Week 46 - The Unpaid Deadheads

Week Ending 6/30/07

Loads Delivered: 2

Total Miles: 3095
* Loaded: 2160
* Empty: 935

Gross Pay: $1,340.95
* Mileage Pay: $1,268.95
* Accessorial: $72.00

Hours Logged: 85
* Driving: 61.25
* On-Duty: 23.75

$/Hour $15.54

Off-Duty - Not Logged: 12.5
* @ Customer: 2
* In Laurinburg: 8.75
* Waiting Assignment: 1.75

All Hours: 97.5

Actual $/Hour: $13.55

___________________________
Load #1

Deadhead: Tampa, FL Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Shipper: Church Hill, TN Sunday, June 24, 2007
Consignee: St Augustine, QC Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Commodity: glass

Again made delivery that took 2 days, with no assignment waiting when I arrived. I was told to DH to LRBG to wait for assignment. I waited in LRBG 20 hours before being told to DH home (Thursday). I advised I would not be with truck, so to call if work assignment came in. Dave called Friday to tell me I had assignment, and I could find details in macro. I checked the truck on Saturday, but there was no macro. Called Extended, who told me it was undeliverable because the truck was turned off. I had received macros when the truck was turned off before, but I asked them to resend. The macro did not come, and I had to call for details. I did not receive the macro until I was actually under load.

Assignment was for Canada, and I left the house Sunday afternoon to pickup pre-loaded trailer at Church Hill. The trailer was missing the brake actuator clevis pin and an air bag was leaking air. Extended did send mechanic, but after making those repairs, he found brake chamber needed to be replaced. He had to return Monday morning to replace that. By the time I reached Wytheville (90 miles), 2 tires needed replacing on the trailer. I was instructed to keep the tires - had to haul 2 bad tires into and out of Canada - to what purpose?

This was the trailer that was assigned to take through customs, into Quebec Canada and back again:

The following photos were sent to Brett (Safety Manager) on 7/1/07, showing several stress cracks.












Monday morning sent macro asking if PARS stickers were still required, as none came with new truck. Dave sent back macro that if there was a backhaul, they would send an 800# to use new ACE e-manifest system. See next load.

Because scheduling was not properly handled, I had 935 empty miles and 10 wasted hours in 3 days. When I received check, the mileage was 146 miles short - $59.86. The work assignments always come with loaded and empty miles. I was relying on the miles they quoted me. I called twice to get straightened out, and was finally told that after looking at the miles they believed they overpaid me, and I should just be happy with what I received. We checked RandMcNally Intelliroute, and the original miles they quoted me were correct. I never did recover the $59.86 for the short miles.

Took Reset at Home, with only 41 hours logged.

Arrive LRBG: Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 3:45 PM
Leave LRBG: Thursday, June 21, 2007, 12:15 PM
Hours LRBG: 20.5

Arrive Home: Thursday, June 21, 2007, 7:00 PM
Leave Home: Sunday, June 24, 2007, 5:00 PM
Hours Home: 70.00
Days Home: 2.92

___________________________
Load #2

Shipper: St Augustine, PQ Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Consignee: Church Hill, TN Friday, June 29, 2007
Commodity: glass

E-manifest system failed. They wanted stickers. When I explained about e-manifest, they laughed. I had to go to Livingston brokers and buy stickers. Lost 2.5 hours at the border crossing. Dave promised delay pay. I never received.

I picked up load from same plant I delivered to. Loaded miles quoted were the same as loaded miles for prior load: 1080. But mileage for this load was paid at 1075. It was only a difference of $2.05, but I fought for it anyway. I did win this argument over mileage pay.

Just about out of 70 by time I delivered - told to DH home. Before leaving truck, sent macro that I would not be with truck, so to call me with work assignment. Had still heard nothing by Sunday morning. Since I had learned that my request to call me when I am away from my truck is never followed, I called Extended at 10:00 am. Told them 34-reset was up, and asked if they had any loads. They had nothing - told me to get with my DM Monday morning. Reminded them that I was not with truck, so to call if anything came up. Continued with next week.

Took reset at home with 67.25 hours logged.

Arrive Home: Friday, June 29, 2007, 11:00 PM
Leave Home: Monday, July 02, 2007, 7:30 AM
Hours Home: 56.50
Days Home: 2.35

Week 45 - The Horse Races

Week Ending 6/23/07

Loads Delivered: 1

Total Miles: 1678
* Loaded: 1197
* Empty: 481

Gross Pay: $707.98
* Mileage Pay: $687.98
* Accessorial: $20.00

Hours Logged: 38.25
* Driving: 31.25
* On-Duty: 7

$/Hour $18.51

Off-Duty - Not Logged: 2.5
* @ Customer: 2.5
* In Laurinburg:
* Waiting Assignment:

All Hours: 40.75

Actual $/Hour: $17.37

Deadhead: Kansas City, KS Friday, June 15, 2007
Shipper: Wichita Falls,TX Saturday, June 16, 2007
Consignee: Tampa, FL Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Commodity: glass

There was no problem with picking up the load, but delivery was scheduled for Monday morning. I advised Tina I couldn't make that delivery, since my 70 was about up and I would need 34-reset. It was after 5:00, and it was obvious Tina wanted to get home. She told me to get under the load, and she would work on new delivery appointment Monday morning.

I had to purchase 25 gallons of fuel out of pocket, since Maverick only had 2 fuel stops in Kansas - none on my route. Fuel was reimbursed with next check, but $38 in tolls and scales were not reimbursed. Receipts were lost by Maverick. Took a month and 2 phone calls to get straightened out.

Took reset in Shreveport. HOS logged at reset were 65.

Casinos are a great place to spend the night. And if you have to do a reset on the road, a casino is the place to do it. There is plenty of parking, good food, and entertainment. The casino I stayed at in Shreveport also had a horse track, so I had plenty to fill the day.

Week 44 - The Kansas City Blues

Week Ending 6/16/07

Loads Delivered: 2

Total Miles: 2314
* Loaded: 1683
* Empty: 631

Gross Pay: $948.74
* Mileage Pay: $948.74
* Accessorial:

Hours Logged: 57
* Driving: 44.25
* On-Duty: 12.75

$/Hour $16.64

Off-Duty - Not Logged: 9.75
* @ Customer: 1.5
* In Laurinburg: 4
* Waiting Assignment: 4.25

All Hours: 66.75

Actual $/Hour: $14.21
_______________________________
Load #1

Shipper: Laurinburg, NC Friday, June 08, 2007
Consignee: Indianapolis, IN Monday, June 11, 2007
Commodity: Glass

When I picked up this load, the trailer (already loaded) tire was low on air, and needed new tail marker light. Waited an hour for repair.

Through home for reset. Hours logged before reset: 64

Arrive LRBG: Thursday, June 07, 2007, 3:00 PM
Leave LRBG: Friday, June 08, 2007, 9:00 AM
Hours LRBG: 18

Arrive Home: Friday, June 08, 2007, 5:15 PM
Leave Home: Monday, June 11, 2007, 8:30 AM
Hours Home: 63.25
Days Home: 2.64
_______________________________
Load #2

Deadhead: Indianapolis, IN Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Shipper: Laurinburg, NC Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Consignee: Kansas City, KS Friday, June 15, 2007
Commodity: glass


This trailer (already loaded) needed new tire, and other 3 were cupped. Waited an hour for repairs.









This is what a grab rail should look like.



This side is missing the grab rail (safety hazard).



Tarps were in no better shape:





After KC delivery, I waited over 3 hours for a load assignment. I sent 2 macros and made phone calls inquiring why I was waiting, and was told they were trying to find me a load. I had spent 3 days driving to KC, so there were 3 days to plan where I would go next. Why wait until I get there to start planning. When I finally received an assignment, it was close to 5pm EST on a Friday, and obviously everyone was anxious to start their weekend.

Continued with next week.

Week 43: The Return to Duty

Week Ending 6/9/07

Loads Delivered: 2

Total Miles: 2380
* Loaded: 2017
* Empty: 363

Gross Pay: $975.80
* Mileage Pay: $975.80
* Accessorial:

Hours Logged: 63.5
* Driving: 48.75
* On-Duty: 14.75

$/Hour $15.37

Off-Duty - Not Logged: 0.5
* @ Customer: 0.5
* In Laurinburg:
* Waiting Assignment:

All Hours: 64

Actual $/Hour: $15.25

_________________________
Load #1

Shipper: Laurinburg, NC Thursday, May 31, 2007
Consignee: Owatonna, MN Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Commodity: glass


Returned to LRBG on 5/30 to take Fitness for Duty test. After passing the Fitness for Duty, I was sent to doctor 5/31 for DOT physical. I had just been under a doctor’s care, 6 weeks of physical therapy, passed 2 EKG’s, passed both a strenuous Functional Capacity Evaluation and Fitness for duty test, and was now required to take a DOT physical. The only thing they didn’t ask for was a Drug Screen. After Physical, I spent remainder of day training with new automatic truck.

Since I had no truck, I had to stay in hotel. It took 2 requests for reimbursement of hotel. Finally received in July.

Minor deck warp on trailer DGL416. DGL's are the newer trailers, and are still in decent shape, but starting to show signs of stress.




Was routed home to re-stock new truck.

Arrive Home: Friday, June 01, 2007
Leave Home: Sunday, June 03, 2007
Hours Home: 44.00
Days Home: 1.83

_________________________
Load #2

Deadhead: Owatonna, MN Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Shipper: Ottawa, IL Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Consignee: Laurinburg, NC Thursday, June 07, 2007
Commodity: Glass

Paperwork in Ottawa was missing. Spent over an hour tracking down.

Trailer was in terrible shape - red-tagged tire. Sent these photos in email to Derric on June 24th.






















This is the electrical control board and box for converting trailer from glass hauler to flatbed configuration. Very seldom do these units work right. On this one, the control panel is not bolted in place.