current paychecks!
5. Does having a terminal (as opposed to a drop yard) closer to Seattle make a difference in getting back home more often? We have a drop yard in Pacific and it doesn't make a difference unless your dispatcher makes sure that planning knows it is your home time.......you will make it home, either on time or a day or two late........just extend your home time if this happens.
6. Is the best way to insure loads and consistent paychecks team driving? OMG! I am dying in laughter, oh it hurts, oh my, where is the tissue as I can't see from the tears pouring down my lovely face!!!! On that note, become an owner operator, that is the only way that is going to happen!
7. If you had to do it over again, what would you do different? Sell off everything I have and move to New Zealand!
I hope that answers your questions! The first year sucks, you don't make a dime if you are lucky enough to come out even......even better! Last that first year and a door or two might open up for you. Best of luck!
Fall colors for Mom!
Tornado Alley in Joplin.......still a mess!
I can tell you one thing, you sure can tell who had insurance and who didn't!
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